MacStories: Recent Episodes
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At WWDC 2024, I attended a developer tools briefing with Jason Snell, Dan Moren, and John Gruber. Later, I wrote about Swift Assist, an AI-based code generation tool that Apple was working on for Xcode.
That first iteration of Swift Assist caught my eye as promising, but I remember asking at the time whether it could modify multiple files in a project at once and being told it couldn’t. What I saw was rudimentary by 2025’s standards with things like Cursor, but I was glad to see that Apple was working on a generative tool for Xcode users.
In the months that followed, I all but forgot that briefing and story, until a wave of posts asking, “Whatever happened to Swift Assist?” started appearing on social media and blogs. John Gruber and Nick Heer picked up on the thread and came across my story, citing it as evidence that the MIA feature was real but curiously absent from any of 2024’s Xcode betas.
This year, Jason Snell and I had a mini reunion of sorts during another developer tools briefing. This time, it was just the two of us. Among the Xcode features we saw was a much more robust version of Swift Assist that, unlike in 2024, is already part of the Xcode 26 betas. Having been the only one who wrote about the feature last year, I couldn’t let the chance to document what I saw this year slip by.
Apple worked with OpenAI on its ChatGPT integration, a limited version of which can be used for free or with a ChatGPT API account.
I’m not a developer, so I’m not going to review Swift Assist (a name that is conspicuously absent from Apple’s developer tool press release, by the way), but the changes are so substantial that the feature I was shown this year hardly resembles what I saw in 2024. Unlike last year’s demo, this version can revise multiple project files and includes support for multiple large language models, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which has been tuned to work with Swift and Xcode. Getting started with ChatGPT doesn’t require an OpenAI account, but developers can choose to use their account credentials from OpenAI or another provider, like Anthropic. Swift Assist also supports local model integration. If your chosen AI model takes you down a dead end, code changes can be rolled back incrementally at any time.
Swift Assist’s chatbot lives in the left sidebar.
It’s also notable that this is Apple’s first stab – in any app – at a chatbot. The chat interface lives in the left sidebar, where you can request code changes, bug fixes, documentation, and other information relevant to a project. Changes proposed by your selected LLM are color-coded to make them easy to review, too.
It’s great to see Apple go down a path that gives developers the flexibility to choose whichever model they’d like, visualize changes, and roll them back as needed. Whether that’s enough to satisfy developers who have increasingly looked to third-party options to incorporate AI into their workflows remains to be seen. The reactions that I’ve seen to Xcode 26’s new features run the gamut. Some developers are cautiously optimistic and even enthusiastic about Xcode 26, while others have run into roadblocks or decided the update is too little, too late.
Still, what I saw this year struck me as a more solid foundation to build on. My hope is that, by getting these features in developers’ hands at the beginning of the beta period, Apple will have a chance to incorporate developer feedback before releasing Xcode 26 publicly this fall.
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iPadOS 26. Source: Apple.
It’s a cool, sunny morning at Apple Park as I’m walking my way along the iconic glass ring to meet with Apple’s SVP of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, for a conversation about the iPad.
It’s the Wednesday after WWDC, and although there are still some developers and members of the press around Apple’s campus, it seems like employees have returned to their regular routines. Peek through the glass, and you’ll see engineers working at their stations, half-erased whiteboards, and an infinite supply of Studio Displays on wooden desks with rounded corners. Some guests are still taking pictures by the WWDC sign. There are fewer security dogs, but they’re obviously all good.
Despite the list of elaborate questions on my mind about iPadOS 26 and its new multitasking, the long history of iPad criticisms (including mine) over the years, and what makes an iPad different from a Mac, I can’t stop thinking about the simplest, most obvious question I could ask – one that harkens back to an old commercial about the company’s modular tablet:
In 2025, what even is an iPad according to Federighi?
Supported ByMindNodeMindNode: From brainstorm to breakthrough: MindNode helps you organize your thoughts with the elegance of a native iPad, iPhone, Mac and Apple Vision Pro app.
If you’re new to MacStories, you should probably know that I’ve been through a lot with the iPad in my quest to use it as my primary computer, which began all the way back in 2012. What started as a necessity due to some health issues, however, later turned into a deliberate choice: even after I was past those problems, I decided to keep using the iPad because I’d fallen in love with its flexibility and modular nature. Over the past decade, I’ve written extensively about the device, its operating system, and its ecosystem of apps. I started reviewing iPadOS alongside iOS in my annual reviews with version 13; I shared my frustrations with Stage Manager in iPadOS 16; and last year, I felt it was time to document all the limitations that power users like myself were facing when trying to get work done on iPadOS.
And if you’re new to MacStories, there’s something else you should know about me. At a fundamental level, I strongly believe in constructive criticism. Over the years, I’ve both shared love for the iPad and criticized it for the same reason: it’s my favorite computer Apple’s ever made. Which is why, in spite of everything, I persisted and found a way to use my iPad Pro for everything…with several workarounds.
iPadOS’ New Windowing SystemWindowed apps in iPadOS 26. Source: Apple.
I came into this WWDC thinking – or, at the very least, hoping – that Apple would show a newfound commitment to the iPad and iPadOS, addressing the longstanding concerns of those who have been pushing iPadOS to its limits while keeping true to the essence of the device. It’s a careful balancing act, but having tried iPadOS 26 on my 13” iPad Pro for the past week, it seems clear to me that Apple delivered this year.
At WWDC, at the end of a keynote focused on a multi-platform design language called Liquid Glass, some Apple Intelligence updates, and a variety of app-related improvements, Federighi took the (virtual) stage to unveil iPadOS 26, which, later this year, will bring what I believe is the biggest improvement to iPad multitasking since the original Split View and Slide Over from a decade ago. Those features are, in fact, gone, replaced by a brand new windowing system that draws from some familiar elements of macOS multitasking, such as fluid window resizing and traffic light controls, while also putting a unique iPad spin on things. There is now a menu bar at the top of the screen that collects all the commands and keyboard shortcuts supported by any app – another macOS-inspired feature that, however, also works with touch. The system pointer is now, well, pointier, allowing for more precise targeting of UI elements. Apple even brought advanced tiling options – again, previously exclusive to macOS – to split the screen into halves and quarters with support for – you guessed it – either indirect manipulation or touch controls.
My 13” iPad Pro running the developer beta of iPadOS 26.
It’s a lot to cover, and iPadOS 26 is shaping up to be the kind of massive OS update that will keep me busy this summer as I work on my annual review to publish later this year. And in preparing for this interview, I realize that the number of questions I have for Federighi reflects the sheer amount of new functionalities in iPadOS 26. But then again, I want to start simple. And I choose to follow my assumption that there’s no easier way to start a geeky iPad conversation with the head of software at Apple than asking him how he feels.
“Oh, I feel great”, Federighi begins. “There are many announcements, but iPad has been one that, since we embarked on this project, we’ve been waiting for this day.”
You may think that there isn’t much in that answer – and that would be incorrect. When Federighi mentions embarking on the iPadOS 26 project, he’s referring to a multi-year, company-wide effort to completely rebuild the iPad’s windowing system around a new engine.
Apple didn’t go into detail about this at WWDC, but with the latest version of iPadOS, the company has scrapped the windowing engine that powered iPadOS 16’s Stage Manager (and subsequent iterations) and replaced it with a new one built around a window prioritization system. This new engine taps into several low-level frameworks of iPadOS and coordinates across the CPU, NAND, GPU, and battery to optimize window rendering and understand which windows should be prioritized based on user activity. The result is a more powerful and efficient system that, in my experience with the iPadOS 26 developer beta, allows for up to 12 windows to be active on-screen on my M4 iPad Pro. I’ve been able to play around with iPadOS 26 on both the 11” and 13” iPad Pro; while I still think that the smaller Pro model strikes a better balance between laptop-like features and tablet portability, multitasking power users will probably want to gravitate toward the larger model for more comfortable windowing.
You can’t see them all, but there are 12 active windows in this iPadOS 26 workspace.
And here’s confirmation from Exposé.
The new windowing system is also the reason why Apple has been able to bring more advanced capabilities to older iPad models, including the iPad mini, supposedly without sacrificing battery life. I haven’t been able to install iPadOS 26 on older or non-Pro iPads yet, but it’s something I plan on investigating this summer to see if Apple’s promises hold true.
The iPad’s Multitasking HistoryWhich brings me to my tumultuous relationship with Stage Manager, released by Apple in iPadOS 16 in a state I didn’t consider good enough. The company later improved upon some of the glaring issues of the original Stage Manager: while the feature still took care of placing and moving windows around for users, iPadOS 17 gave users a little more control over window placement and improved stability. Still, it seemed like there was a profound disconnect between what advanced iPad users wanted from the platform and what Apple was offering them with Stage Manager and its limitations in terms of number of windows and user control.
In iPadOS 26, Stage Manager is, essentially, a cosmetic feature. It’s still available for users who want to group their windows by workspace, but those workspaces are no longer limited to four windows, and windows fluidly resize in real time thanks to Apple’s new windowing engine. Stage Manager is now an optional toggle in Control Center, and it’s the third option in the iPad’s multitasking settings, described as a “focused multitasking experience”.
The new iPadOS 26 multitasking settings.
If this sounds familiar, it’s because Stage Manager now works on iPadOS like it does on macOS. It’s an optional, visual mode, and it’ll no longer dictate how many windows you can put in a workspace, how they resize, or where you place them. It just organizes them by workspace. And I have to say: I actually like the combination of improved windowing and Stage Manager’s project-based app organization now.
Stage Manager with iPadOS 26’s unlimited windowing is actually a very nice combo now.
I’d been thinking about the entire evolution of the iPad’s app experience during the week of WWDC – and not just because I was going to interview Federighi, but because I’ve been around for the whole thing. I’ve reviewed all the major iterations of iPad multitasking to date, and I’ve witnessed firsthand how the company has swung in different directions while trying to preserve the iPad’s original ethos along the way. I want to ask Federighi about his thoughts on arriving at iPadOS 26’s take on multitasking; much to my surprise, he responds with an in-depth analysis of 15 years of iPad usage and multitasking progress.
“Figuring out what the right multitasking experience is for this device, and in all the ways that make it unique, has been something that I think deserved careful exploration”, Federighi begins, after telling me that he’s “on an iPad every day, all the time”.
The iPad began as a full-screen, one-app-at-a-time affair in 2010 with iPhone OS 3.2. This design decision gave iPad critics at the time plenty of ammunition to call the tablet just a big iPhone, a comment that would be recycled for several years. Federighi notes that one of the aspects that made the original iPad experience so special – and something that is still true today – is that you don’t need to worry about closing or managing apps if you don’t want to. Arguably, a good portion of iPad users – whether that’s kids, parents, grandparents, or people who just want a tablet for books and videos – never worry about anything else. As Federighi describes it, that part of the experience “was so simple and so automatic that it allowed us to be in our flow, and the device – the computing part of it – could kind of disappear”.
An iPad screenshot from a long, long time ago.
But here’s another way to look at the iPad’s multitasking evolution: at this point in 2025, the iPad has had some version of multitasking for over two thirds of its life.
At WWDC 2015 – exactly a decade ago – Apple introduced iOS 9, which brought Split View and Slide Over to the iPad, allowing users to display up to three apps on-screen at once. “With the first version with Slide Over and Split View, we certainly wanted to minimize the degree to which you felt like you were managing apps”, Federighi notes, and that was certainly the case. Unlike subsequent iterations, the original Split View and Slide Over didn’t support drag and drop (more on this later); there was a dedicated app picker for Split View, and Slide Over did not support multiple apps. “What made the iPhone and the iPad so magical was the illusion of you directly interacting with the content under glass. And that meant perfect interactivity”, Federighi adds, noting that maintaining the iPad’s simplicity and interactive nature is always going to be “job one” for Apple.
The original Split View app picker from iOS 9 in 2015.
The conversation then moves on to Stage Manager, which Apple released with iPadOS 16 in 2022. As you know, I wasn’t exactly the biggest fan of the feature when it launched, but hearing some of Stage Manager’s backstory is fascinating. “First of all, I’m a heavy Stage Manager user on the Mac. Stage Manager is something that we started thinking about and working on in 2009”, Federighi explains1, adding that it was originally conceived of as a way to add more focus and flow to Mac multitasking. Fast forward to more than a decade later, and “after many years where the ethos of the iPad is well established”, Federighi says, “we felt a little more flexibility to start adding in more options for those who need them while being secure in the idea that the app ecosystem in our developer base understands what an iPad app is and how different that is from what inertially would have been taking the classic Mac world and just dumping it on an iPad”.
The developer argument is an interesting one; it’s undeniable that, at least in the beginning, the iPad App Store stood out because of the incredible work third-party developers – and especially indie developers – did in terms of crafting novel, bespoke interfaces and interactions for iPad. Indeed, when I ask Federighi why Apple is bringing Mac-inspired multitasking features such as unlimited windowing and a menu bar to iPad now, rather than several years ago, he goes back to two core ideas: the developer ecosystem and performance.
“If iPad had had a menu bar from the beginning, like Mac did, app developers would naturally say, “Well, I think a lot of my functionality probably is only accessible via menu bar, right?””, Federighi says. “Those affordances provide the set of constraints under which developers operate and dictate, to some degree, the nature of what gets created. And with iPad, by creating an environment that had very simplicity at its core, it meant the entire app ecosystem had all kinds of incredible design work done by so many developers to preserve the simplicity of that experience”, he continues.
The menu bar in the developer beta of iPadOS 26. All of these commands are accessible elsewhere too, but now, they’re also grouped in a traditional menu bar.
I understand the perspective, and having been around for the golden era of the iPad App Store (remember the original Paper, Flipboard, Twitter, and so many others?), I can’t disagree. At the same time, however, it’s also true that innovation on the iPad App Store has languished in recent years, with iPad-exclusive experiences now being too few and far between and usually involving the Apple Pencil. It’s kind of ironic that, right now, some of the most powerful iPad apps are web apps rather than native ones. Would this have been different had iPad supported Mac-like multitasking and windowing years ago?
“If you look at the early iPads, they weren’t running on M4s and didn’t have the kind of capacity that we have today”, Federighi adds, noting that performance was also a constraint in the first iPad generations and that Apple is always going to prioritize the direct manipulation and interactivity of iPad above anything else. “That is the non-negotiable in the whole thing”, he says.
Which brings us to the latest multitasking features of iPadOS 26, which are a major step up from Stage Manager and see traditional Split View functionalities being integrated as “tiling” options, just like on macOS. But how did we get to this point? Federighi says that Apple eventually realized there were two types of iPad users. “What we’ve seen is that there are users who are always going to want the simplest iPad it can be, and we want to preserve that for them: fully immersive, single window”, he begins. That’s the aforementioned crowd that is never going to be interested in any form of multitasking whatsoever.
But Federighi notes that they also saw another part of the iPad audience – those that wanted explicit control over everything, with as many options as they could have. “So we came to the point of saying, “Let’s recognize that audience”. They’ve self-identified, in essence, right?”, Federighi explains. “And they have a set of expectations, and let’s give them the tools to manage that world for themselves explicitly. They’ll appreciate it, and we won’t get in there if they don’t want it”.
“I think we’ve been on a journey of finding the right interface for iPad, along with our users.”
In listening to Federighi’s analysis of iPad multitasking over the years, I get the sense that Apple has been trying to understand the iPad’s audience for over a decade. At some point, they realized that the device has two types of users: those who just want a tablet, and those who want a tablet plus more traditional computing features. The company tried to reinvent those classic functionalities but ultimately understood that some users would rather have classic windowing, a file manager, and a menu bar that “simply” worked with either touch or indirect manipulation, rather than entirely new UI metaphors.
“I think we’ve been on a journey of finding the right interface for iPad, along with our users. And I think it actually has been important that it’s been a considered journey”, Federighi says.
On macOS Familiarity, Design, and Creating “Sporks”Beyond Liquid Glass (which I’ll cover more in depth later this summer), iPadOS 26 feels like the logical conclusion for a platform that needs to accommodate deeply different use cases. By default on a fresh installation, iPadOS 26 will load in full-screen app mode – the classic, original iPad experience where you use one app at a time and go back to the Home Screen to close it, just like on an iPhone. You can, of course, still invoke the Dock, Spotlight, or the Command-Tab switcher to move between apps in ways that aren’t supported on iOS, but by and large, this is the closest the iPad’s stock software experience has been to Steve Jobs’ original demo in 2010.
That is not an exaggeration: with iPadOS 26, Apple simplified the full-screen app experience even further by getting rid of the Split View and Slide Over modes altogether. I’ve used Split View and Slide Over for years and liked them a lot; in fact, I started using both modes even more after Stage Manager’s initial debacle. But those systems weren’t perfect, either, particularly for users who just wanted to use an iPad in full-screen mode with one app at a time. The gesture required to create splits – a long press and drag on an app icon in the Dock – often resulted in accidental activations of Split View for less tech-savvy users, who suddenly found themselves using two apps instead of one. Plus, between full-screen mode, Split View, Slide Over, and Stage Manager, the iPad had ended up with too many multitasking systems to choose from.
So with iPadOS 26, the company went back to the drawing board. Under the new windowing engine, iPadOS 26 will default to full-screen apps until you enable the new ‘Windowed Apps’ mode in Settings or Control Center. (I’d love to see a Shortcuts action for this in the future, too.) When you do so, the full-screen default still sticks: apps you open for the first time will continue to launch in full-screen mode, taking up the entire display.
Resizing a full-screen app in iPadOS 26 from the resize indicator. Source: Apple.
You’ll notice a couple of differences, though. A full-screen app in windowed mode features the familiar “grab indicator” in the bottom-right corner that allows you to grab a window with your finger or pointer and resize it to any dimension you want – this time with fluid, Mac-like resizing that adjusts the window’s size frame by frame. And if you head with your cursor to the top edge of a window (or swipe down with your finger in the center of it), you’ll see a menu bar and the familiar red, yellow, and green controls from macOS to close, minimize, or maximize a window.
Resizing and moving windows in iPadOS 26. Source: Apple.
But that’s not all: in rethinking multitasking and windowing for iPadOS, Apple merged iOS 9’s original split-screen functionality with windowed mode. Grab a window by the title bar – again, unlike macOS, this works with both touch and the pointer – and flick it with the right velocity to either side of the screen, and the window will be tiled to that side. Grab another, flick it in the opposite direction, and the second window will tile next to it. And when you do that, the old split-screen resize indicator will appear in between the split windows, allowing you – for the first time on the iPad – to make a split layout any size you want without having to choose from fixed presets.
Using split layouts in iPadOS 26. Source: Apple.
And there’s even more. In the menu bar, you now have access to a full-featured ‘Move & Resize’ menu that lets you split the screen in halves, three columns (something I always wanted from the old Split View), top and bottom tiles, or even quarters:
A “traditional” split layout with two apps is still possible in iPadOS 26. Source: Apple.
Finally, a split layout with three columns. Source: Apple.
You can also split the screen into quarters now. Source: Apple.
The menu is also accessible, just like on macOS, by long-pressing the window control buttons with either touch or the pointer:
You can double-tap or double-click the title bar of any window to go back to a previous layout. There are keyboard shortcuts to tile and arrange windows without ever lifting your fingers off the keyboard. You can create multiple, overlapping tile configurations and cycle between windows with Command-Tab or – another first on the iPad – proper Exposé. And at any point, you can forego any of the built-in tiling layouts to just…resize a window however you want and move it wherever you want – including slightly off-screen, which Stage Manager never allowed users to do before.
Those are a lot of options for power users who have long demanded this kind of fine-grained control over app windows and layouts. At the same time, based on my demos and first impressions of iPadOS 26 on my iPad Pro, this is not the kind of system that forces – whether accidentally or not – people who don’t want this iPad experience to use it. And even if you’re an advanced user who wants to quickly get rid of all your windows and return to a more focused environment, that’s easy to do as well. With a swipe up on the Home indicator, your workspace will temporarily slide out of view, allowing you to add an app from the Home Screen by tapping its icon; swipe a second time, and you’ll instantly clear the entire multi-window workspace, jettisoning all windows back into the main app switcher, each once again a standalone entity.
Using Exposé and managing windowed apps in iPadOS 26. Source: Apple.
Seeing Apple straddle this line of “familiar, but unique to iPad”, or perhaps “simple by default, but truly advanced when you need it” got me thinking. I’ve long believed that the iPad is simultaneously the most versatile, exciting computer form factor Apple has to design for and the most challenging . An iPad can be so many different things to so many different types of users. How do Apple designers resolve this tension between defaults and options? How do they break from previous UI conventions while also acknowledging the past?
This is where my conversation with Federighi goes next, and where Apple’s head of software shares some familiar – and slightly modernized – metaphors.
“We don’t want to create a boat car or, you know, a spork”, Federighi begins. Seeing the confused look on my face, he continues: “I don’t know if you have those in Italy. Someone said, “If a spoon’s great, a fork’s great, then let’s combine them into a single utensil, right?” It turns out it’s not a good spoon and it’s not a good fork. It’s a bad idea. And so we don’t want to build sporks”.
This is the utensil he’s referring to, which I’ve seen on the Internet before. It’s not the first time an Apple executive has used a kitchen appliance to describe the company’s approach to portable computers. In 2012, Tim Cook criticized Windows 8 convertible tablet/laptop hybrids by saying that you could also try to merge toasters and refrigerators, but the result probably wouldn’t be any good.
By and large, one could argue that Apple has created one such convertible product with the iPad Pro, but Federighi strongly believes in the Mac and iPad each having their own reasons to exist. “The Mac lets the iPad be iPad”, Federighi notes, adding that Apple’s objective “has not been to have iPad completely displace those places where the Mac is the right tool for the job”. As someone who recently got his hands on a high-end Mac Studio that has 512 GB of RAM and is able to run state-of-the-art local LLMs, I can’t say I disagree with that idea. Plus, there are still plenty of differences between macOS and iPadOS despite their new similarities, from sideloading and shell access to Xcode, menu bar apps, system-wide keyboard shortcuts, the new Spotlight, and more. I’d personally like those differences to disappear, too, but for now, the two OSes achieve different goals.
Federighi also wants to expand upon the boat car metaphor, though. “Long ago, a wise man who had a lot to do with the fact we’re all here today talked about cars and trucks”, he begins, referencing Steve Jobs’ famous analogy from the D8 conference in 2010. “It is awesome that the iPad can be the daily driver for so many people, but that doesn’t need a winch tied to the front of it, a trailer hitched to tow a boat in the back, and a flatbed with, you know, ties on the back”, he continues. “Now, someone’s going to say, ‘But I got this thing and I love driving it, and can’t I just haul my boat and lumber?’ And at some point, what you’d have to do to that thing to make it do that, you’ve lost its essence”.
I can say that I’ve been guilty of this myself. Over the years, I have done things to my iPads that no sane person should probably ever attempt, from mounting speakers to its sides to literally ripping a MacBook Air in half and attaching it to the bottom of an iPad Pro to create my own “MacPad” hybrid. Those experiments were born out of necessity. I just wanted to have a more powerful iPad that would allow me to perform the same tasks I could on my Mac. Now with iPadOS 26, I get to have my cake and eat it too: I can still use a product that is both a tablet and a laptop, but thanks to Apple’s “careful exploration”, I can also have access to full-blown windowing, local audio and video capture, folder access from the Dock, a menu bar, and lots more.
Using an iPad with windowed apps, an external display, and a menu bar in iPadOS 26. I love all of this. Source: Apple.
Still, how did Apple land there? After all the talk over the past 15 years about the “post-PC era”, why have we come full circle to reusing features and UI metaphors that the Mac got right decades ago? I ask Federighi about this. “When you’re designing in a new space with a new set of constraints with a different kind of user in mind, you do guard yourself against whether it would be too easy to just pull the old thing off the shelf and put it here because maybe that feels right, because we’ve lived with it since 1984”, he begins, acknowledging the Mac’s key role in democratizing graphical user interfaces and freeform windowing. “And you ask yourself”, Federighi continues “’Well, but what is the essence of iPad? And if that other world had never existed and one had designed from first principles for a touch-first device…what would a cursor be like? What would windowing be like?’”.
It’s the first time I hear Apple’s head of software talk about the iPad’s software design process so deliberately, and it’s utterly fascinating. As we’ve seen in my annual iOS and iPadOS reviews, Apple did try to “design from first principles” on the iPad: they did so in iOS 9, iOS 11, iPadOS 13, and iPadOS 16. So what happened in iPadOS 26?
“At the same time, you have to not be allergic to learning from the past”, Federighi adds. “I think the balance we’ve landed on now is saying, ‘Listen, in the case that the right answer for iPad is a consistent one with another device, the Mac, then, of course, let’s use it. But let’s not reach for something on the Mac reflexively, just because it’s there’”.
“I don’t think the iPad should run macOS, but I think the iPad can be inspired by elements of the Mac.”
The word we keep going back to in this interview is “balance”. The iPad has, historically, always been a balancing act for Apple, from the very first keynote when Steve Jobs had to explain the “third category” it represented to now, when Federighi is talking about balancing the needs of different users, balancing familiarity and consistency in the user interface design, and balancing features between macOS and iPadOS. Speaking of consistency – another central theme of this year’s WWDC – Federighi tells me that “absolute consistency would be to optimize for nothing” when I ask him about how Apple weighs the idea of consistent design across platforms against the fact that, according to them, each device in their lineup has its own reason to be. “We want consistency where it makes sense, but we tailor these experiences to each device”, he adds.
I don’t need to ask Federighi the perennial question of running macOS on the iPad, since he goes there on his own. “I don’t think the iPad should run macOS, but I think the iPad can be inspired by elements of the Mac”, Federighi tells me. “I think the Mac can be inspired by elements of iPad, and I think that that’s happened a great deal”.
On iPad Criticism Over the YearsI’m not new to iPad criticism. In the years I’ve covered this platform, I’ve seen the iPad narrative ebb and flow in different directions. There were the Mac users who were adamant that you weren’t “supposed to” perform certain tasks on an iPad. There were iPad users who, like me, were steadfast in their conviction that there was potential for rethinking classic computing features by putting a unique spin on them. And there was Apple, navigating these waters with an ever-growing collection of desktop-class functionalities that, despite their best efforts, sometimes felt like half-baked attempts at reinventing a wheel that perhaps didn’t need much reinventing in the first place. A “journey”, indeed.
Last year, I decided to publish a comprehensive story about all the shortcomings of iPadOS I encountered when trying to manage files, record podcasts, or, in general, get all my work done on an iPad. I was very critical of the state of iPadOS at the time because I felt that Apple had dropped the ball on key features that I considered essential for a computer called the “iPad Pro”.
The reaction to that story was, to say the least, polarizing. Some Mac users saw it as a vindication of their longstanding beliefs, and I read comments from people who cited the story as “proof” that Apple didn’t care about the iPad at all and was just coasting to sell more expensive devices. Some iPad users saw the article as a “betrayal” from someone who had dedicated a large part of his career to covering the platform. And another group – people who, like me, loved the iPad but were disappointed by its lack of progress – well, they didn’t know what to think, but remained hopeful for its future.
iPadOS 26 still doesn’t support clamshell mode when an iPad is connected to an external display, but other improvements like folders in the dock and background tasks (pictured) are welcome. Source: Apple.
And this is my chance to ask Federighi about his relationship with different users and harsh iPad criticism over the years. When I ask him how he reacts to comments from people who suggest that Apple folks don’t use the iPad internally or don’t care about the product at all, he says with “bafflement”. “Disappointment, in the sense that we’re trying to build great products that delight our users, and our iPads do delight our users”, he adds, citing the proverbial “outstanding” customer satisfaction that has long characterized the iPad’s lineup according to Apple.
Federighi, however, is aware of the fact that different iPad users want to see different things from the platform – again, we’re going back to that idea of two macro categories in the iPad’s audience. “People are passionate about these devices, and you’ll have someone who says, ‘Well, they didn’t address the thing I care about most this year. So clearly they don’t use this product’”, Federighi notes.
I understand why he rejects this notion, but speaking from personal experience, I know that it was hard to see the forest for the trees when iPadOS was going multiple years (iPadOS 14, 15, 17, and 18) without noticeable updates – very much unlike iPadOS 26 this year. “I get it at some level”, Federighi adds, “and we do take that on board, but we do also take responsibility for stewarding a platform that means so much, not just to that person, but to so many others”.
“iPad didn’t become what it is today in one year or even five, and we’re in it for the long haul here.”
Having spent the past week with the iPadOS 26 developer beta on my 13” iPad Pro, I think Apple – for the first time in several years – has found that balance between simplicity and power that the iPad platform so badly needed. I criticized the slow progress of iPadOS a lot over the years, but after last week and talking to Federighi, it’s clear to me that folks at Apple have been thinking about these challenges for a long time. Landing on a great solution for everyone often takes time, with some missteps along the way.
“You make tough choices every year about where you prioritize and how you evolve and what’s the right moment to take on what challenge, and you take the long view”, Federighi tells me. “iPad didn’t become what it is today in one year or even five, and we’re in it for the long haul here”.
The iPad’s EssenceWe’re almost at the end of the interview, and I notice a couple of things. Just like he was the first time I interviewed him in San Jose for our podcast AppStories, Federighi is – and I mean this in the best possible way – a great nerd to talk to. I’ve picked up on this over the years. He has a quality that is rare in tech executives: he can go very in depth about technical topics, but he doesn’t mind the philosophical, abstract topics either. I could go on and on, but my time is limited, and this is how these interviews work.
The second thing I notice is that I still haven’t asked my simple – perhaps trite, but important to me, regardless – question: what is an iPad in 2025 according to Craig Federighi? I remind Federighi of my story with the iPad. I started using it as my main computer in 2012, when I was undergoing cancer treatments and realized I couldn’t comfortably use a MacBook Air from a hospital bed. Then, even after I was past those health issues, I chose to keep using the iPad because I’d fallen in love with what it represented: truly portable, modular computing that could help me stay productive, connected, and entertained anywhere. The iPad has, in many ways, defined my career, and it still represents all those things for me – despite its ups and downs over the years – in 2025.
But, once again, what is an iPad now for Craig Federighi?
“I think Apple would describe it as a magical piece of glass, where you can hold your content in your hand, and our most versatile device, where you can interact with that content in the greatest variety of ways”, he begins after a brief pause. I can sense that he’s not done. What follows is – from my perspective – the best description of the iPad I’ve heard in 15 years.
“For me, I have, like you, an emotional attachment to my iPad and I’m not sure I can intellectualize it. I don’t know if it’s because it is something that, by the nature of the fact that it’s in your hand, it is the source of connection. It is the source of learning. It is this source of capability; it becomes an extension of your own ability to think and solve problems”, Federighi says. I look down at my watch, and I know that we’re essentially out of time.
“It is the device that can manage to go with us into almost every nook and cranny of our existence, from kicking back and enjoying ourselves to getting something done, creatively or productively. That range makes it an extension of self for some of us in a way that I think fosters an emotional connection. I think that is why, for those of us that end up with that deep connection, it’s natural we keep wanting to push it further, right?”, he concludes.
I step outside the glass ring, the cool morning gusts of Apple Park now a pleasant, almost Mediterranean breeze. I think about where I started with the iPad in 2012, when that computer allowed me to get work done despite the chemo. I look at this interview’s transcript on my M4 iPad Pro and realize: the iPad’s essence is alive at Apple, and this platform’s in good hands.
- This seemingly contradicts a previous report that suggested Apple started working on Stage Manager in 2006. ↩︎
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Shortly before WWDC, Logitech sent me their brand new Flip Folio case/keyboard combo to test. It’s a cleverly designed iPad case that’s a bit heavy but has a lot of other things going for it, like a very stable kickstand and an excellent travel keyboard. The Flip Folio is also more affordable than the Apple Magic Keyboard, which I expect will make it an attractive option for many iPad users.
The first thing I noticed when I unboxed the Flip Folio is that the case’s outer layer is made from what seems to be the exact same soft-touch faux leather as Apple’s Smart Folio and Magic Keyboard cases. It’s a texture I like, but it does show fingerprints to varying degrees depending on the color of case you get. I’ve been testing the graphite version, which is a shade lighter than Apple’s Charcoal Grey Smart Folio; it also comes in Midnight Black if you live in North America. In September, the Flip Folio will be available in Lilac and Pale Grey in select regions and Sand in North America.
Logitech has taken a very different approach with the Flip Folio than Apple has with the Magic Keyboard. Apple’s cantilevered design perches the iPad above its keyboard in a unibody design. In contrast, Logitech has separated its keyboard from the case while still finding a way to integrate the two when you’re on the go.
The keyboard has a slightly recessed resting spot on the Flip Folio’s case and stays in place with magnets.
The Flip Folio accomplishes this with magnets. The portion of the case that covers the iPad’s screen includes a recessed, keyboard-shaped area. Just under the case are magnets that correspond to magnets in Logitech’s keyboard, allowing you to place the keyboard face down on the case where it’s held firmly in place. To help you remove the keyboard from the case, there’s a little rubber tab on one end of the keyboard. It isn’t necessary to remove the keyboard, but it does make it easier.
To prop up your iPad as you type, you bend the part of the case that covers the screen and fold it back behind the iPad. The hinge that’s hidden in the Flip Folio’s case is quite stiff, ensuring that the angle you choose to prop up your iPad at is stable, which I appreciate. The cover can be angled up to 90 degrees, giving you a variety of options that work well whether you’re typing, drawing with an Apple Pencil, or watching video.
The Flip Folio is thick.
The biggest downside of Logitech’s case design is that it’s a bit thick and heavy. That’s undoubtedly the result of the magnets and hinge. According to Logitech, the case for the 11” iPad Pro is 560g and the keyboard is 176g for a total of 641g, about 81g more than Apple’s 11” Magic Keyboard. The difference is about 0.2 pounds, or around 1.14x the weight of Apple’s keyboard case. As a practical matter, the difference is noticeable, but not significant.
Of course, the 13” Flip Folio weighs more, with the case coming in at 611g and the keyboard at 207g. In contrast, Apple’s 13” Magic Keyboard is about 670g. Although I haven’t tried the 13” model, it’s worth noting that the weight difference is more pronounced, with Logitech’s case and keyboard combo weighing in at about 1.22x the weight of Apple’s keyboard case.
The other disadvantage of the Flip Folio is that it doesn’t include a pointing device. If you have a spare Bluetooth mouse or trackpad available, that may not be a big deal. However, it is another thing you will have to pack, adding more weight to your bag.
For a keyboard this size, the Flip Folio is very good.
As for the keyboard itself, it’s quite good, but a little cramped in the 11” version. It has more half-sized keys than Apple’s Magic Keyboard, including the apostrophe key, which I’ve found a little hard to get used to. Otherwise, the Flip Folio keyboard works well. I like that the keys are a little textured, and the keyboard can connect with up to three different devices. It also runs on a small circular watch battery that should last many, many hours since there’s no backlighting and the keyboard can be powered off between uses.
I’ve spent a lot of time comparing the Logitech Flip Folio with Apple’s Magic Keyboard, which isn’t quite fair because Logitech seems to be targeting a different market. If you work on your iPad a lot, Apple’s Magic Keyboard is a better choice because it has a separate charging port, fewer half-sized keys in the 11” version, and a built-in trackpad. However, Logitech says that its research shows that most of its customers don’t use a keyboard with their iPads often, but still want a keyboard occasionally for light work tasks like email, searching the web, and messaging friends. For those folks, a detachable keyboard lightens their load when they don’t need it and leaves a reminder of work behind.
The Flip Folio’s hinge creates a stable platform for using the iPad.
Another advantage of Logitech’s design is that it’s incredibly stable and supports using the iPad in portrait mode, thanks to a little ledge at the bottom edge of the case. The Magic Keyboard’s carefully balanced cantilevered design means that it has a tendency to tip over in some circumstances, like in your lap or propped up on a pillow. Logitech’s case is stable in many more contexts, but if you want to type, you’ll probably still want a surface like a table because the combination of a separate case and keyboard takes up more space overall.
Finally, it’s worth noting that Logitech’s Flip Folio is significantly less expensive than the Apple Magic Keyboard, which costs $299 for the 11” iPad Pro model and $349 for the 13” iPad Pro model. By contrast, the 11” Flip Folio that works with the M4 iPad Pro as well as the M2 and M3 iPad Air is $159.99. The 13” model, which works with the corresponding 13” models plus the 5th-generation iPad Air, is $179.99.
The Flip Folio with its keyboard attached.
As someone who spends most of my time on the iPad doing research and writing, I prefer Apple’s Magic Keyboard, even though that means switching to a Smart Folio in the evening or on the weekend when all I want to do is read or watch YouTube. However, if I were at the other end of the spectrum, using my iPad with a keyboard less often, I don’t think I’d mind the Flip Folio’s extra weight for the occasions I’d carry both the case and keyboard together. After all, the Flip Folio case by itself weighs less than the Magic Keyboard. Plus, you get a sturdy, stable case and a good travel keyboard at a more affordable price, making it an excellent option for light keyboard users.
The Logitech Flip Folio is available directly from Logitech, on Amazon, and from other retailers now. The 11” model costs $159.99, and the 13” model costs $179.99.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
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AppStories This week, Federico and John catch listeners up on their whirlwind WWDC week, which was chaotic in the best possible way.
On AppStories+, Federico and John get excited about what the WWDC announcements say about the direction of automation on Apple’s platforms.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Notion – Try the powerful, easy-to-use Notion AI today.
NPC: Next Portable Console This week on NPC, Brendon shares his first impressions of the Nintendo Switch 2 after UPS Japan comes knocking, and all three hosts cover a chaotic week of handheld news – from the RG Slide to a surprise ASUS/Xbox handheld.
This week on NPC XL, Federico and John share their experiences traveling with the Nintendo Switch 2, and John explains how Apple’s upcoming Games app is more than just Game Center.
AppStories, Episode 441, ‘A Behind the Scenes Peek at WWDC Week’ Show NotesMore WWDC Coverage on MacStories* iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and Liquid Glass: The MacStories Overview * macOS Tahoe: The MacStories Overview * visionOS 26: The MacStories Overview * watchOS 26: The MacStories Overview * tvOS 26: The MacStories Overview * Apple Intelligence Expands: Onscreen Visual Intelligence, Shortcuts, Third-Party Apps, and More * Camera Remote and Higher-Quality Audio Recording Coming to AirPods This Fall * WWDC 2025: All the Small Things (Bento Box Version) * WWDC 2025: Subsequent Discoveries * “Opinionated Design”: Early Reactions to Apple’s Liquid Glass Design Language
AppStories+ Post-Show* Shortcuts and hybrid automation
NPC, Episode 37, ‘From Italy to Japan: Brendon Goes Hands‑On With the Switch 2’ Show NotesThe Latest Portable Gaming News* Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller Review * News Release Jun. 11, 2025 Nintendo Switch 2 Sells Over 3.5 Million Units Worldwide in First Four Days * AYANEO Flip 1S DS is a dual-screen handheld gaming PC with Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 * Hands On with the New Xbox Ally Handhelds * Anbernic RG Slide first impression appear online from reviewers
Subscribe to NPC XLNPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month.
Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the “regular” NPC episodes.
You can subscribe here.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;
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Late last Tuesday night, after watching F1: The Movie at the Steve Jobs Theater, I was driving back from dropping Federico off at his hotel when I got a text:
Can you pick me up?
It was from my son Finn, who had spent the evening nearby and was stalking me in Find My. Of course, I swung by and picked him up, and we headed back to our hotel in Cupertino.
On the way, Finn filled me in on a new class in Apple’s Speech framework called SpeechAnalyzer and its SpeechTranscriber module. Both the class and module are part of Apple’s OS betas that were released to developers last week at WWDC. My ears perked up immediately when he told me that he’d tested SpeechAnalyzer and SpeechTranscriber and was impressed with how fast and accurate they were.
It’s still early days for these technologies, but I’m here to tell you that their speed alone is a game changer for anyone who uses voice transcription to create text from lectures, podcasts, YouTube videos, and more. That’s something I do multiple times every week for AppStories, NPC, and Unwind, generating transcripts that I upload to YouTube because the site’s built-in transcription isn’t very good.
What’s frustrated me with other tools is how slow they are. Most are built on Whisper, OpenAI’s open source speech-to-text model, which was released in 2022. It’s cheap at under a penny per one million tokens, but isn’t fast, which is frustrating when you’re in the final steps of a YouTube workflow.
An SRT file generated by Yap.
I asked Finn what it would take to build a command line tool to transcribe video and audio files with SpeechAnalyzer and SpeechTranscriber. He figured it would only take about 10 minutes, and he wasn’t far off. In the end, it took me longer to get around to installing macOS Tahoe after WWDC than it took Finn to build Yap, a simple command line utility that takes audio and video files as input and outputs SRT- and TXT-formatted transcripts.
Yesterday, I finally took the Tahoe plunge and immediately installed Yap. I grabbed the 7GB 4K video version of AppStories episode 441, which is about 34 minutes long, and ran it through Yap. It took just 45 seconds to generate an SRT file. Here’s Yap ripping through nearly 20% of an episode of NPC in 10 seconds:
Next, I ran the same file through VidCap and MacWhisper, using its V2 Large and V3 Turbo models. Here’s how each app and model did:
| App | Transcripiton Time | | --- | --- | | Yap | 0:45 | | MacWhisper (Large V3 Turbo) | 1:41 | | VidCap | 1:55 | | MacWhisper (Large V2) | 3:55 |
All three transcription workflows had similar trouble with last names and words like “AppStories,” which LLMs tend to separate into two words instead of camel casing. That’s easily fixed by running a set of find and replace rules, although I’d love to feed those corrections back into the model itself for future transcriptions.
Once transcribed, a video can be used to generate additional formats like outlines.
What stood out above all else was Yap’s speed. By harnessing SpeechAnalyzer and SpeechTranscriber on-device, the command line tool tore through the 7GB video file a full 2.2× faster than MacWhisper’s Large V3 Turbo model, with no noticeable difference in transcription quality.
At first blush, the difference between 0:45 and 1:41 may seem insignificant, and it arguably is, but those are the results for just one 34-minute video. Extrapolate that to running Yap against the hours of Apple Developer videos released on YouTube with the help of yt-dlp, and suddenly, you’re talking about a significant amount of time. Like all automation, picking up a 2.2× speed gain one video or audio clip at a time, multiple times each week, adds up quickly.
Whether you’re producing video for YouTube and need subtitles, generating transcripts to summarize lectures at school, or doing something else, SpeechAnalyzer and SpeechTranscriber – available across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro – mark a significant leap forward in transcription speed without compromising on quality. I fully expect this combination to replace Whisper as the default transcription model for transcription apps on Apple platforms.
To test Apple’s new model, install the macOS Tahoe beta, which currently requires an Apple developer account, and then install Yap from its GitHub page.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;
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If you run a business, a side hustle, a podcast, or just want to stay in touch with a community, you know how important great email marketing can be. That’s where Direct Mail comes in — a native macOS app that makes it incredibly easy to design, send, and track email campaigns that get results. Unlike web-based alternatives, Direct Mail is designed specifically for macOS, with the speed, polish, and Mac-first integration you expect.
The brand-new Version 7 is a huge leap forward. This update brings a host of new features, including a reimagined user interface, smarter list management, powerful email signup forms, upgraded reporting, and all-new tools to help your emails stand out. Whether you’re sending to 10 people or 10,000, Direct Mail gives you the tools to do it professionally and painlessly.
If you’ve ever been frustrated with clunky, web-based email marketing tools, or just want something that feels right at home on your Mac, check out Direct Mail. It’s free to download and try, with flexible pricing plans to match every budget — including pay-as-you-go options. You can be up and running with your first campaign in just minutes. Our friendly customer support reps are available via live chat to help with any questions, ensuring you’re never stuck. Get started today and expand your reach with powerful, Mac-first email marketing tools.
Our thanks to Direct Mail for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;
Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.
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Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
AppStories For our second WWDC episode of AppStories, Federico and John dig into the details they’ve learned about what was announced by Apple this week at WWDC 2025.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Clic for Sonos – No lag. No hassle. Just Clic.
- Elements – A truly modern, drag-and-drop website builder for macOS.
Magic Rays of Light Sigmund and Devon break down Apple’s tvOS and visionOS announcements from WWDC25, grade their predictions, and highlight Apple Original film Echo Valley.
AppStories, Episode 440, ‘WWDC 2025: A First Look at Everything Apple Announced’ Show NotesA Look at Everything Apple Announced at WWDC* iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and Liquid Glass: The MacStories Overview * macOS Tahoe: The MacStories Overview * visionOS 26: The MacStories Overview * watchOS 26: The MacStories Overview * tvOS 26: The MacStories Overview * Apple Intelligence Expands: Onscreen Visual Intelligence, Shortcuts, Third-Party Apps, and More * Camera Remote and Higher-Quality Audio Recording Coming to AirPods This Fall * WWDC 2025: All the Small Things (Bento Box Version) * WWDC 2025: Subsequent Discoveries * “Opinionated Design”: Early Reactions to Apple’s Liquid Glass Design Language
Magic Rays of Light, Episode 173, ‘tvOS 26’s Reveal and Echo Valley’ Show NotesWWDC25* MacStories’ WWDC25 Coverage * What’s Coming | Foundation, Chief of War & More
Trailer Talk* The Wild Ones * The Lost Bus
Apple Original News* First Look at Slow Horses Season Five * Ben Stiller and Adam Scott on ‘Severance’ Season 3, Stiller’s Scrapped Character and Potential Spinoffs: ‘There Are Two Specific Ideas’ | Variety
Releases* Not a Box
Extras* Stick — The Cast on Their Love For Golf * Long Way Home — Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman on Their Friendship | Origin Story * Fountain of Youth — Natalie Portman and John Krasinski Speak French * Apple Maps Collection: Around the World with Fountain of Youth * The Buccaneers — Outsider’s Intro to Season 1 with Leighton Meester * Murderbot — The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon Opening Title Sequence * Murderbot — Alexander Skarsgård Plays Human or SecUnit
Highlight* Echo Valley
Up Next* Phineas and Ferb * Deep Cover
Contact* We want to hear from you! Contact us via our feedback form. * Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net. * Subscribe to Magic Rays of Light on YouTube and follow us on Mastodon and Bluesky. * Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on Mastodon or Bluesky * Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Bluesky
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;
Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.
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As detailed on 512 Pixels, Stephen Hackett managed to break into the beautiful ‘Macintosh’ screensaver and uncover the details of how it was constructed.
When looking for macOS Tahoe’s wallpapers, I was reminded of this project. I went digging through the SSD on my MacBook Pro, and my journey through Finder has yielded great fruit.
The screen saver is actually an Extension, residing at /System / Library / ExtensionKit / Extensions / WallpaperMacintoshExtension.appex (spaces added for legibility).
Right-clicking to “Show Package Contents” unveils a treasure trove:
The screensaver itself is not a video one, as evident by the way it randomly displays its designs when activated. Until now, it was somewhat of a mystery how this was dynamically created, so it’s great to peek behind the curtain.
I won’t spoil the details as they are pretty fun, and not really what you would have expected. Stephen has also collected all the image files in HiRes, should you wish to download them.
As someone who absolutely adores these designs to this day (so much so that I have not one but two of them as tattoos - the pixelated cursor and the smiling Mac), this was a delightful little discovery.
→ Source: 512pixels.net
Albums is the player that cares as much about your music library as you do. Made by music-obsessed solo developer Adam Linder, Albums provides the best alternative to the built-in Music app for true music lovers.
MacStories readers can redeem an extra-long two-week free trial of Albums Premium.
Albums is the infinite, high-tech CD binder or vinyl crate you wish you’d had in high school. Relive the glory days of the iPod with album shuffle, and use robust tagging and filtering options to build the album collections of your dreams—you can even tag music not in your library to check out later.
Beyond playback and organization, Albums is packed with features to enrich your musical life; the Release Feed keeps track of new and upcoming music from artists and record labels in your library; the app tracks your play history and generates regular listening reports; and the Insights tab offers dozens of personalized collections to help you experience your library in a new way.
Albums is deeply integrated with iOS system features, including comprehensive Shortcuts support, a first-class CarPlay app, and interactive widgets. It is available for iOS and iPadOS, with a macOS app on the horizon. Coming up on six years of iterative improvement on the App Store, the app is the best it’s ever been—and only getting better.
When you’re ready to level up your music-listening experience, redeem your two-week trial of Albums Premium. If you’re looking for something a little different, you can also check out Adam’s chaotic neutral music-discovery app, Univershuffle, which shuffles all of the music on the Apple Music catalog. Seriously!
Our thanks to Albums for supporting MacStories’ WWDC coverage this week.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;
Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.
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Ruminate Snack news dropped just before recording, Robb’s been buying more notebooks, and John and Robb discuss videogame news.
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MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
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If there was one thing you could guarantee to come out of a major OS redesign, it’s that people would have opinions, and lots of them. Combine that with the fact that the new Liquid Glass design stretches across every Apple platform, and you’ve got a recipe for many, many hot takes.
Amidst the big reactions, both positive and negative, there has been some excellent commentary on not just the content of this new design, but also the whys and wherefores of one of the largest redesigns Apple has ever carried out.
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One thing I think we should all be reminded of is the fact that this is the very start of the beta period. This is a time when much is broken, and a lot will change before the update is released to the general public. What is clear about Liquid Glass is that it is an opinionated design that, certainly at this point of development, will not please everyone.
This idea is perfectly laid out by Matt Bircher, writing for his blog Birchtree:
The challenge with opinionated design is that it’s really hard to do when you have 1 billion users; the safe thing to do is to be generic and slowly iterate on what you already have. It’s like flipping a house, painting all the walls white, and staging it with the most generic furniture you can find so as not to impart any personality or offend the sensibilities of anyone who walks in the front door.
A phrase I’m constantly reminded of is something that Federico often says he wants Apple to do: “get weird”. While this may not be the weirdest design ever, Apple is taking a bold leap and trying to do something new, different, and, yes, maybe even a little weird.
Brendon Bigley, writing at his blog Wavelengths, described his delight in installing the new iOS beta – sight unseen – and, despite not liking many parts of it, being thrilled by the opinionated way it had been created:
My designer brain sees Liquid Glass applied to elements like Control Center and thinks “That looks terrible. This is almost illegible.” But I also find myself smiling? Because Liquid Glass is legitimately fun to look at, and fun to use. It’s a huge swing and one I didn’t expect to land in a way that makes me truly feel like I have an entirely new phone from another universe.
However, there are many people who do not share this excitement. David Pierce over at The Verge was decidedly not impressed:
In that broadest sense, it’s logical that this is where Apple landed. It obviously wouldn’t, and probably couldn’t, fundamentally change the look and feel of every device it makes for billions of users around the world. No one wants that. So Apple just took all its elements and made them more universal: everything’s a little more round, a little more contained, a little less designed for a specific screen size.
And:
I’m not impressed, and I’m not optimistic. Apple is at its best when it has strong opinions about how things should work; even the attempt to get out of the way and let your content dictate everything feels like the wrong tack.
One of the loudest complaints about the Liquid Glass design has been the legibility of text on top of the glass-like UI. It’s an understandable complaint and an area of particular concern for those with visual impairments. But Steven Aquino, a disabled writer who delves heavily into the intersection of disability and technology, says he is not concerned:
All the flowery, romanticized marketing bluster regarding harmony means zippo if Liquid Glass isn’t readable. Personally, I find Liquid Glass to look damn cool and quite beautiful; nonetheless, I’m predisposed to be skeptical as a lifelong disabled person and thus was alarmed by some of what I saw in Apple’s marketing video. Fortunately, my fears were quickly allayed by high confidence in Apple’s track record in accessibility and confirmation that changes will be coming.
I connected with Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s senior director of global accessibility policy and initiatives, for a few minutes after the keynote ended. It was decidedly not an official, on the record interview, but I can confidently report Herrlinger told me her teams worked in tandem with the design team to build Liquid Glass and make it as accessible as possible.
The shock of the new is always significant, but we often become accustomed to it. There is no doubt that Apple has work to do in order to perfect this new design, but I have confidence they will get there.
The biggest example of Apple’s ability to swing big and then refine is the Safari redesign in iOS 15. The discourse coming out of WWDC that year was incredibly fiery; however, Apple iterated on the design until it achieved a great version of the new layout, which was released to the public in the fall.
In the end, I think the malleable reaction from Jay Peters at The Verge will become the most common one when the final versions of Apple’s OS updates are released in the fall:
At first, I hated the big changes. That surprised me. I’m usually fine with UI tweaks. Back in the day, I was on board with even the earliest and worst versions of iOS 7. But after a couple of hours with the iOS 26 developer beta, Liquid Glass is growing on me.
My iPhone still functions like it used to. I have a lot of small complaints, especially with the spacing of settings functions and Control Center. But I expect Apple will tweak and fix a lot of the bigger issues ahead of the official launch of iOS 26 this fall.
It’s going to be a fascinating summer.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2025 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2025 RSS feed.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
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Source: Apple.
On Monday, Apple announced tvOS 26, the latest chapter in the platform’s nearly decade-long journey of bringing best-in-class experiences for TV shows, films, and apps to the living room – available this fall and currently in developer-only beta. In a first for the company, this year sees the debut of a new universal design language across all of Apple’s platforms simultaneously. Liquid Glass aims to make the transition from one device to another a seamless, almost indistinguishable user experience while placing greater emphasis on content in a way that’s both free of immersion-breaking distractions and perfectly suited to Apple TV.
Source: Apple.
Compatible with Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) and above, the new visionOS-inspired material design aims to achieve those lofty ambitions by cleverly simulating refractions and reflections to create the illusion of specular highlights within the different UI elements inside of tvOS 26, adding a subtle three-dimensionality to every control, button, and app icon border as each element adapts to its surroundings thanks to real-time, on-device rendering. Though the adoption of Liquid Glass has been executed with subtle and delicate delivery in most parts of the system, the glacial elements exhibited within Apple TV’s video player controls and Control Center elevate both otherwise unchanged OS elements to noteworthy showpieces while still keeping the focus first and foremost on what’s playing.
Source: Apple.
Source: Apple.
Liquid Glass also extends to Apple’s own suite of apps, with the Apple TV app adding new vertical, glass-infused “cinematic” poster art tiles. The long-overdue reversion back to vertical tiles welcomes the return of the classic one-sheet and allows for more shows and movies to be displayed at any given time across the TV app’s Home, Store, and Library tabs, as well as on pages dedicated to specific channels and apps.
User Switching and SetupSource: Apple.
For households that are conscious of members’ separate Continue Watching queues, Watchlists, libraries, personalised recommendations, and high scores across TV, Music, Podcasts, and Apple Arcade, tvOS 26 introduces a new profile picker that appears whenever the Apple TV wakes from sleep, giving users peace of mind that they can safely continue a TV show, movie, podcast, or game from the point they last jumped off. In addition, the update also introduces a new API for developers that allows app logins to be linked to an Apple account for a seamless Apple TV setup experience, removing the need to log in to each app manually.
FaceTime and HomePodFaceTime also sees enhancements courtesy of tvOS 26, with the app’s experience closer reflecting that of its iOS counterpart, starting with the inclusion of Contact Posters that add a more personalised experience when making or receiving a FaceTime call on Apple TV. Last year’s incredible Live Caption feature, enabled by on-device intelligence, is expanding to support French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, and Spanish. In addition, FaceTime on Apple TV is gaining the ability to answer calls via notifications that appear onscreen for the active profile, allowing users to quickly answer and start talking using the microphones included on connected HomePods or an iPhone.
Sing Along With Apple Music Sing and iPhoneSource: Apple.
iPhone integration continues to permeate across the Apple TV experience this year, this time with the introduction of a new, fun, and interactive enhancement to Apple Music Sing available exclusively on the third-generation Apple TV 4K. Apple Music Sing launched in late 2022 with the ability to lower or mute the vocal track of songs within Apple Music’s vast library, accompanying the music with real-time lyrics and visual effects to help listeners follow along and sing. This year, Apple Music Sing goes a step further by adding Lyrics Translation and pronunciation cues; it’s also adding the ability for anyone on the same Wi-Fi network to connect their iPhone (11 or later) to an Apple TV 4K to use as a handheld microphone. Other connected iPhone users can either join in or express their encouragement – or displeasure – by way of emoji that appear onscreen. Apple TV 4K and iPhone may have instantly claimed the mantle for the most accessible and comprehensive karaoke setup imaginable.
AirPlayFollowing last year’s democratization of Enhance Dialogue to all speaker types, this year, Apple is giving users the ability to designate any AirPlay speaker as the default audio output when playing back media audio on Apple TV. However, system and game audio will still route through to TV speakers.
Screen Savers and CustomizationSource: Apple.
While there’s still no sign of the Apple Original-themed screen savers announced last year, tvOS 26 does include a selection of new Aerial screen savers featuring scenes from across India, including Goa and Kerala. Users will also have the ability to curate their Aerial screen saver experience by selecting specific scenes from across Apple TV’s Cityscape, Earth, Landscape, and Underwater Aerial screen saver categories to display.
Other AdditionstvOS 26 comes with a handful of other changes:
- A new
AVAudioContentSource.passthroughAPI is available to developers, adding the ability for the Apple TV to passthrough a high-quality audio stream in an untouched state to an audio processor or receiver further down the chain. Audio passthrough support will reportedly work on an app-by-app basis but will still require Apple to add support to tvOS for formats including, but not limited to, True HD, Auro3D, DTS, and DTS: X Profile 2. - tvOS 26 introduces Metal 4 compatibility for Apple TV 4K (3rd generation).
- Developers of apps for subscription-based streaming services now have the ability to create special subscription offers for redemption inside of the Apple TV app.
- A new Accessibility section has been added to App Store product pages featuring nutrition labels for accessibility features supported by apps and games.
Initial Thoughts This year marks the 10-year anniversary of tvOS, and it’s a testament to the Apple TV software engineering team’s efforts that this fall’s release of tvOS 26 will not only be present on the original Apple TV 4K, but will also support the platform’s launch hardware, Apple TV HD.
Looking ahead, I’m especially interested to see how the new Liquid Glass design is refined in the months leading up to public release. I’m also very excited to live with the many enhancements added to Apple TV this year, especially the new sing-along aspect of Apple Music Sing – though my neighbours probably won’t be thrilled. That all being said, with an Apple TV hardware refresh long overdue, I can’t help but suspect that this latest chapter in the Apple TV and tvOS story isn’t quite over, and instead, this week’s announcements could serve as a prologue to something bigger.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2025 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2025 RSS feed.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
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Source: Apple.
After the initial rush following a WWDC keynote, the next few days are typically spent mulling over new features and design changes. This is often a fruitful time for discovering modifications and additions that weren’t covered in the keynote. This year is no different, so I’ve collated a roundup of some of the most significant ones below.
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Services AdditionsApple has announced updates to its services, including some that weren’t mentioned in the keynote. Among them were improvements to Apple Podcasts, Apple Wallet, and Apple Fitness+, as well as a new game in Apple News+.
Source: Apple.
In Apple Podcasts, you can fine-tune the playback speed of your podcasts more specifically and more broadly than was possible before. Enhanced Dialogue has also been added, utilizing real-time audio processing and machine learning to improve speech clarity over background sounds in podcasts.
Source: Apple.
Apple continues to increase the usefulness of the Wallet app with enhancements to delivery tracking. Now, the app utilizes Apple Intelligence to scan your emails and search for delivery or tracking details related to items you’ve ordered. These details then are automatically displayed and updated within Apple Wallet.
In Fitness+, there are two new Custom Plans in the Plans tab. These are automatically generated based on your preferred workout types, trainers, and music styles. For now, there are two levels of difficulty: Stay Consistent, which offers activities to help you maintain your current fitness level, and Push Further to, well, push you further than your current fitness level.
Source: Apple.
Finally, in Apple News+, there is a new game called Emoji Game. In it, you are asked to complete three phrases using a combination of emoji in as little time and as few moves as possible. You can track your stats, check leaderboards, and compete with friends in Game Center. Initially, this game will be available only in the U.S. and Canada.
Lock Screen WidgetsLock Screen widgets can now be moved to the bottom of the screen, just above the two customizable control buttons. Notifications will then come in above these widgets. This allows you to take advantage of Apple’s heavily demoed dynamic clock font without losing access to your Lock Screen widgets.
Adaptive PowerThe long-rumored AI-powered battery management feature seems to have snuck out as a note on a slide. In the Battery section in Settings, you can choose to turn on Adaptive Power, which allows your iPhone to make “small performance adjustments to extend your battery life”. It’s a less splashy announcement, which suggests the effect on battery life might not be as huge as people had hoped, though this could be a precursor to an expanded version of the feature coming with new iPhones in the fall.
App IconsSource: Yannick Lung on Mastodon.
After all the talk about whether Apple would change the shape of app icons on iOS and iPadOS, it appeared that they didn’t. Or did they? As Yannick Lung pointed out on Mastodon, the corner radius of the classic squircle has changed ever so slightly.
Source: The Icon Factory.
Over on the Mac, it seems that Apple is now forcing all app icons into a squircle shape, even if they are not designed as such. If an app has a custom shape, it will be displayed with a grey background within the squircle, as detailed by The Icon Factory on Mastodon. Developer Simon Støvring may have found a way around this restriction, however.
macOS cursorSource: Nathan Manceaux-Panot on Mastodon.
iPadOS wasn’t the only platform to get a new cursor design. macOS Tahoe’s cursor features a new, more rounded look, arguably for the first time since the first release of Mac OS X, as pointed out by Nathan Manceaux-Panot on Mastodon.
New Finder IconSource: 512 Pixels.
Finally, in the midst of the debate about whether Liquid Glass is good or not, most people missed the redesign of the Finder icon in macOS. Not Stephen Hackett, though. He posted about it on his blog, 512 Pixels, calling for Apple to revert to the previous look and filing a feedback. I’ve got to agree with him; the new icon is weird and unnecessary, spoiling decades of Apple design history.
This is no doubt just the beginning of these discoveries. If you find an interesting tidbit of your own, let me know.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2025 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2025 RSS feed.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
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Source: Apple.
Earlier today, Apple announced watchOS 26 and with it, a selection of updates and new features for the Apple Watch. Alongside all of Apple’s other platforms, watchOS will adopt the new Liquid Glass design language, albeit in a less significant way.
watchOS didn’t feature any Apple Intelligence features when it launched last year, and that continues to be the case, even though it is merely a technicality now. That’s because the new Workout Buddy feature, which you interact with from your Apple Watch, still requires an Apple Intelligence-capable iPhone nearby. This is presumably a technical limitation that may be overcome in the future with a more advanced Apple Watch chipset.
Source: Apple.
Outside of this sizable new feature, the Workout app also gains four new buttons in the corners of the screen to customize your workouts even more. For example, the workout screen for an Outdoor Run offers quick access to music, notification announcements, workout views, and custom workout settings.
You can also set up your exercise soundtrack from within the Workout app. Apple Music will even suggest a playlist based on the workout type and your listening history.
Smart StackSource: Apple.
The Smart Stack is improving its suggestions this year by displaying an additional icon at the bottom of your watch face when the Smart Stack is not visible. Using additional sensor data and contextual information, the system might display a Smart Stack hint to start a yoga workout when you arrive at your yoga studio, or an icon to start the Backtrack feature could appear when you are in a remote location with no signal. Tapping these suggestions will open the Smart Stack to show the actionable item.
MessagesSource: Apple.
Messages now supports Live Translation, a new Apple Intelligence feature that’s also coming to Apple’s other platforms. As with Workout Buddy, a nearby iPhone is required.
The app will also suggest actions, such as using Apple Cash or starting a Check In, based on the context of a conversation. Finally, any message backgrounds you set up on other devices will also appear in watchOS.
Another Wrist ActionSource: Apple.
Double Tap is an excellent feature that allows you to perform actions with your Apple Watch when your other hand is otherwise occupied. With watchOS 26, you can now dismiss notifications and calls, silence timers and alarms, and return to the watch face all by flicking your wrist away from you. This gesture is enabled by a machine learning model and the watch’s accelerometer and gyroscope. It seems like a great new feature, so I’m hoping it will be opened up to third-party apps for more uses.
I’m not someone who ever has the alert sounds enabled on my Apple Watch, but if you are, you will be happy to know that watchOS will now detect noise levels around you and adjust the volume of alerts so they don’t echo through a library but do get loud enough to hear when you’re in a noisier environment.
In addition to Hold Assist and Call Screening (which are available as long as there is an iPhone nearby), the Notes app is also arriving on watchOS. You can pin notes, create new ones, and check off items in a checklist.
And finally, developers can now take advantage of new APIs to create custom controls for Control Center, the Action button, or a Smart Stack widget.
Initial ThoughtswatchOS 26 looks to be a disappointingly small release, and after there was some good progress on the platform last year, that’s a shame. However, I am happy to see another wrist gesture for interacting with your watch, and Smart Stack hints look like a handy, unobtrusive way for the system to helpfully suggest actions for you to carry out.
I’ll be delving more into watchOS 26 over the summer in anticipation of its release this fall.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2025 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2025 RSS feed.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;
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During today’s WWDC 2025 keynote, held in person at Apple Park and streamed online, Apple unveiled a considerable number of upgrades to iOS and iPadOS, including a brand-new design language called Liquid Glass. This new look, which spans all of Apple’s platforms, coupled with a massive upgrade for multitasking on the iPad and numerous other additions and updates, made for packed releases for iOS and iPadOS.
Let’s take a look at everything Apple showed today for Liquid Glass, iOS, and iPadOS.
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Liquid GlassSource: Apple.
Before diving into the updates to iOS and iPadOS, we must first look at Apple’s new design language, Liquid Glass. After hearing many rumors and debates, today we were able to finally see the new look in action. Liquid Glass features a glass-like feel that reflects and refracts content around it, like text in an app or your Home Screen wallpaper. It also dynamically morphs to adapt to elements like menus, pop-ups, and taskbars.
Apple says this look was created not only by the design team, but in collaboration with the engineering team, with a focus on reacting to surrounding content and achieving a glass-like look with elements like specular highlights.
Source: Apple.
Some areas where this design is immediately obvious are the time on the Lock Screen and icons and widgets on the Home Screen. The Lock Screen time features a three-dimensional look that refracts the wallpaper beneath it and dynamically moves as you tilt your iPhone in your hand. When it comes to icons and widgets, they gain a more glassy look in both light and dark modes. However, the new look is more noticeable in tinted mode and the new clear look, which renders icons and widgets almost transparent.
Source: Apple.
With first-party apps like Music, tab bars are now presented as hovering planes of glass with fully rounded edges. When you scroll, tab bars shrink to more compact versions, all while retaining their glass-like look and feel. Conversely, when you expand an element of UI, such as swiping up from the bottom of the Maps app, the element expands organically rather than just moving up.
Apple’s philosophy with this new design is that UI elements – like tab bars, buttons, and more – sit in a functional layer above your apps. They adapt to light and dark content beneath, becoming abstracted from it rather than framing it, as in iOS and iPadOS 18 and earlier.
Source: Apple.
As part of the presentation, VP of Human Interface Design Alan Dye also previewed some welcome changes to the way you interact with the platforms, enabled by Liquid Glass. When you tap to close an email you are writing, the alert asking if you want to delete or save the email morphs out of the close button, making it easier to access. Additionally, context menus (like the one you see when you select text) expand into a fully vertical list, as opposed to the current limited view that you have to swipe horizontally.
Source: Apple.
It’s clear that Apple’s design and engineering teams are thinking about this from a physical point of view, seeing the new design as actual glass rather than a simple effect. It all looks very nice, but some questions arise regarding aspects such as the legibility of text on the new Liquid Glass UI elements. It will be interesting to see how the design as a whole is adapted to address concerns like this over the course of the summer beta season.
iOS 26Source: Apple.
Along with the significant design changes introduced by Liquid Glass, iOS 26 brings a wide variety of new features and capabilities. Several of these announcements were mentioned under the Apple Intelligence branding, a clear move by Apple to add more perceived value to the offering after a widely panned release in iOS 18. But beyond Apple Intelligence, iOS 26 still has plenty to offer.
CommunicationIn addition to the impressive Live Translation features included in the Messages, FaceTime, and the Phone apps, Apple announced further features across its communication apps. These mainly focus on screening, interruptions, and group messaging.
Source: Apple.
Apple is introducing Call Screening, which builds on Live Voicemail. If an unknown number calls your iPhone, Call Screening first gathers relevant information from the caller, such as the reason for the call, before alerting you on your Lock Screen. You will then have the option to pick up the call or hang up.
Additionally, with Hold Assist, if you are placed on hold, you can mute your call, and your iPhone will notify you when you are taken off hold, allowing you to put down your phone and attend to other tasks in the meantime.
Finally, in Messages, you can now screen messages from unknown numbers and filter them out of your main list of messages. These messages will remain silenced until you confirm that you know the sender, meaning fewer interruptions from spam numbers.
It will be interesting to see how these three features perform; if they work well, I can imagine them being useful to almost all iPhone users.
Source: Apple.
Source: Apple.
Group messages are gaining several new features, including three much-requested ones from WhatsApp. First up is the ability to create polls. Anyone in a group chat can make one, and group members taking the poll can even add additional answers of their own. Group chats will also gain live typing indicators and the ability to add backgrounds to the chat. Users can select Apple-created animated backgrounds, pick photos from their library, or create backgrounds using Image Playground. Finally, in group messages, users can request and send Apple Cash (available in the U.S. only).
Core iOS AppsSource: Apple.
The inclusion of lyrics in Apple Music has always been an impressive and much-loved feature. In iOS 26 (and across Apple’s other platforms), they’re gaining valuable enhancements with Lyrics Translation and Lyrics Pronunciation. Lyrics Translation shows a translation of the lyrics in a smaller type size in your preferred language, just below the main lyrics, while Lyric Pronunciation does the same, but phonetically. The Lyric Pronunciation feature is particularly impressive when you think of the many non-Latin language songs it will allow you to sing along to without mangling the pronunciation. In addition to enhancements to lyrics, Apple Music now features AutoMix, which intelligently extends sounds and adjusts beats to transition between tracks like a DJ would.
Visited Locations is a new feature in Apple Maps that remembers places you’ve been to, like restaurants and shops, and allows you to recall them from within the app. This data is predictably end-to-end encrypted, and the feature will be labeled as a beta at first. Google Maps has long stored a list of places you’ve been, but with Apple’s trademark privacy-first approach, I think many people will find this helpful for those times they can’t quite remember the name of that great place they went to tell their friends about.
Source: Apple.
Using on-device intelligence, Apple Maps will now learn the common routes you take and automatically suggest your preferred one if several options are available. Additionally, Apple Maps will notify you if there are any problems or delays on your regular route and suggest alternatives.
Source: Apple.
Lastly, in the Wallet app, users can now pay in installments or use rewards in person, not just online. Boarding passes now contain additional information, such as links to items in the Find My app, airport maps, and shareable flight tracking Live Activities. With an Apple Intelligence-powered expansion of the existing delivery tracking feature, the Wallet app is becoming increasingly feature-rich and much more than a place to store your Apple Pay cards.
Apple GamesSource: Apple.
Across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, Apple unveiled its much-rumored dedicated gaming app. Billed as an all-in-one destination for your games, the app takes a similar form to apps like Apple Books, Apple TV, and Apple Music. Apple Games features a tab bar along the bottom containing four sections: Home, Arcade, Play Together, and Library.
Much like the Apple TV app, the Home section contains your currently playing games and recommendations from Apple. Arcade contains… you guessed it… Apple Arcade titles, which also remain accessible from the App Store. The library includes all the games you own, but it’s Play Together that reflects the area Apple has put most energy into.
In Play Together, Apple is bringing the Game Center gang back – properly – with a focus on playing with friends. Above sections for adding friends and highlights of achievements by friends are two buttons for starting a game. You can first choose players from your friends list and then start a game, or you can select a game before inviting them to compete. This, of course, works well with multiplayer games, but Apple has also created the ability to challenge others in single-player games by letting you compete for high scores.
CarPlaySource: Apple.
Hot on the heels of releasing CarPlay Ultra last month, Apple is adding some new features to the vanilla version of its in-car entertainment system. It adopts the appearance of the new Liquid Glass design and now features a compact view when someone calls you, rather than blocking the entire UI. As someone who regularly finds this frustrating when using the Maps interface while driving, I welcome this change with open arms.
Source: Apple.
Users can also now send tapbacks in Messages, pin conversations, and add widgets and Live Activities to the interface. These updates are also coming to CarPlay Ultra.
iPadOS 26Source: Apple.
Well, where to start with iPadOS? It was rumored that iPadOS would receive a multitasking update this year. Not only was that update huge, but Apple also announced several other significant additions that could possibly, maybe, finally turn the iPad into the fully capable device many pro users have been clamoring for for years. Time will tell, so let’s take a look.
Multitasking and a Menu BarPeople have long called for iPads to simply run macOS, and while this update is not that, there are many ways in which these new multitasking capabilities borrow heavily from the Mac.
To start, Apple was very clear: if you want to use the iPad in the classic, full-screen view, you can continue to do so. However, if you wish to use multiple windows, all you have to do is drag the handle at the bottom-right corner of a full-screen window to turn it into a floating version. Doing so will also reveal macOS-style traffic light buttons in the top-left corner of the window. While these appear tiny at first, hovering over them with the new, macOS-inspired pointer (or tapping with your finger) will expand that area to allow you to easily close, minimize, or maximize the window.
Source: Apple.
You can resize any window from its edges, but unlike in Stage Manager, the edges don’t snap to specific sizes; they’re entirely flexible to any pixel dimension, just like on the Mac. Windows can also be dragged anywhere, including partially off-screen, by grabbing the bar along the top.
Source: Apple.
A common complaint with Stage Manager was the inability to maintain consistent layouts across different spaces. But in iPadOS 26, if you close an app that had a window positioned in a particular way, reopening the app will launch it in the exact same location. This also works across spaces in Stage Manager, which I’m sure will be very welcome news to power users. Finally, with Exposé, you can zoom out to see all your open windows, enabling you to quickly switch to a specific one without having to dig beneath several other windows.
Source: Apple.
As if this new multitasking system wasn’t significant enough, iPadOS 26 now has a proper menu bar. Hidden at first, the list of menus can be activated by moving your cursor up to the top of the screen. I imagine it will be up to developers to specify what appears in their apps’ menus, but for Safari, the menu items are almost identical to those on macOS. You can even search for a command in the menu bar, just like on a Mac.
Files AppAnother app that users have long desired more Mac-like features from is the Files app. With iPadOS 26, several additions bring it closer to Finder on the Mac, while not completely aligning the two. Primarily, these changes are reflected in the navigation of file lists.
Source: Apple.
At the core of this is the way the list view is displayed in Files. Now, as in the Finder, you can add columns to a list of files, showing the following information: Date Modified, Date Created, Date Last Opened, Kind, Size, Tags, and Cloud Status. These categories can also be used to sort the list of files. You can also expand and collapse folders in list view for easier access to their contents.
Like in macOS 26, folders can be customized with colors, emoji, and icons. These changes all sync across devices. Access to your favorite folders is easier, too, thanks to the ability to add folders to the Dock. Clicking on a folder in the Dock will expand the contents in a fan, exactly like on a Mac.
Source: Apple.
Finally, you will be able to specify which app to open a file in and set a default app for a particular file format, another long-requested capability.
Source: Apple.
Preview AppThe Preview app arrives with iPadOS 26, providing a better way to view simple files like PDFs and images. You can open files directly within Preview and access several of the same tools you’re used to on macOS, like selecting an area of an image to copy or crop to, annotating (with Apple Pencil support), and even creating a blank document to make something from scratch.
Source: Apple.
This seems like a simple yet essential addition to the platform, and I’m sure it will be used frequently by those who previously had to find third-party apps to make simple changes to images or PDFs.
Background Tasks and Audio EnhancementsAs with the new windowing system, the inability of iPadOS to allow apps to perform core operations in the background, such as exporting a file, has long frustrated pro users. With iPadOS 26, the system can now do just that.
Source: Apple.
Available at launch for Apple apps like Final Cut Pro, and enabled by developers for their apps with a new API, Background Tasks allows you to start a task, then switch to another app while it continues working. The process will appear as a Live Activity at the top of the screen, allowing you to keep an eye on its progress.
Along with additions to AirPods that enable “studio-quality recording” and camera control, Apple also announced some very nice, and long-requested, additions to audio input on the iPad. You can now choose the exact microphone you want to use in each app or website you have open, and in big news for podcasters and creators, iPadOS 26 allows you to record your own, isolated audio track with Local capture.
Source: Apple.
You can use Local capture with any video conferencing app, and recordings are automatically saved and available for sharing. Thanks to echo cancellation, you don’t even have to wear AirPods to use this feature
; however, your recording quality will always be better with a dedicated microphone.
Additional Tidbits* The Journal app comes to the iPad. With this, you can also capture your thoughts and daily events with the Apple Pencil. * A new reed pen (hey, I like that name!) will be available for the Apple Pencil across Notes, Preview, Freeform, Journal, Markup, and in third-party apps with the PencilKit API. * Calculator adds new 3D graphing capabilities. * Notes now supports the import and export of Markdown files on both iOS and iPadOS. * There are additional enhancements for Child Accounts, including the ability to block contact requests, blur sensitive content in FaceTime, and allow parents to grant access to apps rated for older children.
Initial ThoughtsEven with all the rumors surrounding WWDC 2025, there were some really surprising announcements for iOS and iPadOS today. The new Liquid Glass design looks very pretty, but time will tell if users are drawn to it and if things like text legibility hold up or need to be adjusted during the beta period.
Outside of the redesign, iOS had a relatively quiet year, with all the great new features like Live Translation also being available on other platforms. These cross-platform features also include screening features in Messages and the Phone app, but they will be more strongly felt on the iPhone, most people’s main device for communication. Additions to the Wallet app, Apple Maps, and Apple Music are nice quality-of-life features, but the most attention of the day, surprisingly, went to iPadOS.
While many won’t use the new windowing system, there will be several vocal users who will be throwing up their arms in delight at what seems like a really well-considered interpretation of windowing on the Mac. We can’t know yet whether it will stick for the users who have long asked for this, but it’s looking promising. On top of that, the features around audio input look set to land well with podcasters, musicians, and creative professionals.
Could this be the year the iPad finally turns a corner? I really didn’t think I’d be asking that question 24 hours ago, but maybe it is. We’ll find out more about this new chapter of iPadOS as we near its public release this fall.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2025 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2025 RSS feed.
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Source: Apple.
Every keynote, Apple is well-known for summarizing sections of the presentation with immaculately laid-out bento boxes containing key features. They often serve as good, easily digestible overviews of all the new features for each OS.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at all the bento boxes from today’s WWDC 2025 keynote.
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iOSSource: Apple.
Source: Apple.
Apple presumably wanted to mention lots of extra features coming to their most popular OS, so they added an extra slide listing a whole raft of new additions. Some that jumped out for me were ‘Custom snooze length for alarms’, ‘Select partial text in bubble’ for Messages, and ‘Adaptive power’, which might refer to the rumored AI battery enhancements.
iPadOSSource: Apple.
macOSSource: Apple.
watchOSSource: Apple.
visionOSSource: Apple.
tvOSSource: Apple.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2025 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2025 RSS feed.
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At its WWDC 2025 keynote held earlier today, Apple officially announced the next version of macOS, macOS Tahoe. As per the company’s naming tradition over the past decade, this new release is once again named after a location in California. This year, however, to unify the version numbers across all its operating systems, Apple has decided to align the new release with the upcoming year. This is why the version number for macOS Tahoe will be macOS 26, directly up from last year’s macOS 15.
macOS 26 features the brand-new Liquid Glass design language, which Apple is also rolling out across iOS, iPadOS, visionOS, watchOS, and tvOS. But macOS Tahoe doesn’t stop there. In addition to the flashy new look, Apple has introduced many features, ranging from a supercharged new version of Spotlight and intelligent actions in Shortcuts to new Continuity and gaming-focused features for the Mac.
Here’s a recap of everything that Apple showed off today for macOS Tahoe.
Supported ByElements Elements: A Truly Modern, Drag-and-Drop Website Builder for macOS.Liquid GlassLiquid Glass is an all-new design language rolling out this fall to all of Apple’s operating systems. Heavily inspired by the translucency-infused user interface of visionOS and the fluid movements of the iPhone’s Dynamic Island, Liquid Glass blends floating elements with fresh animations and visual effects that seem to refract and reflect colorful elements onscreen. To read more about the redesign, head over to Jonathan’s iOS and iPadOS 26 Overview, which goes into it in more detail.
On the Mac, Apple showcased how Liquid Glass affects all the platform’s well-known classic UI elements. The Dock, menus, buttons, and more are now all translucent with a frosted glass effect applied to their backgrounds and a reflective sheen around the edges. The Mac’s menu bar is now fully transparent, while Control Center and notification banners take on the same reflective appearance introduced today in iOS and iPadOS 26.
In the Dock, just like on iOS and iPadOS 26, app icons can be customized with a monochrome tint (leading to some very flashy results), dark mode, or even a clear translucent look. These settings also apply to desktop widgets. But aside from the customization options, Apple has redesigned every app icon to match the Liquid Glass aesthetic, even going so far as updating the iconic Finder icon with a floating blue half.
macOS Tahoe will feature a clear look for app icons and desktop widgets. Source: Apple.
The new Liquid Glass design seems to lead to some very flashy results. Source: Apple.
App icons and widgets in macOS Tahoe can also be tinted similarly to iOS and iPadOS. Source: Apple.
The redesigned Control Center in macOS Tahoe will also bring it in line with the improvements made to its equivalent on iOS and iPadOS last year. Namely, you will be able to fully customize the layout of Control Center and add custom controls provided by third-party apps, including apps installed on your iPhone. These iPhone controls will launch iPhone Mirroring when clicked.
The redesigned Control Center will be customizable just like on iOS and iPadOS, with the ability to add controls provided by apps installed on your iPhone. Source: Apple.
Apps and windows on macOS have also been heavily redesigned. In apps like Notes, Music, and Preview, sidebars and toolbars appear to float over window backgrounds, while elements such as search fields, buttons, and app windows appear more, if not fully, rounded. Among many examples, Safari stands out with a now transparent address bar, allowing colors from web pages to shine through the app’s main toolbar as if it were a rounded window. Messages and Photos have also been rethought, with the latter adopting a floating sidebar where the new Pinned Collections can be added.
As a nice addition to this new design, the Mac’s desktop and Finder will offer the ability to customize folder icons, letting you pick from a range of custom folder colors that can be combined with symbols and emoji to thematically match a folder with its contents. Apple announced that the new custom folder icons will also be available in the Files app in iOS and iPadOS 26 and sync over iCloud.
Redesigned apps in macOS Tahoe, such as Music, feature floating toolbars and sidebars and heavily rounded corners. Source: Apple.
The redesigned Safari turns the address bar translucent, allowing web pages to shine through. Source: Apple.
The redesign may introduce some oddities in the near future. For instance, in some of Apple’s example images, the new, more rounded corner radius on app windows seems to only apply to redesigned apps, while other apps visible onscreen retain the older look. It will be interesting to observe over the coming weeks how easily developers can adapt their apps so they don’t look out of place when macOS Tahoe is officially released this fall.
Supercharged SpotlightIn addition to the new design, Apple announced a major upgrade to Spotlight in macOS Tahoe.
Not unlike Launchpad, which has been around on the Mac since OS X Lion, Spotlight will let users search and browse through all of their installed apps. It will surface suggested files and apps right below its search field and automatically organize apps into categories, similarly to the App Library on iOS and iPadOS. Apple says this view will also include apps from your iPhone that will immediately open with iPhone Mirroring when launched.
Source: Apple.
Along with the existing ability to search files and documents, Spotlight in Tahoe will integrate directly with actions provided by first- and third-party apps that take advantage of the App Intents API. These actions will allow you to set multiple parameters in a single query, letting you quickly perform advanced operations like composing and sending an email in one go.
Spotlight in macOS Tahoe will let Mac users pass multiple arguments in a single command. Video: Apple.
This powerful ability to invoke multi-parameter app actions from Spotlight is boosted by a welcome usability improvement in the form of ‘quick keys’. These are essentially shorthands for specific actions that you need to run frequently. Among the examples demoed by Apple, you will be able to type ar to immediately start adding a reminder from Spotlight, or sm to start sending a message. It is not clear at this time how customizable these will be, but it would make sense for Apple to let users set their own custom quick keys to launch their most used actions.
‘Quick keys’ are shorthands that can be used to invoke frequently used actions. Source: Apple.
Spotlight in macOS 26 works contextually, too. When you’re in an app, Spotlight will be able to search through that app’s menu bar items and trigger them directly, without the need for you to reach for the top of the screen. Additionally, Spotlight will be able to surface the currently active app’s actions when invoked.
Spotlight will be able to search through an active app’s menu bar items. Video: Apple.
Last but not least, Spotlight is finally bringing a native clipboard history to macOS. When invoked, it will allow users to browse through recently copied items and paste them directly in an app onscreen. Considering the rich ecosystem of clipboard manager apps that has existed for years on the Mac, it’s clear that this is a long-awaited feature, especially for more advanced users who juggle intensive tasks.
Spotlight in macOS Tahoe is obviously taking inspiration from the great third-party alternatives currently available, such as Raycast and Alfred. Clipboard history, quick keys, and multi-parameter queries seem particularly similar to the way Raycast functions on the Mac. Bringing these types of advanced workflows natively into the OS for all Mac users is a welcome and fascinating move, to say the least.
Phone App and Live ActivitiesToday, Apple announced a redesigned Phone app for iOS 26. Surprisingly, the company also announced that the Phone app would be coming to the Mac and the iPad as part of macOS Tahoe and iPadOS 26 as a way to build upon the existing ability to take phone calls from the Mac and iPad using FaceTime. The new Phone app will offer the same new features coming to the iPhone, including Call Screening and Hold Assist. It will also allow you to listen to your voicemails and view your recent calls.
The new Phone app in macOS Tahoe. Source: Apple.
An incoming phone call in macOS Tahoe. Note the partially-visible redesigned Preview app. Source: Apple.
As a way to complement iPhone Mirroring – Apple’s native app announced at WWDC 2024 that lets Mac users mirror and fully interact with a nearby iPhone, including with its notifications – macOS Tahoe will be able to display an iPhone’s Live Activities directly in the menu bar. Clicking an open Live Activity will then open the corresponding app in iPhone Mirroring, similarly to the way users have been able to click iPhone notifications sent to the Mac in the past.
iPhone Live Activities will appear directly in the menu bar on macOS Tahoe. Source: Apple.
It is important to note that, as of writing, iPhone Mirroring in macOS Sequoia still isn’t available in the European Union due to concerns related to the DMA, according to Apple. Since the company hasn’t provided an update on the matter today, I’m concerned that many of the Continuity features coming in macOS Tahoe that integrate with iPhone Mirroring will be withheld from Mac users in the EU. We will be on the lookout for any signs of this changing in the coming weeks and months.
Shortcuts, Games, and Everything ElseHere’s everything else Apple announced today that’s coming in macOS Tahoe:
Shortcuts gains intelligent actions. Described by Apple as a “new class” of actions, intelligent actions in Shortcuts will let users summarize text with Apple’s Writing Tools, generate images with Image Playground, and perform operations using custom prompts. These new types of actions will be configurable to be powered either by Apple’s on-device models, its Private Cloud Compute infrastructure, or ChatGPT.
Apple showcased intelligent actions in macOS Tahoe, here summarizing a document in Apple Notes using its Private Cloud Compute model. Source: Apple.
Shortcut automations come to the Mac. On iOS and iPadOS, shortcuts can be set to run automatically in the background following a set schedule or dynamic system triggers like when your device starts charging. This has long been a powerful way to create automations on Apple’s platforms; however, it was missing from Shortcuts on the Mac. That changes with macOS Tahoe. In addition to a set schedule, shortcut automations can be set off by triggers like saving a file and connecting a display.
New Games app and Game Overlay. Apple’s new Games app is also coming to the Mac with Tahoe. The app is presented as a way to gather all of your games in one place, along with game recommendations and the Apple Arcade catalog. On macOS, the app is accompanied by a new Game Overlay, which will be accessible onscreen when playing a game. The overlay includes social features, such as inviting and chatting with friends, and quickly accessible system settings, such as Low Power Mode.
macOS Tahoe features a new in-game overlay to access settings and social features. Source: Apple
Metal 4. Apple announced Metal 4 for developers, with improved graphics and performance that should take advantage of the M3 and M4 chips. The company namely cites improvements to ray tracing as a benefit.
Live Translation. Just like on iOS and iPadOS 26, the Messages app will be able to automatically translate messages. This feature is also coming to FaceTime calls, where you will be able to overlay translation captions over your correspondent’s video, and the Phone app.
The Journal app comes to the Mac. When the Journal app was initially launched as part of iOS 17, it was only available on the iPhone. Over a year and a half later, we can finally expect it to arrive on the Mac and the iPad as part of macOS Tahoe and iPadOS 26. The updated Journal features a new design that takes advantage of the larger displays and now allows users to create and keep multiple journals in the same app.
Messages gains custom backgrounds and polls. Alongside the Liquid Glass treatment, Messages on the Mac remains on par with iOS and iPadOS this year in terms of new features. As a result, Messages on macOS Tahoe will gain custom backgrounds, the ability to create polls, and typing indicators in group chats.
The redesigned Messages app in macOS Tahoe with a custom background. Source: Apple.
Markdown exports in Apple Notes. The Markdown syntax, which lets you easily format text with a variety of symbols, is now finally available in Apple Notes, but only in a very specific corner of the app. That is, Apple Notes now lets you export any note to Markdown, which may prove useful for users juggling Notes with apps like Obsidian and iA Writer.
CompatibilitymacOS Tahoe will support all Apple silicon Macs, and it will be the last release to support Intel-based Macs, which will continue to receive security updates for three more years. These Intel-based Macs include:
- MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- iMac (27-inch, 2020)
- Mac Pro (2019)
Rosetta, Apple’s translation layer for running Intel-based apps on Apple silicon Macs, will remain available for the next two macOS releases, through macOS 27, after which a subset of its functionality will be kept to support older, unmaintained games that rely on Intel-based frameworks.
macOS Tahoe is a sizable update. The brand-new design is a major new direction for the platform, and I have no doubts that it will impact the world of app design for years to come. There is some reassurance to be had in the way that Apple has chosen to iterate on Spotlight this year, too. The new app actions may enable workflows previously only accessible through third-party apps and utilities, and it will be interesting to observe how developers decide to embrace this new Spotlight through App Intents. Last but not least, macOS 26 is one more step towards even tighter integration between the iPhone and the Mac. Sprinkled throughout this overview are features that integrate directly with iPhone mirroring. The new shared design will certainly help in making both platforms feel like an extension of each other.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2025 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2025 RSS feed.
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Source: Apple.
While most of the new features announced at WWDC today are coming to Apple’s major OSes, the AirPods weren’t completely left out of the fun. Today, Apple revealed a couple of enhancements coming to the AirPods line this fall.
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First up is a new camera remote feature. Users will soon be able to take a photo or start a video recording in the Camera app and compatible third-party apps on the iPhone and iPad by pressing and holding on the stem of their AirPods. If a video is already being recorded, a press-and-hold gesture will end the recording. This will be a nice replacement for the camera timer when you’re taking a group photo, and it will also come in handy for many online creators.
The other big addition to AirPods this fall will be what Apple calls “studio-quality audio recording.” The company has improved the quality of audio recordings as well as call quality on H2-powered AirPods, saying that this enhancement combined with Voice Isolation makes the AirPods a tool that can be used by podcasters, musicians, and interviewers.
I’m interested to see how these features fit into my workflows in practice. Starting a video with my AirPods Pro is something I could definitely see myself doing, and even if I don’t end up recording a podcast with them, I’ll never complain about better voice quality.
These new features will be available for AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, and AirPods Pro 2 this fall, with a public beta starting next month.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2025 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2025 RSS feed.
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Source: Apple.
One of the big questions heading into today’s WWDC keynote was how Apple would address its AI efforts. After a splashy introduction last year followed by a staggered rollout and the eventual delay of the more personalized Siri, it was unclear how much focus the company would put on Apple Intelligence during its big announcement video.
Surprisingly, they came right out of the gate with a segment on Apple Intelligence, even going so far as to mention the fact that the more personalized Siri needed more time; it’s slated to be released “in the coming year.” But SVP of Software Craig Federighi also said that Apple Intelligence had progressed with more capable and efficient models and teased that more Apple Intelligence features would be revealed throughout the presentation. Rather than dedicating a significant portion of the keynote just to AI features, the company returned to a platform-centered structure for the rest of the video and mentioned Apple Intelligence as it related to each OS.
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In its second year, Apple Intelligence is set to expand in more ways than one. Perhaps most excitingly, third-party developers will soon have access to Apple Intelligence’s on-device foundation model, enabling them to implement AI features in their apps that work offline in a privacy-respecting way. And because the framework is local, it will be available to developers at no additional cost with no API fees.
Users will have deeper access to Apple Intelligence, too, in the form of new Shortcuts actions. In addition to AI-powered actions like summarization and image generation, Shortcuts will offer direct access to Apple Intelligence models – both on-device and via Private Cloud Compute – with an action that lets you freely prompt the model and receive a response. In this way, Apple Intelligence can become a central part of any automated workflow. The AI action will also include the option to use ChatGPT instead.
Source: Apple.
Live Translation is a new Apple Intelligence feature built into Messages, FaceTime, and Phone to facilitate conversations across language barriers. Messages will translate texts into the user’s preferred language and send responses in the language spoken by the recipient. FaceTime will display live translated captions as the other person is talking, and the Phone app will both display captions and speak translations aloud.
Source: Apple.
Visual intelligence, a feature announced alongside the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro last year, is moving beyond the camera to help users better understand what’s on their screens. It’s built into the new screenshot UI and lets you ask ChatGPT questions about what you see onscreen or search Google, Pinterest, Etsy, and other apps (integrated using app intents) for similar items. The feature can also detect event information onscreen and add events to your calendar accordingly.
While the Apple Watch is yet to run Apple Intelligence natively, it continues to benefit from its connection to the iPhone in the form of a new Apple Intelligence feature called Workout Buddy. Built using data from Apple Fitness+ instructors, Workout Buddy implements a text-to-speech model to encourage users during workouts, incorporating information from the current session as well as past workouts to generate inspiring messages. The feature will require your Watch to be connected to your iPhone during the workout and will be available in English to start across a subset of Apple Workouts: Outdoor and Indoor Run, Outdoor and Indoor Walk, Outdoor Cycle, HIIT, and Functional and Traditional Strength Training.
Source: Apple.
Apple Intelligence’s image generation tools are receiving some upgrades as well. Genmoji will allow users to combine multiple emoji into one and mix existing emoji with descriptions to make new ones. Image Playground is integrating with ChatGPT to offer new styles like oil painting and vector art, as well as an ‘Any Style’ option where you can describe the look you’re going for. In both Genmoji and Image Playground, you’ll be able to make fine tweaks to illustrations based on people, including adjusting hairstyle and expression.
Finally, Apple Intelligence is expanding into other system apps in smaller ways. It will suggest creating polls in group chats when appropriate, surface order tracking information in the Wallet app, and help categorize tasks in Reminders.
It’s encouraging to see Apple Intelligence continue to grow despite the company’s setbacks when it comes to Siri. Developer access and the new Shortcuts actions are especially interesting because they put the power of AI into new hands. We’ll soon see what new implementations come of this expansion.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2025 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2025 RSS feed.
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Source: Apple.
As part of this year’s WWDC keynote, Apple today announced visionOS 26, the next major version of visionOS coming this fall. The update features new ways for users to experience spatial content, display information in their environment, and interact with apps and games. It represents the next step forward for Apple’s vision of spatial computing, including what the company refers to as “the spatial web.”
Since Apple’s new Liquid Glass design language borrows heavily from visionOS, design changes won’t be as striking on the platform. The most prominent user-facing feature of the update is likely to be spatial widgets.
Up to this point, native widgets have been completely absent on visionOS, and the company has introduced them in a way that is consistent with its other devices while adding a spatial flair. Widgets can be customized to include a border and a depth effect to blend in with the user’s environment, and they remain fixed persistently in place even after the Vision Pro restarts. Built-in options like the Clock, Calendar, Music, and Photos widgets were featured, though third-party developers will be able to provide their own widget options via the new Widgets app.
Supported ByScreenFloatScreenFloat: The All-in-One Screen Capture Tool for Mac
Various ways of experiencing spatial content have been enhanced in visionOS 26 as well. Building on last year’s introduction of spatial photo conversion, Apple this year added a feature called spatial scenes to all of its platforms. Spatial scenes add depth to photos, enabling users to experience their pictures from different perspectives by moving their heads. These scenes can be viewed in Photos, the Spatial Gallery, and Safari, and developers can add them to their own apps. visionOS 26 also adds native support for playing back 180-degree, 360-degree, and wide field-of-view content.
Source: Apple.
Apple’s spatial ambitions on the web extend beyond just spatial scenes. visionOS 26 introduces a new spatial browsing option in Safari, giving users a way to read articles without distractions while unveiling embedded spatial scenes as they scroll. 3D models can now be embedded and manipulated directly in webpages, too. Apple claims that these enhancements introduce the beginning of what the company calls the spatial web.
Shared experiences in visionOS are getting improvements for both remote and in-person uses. Spatial personas have been enhanced to look sharper with a side profile view and more realistic hair, lashes, and complexion. visionOS 26 also includes the ability for users to share experiences in the same room, enabling them to see the same content when watching a show together, competing in a game, or collaborating on work. Sharing a Vision Pro with another person is also easier with the ability to save your hand- and eye-tracking configuration, vision prescription, and accessibility settings to your iPhone and recall that data when enabling Guest User mode or picking up a Vision Pro from an enterprise fleet.
Source: Apple.
Support for a couple of key accessories is coming in visonOS 26. The update will be compatible with Sony’s PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers for motion tracking with six degrees of freedom and haptic feedback when playing VR games. And Logitech’s new Muse accessory, a stylus-like tool built specifically for Apple Vision Pro, will enable spatial drawing and collaboration.
Hand tracking in visionOS 26 will be improved, increasing in speed to 90Hz. Other quality-of-life improvements include the ability to organize apps into folders on the Home View, scroll content with your eyes, answer phone calls, and unlock your iPhone with a glance while wearing a Vision Pro. There’s a new Jupiter environment built in, too. For enterprise users, the update offers new options, including the Protect Content API, which ensures sensitive data can only be accessed by those with permission and can’t be copied.
visionOS 26 will be available to Vision Pro owners this fall, with a public beta coming next month.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2025 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2025 RSS feed.
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This year’s WWDC was a packed event by most metrics. Apple introduced a new visual style across all of its platforms called Liquid Glass. Not only that, but the company also announced significant multitasking updates to iPadOS, powerful features for Spotlight on macOS, and numerous other upgrades across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS.
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If you missed the event or want to revisit any of the announcements, you can now do so on Apple’s Events site (where it’s also available in ASL) or on YouTube. We’ll be posting coverage of all the new features and more in the coming hours and days, so stay tuned to MacStories.
The company has put out some other videos highlight today’s announcements as well:
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2025 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2025 RSS feed.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
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Proxyman is the native, high-performance debugging proxy that makes monitoring and analyzing your app’s network stack almost effortless. Built with Swift and Apple Silicon in mind, it runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux, so every member of your team can peek under the hood without wrestling with legacy-era UIs.
Proxyman has you covered with a wide array of tools.
Proxyman’s toolkit goes far beyond simple packet capture. Breakpoints pause requests, so you can tweak headers or bodies on the fly; Map Local and Map Remote let you swap in local files or redirect traffic to staging servers; scripting, diffing, network throttling, and WebSocket support round out a workspace that replaces what was a whole folder full of utilities.
Need on-device debugging? Proxyman for iOS is a standalone app that uses a local VPN to intercept every byte on your iPhone or iPad–no Mac required. View plain-text HTTP and HTTPS payloads, set breakpoints, block calls, or share a log back to the desktop. Face ID and passcode lock keep sensitive data safe, and iPad Split View turns Proxyman into an invaluable companion while you code.
Need to capture HTTPS traffic from iOS Simulators? Proxyman covers it too. Just few click to setup your Simulators and ready to capture it.
Proxyman Capture iOS Simulators
Licensing is simple. A perpetual Standard License is just $89 and unlocks every premium feature on one device and includes the iOS app. For $99 a Personal License includes the same benefits, plus two devices. Not ready to commit? The free trial lets you pin two domains and create two rules in each tool, giving you plenty of time to see how Proxyman fits with your development setup.
Stop guessing what your app is really sending over the wire. Download the trial today, then grab Proxyman from the Mac download page or the App Store and start shipping more reliable code faster than ever.
Our thanks to Proxyman for sponsoring our WWDC coverage this week.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
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Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
Comfort Zone Comfort Zone has completed its first year! Instead of doing a clip show or something, the gang gets right down to business doing what they do best: complaining about browsers, going down an audiophile rabbit hole, and battling to see who has the best Mac background app.
NPC: Next Portable Console This week, Federico and John walk listeners through their first impressions of the Nintendo Switch 2, including the hardware, the setup process, Super Mario Kart World, the Zelda upgrades, the new Pro Controller, and more.
For this week’s NPC XL, Brendon joins Federico and John from Tokyo with questions about their experiences with the Nintendo Switch 2. After more play time, the crew covers accessories, Mario Kart World’s unique features, battery life, and the experience of playing Cyberpunk 2077.
Magic Rays of Light Sigmund and Devon highlight the premiere of Apple Original comedy series Stick starring Owen Wilson. Then, they compete to predict what’s in store for Apple TV at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference.
MacStories UnwindMacStories Unwind is taking a two-week WWDC holiday starting this week. We’ll be back with another episode the week after WWDC – Thursday, June 19, for Club MacStories members and Friday, June 20, for everyone else.
Comfort Zone, Episode 52, ‘Browser Curious’ Show NotesMain Topics* Dia * Letter to Arc members 2025 * Beyerdynamic PRO X USB-C CABLE 1.6 M * sad * Beyerdynamic PRO X COILED CABLE * Elgato Wave XLR * UGREEN 3.5mm to USB-C adapter * Apple 3.5mm to USB-C adapter
Other Things Discussed* RCMD * LeaderKey * Vivid * MicDrop * Backdrop
Follow the Hosts* Chris on YouTube * Matt on Birchtree * Niléane on Mastodon * Comfort Zone on Mastodon * Comfort Zone on Bluesky”
NPC, Episode 36, ‘Nintendo Switch 2 First Impressions’ Show NotesOur Nintendo Switch 2 First Impressions* Nintendo Switch 2 Beginners Guide * Nintendo Switch 2 Accessories * John’s Tomtoc Slim Switch 2 Carrying Case
Subscribe to NPC XLNPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month.
Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the “regular” NPC episodes.
You can subscribe here.
Magic Rays of Light, Episode 171, ‘Stick and WWDC25 Predictions’ Show NotesHighlight* Stick
Releases* UNO: Arcade Edition * LEGO Hill Climb Adventures+ * Lost in Play+ * Helix Jump+ * WWDC 2025
TV App Highlights* The Surfer * Predator: Killer of Killers * Magic Farm
Up Next* Sinners
Contact* We want to hear from you! Contact us via our feedback form. * Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net. * Subscribe to Magic Rays of Light on YouTube and follow us on Mastodon and Bluesky. * Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on Mastodon or Bluesky * Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Bluesky
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
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Reuters reported today that the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth District has denied Apple’s motion to stay the effect of District Judge Gonzalez Rogers’ contempt order that required the company to allow developers to link to payment processing outside the App Store. Had Apple prevailed, Judge Gonzalez Rogers’ order would have been put on hold, allowing Apple to prevent developers from linking to external payment processing. Instead, developers can continue to add external payment options to their apps, which many already have.
The burden for staying an order pending appeal is high. As the Court of Appeals explained in its order:
In deciding whether to impose a stay, we consider:
“(1) whether the stay applicant has made a strong showing that he is likely to succeed on the merits;
(2) whether the applicant will be irreparably injured absent a stay;
(3) whether issuance of the stay will substantially injure the other parties interested in the proceeding; and
(4) where the public interest lies.”Nken v. Holder, 556 U.S. 418, 426 (2009) (quoting Hilton v. Braunskill, 481 U.S. 770, 776 (1987)).
This doesn’t mean Apple has no chance to win on appeal, but as the Ninth Circuit said quite bluntly in its order:
…we are not persuaded that a stay is appropriate.
And, given that the first factor the court decided was whether Apple is “likely to succeed on the merits,” things are not looking promising.
In a statement to 9to5Mac, an unnamed Apple spokesperson said:
We are disappointed with the decision not to stay the district court’s order, and we’ll continue to argue our case during the appeals process. As we’ve said before, we strongly disagree with the district court’s opinion. Our goal is to ensure the App Store remains an incredible opportunity for developers and a safe and trusted experience for our users.
Given that the writing is on the wall for the appeal, you can bet Apple is already looking ahead to the U.S. Supreme Court and will use the Ninth Circuit case as a dry run for that subsequent appeal.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
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Source: Apple.
We’re days away from WWDC, and I’m excited. As much as I enjoy a good Apple hardware event, it’s WWDC’s focus on software that I truly love. But what WWDC means to me runs much deeper than the OS updates we’ll hear about next week. Of course, Apple’s announcements are a big part of what makes WWDC a special time of the year, but for me, it’s overshadowed by the people.
I’ve been to every WWDC since 2013. That first year, I sat on the sidewalk at 3 AM on a cold pre-dawn morning. I hardly knew anyone in the Apple developer community then, but after hours in that line and attending the events surrounding the conference, I’d gotten to know a few developers.
By the time 2016 rolled around, I was writing at MacStories and interviewing developers for the site, including the founders of Workflow, which became Shortcuts. Now, they’re building Sky. After that WWDC, Federico hit the nail on the head in Issue 37 of MacStories Weekly:
…there’s something special about meeting someone you’ve known for a long time exclusively through the Internet. While I thought I knew some people and had made some special friendships through the years, getting to know them in person is different.
He’s right, and even though WWDC is much smaller than it used to be, I look forward to the chance to get to know the developers whose apps we’ve covered, meet new people, and reconnect with old friends.
What’s special about so many of the developers I’ve met over the years is how much they care about their craft. They sweat all the details. Over the years, we’ve seen many of them go from novices to the makers of apps with big, passionate followings among our readers.
We’ve also seen developers and their importance to Apple’s hardware success undervalued by the very company whose platforms they’re so dedicated to. That’s not new, but it’s gotten palpably worse as the years have worn on.
Since WWDC 2024, that trend has collided head-on with the rise of artificial intelligence. I imagine that our reaction to learning that Apple had scraped MacStories and every other website to train their LLMs was familiar to developers who have felt taken advantage of for years. That was a bitter pill to swallow, but one of the upsides of the experience is that over the past year, it’s forced me to spend a lot of time thinking about creativity, work, and our relationship with technology.
To hear the AI fans tell it, I, the developers we write about, and nearly everyone else will be out of jobs before long. Some days, that threat feels very real, and others, not so much. Still, it’s caused a lot of anxiety for a lot of people.
However, as I get ready to head to this year’s WWDC, I’m far more optimistic than I was after WWDC 2024. I don’t expect AI to replace our friends in the indie developer community; far from it. That’s because what sets a great app apart from the pack on the App Store is the care and humanity that’s poured into it. I’ve yet to see a vibe-coded app that comes anywhere close. Those apps will simply join the vast sea of mediocrity that has always made up a big part of the App Store. Instead, I expect AI will help solo developers and small teams tackle bigger problems that were once the exclusive domain of bigger teams with more resources.
I realize this all may sound like blasphemy to anyone who’s either devoted to AI or dead set against it, but I believe there’s room for AI to serve the artist instead of the other way around. So despite the challenges developers, writers, and others are facing, I’m heartened by the many excellent apps I’ve tried in the past year and look forward to meeting and reconnecting with as many of their creators as I can next week.
If you see me and Federico wandering about, stop us to say hi. We’d love to hear what you’re working on.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
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For years, my go-to solution for remotely accessing a Mac from another device has been Screens from Edovia. It’s excellent for logging into my home iMac from my iPad when I’m on the go, getting tasks done on machines across my work network from my office on my Vision Pro, quickly checking things from my iPhone, and even grabbing files from other Macs to put on my MacBook Pro.
That last use case – transferring files from one device to another – has previously been limited to Mac-to-Mac connections. But with its latest update, Screens is bringing file transfers to the iPhone, iPad, and Vision Pro, giving the app a major new capability on these platforms that is going to benefit a lot of workflows.
I can’t count the number of times I’ve been working remotely on a Mac from my iPad and found myself needing a file on one of the devices to be available on the other. Usually, I end up dropping the file into iCloud Drive and waiting for it to sync; it’s not a terribly inefficient process, but it’s not the most straightforward, either. Since the two devices are already connected, why not move the file directly between them? Now, I can.
Transferring a file from my iPad Pro to my iMac.
The implementation of this feature is very simple, and it’s based on drag and drop. To transfer a file from an iPad, iPhone, or Vision Pro to a Mac, you simply drag it from the Files app into Screens and drop it in a Finder window on the remote Mac. Screens’ new File Transfers panel will pop up from toolbar and display the progress of the transfer. Once it’s done, the file will appear where you dropped it on the remote Mac. The whole thing feels as natural as could be and matches the experience of using Apple’s own Screen Sharing utility on macOS.
Transferring a file from my iMac to my iPad Pro.
The process is slightly different when transferring a file from a remote Mac to another platform. It still starts with selecting and dragging the file you want to transfer, but instead of moving the file outside of the Screens app, you drop it on a drop target the app displays temporarily when it senses a drag. Then, the file is transferred to the Files app on the target device, where it can be found at On This Device → Screens → Downloads. It’s a clever solution that keeps the experience as consistent as possible while working within the constraints of each platform.
I can already tell that this is a feature I’m going to be using a lot. Transferring files this way is much faster than cloud syncing and more straightforward than other solutions like SMB. Best of all, it just feels like second nature because it’s based on interactions I use all the time when moving files around on my devices. This addition is a huge gain for Screens’ feature set and a huge win for users.
Screens 5.6 also comes with a selection of other new features and improvements:
- You can adjust the cursor tracking speed on your remote Mac.
- Apple Pencil support has been improved.
- The app features three keyboard input modes to work with more remote systems.
- If your remote connection is closed, Screens will automatically try to reconnect immediately.
It’s a great update to an app that’s an essential part of many Mac users’ workflows, myself included. Screens 5.6 is available on the App Store now as a free update for subscribers. A Screens subscription costs $3.99/month, $24.99/year, or $119 for a lifetime purchase.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
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Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
AppStories This week, John shares his first impressions of Sky, the alpha AI-powered Mac automation app from the creators of Workflow and Shortcuts, and then he and Federico share their Shortcuts and Apple Intelligence wishes for WWDC 2025
On AppStories+, John and Federico consider what AI means for developers and the App Store in the year ahead.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Notion: Try the powerful, easy-to-use Notion AI today.
- P: The water reminder and hydration app.
NPC: Next Portable Console This week, with the Switch 2 launch just around the corner, Federico and John round up the latest Switch 2 news, get excited for a bunch of weird and wonderful upcoming handhelds, and more.
On NPC XL, John walks listeners through the setup process for installing NVIDIA GeForce Now on the Steam Deck, and Federico reveals a new controller and plans to stream from his gaming PC to handhelds when he’s away from home.
AppStories, Episode 438, ‘Sky and Our 2025 Shortcuts and Apple Intelligence WWDC Wishes’ Show NotesJohn’s First Impressions of Sky* More from Federico on Sky: From the Creators of Shortcuts, Sky Extends AI Integration and Automation to Your Entire Mac
Our Shortcuts and Apple Intelligence Wishes* Opening Apple’s AFM Model to Developers * An AI-Based Shortcuts Assistant * Third-Party Integrations in Apple Intelligence * Search Shortcuts Based on Action * Support for Local Models on Mobile Devices with a Unified Framework * A Shortcuts Visualizer * AFM Shortcuts Actions * Open Up Shortcuts to MCP
AppStories+ Post-Show* Thoughts on AI’s Impact on Developers and the App Store in the Coming Year
NPC, Episode 35, ‘The Year of Weird Handhelds: RG Slide Edition’ Show NotesThe Latest Portable Gaming NewsNinetendo Switch 2
- N64 Games Are Getting An Upgrade Thanks To The Nintendo Switch 2
- Looks like the Switch 2 is in some folks hands already
- The Nintendo Switch 2 will finally back up screenshots to the cloud
- Switch 2 Basegrip+ Mechanism Case
- Nintendo App Updates on iOS and iPadOS
- Nintendo Switch App
- Nintendo Music
- Nintendo Today!
Steam Deck Gets NVIDIA GeForce NOW App
- RTX on Deck: The GeForce NOW Native App for Steam Deck Is Here
- Tested: Nvidia’s GeForce Now just breathed new life into my Steam Deck
Weird and Wonderful Handhelds
- Anbernic
- Anbernic RG35XX Pro: Is This the Start of the 2GB Refresh
- The Slide
- Meet ANBERNIC 2025 Classic Masterpiece-RG Slide
- Anbernic Announces a PSP Go-Like - Wavelengths
- Zero 40 Drops June 17: MagicX’s Most Anticipated Handheld Yet
- REDMAGIC 10S Pro gaming phone supports PC games (thanks to emulation and an overclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite processor)
More News
- Microsoft’s Xbox handheld reportedly “sidelined” as it focuses on third-party portable devices
- Microsoft starts testing Xbox Copilot on iOS and Android
- Retro Gaming on the Apple TV 4K (Guide)
NPC XL Show Notes and Links* GeForce NOW Steam Deck App Arrives + Installation Guide * Abxylute S9 Controller * Pasec”
Subscribe to NPC XLNPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month.
Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the “regular” NPC episodes.
You can subscribe here.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;
Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.
Learn more here and from our Club FAQs.
Join Now
As WWDC approaches, Apple has announced the finalists for its annual Apple Design Awards, and in a departure from recent years, the winners too.
This year, there are six categories, and each category has a winning app and game, along with four finalists. Unlike last year, there is no Spatial Computing category this year. The 2025 ADA winners and finalists are:
Delight and FunWinners:
- App
- CapWords by HappyPlan Tech
- Game
- Balatro by LocalThunk
Finalists:
- Lumy by Raja V
- Denim by Feel Good Tech
- Thank Goodness You’re Here! by Panic
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown by Ubisoft Montpellier
InnovationWinners:
- App
- Play by Rabbit 3 Times
- Game
- PBJ — The Musical by Philipp Stollenmayer
Finalists:
- Moises by Music.AI
- Capybara by Digital Workroom Ltd
- Pawz by Bootloader Studio Holdings Private Limited
- Gears & Goo by Resolution Games AB
InteractionWinner:
- App
- Taobao by Zhejiang Taobao Network
- Game
- DREDGE by Black Salt Games
Finalists:
- iA Writer by Information Architects AG
- Mela - Recipe Manager by Silvio Rizzi
- Gears & Goo by Resolution Games AB
- Skate City: New York by Snowman
InclusivityWinner:
- App
- Speechify by Speechify
- Game
- Art of Fauna by Klemens Strasser
Finalists:
- Evolve by GTA Solutions
- Train Fitness by Train Fitness
- puffies. by Lykke Studios
- Land of Livia by Split Atom Labs
Social ImpactWinners:
- App
- Watch Duty by Sherwood Forestry Service
- Game
- Neva by Developer Digital
Finalists:
- Ground News by Snapwise
- Opal by Opal OS
- Ahoy! From Picardy by Daniel Jones
- Art of Fauna by Klemens Strasser
Visuals and GraphicsWinners:
- App
- Feather: Draw in 3D by Sketchsoft
- Game
- Infinity Nikki by Infold Games
Finalists:
- Vocabulary by Monkey Taps
- CellWalk by Timothy Davison
- Control Ultimate Edition by Remedy Entertainment PLC
- Neva by Developer Digital
The winners and finalists include a broad range of games and apps, including some from smaller developers including Lumy, Denim Art of Fauna, Skate City: New York, as well as titles from bigger publishers.
I’m glad that Apple has announced the finalists for the last few years. Winning an ADA is a big achievement for any developer, but it’s also nice to know who the finalists are because it’s quite an honor among the many apps that could have been chosen, too. Plus as a fan of apps, Apple’s longer finalist list always reminds me of an app or two that I haven’t tried yet. Congratulations to all of this year’s Apple Design Award winners and finalists.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
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Apple has released its highly anticipated feature film documentary event Bono: Stories of Surrender, the company’s first dual-format feature film release, available both in a traditional 2D presentation and Apple Immersive Video for Apple Vision Pro on Apple TV+.
Warmly received earlier this month following its traditional format world premiere at The Festival de Cannes, the Andrew Dominik-directed feature serves as a screen adaptation of the U2 frontman’s live stage show, “Stories of Surrender: An Evening of Words, Music, and Some Mischief.” The 1-hour 25-minute film was recorded in 2023 at New York’s Beacon Theatre and presents fans with an intimate show featuring Bono’s most personal anecdotes exploring his early life, musical breakthrough, charity work for poverty and famine relief, family, and faith, interspersing them with a selection of stripped-down musical performances charting some of U2’s greatest hits.
The release marks the latest entry in a storied collaborative history between Apple and Bono through art, technology, commerce, and philanthropy that began with an early public endorsement of Apple’s then-newly launched iTunes Music Store. The relationship then continued with Bono’s close relationship with late Apple founder Steve Jobs, leading to 2004’s limited-edition black and red iPod and, shortly afterward, a philanthropic (PRODUCT) RED partnership aimed at raising aid and awareness for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
As told in a 2022 piece for the Guardian, the next collaboration – now infamous – resulted in U2’s 2014 album Songs of Innocence being purchased by Apple and then gifted to its users. It was the result of a pitch by the band, with Bono recounting his conversation with Tim Cook:
Tim Cook raised an eyebrow. “You mean we pay for the album and then just distribute it?”
I said, “Yeah, like when Netflix buys the movie and gives it away to subscribers.”
Tim looked at me as if I was explaining the alphabet to an English professor. “But we’re not a subscription organisation.”
“Not yet,” I said. “Let ours be the first.”
Fast forward another decade, and Apple’s own streaming service is now host to a 90-minute feature film celebrating its longtime collaborator. Brilliantly captured in black and white by famed Academy Award-winning cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt, the project’s creative team credentials were never in doubt. Instead, ahead of today’s Apple Immersive Video world premiere on Apple Vision Pro, valid questions remained regarding the nature of the film’s dual-format release.
The longest Apple Immersive Video experience available up to this point was the surprise March release of Metallica: Immersive, a 25-minute concert experience that remains a personal immersive video favorite (only seconded by this year’s earlier immersive bull-riding release Man vs Beast). But even for an Apple Vision Pro and film enthusiast, the thought of a one-hour jump up from my previous experience left me feeling apprehensive. Up until now, Apple Immersive Video presentations had stuck to a rigid, uninterrupted 180-degree video experience, so how could both formats coexist?
The answer is a simple one: from the project’s conception, it was decided that in order to share his story in two unique ways, Bono and his creative team would essentially make the film twice – once in 2D, and again in Apple Immersive Video – keeping the structure of the traditional presentation intact while adding additional pizzazz to its immersive counterpart.
To achieve that goal, Bono: Stories of Surrender (Immersive) builds off of the now-established Apple Vision Pro movie theater experience for traditional video formats by filling the viewer’s field of view, immersing them fully in the 2D footage, and then intercutting it with Apple Immersive 8K, 180-degree video footage. In addition, to tie the film in with his 2022 autobiography, Bono recreated the book’s illustrations using ProCreate for iPad Pro and Apple Pencil Pro, which were later animated by New York-based VFX house The-Artery and weaved into the footage, adding a playful flair to proceedings.
With all the elements intact, the result can be best described as a boundary-pushing mix of 2D and 3D, with the transitions between the film’s formats comparable to the way a typical IMAX theatrical presentation cuts between the film’s letterboxed aspect ratio and the format’s jaw-dropping ratio of 1:43:1.
While Apple has yet to offer true IMAX-enhanced presentations in the Apple TV app on Apple Vision Pro through its studio partners, the creative team behind Bono: Stories of Surrender (Immersive) has essentially skipped a step by showing off another use case for Apple Immersive Video, one with the potential to elevate new creations from indie filmmakers who have limited access to immersive cameras and established studios looking to add some flair to their fan-favorite films and properties.
As someone who respects Bono as a humanitarian and showman but doesn’t count himself a fan of U2 beyond their 1991 LP Achtung Baby, I wasn’t expecting the film to resonate emotionally with me as much as it did. In an era where we’re often overexposed to celebrity culture while being offered little to no substance in return, Bono’s one-man show is a surprising departure from that trend. Andrew Dominik’s film is a fascinating, unflinchingly honest exploration of a 20th-century cultural icon and the personal and professional experiences that molded such a sincere, complex, and thoughtful soul.
From a technical perspective, Bono: Stories of Surrender surprised me on multiple levels. It confirms that, yes, Apple Immersive Video done correctly can be sustained over the course of an average feature-length runtime – though I’d need convincing that the format could work for a three-hour magnum opus from Martin Scorsese. It also proves beyond concept that there’s more to Apple Immersive Video than was first explored, and that we’re approaching a future where film favorites could potentially expand beyond the confines of the celluloid they were filmed on and into our environments.
Bono: Stories of Surrender is now streaming on Apple TV+ across all of your screens, and Bono: Stories of Surrender (Immersive) is available exclusively on Apple Vision Pro. A first look at the film is also now available as part of Apple Vision Pro demos at Apple Stores worldwide (where Apple Vision Pro and Apple TV+ are available).
For more discussion on the film, its themes, and its format, check out the latest episode of Magic Rays of Light, a podcast all about the world of Apple TV that I host every week here at MacStories.
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Over at Retro Game Corps, Russ Crandall put the new M4 Mac mini through its paces to see how it handled videogame emulation. As Crandall’s video demonstrates, even the base model version of Apple’s tiny Mac did very well:
Crandall walks viewers through the basics of setting up Emulation Station Desktop Edition on a Mac, which serves as a front-end that uses a variety of emulators to play classic systems. It’s not surprising that the M4 mini didn’t break a sweat emulating the oldest systems like Nintendo’s NES and Game Boy. However, it also did well with more modern systems like GameCube, running at six times the native resolution at 4K.
The mini struggled at times with the most modern systems Crandall tested, like Xbox, but the takeaway is clear: the Mac mini is a capable videogame emulation system. That will be true for other M4 Macs, too, but what’s unique about the mini is its size. The computer’s small footprint lends itself to sitting under a TV or pairing with a portable monitor to play games wherever you have the space.
Uses like Crandall’s are what make the Mac mini such a compelling update. It’s always been small, but by shrinking the mini even further and significantly improving its power, Apple has opened up new possibilities for its smallest Mac.
→ Source: youtu.be
The Magnetic Mask. Source: Apple.
Today, Apple revealed the latest updates to Final Cut Pro for the Mac and iPad, with both offering a variety of new features and simplified workflows.
Final Cut Pro 11 for the Mac has added magnetic masks, extending the “magnetic” metaphor used for clips placed on your timeline. Apple says the new feature will allow you to quickly mask people and objects in a shot to color grade them or add effects separately from the rest of a scene.
Final Cut Pro for Mac creating closed captions. Source: Apple.
The app can automatically generate closed captions now, too. The feature, which was briefly shown off in a video published alongside the announcement of the new Mac mini, uses artificial intelligence to convert dialogue into text.
Final Cut Pro 11 is also now capable of editing spatial video for the Apple Vision Pro. In its press release, Apple says:
Final Cut Pro 11 now supports spatial video editing, allowing editors to import their footage and add effects, make color corrections, and enhance their projects with titles. The depth position of titles and captured footage can also be adjusted during the editing process. Spatial video clips can be captured directly with Vision Pro, or on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, and Canon’s new RF-S7.8mm F4 STM DUAL lens paired with Canon R7.
Enhance Light and Color in action. Source: Apple.
Final Cut Pro for the iPad has been updated to version 2.1 with several new features. I’ve been using Final Cut Pro more regularly since we started the MacStories YouTube channel, and one of the limitations I noticed immediately is that the color correction tools in the iPad version weren’t nearly as good as on the Mac. The iPad’s color tools still aren’t as sophisticated as what’s available on the Mac, but this update does add new color grading presets as well as a new Enhance Light and Color feature that intelligently applies color, contrast, brightness, and color balance to a video and works with SDR, HDR, RAW, and Log-encoded media.
One of Final Cut Pro for iPad’s new brushes. Source: Apple.
Live Drawing on a video has been expanded with new brushes, too. There are new watercolor, crayon, fountain pen, and monoline pen brushes, letting users create a greater variety of looks for their videos. Other new effects include a picture-in-picture effect, callouts, and a set of built-in soundtracks. I’m eager to try picture-in-picture, which should be a good way to create tutorials and other types of videos and callouts; it’s an effect available from multiple third-party effects vendors on the Mac, but new to the iPad.
The iPad version of Final Cut Pro is also adding a host of other new features, including:
- the ability to expand clips in the timeline vertically with a pinch gesture,
- dynamic adjustments to the size of the picture-in-picture window,
- support for editing high-frame-rate video, and
- Apple Pencil Pro haptic feedback for timeline scrubbing and dropping effects onto the timeline.
Final Cut Pro Camera is being updated as well. Custom LUTs are still not available, but Apple has added its LOG LUT for color grading footage, which can be previewed while recording. Users can also record in LOG HEVC, which will preserve the benefits of shooting in LOG, but with much smaller files than, say, Apple ProRes.
The camera app has also added a level for filming top-down footage, which the Apple Camera app has had for some time, and support for recording in 4K at up to 120fps on the iPhone 16 Pro line.
It’s great to see all three Final Cut Pro apps get updates today. I’ve been using them all more regularly and like using the iPad app the most, although it’s frustrating at times knowing that the deep catalog of third-party effects plug-ins available on the Mac aren’t available on the iPad. Apple said third-party plug-ins were coming to the iPad version when Final Cut Pro launched on the device, but here we are about 18 months since its debut, and not a single company offers plug-ins for the iPad. The ability to apply custom LUTs on the iPad is another request I hear a lot from users. Hopefully, both features will make their way to the iPad eventually.
Final Cut Pro 11 for the Mac and Final Cut Camera are free updates to the existing versions, Final Cut Pro for iPad’s subscription pricing remains $4.99/month or $49.99/year, and all apps are available on the App Store.
The Quantec Room Simulator plug-in on the Mac. Source: Apple.
Apple also released an update to Logic Pro for the Mac and iPad, adding a new Quantec Room Simulator plug-in that recreates ‘80s-era hardware invented by Wolfgang “Wolf” Buchleitner. The plug-in simulates room acoustics in a natural-sounding way that has been used in a wide variety of recordings.
Among the artists to have used Quantec Room Simulator hardware is Peter Gabriel, who had this to say about Apple’s new Logic Pro plug-in:
The Quantec Room Simulator has been a key element to my sound for many years, appearing on records like Passion and Us. I also used it to build harmonic drones to start my live set, which then evolved into songs like ‘Across the River.’ It’s wonderful that Apple is bringing the Quantec QRS back to life as a plug-in for Logic users around the world.
The Quantec Room Simulator plug-in on the iPad. Source: Apple.
Although I probably don’t have a use for it, I love the idea of recreating the Quantec Room Simulator as a plug-in that’s available to anyone who uses Logic.
On both the Mac and iPad, Logic also adds a new option to Reorder Mixer Channels, which allows users to rearrange channel strips by dragging and dropping them. Finally, the iPad version introduces Sample Folders to help musicians organize their sound samples.
Logic Pro 11.1 for the Mac is available as a free update to existing users, and Logic Pro for iPad’s subscription pricing remains $4.99/month or $49.99/year.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
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Source: Lux Camera.
Lux Camera’s video camera app Kino has been updated to version 1.2, bringing a variety of new features and a redesigned icon. I covered the debut of Kino back in May and have been using it a lot lately because it’s design makes taking great-looking video so easy.
At the heart of Kino’s 1.2 update is support for the latest iPhones. Kino now works with the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro’s Camera Control for making adjustments that previously were only possible by touching your iPhone’s screen.
Kino Instant Grades. Source: Lux Camera.
On the 16 Pro, the app also supports 4K video at 120fps with its Instant Grade feature enabled. That’s the feature that lets you pick a color grading preset created by video experts, including Stu Maschwitz, Sandwich Video, Evan Schneider, Tyler Stalman, and Kevin Ong. Version 1.2 of Kino lets you reorder those grades in its settings to make your favorites easier to access. Finally, Kino has added support for the following languages: Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
If you haven’t tried Kino before, it’s available on the App Store for $9.99.
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Source: Apple.
Apple has announced fifteen games coming to Apple Arcade between December 5 and January 9, ranging from all-new titles to App Store games making the jump to Arcade.
Snowman is making another Skate City game dedicated to New York. The original Arcade title takes place in cities around the world, but on January 9, Skate City: New York will take Arcade subscribers on a tour of the Big Apple.
Source: Apple.
Arcade is getting three Final Fantasy titles too. Apple describes Square Enix’s Final Fantasy IV (3D Remake)+ as:
beautifully revived with updated graphics, and improved gameplay and voice acting for event scenes. The hit fourth game in the iconic FINAL FANTASY series is also the first title to introduce the Active Time Battle system that players have come to love in the franchise.
The game, which will be out on December 9, looks similar to what is available for Windows on Steam. FF IV: The After Years+ will also debut on Arcade December 9.
Then on January 9, Apple Arcade will get Final Fantasy+, which appears to be a bundle of the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster games that are currently available as paid upfront games on the App Store and other platforms.
Apple also announced Gears & Goo, a Vision Pro exclusive game by Resolution Games. It’s a colorful tower defense game that plays out in front of you and will release on January 9.
Apple announced the following games, too:
- Talking Tom Blast Park (Dec. 5)
- Boggle: Arcade Edition (Dec. 5)
- PAC-MAN 256+ (Dec. 5)
- Hot Wheels: Race Off+ (Dec. 5)
- Barbie Color Creations+ (Dec. 5)
- Little Cities: Diorama (another Vision Pro exclusive; Dec. 5)
- Three Kingdoms HEROES (Jan. 9)
- Trials of Mana+ (Jan. 9)
- Rodeo Stampede+ (Jan. 9)
- It’s Literally Just Mowing+ (Jan. 9)
That’s a lot of games for the holiday season with a nice variety that should appeal to a wide audience. I’m looking forward to dipping into a few of these games soon.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
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Source: Apple.
App Store Connect, the web app that developers use to submit their apps to Apple’s App Store and manage them, was updated yesterday with new tools developers can use to promote their apps.
Source: Apple.
Developers have been able to submit promotional requests to Apple for quite some time, but the new Featuring Nomination process is now baked right into App Store Connect. Developers can submit nominations from App Store Connect where they will be asked for information about their app. Nominations can be made for events such as a new app launch or adding in-app content and features. When an app is chosen by the App Store editorial team for a feature, developers will be notified in App Store Connect, too.
App Store Connect has also added the ability to generate promotional materials. The assets created can be used on social media and other platforms to promote app launches and other significant events.
These new App Store Connect tools promise to make promoting apps more convenient by including the Featuring Nomination process alongside other aspects of app submission. However, I expect it’s the ready-made promotional assets that are the more significant addition for smaller developers who may not have the budget or skills to create the materials themselves.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
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Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
AppStories This week, Federico and I are joined by Chris Lawley for a fun defense of his taste in music and beverages, plus a discussion of Apple’s acquisition of Pixelmator, working on the iPad, Final Cut Pro for iPad, and the apps Chris uses for his daily work.
On AppStories+, how Chris Lawley got started on YouTube.
This episode is sponsored by:* Memberful – Help Your Clients Monetize Their Passion. * Inoreader – Build your own newsfeed with Inoreader.
Ruminate Snack news has some cactis candy and cereal, I follow up on Godspeed, and we discuss Apple’s very small history of book publishing.
AppStories, Episode 411, ‘The Apple Version of Comic Sans’ Show NotesAppStories+ Pre-ShowVisit AppStories.net to learn more about the extended, high bitrate audio version of AppStories that is delivered early each week and subscribe.
- Chris Lawley’s YouTube channel
- The Untiled Site
- Apps Mentioned:
- 1Writer
- Overcast
- LumaFusion
A Conversation with Chris Lawley* Chris Defends Himself + Daft Punk + Dr. Pepper & Cream Soda Zero Sugar * Pixelmator Team to Join Apple * Hush * A Friendly App InterrogationInterrogation + Lire + Read-later and bookmarks - Raindrop.io * Writing + Obsidian + Also mentioned: - Drafts - Chris’ Dark Knight theme for Drafts - Pair of Thieves Black V-necks * Podcast Recording + Riverside * Video Recording + Canon EOS R5 - 24-70mm f/2.8 L Series lens * Video Editing + Final Cut Pro for iPad * Task Manager + Reminders * Email + Apple Mail * Follow Chris’ work: * Chris Lawley’s (https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisLawley * The Untiled Site
Ruminate, Episode 197, ‘They Call Me Mini Ticci’ Show NotesOpuntia
Shreddies Flavours Limited Edition Cereals
Godspeed
Apple Music: 100 Best Albums
Basketball: The Impossible Collection
Ruminate Podcast: 34 - Twenty Dollar Blanket
“Designed by Apple in California” Chronicles 20 Years of Apple Design
ICONIC - A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation
AppStories
ROG - Republic of Gamers
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
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Apple Music has teamed up with Assouline, a book publisher based in Paris and London, to sell a $450 book that commemorates Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums of all time. If you haven’t heard of Assouline before, it’s known for its high-end books and other items:
Today, through its exceptionally crafted books, home fragrances, and objets d’art, Assouline invites the intellectual and curious into a world of beauty.
Source: Assouline.
The book, which is available for pre-order is estimated to ship on November 25, 2024, and as the listing says, it’s:
A celebration of Apple Music’s inaugural list of the greatest records ever made, Apple Music: 100 Best Albums is a lasting companion piece to the digital initiative, which launched on the streaming service in 2024. With a release limited to 1,500 copies, the books are housed in sleek, transparent acrylic slipcases, each individually etched with its edition number. Inside, readers will find the featured albums, selected by Apple Music’s team of experts alongside an exclusive group of artists including Maren Morris, Pharrell Williams, J Balvin, Charli XCX, Mark Hoppus, Honey Dijon, and Nia Archives, as well as songwriters, producers, and industry professionals. The list is a wholly editorial statement that does not fit any neatly defined criteria—and is fully independent of any streaming numbers. In effect, it’s a love letter to the records that have shaped the world music lovers live and listen in.
This isn’t Apple’s first book. Notably, the company created and sold a book celebrating its hardware design in 2016, which it sold in a small $199 format and a larger $299 format.
Source: Assouline.
The book includes what looks to be the editorial content created for Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums list, along with artwork for each of the 100 albums that Apple Music included in its list. There’s also a forward by Apple Music’s Zane Lowe.
When Apple’s hardware design book was released, it was just as unexpected as this book. However, that book was sold by Apple and paid tribute to the company’s rich history of hardware innovation. A list of 100 albums picked by Apple Music’s editors and others lands a little differently. It doesn’t carry the same weight as decades of hardware design. At the same time though, as someone whose writing exists in an ephemeral format online, I understand the desire to collect it in a physical format. So, while this book isn’t for me, for fans of Apple Music’s album picks with the wherewithal, this looks like a beautifully designed eight-pound book.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
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In 2024, web browsers mostly all look the same. Their user interfaces always feature an address bar at the top of the window and horizontal tabs that allow you to navigate through multiple websites. So whenever a new browser tries to shake things up and innovate on this basic premise, it’s inevitable that it will elicit a certain amount of interest – sometimes to the point of fashioning its own fanbase. For example, with a novel approach to organizing, pinning, and managing tabs in a customizable sidebar, Arc Browser by The Browser Company has been a great showcase of what creating a brand new user experience for browsing the web can look like.
Last week, though, I stumbled upon a newcomer called Horse Browser by Pascal Pixel that immediately caught my attention. Horse is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in this space. The browser is based on a new approach that completely does away with the traditional address bar and horizontal tab layout. Instead of tabs, navigation in Horse Browser is structured in hierarchical trees called ‘Trails.’ The resulting UI is unique, appealing, and clever. But how does it hold up in everyday use?
Let’s find out.
To put it in simple terms, think of Horse’s trails as your browser history laid out in a sidebar that’s always visible. This sidebar is structured like a tree. Every time you click a link on a webpage, this new page will appear as a new line in the sidebar indented underneath the previous page. Keep clicking links, and the tree will continue to branch out. At any point in time, you can go back by clicking on higher-level branches or create a new trail to start a different tree.
Your trails are automatically saved and restored when you relaunch Horse Browser. You can reorder trails in the sidebar, and you can even rename them and assign custom emoji icons to them. Navigation trees within a trail aren’t permanently fixed in place, either. You can reorder webpages and even drag a page to make it a trail’s top-level branch. Overall, this UI is more flexible than it may seem at first.
Additionally, Horse lets you create folders to group your trails together as well as ‘Areas,’ which act like section headers for organizing folders. Both features make it easier to divide your navigation history into projects or research sections for future reference.
Individual webpages in your trails can be renamed and assigned a custom emoji icon.
Drag and drop pages or entire subtrees to organize them into folders.
Under the hood, Horse is based on the Chromium web engine. This is apparent as soon as you open the browser’s developer tools, which are essentially the same ones that you find in Google Chrome. Unlike most other Chromium browsers, though, Horse does not support installing third-party extensions from the Chrome Web Store at this time. However, the browser does ship with three built-in extensions: Ghostery, which lets you block ads and trackers; Dark Reader, which inverts the colors of websites when you have Dark Mode enabled on your system; and Saddlepack, Horse’s built-in password manager. This is a significant obstacle if you’re looking to use any other password manager with Horse Browser.
Horse Browser ships with three built-in extensions…
…but it won’t let you install any other third-party Chrome extensions just yet.
Alongside these extensions, Horse Browser also ships with a note-taking feature. Just like anything else in the browser’s sidebar, notes can be positioned inside any of your trail trees, and their icons can be customized with an emoji. Sadly, Horse’s notes are extremely basic at the moment; they don’t support any kind of text formatting as far as I can tell. That being said, the ability to take notes and compile information from the web gives Horse the potential to one day become a fully realized research-oriented browser.
Horse Browser supports creating notes alongside your navigation ttrees.
If there’s anything I’ve concluded from using Horse Browser over the past week, it’s that this unique approach to browsing the web is only ideal for users who tend to get pretty deep into their research sessions, leaving them with tens or even hundreds of open tabs to deal with. Safari, Google Chrome, and others offer the ability to group tabs, save all of your open tabs into a bookmarks folder, and separate tabs into multiple windows, but none of them allow you to keep track of the full extent of your navigation history in this straightforward way without the need to dig into your browser history. This is especially glorious if, like me, you’re the kind of person who can spend hours browsing through Wikipedia articles, sometimes to the point of landing on an article that’s totally unrelated to what you were initially reading about.
As a bonus, Horse Browser allows you to quickly export any part of your trail trees as a Markdown-formatted list of links, keeping the link hierarchy intact in the form of bullet points. To do this, right-click a webpage in the sidebar and select ‘Copy Trail,’ or drag and drop a trail from the sidebar into a Markdown editor.
Horse Browser is perfect for keeping track of your Wikipedia rabbit holes.
Unfortunately, as soon as you try to use Horse Browser for any other type of web browsing – from watching videos on YouTube to reading the news or working in parallel in several Google Docs documents – this user interface falls apart and starts to feel overwhelmingly cumbersome. In those everyday scenarios, the permanent navigation tree in the sidebar gets unnecessarily cluttered and has many times made me feel lost.
The developer behind Horse Browser seems to have thought of this issue and implemented a setting to mitigate it. If you head to the ‘Link Behaviour’ section in the browser’s settings, you’ll see the option to switch from ‘Open Links in a Subtrail’ to ‘Open Links in Current Trail.’ When the latter is enabled, clicking a link on a webpage no longer creates a new branch in your current trail tree, and the only way to add a branch is to do so manually (by right-clicking on a link and choosing ’Open Link in Subtrail’). While this works well and immediately makes Horse feel more like a traditional web browser with vertical tabs, it’s hard not to feel like you’ve just defeated its entire purpose.
Link behavior settings let you reign in Horse’s tendency to create a new subtrail branch for every link you click.
When it comes to design, Horse Browser’s relatively simple UI is punctuated with some wild and weird touches. As you may have noticed in my screen recordings, when you start fresh with a new trail, the browser’s window is occupied by a large, 3D-animated horse that follows your mouse cursor. Similarly, the app’s icon in your Dock is adorned with a 3D-rendered walking horse. Even though I appreciate the uniqueness of this branding choice, I must warn anyone willing to give Horse Browser a try to prepare themselves for what I can only describe as a deeply unsettling vibe.
But even if you find yourself liking the browser’s uncanny horses, I think you may still suffer from the developer’s choice to undersize every single icon and context menu in the user interface. For instance, the buttons located at the top of the sidebar that allow you to create a new trail, folder, note, or area are all very small, and I’ve often found it difficult to precisely target them with the mouse. This has pushed me to rely on keyboard shortcuts more often than I would like.
Horse’s UI elements are tiny compared to most Mac apps.
When I first showed off Horse Browser to a friend this week, their immediate reaction was that this should have been a feature in an existing popular browser. What if a future version of Safari had a revamped sidebar that worked in this way? You could turn off the sidebar at any point to go back to a traditional horizontal tab UI and turn it back on whenever you need to add order to your web research chaos. The idea is certainly appealing.
But since Horse Browser is a standalone browser, it will need to evolve its UI to fit a wider range of use cases, perhaps by making it easier to toggle between a trail and a traditional tab mode. Alternatively, the browser could go in the other direction and further dig its hooves into the ground to become a specialized web-based research and work tool that can be used alongside the browser you’re already used to.
In its current state, Horse Browser is a difficult purchase to recommend. The app still lacks some basic browsing features (like autocomplete in search), and it may be genuinely hard to tell if it’s going to work well with your browsing habits. Still, I’m excited to see Horse’s feature set grow, and I will definitely be keeping an eye on it in the future. Now, hopefully, the uncanny horse imagery will stop haunting my dreams at night.
Horse Browser can be purchased from browser.horse, the app’s official website. A lifetime license costs $60, or you can subscribe for $20/year. Sadly, there is no free trial available at this time, though the lifetime license does come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
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Denim’s Spotify integration.
I don’t remember exactly when I started using Denim, but it was years ago, and I was looking for a way to spruce up the covers of my playlists. I was using Apple Music at the time, and it was before Apple added basic playlist cover generation features to the Music app. Even after that feature came to Music, Denim still provided more options in terms of colors, fonts, and patterns. Earlier this year, I covered its 3.0 update with the ability to automatically recognize artists featured in playlists for Club members here.
I switched to Spotify months ago (and haven’t looked back since; music discovery is still leagues ahead of Apple Music), and I was very happy to see recently that Denim can now integrate with Spotify directly, without the need to save covers to the Photos app first. Essentially, once you’ve logged in with your Spotify account, the app is connected to your library with access to your playlists. You can pick an existing playlist directly from Denim, customize its cover, and save it back to your Spotify account without opening the Spotify app or having to save an image file upfront.
That’s possible thanks to Spotify’s web-based API for third-party apps, which allows a utility like Denim to simplify the creation flow of custom covers down to a couple of taps. In a nice touch, once a playlist cover has been saved to Spotify, the app lets you know with haptic feedback and allows you to immediately view the updated cover in Spotify, should you want to double-check the results in the context of the app.
The combination of this fast customization process for Spotify and new artwork options added in this release only cements Denim’s role as the best utility for people who care about the looks of the playlists they share with friends and family. Denim is available on the App Store for free, with both a lifetime purchase ($19.99) and annual subscription ($4.99) available to unlock its full feature set.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
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Inoreader, a trusted platform for content discovery and organization, has introduced a comprehensive redesign of its web application to enhance how users find, manage, and share content online. With a fresh and intuitive interface, this update brings powerful tools for organizing feeds, saved items, and automation—all within one centralized hub.
The redesign features an updated tab bar and dynamic sidebar for seamless navigation across feeds, saved items, custom dashboards, and other account sections. Users can now create personalized dashboards with widgets tailored to their unique needs, while the centralized Saved section consolidates everything from articles to tags in one accessible space.
With advanced content filters, improved contextual search, and a revamped audio player, Inoreader empowers users to easily find and manage what matters most. Enhanced YouTube feed tools allow filtering by video duration (Bye-bye, Shorts!), viewing video lengths directly in the article list, and staying updated on live events—all within a single interface. Additionally, Inoreader’s Free plan now offers an ad-free experience, making it even more enjoyable for new users.
Built on extensive community feedback, this new design reflects Inoreader’s commitment to delivering a top-tier reading experience that adapts to users’ evolving needs.
Discover Inoreader’s updated design and features at Inoreader.com. Engage with the content you love on mobile by downloading the app on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Our thanks to Inoreader for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
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Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
Comfort Zone Chris breaks down Apple Intelligence, and while Matt is under the weather, he brings the good Nintendo vibes. Then we all do our best to speak a different language, with delightful results.
Magic Rays of Light Sigmund and Devon dive into 21:9 support and the other aspect ratio options in the tvOS 18.2 beta, grade their M4 Mac predictions, and share relaxing Up Next picks.
MacStories Unwind This week, Federico attempts to make audio unboxings a trend, plus he recommends a TV show and videogame, while I encourage listeners to try a decade-old cartoon.
Comfort Zone, Episode 23, ‘Is that Elvish?’ Show NotesWeekly Topics* Apple Intelligence * Nintendo Music
Other Things Discussed* Niléane’s AppStories appearance * Omnivore is shutting down * The Verge full-text RSS feed * Lego mugs * Nintendo Alermo * Apple Translate app * Duolingo
Follow the Hosts* Chris on YouTube * Matt on Birchtree * Niléane on Mastodon * Comfort Zone on Mastodon
Magic Rays of Light, Episode 144, ‘Aspect Ratios and M4 Macs’ Show NotesSubmit your question for episode 150 to magic@macstories.net.
M4 Mac Announcements* Apple Announces New iMac with the M4 Chip, a Nano-Texture Option, and USB-C Accessories * Apple Releases Magic Keyboard, Trackpad, and Mouse with USB-C * The More Mini Mac mini * Apple Reveals New M4 MacBook Pros
Apple TV News* Belkin Head Strap for Apple Vision Pro * RF-S7.8mm F4 STM DUAL * Proton VPN for Apple TV
Releases* Wheel of Fortune Daily * Drive Ahead! Carcade * Arkanoid vs Space Invaders+ * Texas Hold’em Poker: Pokerist+
Extras Shrinking — Brett Goldstein on His Challenging Role in Season 2 * DISCLAIMER — Inside Chapter V: Cate Blanchett and Hoyeon on the Downfall of Catherine * DISCLAIMER* — Inside Chapter VI: Cate Blanchett and Alfonso Cuarón on Trauma and Truth * Silo — Season 2 Official Sneak Peek
TV App Highlights* In the Summers * My Old Ass * The Day of the Jackal * Starring Jerry as Himself * Conclave * Look Into My Eyes * Magpie * Megalopolis
Up Next* The Office * Game Changer
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
Subscribe to Magic Rays of Light on YouTube and follow us on Mastodon.
Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads
Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads
MacStories Unwind, ‘An Audio Unboxing’ Show NotesLinks and Show NotesAn Audio Unboxing* PlayStation 5 Pro
Picks* Federico’s Picks: + How to Die Alone on Hulu + Dragon Age: The Veilguard * John’s Pick: + Over the Garden Wall + Over the Garden Wall 10th Anniversary Stop Motion Short + Additional Reading: - Over the Garden Wall’s stop-motion anniversary short is the perfect balm Polygon - Over the Garden Wall Perfectly capturing the loneliness of October Vox
MacStories Unwind+We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.
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MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
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Louie Mantia has been making beautiful icons for many years, both as one of the owners of icon design studio Parakeet and as personal side projects. Recently, two of Mantia’s personal projects caught my eye because they combine my love of classic games with the technology I use every day.
The first set of icons includes eight Super Mario blocks. When these were released in October, I remembered I had an 8-bit Mario wallpaper tucked away somewhere that would work perfectly with the icons on my iPhone. I dug the wallpaper out (sorry, I don’t recall where I got it), set up four single-action shortcuts using the ‘Open App’ action, and assigned Mantia’s icons to them using ‘Add to Home Screen’ and the Files option for the images. I set the four shortcuts to open Lire, Apple Music, Play, and Readwise Reader. Then, I lined up the wallpaper to make it look like Mario was jumping to hit the last block in the row. I also added a large GameBuddy widget at the top of the screen to count down the days until the release of Mario and Luigi: Brothership.
I think the result, which you can see in the screenshot above, looks great. Mantia’s icons were designed for the Mac, which means they each have a white border around them on the iPhone, but it fits well with the wallpaper, so it worked out without any tweaking.
The second set of icons is based on Nintendo controllers, another of my obsessions. I was chatting with Federico about Mantia’s latest icon set, and he had a great idea: why not take advantage of Delta’s deep linking feature (also used by GameTrack) to create shortcuts that use Mantia’s icons to open individual classic games?
Retrieving a Delta deep link and setting up a simple shortcut with a Home Screen bookmark.
The process is simple. You can copy a deep link to a game in Delta by long-pressing it, selecting ‘Share,’ and picking ‘Copy Deep Link’ from the list of action extensions. After I did that, I set up more single-action shortcuts using the ‘Open URL’ action and again assigned Mantia’s icons to the shortcuts using the ‘Add to Home Screen’ option, adding The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords, Super Mario World, and F-Zero to my Home Screen. Then, so I could tell everything apart, I switched my Home Screen to use small icons so the labels I’d added to my shortcuts would be visible.
I’m pleased with the result and plan to tie this Home Screen to a Focus mode that activates in the evening for some downtime activities. I can always access other apps as needed via Spotlight Search or the App Library, but it’s sometimes nice to end the day with a simpler setup that invites me to play a game, listen to some music, read, or watch a video.
Louie Mantia’s icons are free to download, but there’s an option to make a name-your-own-price donation, which I highly recommend you do if you download these wonderful icons.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;
Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.
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Raycast has always been more than an app launcher. From the start, it has included a multitude of other handy utilities, including Floating Notes. I’ve used Floating Notes now and then to park a bit of text where I knew I’d be able to find it later. Because the note floated above other windows, it was easy to access, but Floating Notes always felt a little too rudimentary to use for much more than that.
Today, Raycast released an extensive update to the feature and renamed it Raycast Notes. Your notes still occupy a floating window, but now, the window auto-resizes to fit the content by default. The window’s width is fixed, but you can always resize its height to adjust how much space it occupies on your screen.
The Raycast Notes browser.
You can summon Raycast Notes just like you would any other Raycast feature. Once it’s open, ⌘ + P pops up a note switcher window with a search field and a list of your notes in reverse chronological order. Notes can also be pinned to the top of the list. ⌘ + K reveals various note actions, including:
- creating a new note,
- browsing notes,
- copying a note’s deep link,
- creating a Quicklink that can be easily accessed via Raycast,
- formatting a note using Markdown syntax,
- enabling or disabling the note window’s auto-resizing feature,
- exporting as a Markdown, HTML, or plain text file,
- viewing recently deleted notes, and
- deleting the current note.
The same actions, plus note browsing and creation, can be accessed from the window’s toolbar.
Raycast Notes actions.
That’s a nice set of options, although it’s a shame that a note’s text can’t be sent to other apps via the Share menu and that exporting a Markdown formatted file uses the .txt extension instead of .md. Still, it’s an excellent feature, and I appreciate that if I copy text from a note, it pastes as Markdown text in Obsidian but as properly formatted rich text in apps like Notes.
I’ve only played around with Raycast Notes briefly, but I like what I’ve seen. It has the potential to be an excellent inbox for ideas, links, and other bits of text you come across during your day. I can also see Raycast Notes as a good place to store template text you need repeatedly. It’s definitely a feature I plan to experiment with more to see where it fits into my workflows.
Raycast Notes is available to free and paid Raycast users. Free users are limited to five notes, while subscribers can create unlimited notes that sync between multiple Macs.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;
Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.
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Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
AppStories This week, Federico and I are joined by Jonathan Reed to check in on the parts of watchOS 11 that he’s still using, talk about browsing the web from an Apple Watch, and dig into the apps he uses day-to-day.
NPC: Next Portable Console On NPC’s latest episode, we have lots of smartphone gaming news, console mods, a first peek at the future of Windows handheld gaming, and more. Plus, I share my first impressions of the Ayaneo Pocket Micro, and Brendon digs into OG hardware with the Nintendo DSi and Sony PSP.
AppStories, Episode 410, ‘Wrist Browsing’ Show NotesLinks and Show NotesAppStories+ Pre-ShowVisit AppStories.net to learn more about the extended, high bitrate audio version of AppStories that is delivered early each week and subscribe.
- Dr. Pepper Creme Soda
- Jonathan’s Blueberry G3 iMac
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/112548
- Jonathan and his daughter bring the iMac back to life
Main ShowwatchOS Vibe Check* watchOS 11: The MacStories Review * µBrowser + Also mentioned: Ticci Tabs
A Friendly App Interrogation* Jonathan’s Apps + RSS: Reeder Classic + Read Later: Reader by ElevenLabs + Task Management: Reminders with Remind Me Faster + Writing: Ulysses * Also mentioned + Omnivore is shutting down + Reader by Readwise + The new Reeder + GoodLinks + Instapaper + Godspeed * + Follow Jonathan’s work at MacStories
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, Jonathan shares the story of the return of his Blueberry G3 iMac.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
NPC, Episode 12, ‘Dream Devices’ Show NotesLinks and Show NotesThe Latest Portable Gaming News* iOS Gaming News + Pokémon TCG Pocket + Nintendo Music * Console Mods + PS4 turned into a handheld + Xbox handheld * Anbernic RG ARC XX rumors * Indiegogo campaign launced * Next-Gen Windows Handhelds + AMD’s Ryzen Z2 chips could bring Strix Point graphics to handhelds in 2025 (Updated) + OneXFly F1 Pro Unveiled with 144Hz OLED, Ryzen Power, and ‘Zero Drift’ Sticks * Ayaneo EVO and Pocket DMG delayed by a few weeks but the Pocket Micro shipped. * Smartphone gaming + Asus ROG Phone 9 is coming on November 19 (gaming smartphone with Snapdragon 8 Elite) - Liliputing + Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor featuring Oryon CPU cores and next-gen Adreno graphics * 8BitDo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller * Apple rumored to be working on new App Store-like app dedicated to games * Netflix is laying off gaming staff
New Handhelds* John covers the Ayaneo Pocket Micro * Brendon has a new matte black Nintendo DSi and modded Sony PSP + DSi Guide to modding the DSi * Also mentioned: + Kit & Krysta YouTube channel + PXPlay app * Other games mentioned: + Soma bringer + Brave Story: New Traveler + Call of Duty Black Ops 6
CreditsShow Art: Brendon Bigley
Music: Will LaPorte
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;
Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.
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Announced back in May, the tinyPod is a plastic case that turns your strapless Apple Watch into an iPod-like phone. The company claims the case can make a cellular Apple Watch your “phone away from phone” with core apps like Messages, Phone, Music, Maps, and more. You can even use an app like μBrowser – which I talked about on this week’s AppStories – to stay connected to the web as well.
When the tinyPod was announced, I wasn’t sure whether this was incredibly silly or genius, but I was certainly intrigued to hear how it worked out. Units have now started appearing in the wild, and YouTuber Dave Lee (aka Dave2D) got ahold of one to test out.
Unfortunately, it seems like the quality of the case is poor, and the button in the middle of the scroll wheel is non-functional. Going back and looking at the promotional videos, I can now see that this was a deliberate choice.
What’s most intriguing about this accessory, however, is the mechanism the folks at tinyPod constructed to allow the scroll wheel to turn the Digital Crown. I’ll let Dave show you in detail, but suffice it to say it’s weird, old-school, and flawed – but I kind of love it. Crucially, though, it’s not enough to make me want one.
While the tinyPod seems like a no-go, I do admire people trying crazy ideas like this because every now and then, one of them sticks the landing.
→ Source: youtube.com
On YouTube, the fantastic Michael MJD—known for exploring the history of tech devices and software—recently revisited the 2011 HP TouchPad.
This short-lived tablet is quite fascinating. It originally shipped with webOS, an operating system which was ahead of its time, featuring a gesture- and card-based multitasking interface. In many ways, it resembled the iOS and iPadOS interfaces we’re all familiar with today.
Much like today’s iOS and iPadOS, webOS on the HP TouchPad allowed users to navigate the interface and switch between apps through swipes on the Home Screen, which hosted an overview of all your open apps.
I remember reading about the excitement surrounding the HP TouchPad when it launched—only to be discontinued a mere 49 days later. Watching Michael MJD explore its OS and unique UI truly felt like time travel to a time when the iPad was just beginning to take off as a computer for power users. I highly recommend checking out his walkthrough.
→ Source: youtube.com
During our Club MacStories Fall Membership Drive, I published my Mac Hacks column, an exclusive perk of Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Mac Hacks is about exploring new ways of using the Mac and integrating it with other devices and novel workflows.
My latest column is all about Tailscale. As I explain in the story:
I’m a big fan of Tailscale, but it has two big problems that can make it confusing. The first issue is also one of Tailscale’s greatest strengths: its flexibility. The service has several built-in features that are useful as standalone tools, which is a good place to start. However, the ability to connect a disparate collection of devices without regard for their operating systems opens up a vastly larger universe of possibilities that’s only limited by your imagination. That makes it incredibly powerful – but a lot to wrap your head around, too.
So, to make Tailscale a little more accessible, I walked readers through how I’m using it to:
- Share large files across my home network
- Provide an added layer of security when using an unfamiliar Wi-Fi network
- Move files from the Mac, iPhone, and iPad to Windows and Android devices
- Remotely log into Macs
- Directly access files on multiple Macs from my iPhone and iPad
Plus I cover using Tailscale to manage an over-the-air TV DVR, Plex server, and more.
Mac Hacks is just one of the many perks of Club MacStories.
Automation Academy is just one of many perks that Club MacStories+ and Club Premier members enjoy including:
- Weekly and monthly newsletters
- A sophisticated web app with search and filtering tools to navigate eight years of content
- Customizable RSS feeds
- Bonus columns
- An early and ad-free version of our Internet culture and media podcast, MacStories Unwind
- A vibrant Discord community of smart app and automation fans who trade a wealth of tips and discoveries every day
- Live Discord audio events after Apple events and at other times of the year
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I last wrote about iPod click wheel games here on MacStories in…2011, when Apple officially delisted them from the iTunes Store. Thirteen years later, some enterprising iPod fans are trying to preserve those games and find a way to let other old-school iPod fans play them today.
Here’s Kyle Orland, writing at Ars Technica:
In recent years, a Reddit user going by the handle Quix used this workaround to amass a local library of 19 clickwheel iPod games and publicly offered to share “copies of these games onto as many iPods as I can.” But Quix’s effort ran into a significant bottleneck of physical access—syncing his game library to a new iPod meant going through the costly and time-consuming process of shipping the device so it could be plugged into Quix’s actual computer and then sending it back to its original owner.
Enter Reddit user Olsro, who earlier this month started the appropriately named iPod Clickwheel Games Preservation Project. Rather than creating his master library of authorized iTunes games on a local computer in his native France, Olsro sought to “build a communitarian virtual machine that anyone can use to sync auth[orized] clickwheel games into their iPod.” While the process doesn’t require shipping, it does necessitate jumping through a few hoops to get the Qemu Virtual Machine running on your local computer.
Olsro’s project is available here, and it includes instructions on how to set up the virtual machine so you can install the games yourself. Did you know that, for example, Square Enix made two iPod games, Crystal Defenders and Song Summoner? Without these fan-made projects, all of these games would be lost to time and link rot – and we unfortunately know why.
→ Source: arstechnica.com
CoverSutra by Sophiestication is a name that may sound familiar if you’re as ancient as Federico, who last reviewed the app on MacStories in January 2010. At the time, the app was a fully-featured iTunes controller. It could display your music in the menu bar as well on the Desktop. It also used to act as a Last.fm client and ship with a bunch of customization features.
This month, CoverSutra is back with version 4.0. This new version was rewritten from the ground up with a different approach: instead of being a controller for Apple’s native Music app, CoverSutra is now a standalone client for Apple Music on the Mac. In practice, this means that you can search your Apple Music library, pick any album or playlist, and start listening without ever having to launch the Music app.
Search is CoverSutra’s highlight feature. Using CoverSutra for the past week on my Mac has made me realize how much more time I usually spend in the Music app just searching through my library. Searching with CoverSutra, on the other hand, is fast and persistent. You can start typing part of an artist’s name, album, or song title, and search results will instantly appear in the menu bar popover window. And as long as you don’t start a new search, your search results will not disappear, even if you click away from the menu bar.
CoverSutra’s layout for search results puts the emphasis on album and playlist covers.
I’ve also found that CoverSutra suits my listening habits pretty well. As the kind of person who likes to play albums from front to back and rarely relies on curated playlists, I’ve enjoyed how CoverSutra allows me to quickly bring up an album and play it from the beginning. The layout emphasizes album and playlist covers and makes it easy to instantly spot the album you are looking for.
In its current shape, CoverSutra 4.0 is pretty basic. Apart from search, playback controls, and the ability to set your own global keyboard shortcuts, there are no additional features or settings. However, I’m hopeful that the app can start fresh from this new foundation. Unlike similar alternatives on the Mac like Neptunes or Sleeve, CoverSutra’s potential as a standalone player in the menu bar may enable a range of more advanced features.
CoverSutra supports custom global keyboard shortcuts.
CoverSutra 4.0 is available on the Mac App Store. For a limited time, the app is available at an introductory price of $4.99. If you’ve purchased CoverSutra on the Mac App Store in the past, the upgrade to version 4.0 is free.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
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Pixelmator Pro proves that powerful Mac image editors don’t need to be complex. The app is designed for ultimate ease of use. It’s the ‘image editor for the rest of us’ who want a native Mac app that’s instantly familiar.
The app includes a refined, single-window design that puts the focus on your work instead of your tools. Pixelmator Pro features a completely nondestructive editing workflow that allows you to experiment, unleashing your creativity with the confidence that you can always revert any changes you make.
Pixelmator Pro has full RAW image support, layers, and advanced photo editing for fine tuning. The app also includes extensive machine learning-based tools that can automatically enhance your photos.
Pixelmator Pro isn’t just for photographers though. Illustrators will love the app for its vector tools and SVG file support, digital painters will appreciate the app’s powerful painting engine and extensive set of dual-texture brushes, and anyone who works with video will enjoy its video templates designed with YouTube and social media in mind.
Best of all, Pixelmator Pro’s features are lightning fast because they’ve been built from the ground up using Apple’s latest technologies like Metal 2, which powers the app’s editing engine. Pixelmator Pro is ready for the upcoming Mac Pro too with full support for multiple GPUs.
To learn more, visit Pixelmator Pro’s website where you’ll find even more details along with terrific tutorials. Then, download the app and start editing your images like a pro.
Our thanks to Pixelmator Pro for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;
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Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
Comfort Zone Matt buys his first ereader, Niléane has moved to a new calendar app, and for the challenge everyone did something with Stage Manager.
Magic Rays of Light Sigmund and Devon discuss the first five years of Apple TV+ and where the service stands today. Plus, they highlight new Apple Original series You Would Do It Too and Before.
MacStories Unwind This week, the differences between U.S. and Italian Halloween, plus game, app, and TV recommendations. We also share a spooky season movie bundle deal.
Comfort Zone, Episode 22, ‘One Dad at a Time, Please!’ Show NotesWeekly Topics* Amazon Kindle Paperwhite * Fantastical
Other Things Discussed* The House on Mango Street * Kobo ereaders * Phanpy for Mastodon * Libby * Goodreads * Readwise * Dato menubar calendar (Mac App Store)
Follow the Hosts* Chris on YouTube * Matt on Birchtree * Niléane on Mastodon * Comfort Zone on Mastodon
Magic Rays of Light, Episode 143, ‘Apple TV+ at Five, You Would Do It Too, and Before’ Show NotesApple TV+ at 5* March Event 2019 | Apple
Apple TV News* Blackmagic Camera 2.1 * Controller for HomeKit * Vimeo for Apple Vision Pro * Currents: Teaser * Chick-fil-A’s Legends of Evergreen Hills Trailer * How Apple developed the world’s first end-to-end hearing health experience * What It’s Like to Hear Better with AirPods Pro 2
Trailer Talk* Severance Season 2 Teaser
Apple Original News* First Look at Prime Target
Highlights* You Would Do It Too * Before
Releases Before: An Inside Look * DISCLAIMER — Inside Chapter IV: Cate Blanchett and Sacha Baron Cohen on Marital Rows * Blitz: An Inside Look * Steve McQueen interviewed by Danny Leigh | BFI London Film Festival Screen Talk 2024
TV App Highlights* Joker: Folie à Deux * Treasure * Wizards Beyond Waverly Place * Martha * Piece by Piece * Despicable Me 4 * The Substance * Janet Planet * Doc of Chucky * Music by John Williams * Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story * A Different Man * The Outrun
Up Next* And Then There Was Shawn * Trick ‘r Treat
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
Subscribe to Magic Rays of Light on YouTube and follow us on Mastodon.
Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads
Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads
MacStories Unwind, ‘That Ain’t Spooky’ Show NotesLinks and Show NotesUnplugged* Happy Halloween + FAQs About Halloween In Italy * National Park of Abruzzo * Interested in Falconry?
Picks* John’s Pick: + Pokémon TCG Pocket + Nintendo Music * Federico’s Picks: + Metaphor Re:Fantazio - Launch Trailer + Only Murders in the Building, Season 4 - Trailer + The Neighborhood - Trailer + Shrinking - Trailer * MacStories Unwind Deal of the Week + Scream and Scream (remake) Bundle
MacStories Unwind+We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.
To learn more about the benefits of a Club MacStories subscription, visit our Plans page.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;
Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.
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Today, the Pixelmator team (this and next week’s MacStories sponsor) announced on their company blog that they plan to join Apple after regulatory approvals are obtained. The Pixelmator team had this to say about the news:
We’ve been inspired by Apple since day one, crafting our products with the same razor-sharp focus on design, ease of use, and performance. And looking back, it’s crazy what a small group of dedicated people have been able to achieve over the years from all the way in Vilnius, Lithuania. Now, we’ll have the ability to reach an even wider audience and make an even bigger impact on the lives of creative people around the world.
Pixelmator also says:
There will be no material changes to the Pixelmator Pro, Pixelmator for iOS, and Photomator apps at this time.
The Pixelmator Team’s apps have always been among our favorites at MacStories. In 2022 we awarded Pixelmator Photo (now, Photomator), the MacStories Selects Best Design Award, and in 2023, Pixelmator received our MacStories Selects Lifetime Achievement Award. Congratulations to everyone at Pixelmator. We can’t wait to see what this exciting new chapter means for them and their fantastic suite of apps.
→ Source: pixelmator.com
Last quarter, Apple reported revenue of $85.8 billion, which was a 5% year-over-year gain.
Today, fourth-quarter earnings are out and Apple reported revenue of $94.9 billion, a 6% year-over-year gain. Also, the diluted earnings per share was $1.64 a 12% year-over-year gain. Both revenue and earnings beat Wall Street expectations.
Tim Cook had this to say:
Today Apple is reporting a new September quarter revenue record of $94.9 billion, up 6 percent from a year ago. During the quarter, we were excited to announce our best products yet, with the all-new iPhone 16 lineup, Apple Watch Series 10, AirPods 4, and remarkable features for hearing health and sleep apnea detection. And this week, we released our first set of features for Apple Intelligence, which sets a new standard for privacy in AI and supercharges our lineup heading into the holiday season.
Going into today’s earnings Yahoo Finance reported on analyst expectations:
For the quarter, Wall Street expects Apple to report earnings per share (EPS) of $1.59 on revenue of $94.3 billion, according to Bloomberg consensus estimates. The company saw EPS of $1.46 on revenue of $89.4 billion during the same period last year.
One question that is sure to be on analysts minds as Apple enters the holiday season is whether Apple Intelligence, which has been heavily marketed and is only available on Apple’s latest model devices, will move the needle on iPhone and other device upgrades. By then, at least some of the planned Apple Intelligence features will have been in customers’ hands for a while and may help drive demand.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;
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Tomorrow, November 1st, is the final day of the Club MacStories Fall Membership Drive. So if you haven’t jumped on our deal to get 20% off any annual plan with the code ‘CLUB2024’, you can read more about it here.
Each of the Club’s three tiers offers a variety of perks, but today, I want to highlight two: giveaways and discounts. I’d also like to thank the developers who have participated in this year’s giveaways and discounts, along with those whose apps we’ve added throughout the year for Club members. We appreciate the support immensely.
If you haven’t joined yet, you can do so here:
Join Club MacStories:
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Now Just$96We’ve been doing app giveaways for all members since the beginning of the Club in 2015, but this year’s Membership Drive giveaways are some of the best we’ve ever done. We announced the first batch in last week’s issue of our Club-exclusive MacStories Weekly newsletter, and below, I’ll reveal the giveaways we’re doing this week. Giveaways are all announced in MacStories Weekly, and any Club member can enter.
To kick things off last week, we announced giveaways of:
- Parcel, the excellent universal app for tracking deliveries with tight integration with Amazon and many delivery companies around the world;
- Shareshot, the terrific utility for the iPhone, iPad, and Vision Pro that frames screenshots in photorealistic hardware frames with beautiful gradient backgrounds;
- Paku, a tool for keeping an eye on air quality;
- Text Workflow for iOS, an excellent way to automate text transformations with its long list of built-in tools and Shortcuts support;
- Photomator, which recently got a big update with flagging, filtering, and rating options;
- Due for Mac, which lets you set a reminder and have it ping you at intervals until you complete the task; and
- two Suti PhoneBacks for the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
This week, we’ll add the following giveaways:
- Acorn, the Mac image editor from Flying Meat;
- Retrobatch, Flying Meat’s batch editor for images that integrates with Shortcuts;
- Due for iOS, which lets you set a reminder and have it ping you at intervals until you complete the task;
- Unsqueeze, a utility for intelligently upscaling videos to as high as 8K; and
- the Dual Grip Ultimate v.3 iPhone 16 Pro Max adapter for Joy-Con controllers.
Entries for all of these dozen giveaways will remain open until November 6th, so anyone who joins Club MacStories during the Fall Membership Drive can enter to win.
For Club MacStories Plus and Premier members, we’ve also announced brand new discounts for the following apps:
- Bezel
- Acorn
- Retrobatch
- Foodnoms
- Text Workflow for Mac
- Plinky
- Albums
- Croisant
- Obscura
Those deals join a long list of ongoing discounts currently available to Club MacStories Plus and Premier members and viewable by anyone, whether you’re a Club member or not, here. Altogether, it’s become quite a list:
- 1Password (six months free)
- Acorn (20% off)
- Affinity Apps (20% off)
- AirBuddy (20% off)
- Albums (free three-month premium subscription)
- Balolo Setup Cockpit (10% off)
- Bartender (20% off)
- Batteries (20% off)
- Bezel (20% off)
- Clean Email (30% off)
- CleanShot X (20% off)
- Croissant (50% off first year)
- DEVONtechnologies apps
- DEVONagent Pro (20% off)
- DEVONthink (20% off all versions)
- EchoFeed ($5 off)
- Foodnoms ($19.99 off first year)
- Funnel (20% off annual subscription)
- HazeOver (30% off)
- HoudahGeo (25% off)
- HoudahSpot (25% off)
- Keyboard Maestro (20% off)
- Lasso (30% off)
- Lingon X 9 (20% off)
- Listen Later (new user credit match plus 10% off auto-refills)
- Marked (30% off)
- Mission Control Plus (20% off)
- Peak: Fitness Widgets (50% off first year)
- Photos Workbench (25% off)
- Play (50% off first year)
- Plinky (50% off first year)
- Red Sweater Software apps (20% off)
- MarsEdit
- Black Ink
- FastScripts
- FlexTime
- Clarion
- Retrobatch (20% off)
- Rogue Amoeba apps (20% off)
- Airfoil
- Audio Hijack
- Farrago
- Fission
- Loopback
- Piezo
- SoundSource
- ScreenCastsONLINE (50% off first year for new subscribers)
- Screens 5 (50% off first year)
- Sensei (30% off)
- Sleeve 2 (25% off)
- Sofa (35% off)
- TableFlip (33% off)
- Tembo (25% off)
- TextBuddy (25% off)
- TextSniper (25% off)
- Text Workflow for Mac (30% off)
Thanks again to all the developers who have participated in our giveaways and discounts this year and in the past. You make the apps we love, so your support means a lot to us.
And thank you to everyone who has signed up for Club MacStories this week, too. As the Club has grown, so have our plans for it and MacStories in general, and having the support of Club members old and new is what has given us the confidence to keep growing despite difficult times in the advertising world.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;
Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.
Learn more here and from our Club FAQs.
Join Now
Nintendo just released a surprise new iOS app: Nintendo Music, a music player that draws on Nintendo’s decades of videogame soundtracks.
The iPhone-only app is an exclusive perk for Nintendo Online members. Once you sign into your account, you’re greeted with a deep catalog of classic Nintendo music. You’ll find old favorites from the biggest titles, but there are also many, many more obscure songs. A prime example is the Globe: Daytime Forecast song from the Wii Forecast Channel. It turns out it’s an excellent tune for writing.
A sampling of some of Nintendo Music’s playlists and collections.
There’s a lot here, and I’ve barely scratched the surface, but I’m impressed with how much thought has gone into the app. The app’s design has a lot in common with Apple Music, featuring rows of rectangular and square artwork divided into categories that include:
- Highlights, which currently displays a playlist called Nintendo Music Selects,
- Recently Played
- Top Recommendations
- Find Your Favorites
- Character-based collections
- Mood based playlists
Looping the Wii Forecast Channel soundtrack.
One of the most interesting sections for anyone who likes to work with background music playing is called Extend Your Enjoyment. It includes songs like the Wii Forecast Channel music that you can loop for 15, 30, or 60 minutes.
That’s just the Home tab of Nintendo Music. The two other tabs feature Search and My Music. In addition to the ability to search for a particular title, the section displays songs from the games in your games library, allowing you to extend your obsession with certain games beyond playing them. My Music includes any track or playlist you’ve marked as favorites.
Kirby is such a classic.
Songs and playlists can be downloaded for offline playback, AirPlayed to compatible speakers, and shared via the share sheet. Nintendo Music also features full playback controls, queue management, and playlist-building tools, similar to Apple Music.
So, that’s a quick look at Nintendo Music. It’s packed with endless classics to explore and is delightful. I love it, although I’d love to see Nintendo add support for widgets.
Nintendo Music is available as a free download on the App Store but requires a Nintendo Online account.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;
Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.
Learn more here and from our Club FAQs.
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Source: Apple.
In its third and likely last Mac announcement this week, Apple revealed updates to the MacBook Pro line of laptops, which includes Pro and Max variants of the M4 chipsets in the same 14-inch and 16-inch form factors we’ve seen in the MacBook Pro line for the past few years.
According to John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering:
MacBook Pro is an incredibly powerful tool that millions of people use to do their life’s best work, and today we’re making it even better. With the powerful M4 family of chips, and packed with pro features like Thunderbolt 5, an advanced 12MP Center Stage camera, an all-new nano-texture display option, and Apple Intelligence, the new MacBook Pro continues to be, by far, the world’s best pro laptop.
Source: Apple.
Regarding the M4 family of chips, Apple says:
Built using second-generation 3-nanometer technology, the M4 family is the most advanced lineup of chips for a personal computer. The M4 family features phenomenal single-threaded CPU performance with the world’s fastest CPU core,2 along with outstanding multithreaded CPU performance for the most demanding workloads. Combined with machine learning accelerators in the CPU, an advanced GPU, and a faster and more efficient Neural Engine, Apple silicon is built from the ground up to deliver incredible performance for AI. Together with faster unified memory, each chip also includes increased memory bandwidth, so large language models (LLMs) and other large projects run smoothly and on device.
The company also released a video touting the changes to the MacBook Pro line:
Highlights of the revised MacBook Pro line include:
- Thunderbolt 5 ports on the Pro and Max models
- Thunderbolt 4 on the base model M4 MacBook Pro, including an additional third port
- Storage options ranging from 1TB to 8TB depending on the model you choose
- A nano-texture display option
- Support for two external displays
- A 12MP Center Stage Camera like the one on the iMac released earlier this week
- Up to 24 hours of battery life
- A 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, and 16–32GB of memory with 120GB/s of bandwidth on the entry-level M4 MacBook Pro
- A 14-core CPU and a 20-core GPU on the M4 Pro version of the MacBook Pro
- A 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, and up to 128GB of memory on the M4 Max version of the MacBook Pro
- Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3
Source: Apple.
I’ve been using an M3 MacBook Pro for about a year, and it’s a fantastic laptop. With the added speed and Thunderbolt 5, the latest MacBook Pros should be an attractive upgrade for a lot of users. I look forward to seeing how they stack up in real-world tests against previous models of Apple’s high-end laptop.
The new MacBook Pro is available for pre-order today, with deliveries and in-store availability beginning on November 8th. The M4 MacBook Pro starts at $1,599, the M4 Pro model starts at $1,999, and the M4 Max model starts at $2,299.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;
Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.
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The new iPad mini is the first model with Wi-Fi 6E support, which makes it the best mini for game streaming yet. Of course, it’s a great size for playing App Store and Apple Arcade games too.
Last weekend, I did an in-depth review of the GameSir G8+ for Club MacStories Weekly, which included an early look at the controller and a video walkthrough on the MacStories YouTube channel as a new perk for Club members. The video is now available for everyone to watch here:
For early access to future hardware walkthroughs and the full review, you can join Club MacStories now through November 1st for 20% off all annual plans by using the code CLUB2024 at checkout, as detailed here.
→ Source: youtu.be
Pokémon TCG Pocket, originally slated to be released on October 31st, is out now and available to download from the App Store. The free-to-play game from The Pokémon Company recreates the company’s trading cards as a mobile experience, with a focus on collecting and casual battling.
According to the game’s release notes:
- You can open packs every day to get cards!
Collect cards every day! You can open two booster packs every day at no cost to collect Pokémon cards featuring heartwarming illustrations from the past as well as all-new cards exclusive to this game.- New Pokémon cards!
Immersive cards, a brand-new kind of card, make their debut here! With new illustrations that have a 3D feel, immersive cards will make you feel like you’ve leapt into the world of the card’s illustration!- Show off your collection!
You can use binders or display boards to showcase your cards and share them with the world!- Casual battles—alone or with friends!
You can enjoy casual battles during quick breaks in your day!
I’ve played through the game’s tutorial, which walks players through how to retrieve packs of cards, explains missions, and tours other parts of the game’s interface. The highlight of the game is the cards themselves, which look beautiful on the iPhone’s screen. Battling is locked at first, as are a few other areas, which I think makes sense given the depth of areas and features that are available to explore initially.
It’s worth noting that there have been many reports on Reddit of the game crashing on launch. I haven’t experienced that, but I know, for example, Brendon Bigley has.
It’s too early to judge whether The Pokémon Company will have a hit on their hands with Pokémon TCG Pocket, but I like what I’ve seen a lot. The game offers a premium subscription and in-game currency, but my early sense is that there’s plenty to do for free, too. If The Pokémon Company can get the game stabilized quickly, I expect it will become a big hit.
Pokémon TCG Pocket is free to download on the App Store and offers In-App Purchases for a premium subscription and in-game currency.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;
Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.
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Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
AppStories This week, Federico and John are joined by Niléane Dorffer who writes at MacStories and is a co-host of Comfort Zone, a show all about trying new things in your tech life, to talk about three of Niléane’s favorite apps – Raycast, Tailscale, and Day One – after which Federico quizzes Niléane about some of the everyday apps she uses.
On AppStories+, Comfort Zone’s origin story and John gets some AI group therapy from Federico and Niléane.
This episode is sponsored by:* Memberful – Help Your Clients Monetize Their Passion * Notion: Try the powerful, easy-to-use Notion AI today.
Ruminate Robb reports back on Nando’s new collab, they both discuss the new Mac minis and tech that’s just enough, the Robb reviews Godspeed.
AppStories, Episode 409, ‘Raycast, Tailscale, and Day One with Comfort Zone’s Niléane Dorffer’ Show NotesAppStories+ Pre-ShowVisit AppStories.com to learn more about the extended, high bitrate audio version of AppStories that is delivered early each week and subscribe.
- Comfort Zone
- New Developer Betas Released for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS with Image Playground, ChatGPT Integration, and More Apple Intelligence Features
Main ShowIntroducing Niléane Dorffer* Comfort Zone * Latest episode: + Apple Podcasts + YouTube
Raycast* MacStories Coverage of Raycast: + Adding to My Mac’s Swiss Army Knife: A Raycast Extension Roundup + Three Tips to Combine BetterTouchTool and Raycast for Simpler Keyboard Shortcuts + Raycast Introduces a Pro Subscription with New AI, Sync, Theming, and Clipboard Functionality
Tailscale* MacStories Coverage of Tailscale: + Mac Hacks: Everyday Tailscale Uses for People Who Aren’t Network Administrators
Day One* Related MacStories Coverage: + Day One 3.0: Three Headline Features Make the Journaling App Better Than Ever + Apple’s Journal App: Journaling for All? + Creating a Timeline of My Life with Everlog
What Do You Use?* The Apps Niléane Uses: + Task Management: Nothing or Calendar + RSS: Nothing (previously, Reeder) + Read Later: Safari Reading List with a Raycast extension + Writing: Obsidian and Notes or Google Docs
Ruminate, Episode 196, ‘She’s Not Call of Duty’ Show Notes Nando’s Has Just Unveiled a Brand-New Fanta Flavour Hot Sauce * The More Mini Mac mini * Mark One Enigma Edition Pen Review * Studio Neat Mark One: Enigma Edition * Club MacStories Plans * Godspeed * Using Setapp * The keyboard-only* task manager (Godspeed)
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed every MacStories fan.
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Source: Apple.
Today, Apple announced the new M4 Mac mini via a press release. The new mini’s chip jumped from M2 to M4, which is available in both its base and Pro configurations. However, what’s most remarkable about the Mac mini is its size. The new design measures just 5 inches deep, 5 inches wide, and 2 inches tall. By comparison, the old Mac mini is 1.41 inches tall and 7.75 inches deep and wide, and the Apple TV is 1.2 inches tall and 3.66 inches deep and wide. Also, the old M2 mini weighed 2.6 pounds, while the new M4 model weighs just 1.5 pounds.
Source: Apple.
Apple says the new mini is also the company’s first carbon neutral Mac. The company released a video showing off the new Mac too:
Other specs of the new mini include:
- A choice of M4 and M4 Pro processors that extend up to 14 CPU cores
- Up to a 20-core GPU
- Up to 64GB of memory
- Up to 8TB of storage
- Three Thunderbolt 5 ports on the M4 Pro model, with up to 120 Gb/s data transfer speeds
- Three Thunderbolt 4 ports on the base M4 model with up to 40GB/s data transfer speeds
- Two USB-C ports on the front of the mini, with up to 10Gb/s data transfer speeds
- A front-facing 3.5mm headphone jack
- Support for up to three 6K displays on the M4 Pro model and two 6K and one 5K display on the M4 model at 60Hz
- Gigabit Ethernet with a 10GB Ethernet option
Apple also released a one meter Thunderbolt 5 cable for $69.
That slots the mini right between the new iMac released yesterday and the existing Mac Studio. The mini offers mid-range performance with more CPU and GPU cores, memory, and storage than the iMac, while the Mac Studio can take things further with significantly more CPU and GPU cores and memory.
Source: Apple.
Compared to the existing Mac mini, the new model is significantly smaller, fitting almost exactly between the width and depth of an Apple TV and the previous generation mini. The headphone jack and USB-C ports on the front of the Mac mini are welcome additions if you regularly swap in new peripherals as you work.
I’ve used Mac minis since they had CD/DVD slots, sometimes as my day-to-day desktop and other times as a headless server. What I love about the mini is its versatility. The new size and more powerful CPU/GPU configurations should only extend the flexibility of this tiny powerhouse.
The new M4 Mac mini starts at $599 ($499 for education customers), and the M4 Pro model starts at $1,399 ($1,299 for education customers). A fully-loaded M4 Pro Mac mini costs $4,269, and all models can be pre-ordered today, with deliveries and in-store availability beginning on November 8.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
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I’ll admit, I was a little apprehensive about taking Apple’s hearing test. I’ve spent my fair share of time at loud concerts and shouting above the din in crowded bars, so I was fairly certain the test would show my hearing isn’t what it once was. The question was, “How bad is it?” With the release of iOS 18.1 and an update to the AirPods’ firmware, I set out to find out.
The AirPods Pro 2 didn’t get a hardware update this fall, but they may as well have, because the new hearing features they received via a software update add a whole new dimension to them. We’ve written about the hearing features before. They include three components:
- hearing protection, which lowers the volume of sounds that could potentially damage your hearing;
- a hearing test to check whether you have hearing loss in either ear; and
- a hearing assistance feature to boost frequencies where you’ve lost hearing.
Despite covering these features previously, I didn’t have a good feel for what they were like until I tried them myself, so I thought I’d share the process here and encourage others who can to give these new hearing features a try, too, because they work remarkably well.
Knowing that my hearing isn’t great made diving into Apple’s new hearing features both easier and harder in some ways. On one hand, I was eager to see if AirPods Pro could really make me hear better. On the other hand, I was concerned my hearing might be worse than I imagined and require something more.
Fun facts about my audio environment.
To get over the hump of my apprehension, I built up to the hearing test by opening the Health app and poking around in the Hearing section a bit. I didn’t learn a lot, except that it turns out the AirPods’ hearing protection feature first kicked in Sunday, lowering a sound by a few decibels. It may have happened when I was banging dishes around as I unloaded the dishwasher, but I’m not sure. I also discovered that October has been a little quieter for me than September and that this year has been a little quieter than last. Both are good things, I suppose.
Setting up a hearing test.
With that out of the way, I sat at the kitchen table with my iPhone and opened the hearing test in the Health app. The test walks you through checking that your environment is quiet and that your AirPods Pro 2 fit well before testing. You even have a chance to listen to an example tone before you start so you know what to expect.
More setup.
Ready to go.
You can tell that a lot of thought went into the process of preparing someone for the test. The steps were simple and clear, putting me at ease with what to expect by the time the actual test started. While you’re testing, your iPhone is automatically switched to Do Not Disturb mode, too, so you won’t be interrupted.
When the time came to begin testing one ear and then the other, I focused and listened carefully, trying not to psyche myself into hearing sounds that weren’t there. The test doesn’t take long, but it feels like a long time as you sit in silence tapping a circle each time you hear the test’s intermittent chimes.
When my left ear’s test was complete, the Health app told me that it had failed because it was interrupted by environmental sounds. Sure enough, a truck rolled down the street beneath my window near the end of the test, and while it wasn’t that loud, it was enough. So I retreated to my bedroom, away from the street and another floor off ground level.
Test complete.
That did the trick. I completed the test for both of my ears and found that, while I have some hearing loss as I suspected, it is less than I imagined. According to the test, I have mild loss in my left ear and little to no loss in my right ear. The app then prompted me to set up the hearing assistance feature, which amounted to tapping a button and reading about how the feature might take a while to get used to.
I spent most of my day at home alone, so I didn’t think I’d have a real opportunity to test the effect of hearing assistance until later. But then, I stood up, and boy, was I wrong. I had been sitting on my bed during the test, and when I got up, I noticed the difference the moment my feet touched the floor. As I walked across the room, every footstep was amplified and better defined.
Everything I did sounded richer and fuller. I sat at my desk and started typing, and I could hear the keys on the keyboard clacking more than ever. I made lunch, and the sounds of the packaging of the food I pulled out of the refrigerator were more noticeable. Then I started up a podcast episode that I had paused earlier in the day and immediately turned the volume down a couple of notches because the hearing assistance feature helps you hear media better too.
Managing the hearing assistance feature from Control Center.
That’s cool and all, but if you’re wondering what the feature is like out in the world, the answer is that the difference is equally profound. To wrap this story up, I walked down to my local coffee shop to finish writing and editing. As I approached the front door of the shop, my instinct was to pull out my AirPods and drop them in their case before I placed my order, but I resisted. Instead, I walked up to the counter and ordered a drink from a soft-spoken barista. Not only could I hear the barista loud and clear, but I overheard a couple sitting at a table nearby, and when I headed outside to work for a bit, I could clearly hear nearby conversations, all against the backdrop of kids playing noisily at an adjacent park.
My brief experience with hearing assistance has been wild and surprising in a very good way. I’m fortunate that my hearing loss is mild. At the same time, though, the difference from using hearing assistance is so noticeable that I don’t want to take my AirPods out of my ears. I’m sure the novelty of hearing assistance will wear off and become the ‘new normal,’ but I won’t forget the experience of those first hours using it. It was remarkable.
Yesterday, Apple published a fascinating press release about how the company developed these hearing features. In it, Apple notes that 1.5 billion people experience some degree of hearing loss. That’s a lot of people, and many of them are untreated like me. My hearing isn’t so bad that I’ve ever felt like I should go to an audiologist, but by the same token, here I am writing this while listening to music and soaking in the sounds of my local coffee shop on a beautiful fall day, and it’s all crystal clear and great.
Give the hearing test a try. You won’t regret it.
Access Extra Content and PerksFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
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Last week, Apple released the first developer betas of iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS 15.2, which the press speculated would be out by the end of the year. It turns out that was a good call because today, Apple confirmed that timing. In its press release about the Apple Intelligence features released today, Apple revealed that the next round is coming in December and will include the following:
- Users will be able to describe changes they want made to text using Writing Tools. For example, you can have text rewritten with a certain tone or in the form of a poem.
- ChatGPT will be available in Writing Tools and when using Siri.
- Image Playground will allow users to create images with Apple’s generative AI model.
- Users will be able to use prompts to create Genmoji, custom emoji-style images that can be sent to friends in iMessage and used as stickers.
- Visual intelligence will be available via the Camera Control on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro. The feature will allow users to point the iPhone’s camera at something and learn about it from Google or ChatGPT. Apple also mentions that visual intelligence will work with other unspecified “third-party tools.”
- Apple Intelligence will be available in localized English in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K.
Apple’s press release also explains when other languages are coming:
…in April, a software update will deliver expanded language support, with more coming throughout the year. Chinese, English (India), English (Singapore), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese, and other languages will be supported.
And Apple’s Newsroom in Ireland offers information on the Apple Intelligence rollout in the EU:
Mac users in the EU can access Apple Intelligence in U.S. English with macOS Sequoia 15.1. This April, Apple Intelligence features will start to roll out to iPhone and iPad users in the EU. This will include many of the core features of Apple Intelligence, including Writing Tools, Genmoji, a redesigned Siri with richer language understanding, ChatGPT integration, and more.
It’s a shame it’s going to be another six months before EU customers can take advantage of Apple Intelligence features on their iPhones and iPads, but it’s nonetheless good to hear when it will happen.
It’s also worth noting that the timing of other pieces of Apple Intelligence is unclear. There is still no word on precisely when Siri will gain knowledge of your personal context or perform actions in apps on your behalf, for instance. Even so, today’s reveal is more than Apple usually shares, which is both nice and a sign of the importance the company places on these features.
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I enjoyed this take on Apple Intelligence’s Clean Up feature by Joe Rosensteel, writing for Six Colors last week:
The photographs you take are not courtroom evidence. They’re not historical documents. Well, they could be, but mostly they’re images to remember a moment or share that moment with other people. If someone rear-ended your car and you’re taking photos for the insurance company, then that is not the time to use Clean Up to get rid of people in the background, of course. Use common sense.
Clean Up is a fairly conservative photo editing tool in comparison to what other companies offer. Sometimes, people like to apply a uniform narrative that Silicon Valley companies are all destroying reality equally in the quest for AI dominance, but that just doesn’t suit this tool that lets you remove some distractions from your image.
It’s easy to get swept up in the “But what is a photo” philosophical debate (which I think raises a lot of interesting points), but I agree with Joe: we should also keep in mind that, sometimes, we’re just removing that random tourist from the background and our edit isn’t going to change the course of humankind’s history.
Also worth remembering:
For some reason, even the most literal of literal people is fine with composing a shot to not include things. To even (gasp!) crop things out of photos. You can absolutely change meaning and context just as much through framing and cropping as you can with a tool like Clean Up. No one is suggesting that the crop tool be removed or that we should only be allowed to take the widest wide-angle photographs possible to include all context at all times, like security camera footage.
→ Source: sixcolors.com
Source: Apple.
Today, Apple finally released USB-C versions of the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad in white and black. The accessories don’t appear to have changed substantially from the models they replace, except for the fact that they can be connected to a Mac and charged using a standard USB-C cable instead of a Lightning cable.
Source: Apple.
That’s a big win and a change I’ve been waiting for, but there appears to be one big problem with the peripheral update: as of publication, there no longer seems to be a Magic Keyboard available without a numeric keypad. I hope that changes, because I greatly prefer the more compact version.
The new accessories are available to order now from Apple’s Online Store. The Magic Keyboard starts at $179, the Magic Mouse starts at $79, and the Magic Trackpad starts at $129, with a $20 markup to get each accessory in black.
Update: The smaller Magic Keyboard is now available with a USB-C connector for $149.
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Today, to kick off what Apple-watchers anticipate will be a string of daily announcements, Apple announced a brand-new iMac. Highlights of the update include the M4 system-on-a-chip, a nano-texture display option, a 12MP Center Stage camera, Thunderbolt 4 ports, and new colors.
The new iMac, which comes in green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, blue, and silver, retains its iconic design and 24” 4.5K Retina display, but new with this model is a nano-texture display option that we saw come to the iPad Pro line earlier this year. The camera is new, too. The old 1080p camera has been replaced with a 12MP wide-angle camera with Center Stage, and there are four Thunderbolt 4 ports, replacing the Thunderbolt 3 ports on the previous model. The base model iMac comes with 16GB of memory, which can be upgraded up to 32GB, and 256GB of storage, which can be upgraded up to 2TB. And the color-matched Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Mouse finally connect and charge via USB-C.
John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, had this to say about the new model:
iMac is beloved by millions of users, from families at home to entrepreneurs hard at work. With the incredible features of Apple Intelligence and the powerful performance of Apple silicon, the new iMac changes the game once again. With M4 and Apple Intelligence, gorgeous new colors that pop in any space, an advanced 12MP Center Stage camera, and a new nano-texture glass display option, it’s a whole new era for iMac.
It should come as no surprise that the M4 iMac is substantially faster than the M1 model Apple compares it to in its press release. Other updates include the addition of Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, which were recently added to the iPad mini, too.
The new iMac starts at $1,299, or $1,249 for education customers. It’s available for pre-order today, with deliveries and in-store availability starting on Friday, November 8.
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Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
Comfort Zone Surprise! Matt got a new iPhone (you’re shocked 😅) and Chris brings the new AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (yes, that’s the name!). Then it’s time for movie corner and a review of 2023’s film, Ferrari.
Magic Rays of Light Sigmund and Devon highlight the much-anticipated debut of Wolfs, recap Women in Blue, and discuss a new tvOS “feature” impacting purchased content.
MacStories Unwind This week, Federico gets some help tackling cable management and I did hard time at the DMV, but still had time for a gritty new crime drama.
Comfort Zone, Episode 18 ‘Ryan Gosling and Gladiator’ Show NotesWeekly Topics* iPhone 16 Pro * AirPods 4
Other Stuff We Discussed* Chrome uses a ton more battery than Safari, right? Right??? * Matt’s iPhone 16 Pro review on YouTube * Chris on Letterboxd * Matt on Letterboxd * Ferrari
Follow the Hosts* Chris on YouTube * Matt on Birchtree * Niléane on Mastodon * Comfort Zone on Mastodon
Magic Rays of Light, Episode 139, ‘Wolfs, Women in Blue, and the Sanctity of Credits’ Show NotesHighlight* Wolfs
Apple TV News* Channels: Whole Home DVR
Trailer Talk* Before * Shrinking — Season 2
Releases* Where’s Wanda?
Recap* Women in Blue
Up Next* The Front Room * Mr. McMahon * Will & Harper * Babes * Evil Does Not Exist * Deadpool & Wolverine * Speak No Evil * Salem’s Lot * Gremlins: The Wild Batch * We Grown Now * Dìdi * It’s What’s Inside * The Franchise * The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon: The Book of Carol * Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
Subscribe to Magic Rays of Light on YouTube and follow us on Mastodon.
Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads
Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads
MacStories Unwind, ‘I Look Like an Apple Promotional Photo’ Show NotesLinks and Show NotesFederico Gets Help with Cable Management* Federico’s new white microphone arm: + TONOR Microphone Boom Arm
John Does Hard Time at the DMV* As complaints mount over long waits, DMV head questioned by NC lawmakers
Pick* John’s Pick: + The Penguin on Max - Trailer
MacStories Unwind+We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.
To learn more about the benefits of a Club MacStories subscription, visit our Plans page.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Every so often, you come across a writer who cares so much about their subject that it smacks you in the face. You can’t ignore it, and it sucks so much of the oxygen out of a topic that no one else even tries to cover the beat. That’s how I’ve always felt about Michael Steeber’s writing about Apple Retail, whether it was at 9to5Mac or in his newsletter Tabletops.
Yesterday, Steeber announced that Tabletops is ending, which is a loss for those of us who have relied on it as the definitive history of Apple’s many retail locations:
This is the last issue of Tabletops. Over the past 139 weeks, we’ve explored fantastical architecture, climbed deep into the archives, put merchandising under a microscope, and completed a virtual world tour of stores from Seoul to Chicago. I say we, because this newsletter wouldn’t have been possible without your help. It was your photos, your questions, and most importantly, your encouragement that made writing Tabletops fun. It’s impossible for one person to keep up with 531 stores. Your reports from all over the world meant so much to me.
Steeber doesn’t explain why Tabletops is shutting down, but as his post explains, he’ll still be around, which I’m glad to hear. He also has these words of wisdom for readers:
I wrote with the hope of adding a moment of positivity and wonder to your day. Now it’s your turn. Don’t let yourself forget what lit the fire in your eyes. Hold on to the thrill you felt when it all began. Keep the magic alive.
Thanks for Tabletops, Michael. We’ll miss it.
→ Source: michaelsteeber.substack.com
My iPhone 16 Plus.
If you asked me two weeks ago which iPhone model I’d be getting this year, I would have answered without hesitation: my plan was to get an iPhone 16 Pro Max and continue the tradition of the past five years. I’ve been using the largest possible iPhone since the XS Max and have bought the ‘Pro Max’ flavor ever since it was introduced with the iPhone 11 Pro Max in 2019. For the past five years, I’ve upgraded to a Pro Max iPhone model every September.
And the thing is, I did buy an iPhone 16 Pro Max this year, too. But I’ve decided to return it and go with the iPhone 16 Plus instead. Not only do I think that is the most reasonable decision for my needs given this year’s iPhone lineup, but I also believe this “downgrade” is making me appreciate my new iPhone a lot more.
It all comes down to a simple idea: fun.
Realizing That, Indeed, Maybe I’m Not a Pro AnymoreThis thought – that perhaps I could be just fine with a regular iPhone instead of a Pro variation – first popped into my head while I was watching Apple’s September keynote. With the addition of last year’s Pro-exclusive Action button and the cross-model introduction of the new Camera Control, I thought maybe I wouldn’t feel “left behind” in terms of major new iOS features. Historically, that’s always been the pull of the Pro line: there’s something exclusive to them – whether it’s the size, display technology, or design language – that pushes me to eschew the base model in favor of the more expensive Pro one, where “Pro” actually means “best”. But if the features I cared about most were trickling down to the non-Pro iPhones too, could my personal definition of “best” also change?
Besides feature availability, I also had a vibe-related realization during the keynote. More than in previous years, some parts of the photography segment were really technical and, for my personal taste, boring. Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate that Apple is unlocking incredible potential for photographers and filmmakers who want to shoot with an iPhone and have unlimited control over their workflow. It is necessary for the company to push the envelope and put that kind of power in the hands of people who need it. But that’s the issue: as I was watching the segment on audio mixes and nearly dozing off, for the first time in years I felt that Apple wasn’t targeting me – and that maybe that phone wasn’t meant for me.
I know, right? It sounds obvious. But if you’ve been writing about Apple or have been part of the “Apple community” for as long as I have, you know that there’s a kind of invisible social contract wherein true nerds are supposed to be getting and producing content about the most expensive iPhones every year. I know and say this because I’ve been guilty of this line of thinking before. There’s almost an expectation that whoever creates content about Apple needs to do so from the top down, purchasing the highest-end version of anything the company offers. But if you think about it for a second, this is a shortsighted approach: the vast majority of people can’t afford the most expensive Apple products and, in reality, most of our stories run the risk of sounding too aspirational (if not alienating) to them rather than practical.
This meta commentary about purchasing Apple products and the parasocial pressure of writing about them is necessary context because, regardless of my initial feelings during the keynote, I still went ahead and ordered an iPhone 16 Pro Max. Despite me not caring about any of the advanced camera stuff in the Pro models, despite the Action button and Camera Control arriving on the base models, and despite Brendon’s story on this very topic that resonated with me, I still thought, “Well, surely I’m supposed to be getting an iPhone 16 Pro Max. I can’t be the type of person who ‘downgrades’ to a regular iPhone 16, right?”
And so preorder I did, ever so convinced I had to stick with a more expensive (and more visually boring) iPhone because of the always-on display, ProMotion, telephoto lens, and increased battery life.
When the 16 Pro Max arrived, I could instantly tell that something felt off about it this year. I’m not saying that it wasn’t a good upgrade from my iPhone 15 Pro Max; the improved ultra-wide camera was great, battery life was magnificent, and the thinner bezels looked nice. What I’m saying is that, more so than in previous years, I felt like it was almost “too much iPhone” for me, and that its changes were only marginally improving upon my experience from the previous generation. Meanwhile, I was giving up the fun looks, creative constraints, and increased portability of an iPhone 16 Plus to keep up my end of an unspoken bargain with my audience – or maybe just myself.
The more I used the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the more I felt that it crossed a threshold of weight and screen size that I was not expecting. I’ve always been a strong proponent of large iPhones, but for the first time, the 16 Pro Max felt too big and heavy. This idea solidified when Apple eventually sent me a review unit of the iPhone 16 Plus: there I was, using an iPhone slightly smaller than the Pro Max (but still big enough), which was also 30 grams lighter, and, more importantly, had a stunning ultramarine color that put a smile on my face whenever I used it.
I used the iPhone 16 Plus for a few days alongside my iPhone 16 Pro Max. During that experiment, I realized that my initial feelings were right and I should have trusted my original instincts. The iPhone 16 Plus had all the things I wanted from a new iPhone (large screen, good battery, Action button, Camera Control, A18 performance) in a more accessible package that traded advanced photography features for increased portability and, yes, pure aesthetics. And just like I accepted a few months ago that I’m not necessarily an AirPods Pro person but actually prefer the base model AirPods, so I decided to return my iPhone 16 Pro Max and get an iPhone 16 Plus instead.
After a week, I haven’t missed the bigger, heavier iPhone 16 Pro Max at all. In fact, using the iPhone 16 Plus and forcing myself to be creative within its photographic constraints has reignited in me a passion for the iPhone lineup that I hadn’t felt in years.
Using (and Loving) the iPhone 16 PlusLet’s address the elephant in the room: I’m not missing ProMotion and the always-on display as much as I feared I would.
I’ve never been a heavy user of Lock Screen widgets, so not seeing glanceable information on my Lock Screen without waking up the display is not a big deal. I thought I was reliant on the always-on display, but it turns out, I was just leaving it on because I could. If anything, I’d argue that not always seeing my iPhone’s display when I’m at my desk helps me stay more focused on what I’m doing, and it’s making me appreciate using my Apple Watch1 to, well, check the time even more. In a way, the absence of the always-on display is the best Focus mode I’ve ever tested.
Plus, raising my iPhone or tapping the screen to wake up the display is not the end of the world.
In a way, the absence of the always-on display is the best Focus mode I’ve ever tested.
The lack of ProMotion took a longer adjustment period – where by “longer” I mean two days – but now it’s fine. I’ve been switching between my iPad Pro with a ProMotion display and the iPhone 16 Plus without one, and I lived to tell the tale. I wish I had a better way to convey this that doesn’t boil down to, “My eyes got used to it and it’s okay”, but here we are. I was firmly in the camp of, “I can never go back to a non-ProMotion display”, but when you use a device that doesn’t have it but makes you happy for other reasons, it’s doable. Plenty of folks who claim that non-ProMotion iPhones are a non-starter also enjoy using the iPad mini; it’s the same argument. If next year’s “Plus” equivalent model (or whatever replaces it) gets ProMotion, then great! I’ll happily take it. Otherwise, it’s fine.
The feature I’m missing most from the iPhone Pro Max is the telephoto lens. I took a lot of pictures of my dogs using that 5x zoom, and I wish my iPhone 16 Plus had it. But something that Brendon suggested in his story came true for me: the limitations of the iPhone 16 Plus are forcing me to be creative in other ways, and it’s a fun exercise. I need to frame subjects differently, or get closer to them, and accept that I can’t optically zoom from far away like I’ve been doing for the past year.
I took plenty of amazing pictures for years using iPhones without a 5x lens, and I still cherish those photos. When I look at some of the pictures I’ve taken over the past week with my iPhone 16 Plus, I can’t complain. So what if I don’t have access to the absolute best camera Apple makes for professional users? A base model iPhone can still capture remarkable shots. I can live without “best”.
Zelda and Ginger say hi.
The shelf above my desk.
Which brings me to the camera-related changes in this year’s iPhone lineup.
On one hand, I find the default behavior of the Camera Control button too fiddly. The “half-press” faux clicks are tricky to get right, impossible to explain to other people, and, worst of all, not as configurable as I hoped. If I have to carefully swipe on a thin capacitive button to access additional Camera controls, I might as well just touch the screen and get it done faster thanks to larger UI elements. I would have preferred the ability to assign half presses to specific features, such as toggling zoom levels, switching to the selfie camera, or choosing between 12 and 48 MP shooting modes.
My Camera settings in iOS 18.1 beta.
For now, thanks to new options available in the iOS 18.1 beta under Accessibility, I’ve outright disabled half presses, and I’m just using Camera Control as a shutter button. I may reconsider when Apple ships the two-stage shutter mode for auto-focus later this year. But with this setup, I love using Camera Control as a “simple” button that opens the Camera from anywhere and takes a picture. It’s become my default way for launching the Camera and allowed me to get rid of all the other Camera shortcuts I had on the Lock Screen and in Control Center.
On the other hand, I immediately became a fan of the new photographic styles on the iPhone 16 and the ability to bring back shadows in my photos thanks to undertones.
For a few years now, I (and many others) have felt like the iPhone’s camera was producing rather uninspired results where everything looked too homogeneous and equalized. I didn’t know how to put this into words until I read and watched Nilay Patel’s review of the iPhone 16 models. Because the camera aggressively balances highlights and shadows so that everything is bright and visible in a picture, nothing truly stands out by default anymore. I understand why Apple does this (we spend so much money on these phones; surely we want to see every detail, right?), but I still disagree with the approach. I’d rather have fewer details in a photo with character that latches onto my visual memory than a “perfect” shot where everything is nicely lit, but ultimately forgettable.
Post by @viticci View on Threads
This year, rather than fixing the root of the problem, Apple pretty much said, “You figure it out”. And that’s what I did: I simply tweaked the ‘Standard’ photographic style to have tones in the -0.5/0.7 range and enabled the option to preserve this setting, and that was it. Now every picture I take pops a little bit more, has more shadows, and feels less like an ultra-processed digital artifact despite the reality that, well, it still is. The fact that I can even alter styles after a picture is taken (the amber and gold styles are my favorites so far) with individual controls for color intensity and tone is just icing on the cake.
And now for the hardest part of this story: expressing in a blog post the fleeting, intangible quality of “fun” and why using a colorful iPhone after years of stone-like slabs makes me smile. Most of this is going to sound silly, and that is the point.
The iPhone 16 Plus’ ultramarine color is amazing to see in person. Everything about it stands out: the Apple logo on the back, which has a texture I prefer to the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s glass; the flat, darker sides; the different, shiny hue of the Camera Control button; and especially the brilliant color of the glass camera bump. If you don’t like the idea of your iPhone being very vibrant and recognizable, I get it. Personally, I love that something so colorful is also a piece of cutting-edge technology; it creates a contrast between this device looking toy-like in nature and it actually being a powerful pocket computer. It reminds me of my beloved pink and blue PSPs. There’s something about advanced tech that meets color. I don’t know, ask the iMac about it.
I love the fact that when I pull out this phone, people look at it and ask me questions. If you’d rather not have people start a conversation with you about your phone, I also get it! But as we’ve established, I love talking to people about tech, and I appreciate that this phone is catching people’s attention so that I have to explain what it is and what it does.
I told you this part was going to sound silly, so stay with me: I love how this phone looks alongside the tattoos on my right hand and left arm. I mean, I’m a walking definition of vibrant colors. If you think I’m crazy for believing in such ideas, thank you. When I’m working at my desk and look down at the blue phoenix on my left arm, then see the ultramarine iPhone 16 Plus next to me, I chuckle. This thing looks good.
For now, I’m using the iPhone 16 Plus without a case because I like how the device feels in my hands and want to show off its color. I’m a little concerned about the durability of the blue paint around the camera lenses, though, and I’m considering getting something like an Arc Pulse to protect the camera bump on the back.
I wasn’t expecting this, but the 30-gram difference between the iPhone 16 Pro Max and 16 Plus is noticeable in the hand. I’ve been using the 16 Plus a lot to catch up on my queues in GoodLinks and Unwatched, and I haven’t felt the same pressure on my left wrist (which has been acting up lately) as I did when I was testing the 16 Pro Max. I’m a little disappointed about the rumors that the iPhone 16 Plus will be the last of its kind; however, if Apple will indeed release a much slimmer “iPhone Air” in 2025, I guess this exercise of not using a Pro model for a year will pay off.
Lastly – and I can’t believe I’m typing this after my iOS 18 review – I have to give a shoutout to dark and tinted icons on the iPhone 16 Plus. I installed a deep blue/purple wallpaper to match my phone’s color; when combined with dark icons (which I’m using by default) or some variations of the tinted ones, the results aren’t bad at all:
Fun, Unique Tech for Everyday LifeWhat I’m trying to convey in this story is the following concept:
For the past few years, I never cared about my iPhone as a physical object. I was more concerned with the resolution, cameras, and other specs – what was inside the phone. The devices themselves weren’t eliciting any particular reaction; they were the same slabs year after year, replaced in a constant cycle of slab-ness for the pursuit of the “best” version of whatever Apple made during that year. This is why the last “new” iPhone I truly remember was the groundbreaking iPhone X. If you asked me to tell you what the 12, 13, 14, and 15 Pro Max felt like in everyday usage, I wouldn’t be able to answer precisely. One of them introduced the Dynamic Island and another was made of titanium, I guess? They were great phones, albeit forgettable in the grand scheme of things.
This year, I’ve realized that using devices that have something fun or unique about them compounds my enjoyment of them. This isn’t about those devices being “pro” or colorful; it’s about them adding something fun and different to my life.
Using devices that have something fun or unique about them compounds my enjoyment of them.
I enjoy using the 11” iPad Pro because it’s thin and has the nano-texture display that lets me work outside. The Steam Deck OLED with matte display produces a similar feeling, plus it’s got a unique ergonomic shape that fits my hands well. I like the orange Action button and Digital Crown circle of my Apple Watch Ultra 1 and how they pair with my orange Sport band. The Meta Ray-Bans are good-looking glasses that also happen to have a camera and speakers. The Legion Go is bulky, but the controllers feel great, the display looks amazing, and the console is extremely moddable. Each of these devices has some flaws and isn’t the “best” option in its respective field; however, as products I use in everyday life, they’re greater than the sum of their parts.
The iPhone 16 Plus isn’t the most powerful model Apple makes. But for me, its combination of color, texture, reduced weight, and modern features makes it the most pleasant, fun experience I’ve had with an iPhone in a long time.
- Speaking of which, thanks to audio playback and Live Activities in watchOS 11, I don’t miss seeing these features on the iPhone’s always-on Lock Screen that much either. ↩︎
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
AppStories This week, Federico and John share their favorite app updates that take advantage of what’s new in iOS 18.
On AppStories+, John expands on his first look at the Logitech MX Creative Console, and Federico and John discuss Orion, the prototype AR glasses that Meta showed off last week.
This episode is sponsored by:* Karo – The first of its kind task manager focused on delegating tasks via messaging apps. The first 50 listeners can get 50% off a 1-year subscription here. * Celtreos – The shoot-em-up game with tiny ships, big weapons, waves of foes, power-ups and obstacles.
Ruminate A final update on the St Jude campaign, an overflowing snack corner, and Hurricane Helene.
AppStories, Episode 405, ‘iOS 18 App Updates We Love’ Show NotesAppStories+ Pre-ShowVisit AppStories.com to learn more about the extended, high bitrate audio version of AppStories that is delivered early each week and subscribe.
- First Look: Logitech’s MX Creative Console Is Poised to Compete with Elgato’s Stream Deck Lineup
- First Look: Logitech’s MX Creative Console
- Related:
- Automation April The Loupedeck Live S Is a More Portable and Affordable Automation Control Panel for the Mac
- The Macintosh Desktop Experience, Exploring the Loupedeck Live A Task-Focused Mac Control Panel
- The Macintosh Desktop Experience Four Task-Based Ways I’m Using the Loupedeck Live Daily
- Also mentioned
- Dropover
- MacStories Pixel Icon Sets
- The Meta Orion AR Glasses
- Hands-on with Orion, Meta’s first pair of AR glasses
iOS 18 App Updates We Love* Paku
* GoodLinks
+ Also mentioned:
- Readwise Reader
- Feedbin
* Play
* Shareshot
* SwitchBuddy
- Control Mark
* Remind Me Faster
* Ticci Tabs
Ruminate, Episode 194, ‘Endless TikToks’ Show Notes* The Omg Lol Times · St. Jude 2024 Fundraiser Recap * Heinz Monster Munch Pickled Onion Flavour Mayo Limited Edition * Utz Potato Chips Mike’s Hot Honey * Cinnabon® Cinnamon Roll Flavored Drizzled Kettle Corn * Fruit Punch * JD’s HOT Collection Set – JD’s Hot Honey
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Social media has splintered across multiple services since the decline of Twitter. I’ve always managed a lot of social media accounts between my own and ones for MacStories, but today the situation is worse than ever. There have always been services like Buffer that make it easier to juggle multiple accounts and services, but they are more expensive than most indie developers, artists, websites, and other creators can afford and offer more features than most need.
That’s where Croissant comes in. It’s a new iPhone app from Ben McCarthy and Aaron Vegh that simplifies cross-posting to Mastodon, Bluesky, and Threads at an indie-friendly price. The app doesn’t try to replicate the many features you’ll find in services like Buffer. Instead, it’s focused on making it easier for indie creators or anyone with multiple social accounts to post on multiple platforms at once.
Croissant’s tint color, app icon, and posting button icon are all customizable.
I’ve been testing Croissant over the past week, connecting it to two Bluesky accounts, two Threads accounts, and five Mastodon accounts, and I’ve been loving it. First off, the design is top-tier, as you’d expect from one of Ben’s apps. The UI’s focus is on drafting your posts, and it’s accented with a deep yellow/orange hue that I love. However, the app offers seven other color options to choose from. There are also a total of seven app icon options and three icons to pick from for the button that publishes a post.
Managing accounts in Croissant.
If you have a lot of accounts you want to use with Croissant, you’ll need to start by signing into each, which requires a little patience. However, once you’re set up and ready to go, the rest is smooth sailing. You’ll see icons for each of the accounts you’ve signed into at the top of the app’s compose view. Tap on the row of icons to manage your accounts, removing any you no longer use and adding any new ones. The gear icon in the top-left corner of the view reveals tint, post icon, and app icon settings, and the box icon at the top-right is used to access draft posts that you can save using the app’s Menu button at the bottom of the compose field.
That same Menu button also allows you to delete a post, add to an existing thread, add a content warning, and pick from various audience options. Plus, there are buttons to tag someone, add hashtags, and attach photos or videos to a post. Croissant displays a character counter at the top of each draft post, too.
I appreciate the ‘Do you really want to post this everywhere?’ step.
My favorite part of Croissant is the interaction that takes place when you’re ready to launch your latest hot take into the social media wilderness. Before you post, a list of every account you’ve connected to Croissant slides up from the bottom of the screen. By default, all of your accounts are selected. Tap the big Post button at the bottom of the list, and you’ll launch your words of wisdom into the world across every service you’ve configured. Before you post, you can also de-select any of the accounts listed. That’s great because, although I could fairly be accused of being a chronic cross-poster, even I rarely post everywhere all at once, so I appreciate the chance to fine-tune where my posts will be published.
I like the simplicity of Croissant a lot, but there are a couple of things I’d love to see added in future updates. The first is Shortcuts support. An action that allows me to pick the accounts to send a post from, coupled with Shortcuts’ ability to pull items from RSS feeds, would make publicizing new MacStories articles and podcast episodes a lot easier. Second, a scheduling feature would go a long way toward completely eliminating the need for services like Buffer for a lot of people. Of course, an iPad and Mac version of Croissant would be great too, but I’ve found using the iPhone app on my iPad and on my Mac with iPhone Mirroring to fill that need well so far – except that on the iPad it means logging into all of my accounts a second time, which is a little tedious.
Sometimes the hottest takes cool after a few days in the drafts box.
There’s an added side benefit to using Croissant that I didn’t realize at first but Brendon pointed out to me. Croissant lets you post without the distraction or stress of getting sucked into your timelines. I’ve often had times where I felt like I needed a break from social media but felt compelled to jump back in to make sure we were promoting everything happening at MacStories. With Croissant, you can have it both ways, letting the world know what you’re up to without needing to scroll your timeline.
Croissant, which is available on the App Store for free but requires a subscription for some features, is a clear win for anyone who works online and wants to promote what they make or who maintains active accounts across several services. Neither group is a good fit for expensive social media management services, but for $2.99/month, $19.99/year, or a one-time payment of $59.99, Croissant is a no-brainer.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
The best workflows are the hardest to design because they require restraint. It’s easy to throw complexity at a problem to create the illusion of a grand solution, when it’s often the simplest solutions that reflect the most thoughtful approach to a problem. That was my immediate reaction to Forever ✱ Notes, a systematic approach to note-taking that uses Apple Notes as its foundation.
Forever ✱ Notes’ author, Matthias Hilse, describes the system as follows:
Forever ✱ Notes is a simple, lightweight digital note-taking and knowledge management method for Apple Notes. It’s robust, versatile, and scalable to grow with you.
If you’ve followed the worlds of personal knowledge management, bullet journaling, daily notes, and the complex Notion templates people have created to manage their lives, Forever ✱ Notes will ring a bell. It borrows elements from many systems that came before it but eschews their complexity. Instead, Forever ✱ Notes proposes sensible, pragmatic ways to organize your projects, areas of your life, and journaling using Apple Notes’ built-in tools, like tagging and note linking.
I’ve been building a similar system on and off all year in Obsidian, which isn’t finished, and having spent time looking at many other solutions, Forever ✱ Notes stands out for its simplicity and flexibility. I’ll be spending more time with Forever ✱ Notes over the next few weeks to see how I can incorporate some of its ideas into my own notes. Who knows? Perhaps it’s time to move more of what I do out of Obsidian and into Notes.
→ Source: myforevernotes.com
Becca Farsace’s latest video is all about her favorite camcorder: the iPod Nano:
It’s a terrific video about a different time when simple devices like the Flip Video were everywhere, taking low-quality video. What made the Flip and, later, the Nano’s video camera great wasn’t the quality of what you could shoot with them. Instead, it was the convenience. With the tap of a button, you were up and recording instantly. As Farsace explains, there are a lot of limitations to the iPod Nano’s video camera, but in hindsight, it also holds a certain charm.
The video reminds me of the days before I had an iPhone and used a first-gen iPod Touch to take photos. The camera was lousy by today’s standards, but despite its limitations, I was able to take pictures that I enjoy to this day. I appreciate how easy it is to get a usable photo with my iPhone 16 Pro Max today, but I also sort of miss the effort required with the iPod Touch. I don’t miss the inefficiency of the Touch, but the constraints made me a better photographer by forcing me to pay more attention to lighting, framing, and other things. That’s why I’m not surprised at all that Halide’s Process Zero was an immediate hit.
→ Source: youtu.be
MacStories readers love to automate their iPhones, which is what makes the BANG!CASE the perfect choice whether you’re using an iPhone 14, 15, or 16 Pro or Pro Max. The BANG!CASE’s retro-futuristic design combines cool aesthetics with its integrated motherboard and independent power supply, which deliver unrivaled power via the BANG!Button and support for the iPhone 16’s Camera Control.
The customizable BANG!Button lets you program thousands of actions with a single press, double-press, or press-and-hold. It’s like having three buttons in one for everything from taking photos to recording voice memos to launching apps, all while protecting your iPhone in a stylish case that includes support for MagSafe wireless charging.
Meanwhile, the GAMEBABY case delivers fun retro vibes reminiscent of 90s game consoles. The case includes a detachable lower half with touch capacitive buttons. By flipping the removable bottom half of the case and covering the front of your iPhone, your phone is transformed into a retro gaming handheld compatible with apps like Delta.
The BANG!CASE is available to order now from Bitmo Lab for $49.99, and, while supplies last, a limited supply of the GAMEBABY case is available for an introductory price of just $24.99. Learn more on Bitmo Lab’s YouTube channel and order the two most innovative iPhone cases available today.
Our thanks to Bitmo Lab for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
I love this idea by Lee Peterson: using Apple’s Journal app (which got some terrific updates in iOS 18) to track your Home Screen updates over time.
Every so often, I see screenshots from people on Threads or Mastodon showing their Home Screens from over a decade ago. I routinely delete screenshots from my Photos library, and it bums me out that I never kept a consistent, personal archive of my ever-changing Home Screens over the years. Lee’s technique, which combines Journal with the excellent Shareshot app, is a great idea that I’m going to steal. Here’s my current Home Screen on iOS 18:
My iOS 18 Home Screen.
As you can see, I’m trying large icons in dark mode and there are some new entries in my list of must-have apps. The Home Screen is similar, but a bit more complex, on iPadOS, where I’m still fine-tuning everything to my needs.
I plan to write about my Home Screens and Control Center setup in next week’s issue of MacStories Weekly. In the meantime, I’m going to follow Lee’s approach and begin archiving screenshots in Journal.
→ Source: ljpuk.net
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
Magic Rays of Light Devon and Jonathan highlight new Apple Original Spanish-language medical drama Midnight Family, share their iPhone 16 Pro and Apple Watch Series 10 first impressions, and check in on Slow Horses midway through its fourth season.
Comfort Zone With Niléane out on assignment, Matt and Chris are joined by MacStories’ own John Voorhees! Chris and John bring brand new, embargoed products, while Matt brings…checking my notes here…a Thunderbolt dock from years ago (but he swears it’s cool).
MacStories Unwind This week, an unexpected return to the wild kingdom, my iPhone 16 Pro Max first impressions, and movie and videogame picks.
Magic Rays of Light, Episode 138, ‘Midnight Family, New Hardware Impressions, and a Slow Horses Check-In’ Show NotesDevon and Jonathan highlight new Apple Original Spanish-language medical drama Midnight Family, share their iPhone 16 Pro and Apple Watch Series 10 first impressions, and check in on Slow Horses midway through its fourth season.
Jonathan Reed | Follow Jonathan on Mastodon, Threads, or Letterboxd
Highlight* Midnight Family
watchOS 11* watchOS 11: The MacStories Review
Trailer Talk* Disclaimer * Blitz
Releases* Wolfs
Extras* An Exclusive Peek at Bad Sisters Season 2 | Vanity Fair * Apple Maps Guide: Take a Journey Around Japan with Sunny * Apple Fitness+ Artist Spotlight: Charli xcx
Midseason Check-In* Slow Horses * Magic Rays of Light: In Conversation | James Hawes
Up Next* Ripley * Inside Out 2 * Full House: Aftershocks * How Rude, Tanneritos: Jeff Franklin and “Aftershocks”
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
Subscribe to Magic Rays of Light on YouTube and follow us on Mastodon.
Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads
Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads
Comfort Zone, Episode 17, ‘One True Voorhees’ Show NotesWeekly Topics* OWC Thunderbolt Dock * iPhone 16 Pro * Logitech MX Creative Console
Other Stuff We Discussed* VIA * Tailscale * Longplay * Things Logbook (opens in Obsidian) * GoodTask
Follow the Hosts* Chris on YouTube * Matt on Birchtree * Niléane on Mastodon * Comfort Zone on Mastodon
MacStories Unwind, ‘I Want to Be Friendly With All Animals’ Show NotesA Return to the Animal Kingdom* Black vultures * A wolf in Rome
Picks* My Pick: + The Fall Guy - Trailer - Rent on Amazon Prime and Apple TV - Stream on Peacock * Federico’s Pick: + The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom - On Amazon - Launch Trailer
MacStories Unwind+We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.
To learn more about the benefits of a Club MacStories subscription, visit our Plans page.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Earlier this week, I joined Lex Friedman on Clockwise, the Relay show hosted by Dan Moren and Mikah Sargent. On episode 573, ‘Five Legs and Way Too Many Fingers,’ we covered a bunch of topics including:
- the Apple Watch faces we use and why;
- our feelings about Apple marketing its new iPhones by highlighting Apple Intelligence features that won’t be available for months;
- where we get iPhone wallpapers and how we use them; and
- the iPhone’s Action Button.
Thanks to Mikah and Dan for having me on, which was also a chance to chat with Lex for the first time, which I enjoyed too.
→ Source: relay.fm
Nintendo Switch with Hori’s Split Pad Compact controllers, Steam Deck OLED, and Ayn Odin 2. Also, you should play UFO 50.
Picture this problem:
Because of my podcast about portable gaming NPC with John and Brendon, I test a lot of gaming handhelds. And when I say a lot, I mean I currently have a Steam Deck, modded Legion Go, PlayStation Portal, Switch, and Ayn Odin 2 in my nightstand’s drawer. I love checking out different form factors (especially since I’m currently trying to find the most ergonomic one while dealing with some pesky RSI issues), but you know what I don’t love? Having to deal with multi-point Bluetooth earbuds that can only connect to a couple of devices at the same time, which often leads to unpairing and re-pairing those earbuds over and over and over.
As you know, a while ago I came to a realization: it turns out that Apple’s old-school, wired EarPods are still pretty awesome if you want a foolproof, universal way of connecting a single pair of earbuds to a large collection of devices. Handheld manufacturers, in fact, weren’t as courageous as Apple and, despite modern advancements in Bluetooth, decided to leave a universal audio jack port in their portable consoles. So whether I’m doing side quests in Dragon’s Dogma 2 on Windows, playing Wind Waker on a portable Wii (not a typo), or streaming Astro Bot from my PlayStation 5, I can grab my trusted wired Apple EarPods and know that they will work with any type of device. That’s something oddly liberating and simple about that, and I’m not alone in feeling this way.
Now picture a second problem:
I mostly play video games at night, and I want to remain present and be able to hear my surroundings. Dog owners will understand: we have two sleeping in the bedroom with us, and I have to be able to hear that they’re sleeping well, snoring, or whatever. Let me tell you: you don’t want to accidentally miss one of your dogs throwing up in the bedroom because you were too “in the zone” with both your gaming earbuds in. I learned my lesson the hard way.
Now, I could have left my Apple EarPods alone and simply chosen not to put the right EarPod in, leaving the wire hanging there, unused. But I haven’t gotten to this point after 15 years of MacStories by not challenging the status quo and “leaving things be”. Instead, I grabbed my scissors and cut the wire for the right EarBud just above the connector where the main cable splits in two halves.
Behold: the single Apple EarPod I’ve been using as my go-to gaming “headphone” for the past two months.
The EarPod.
I’ve been using The EarPod with all my gaming handhelds, and it’s, honestly, been perfect. After removing the right channel, audio is automatically routed to the left EarPod as mono; regardless, there are ways both on Linux and Windows to force mono audio in games instead of stereo. The result is a comfortable, good-sounding, inexpensive, easier to unfurl wired earbud that works with everything and allows me to keep an ear on my surroundings, but in particular my dog Ginger, who – for whatever reason – doesn’t want to get off the bed when she’s sick. Bless her.
Could I have purchased one of the many results that come up on Amazon for “mono earbud single ear”? Yes. But I genuinely love the shape and sound of Apple’s EarPods; I just wanted to be in a place where I only had to manage one of them.
Plus, this is MacStories. I’ve done far worse than cutting an EarPod wire. If both of those very specific problems I mentioned above also apply to you, well, I guess I can’t recommend modding Apple’s EarPods enough.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week, Federico and John cover the highlights of macOS Sequoia, a good update that feels unfinished.
In the latest episode, we share our thoughts on the Nintendo Switch 2 rumors, Sony’s PS5 nostalgia-fest, and more handheld news. Plus, Federico explains how Astro Bot makes sense of the PS Portal, I share a look at the Anbernic RG40XXV retro handled, and we reach peak Joy-Con with Mobapad’s M6 HD.
AppStories, Episode ‘macOS Sequoia: The MacStories Review’ Show NotesLinks and Show NotesAppStories+ Pre-Show (Visit AppStories.com to learn more and subscribe)* Apple Intelligence * Apple still has a lot of new hardware to release before the end of 2024 * Also mentioned: + Samsung T9 external SSD
macOS Sequoia: The MacStories Review* macOS Sequoia: The MacStories Review
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, Federico and I chat about how they’re preparing for Apple Intelligence and rumored fall hardware releases.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
NPC, Episode 9, ‘Switch 2 Ways’ Show NotesLinks and Show NotesFederico’s Espresso Machine* DeLonghi EC9355M La Specialista Prestigio Espresso Machine
The Latest Portable Gaming News* Switch 2 Rumors + The Switch 2 may have leaked already + Nintendo Switch 2: Everything we know about the coming release + Rumor: Chinese Leak Reveals Alleged Nintendo Switch 2 Production Photos and Detailed Specs + Also mentioned: - Hori Split-Pad Compact Switch Controller - Mobapad M6 HD Joycons Nintendo Switch Controller Pro * Sony 30th Anniversary PS5 + Connected, Episode 519 ‘I Got the RGB Going On’ + Celebrating 30 years of PlayStation with a nostalgic look + Also mentioned: - Who is the PS5 Pro Actually For? - FREKVENS speaker * Retroid Pocket 5 and Mini Update * AMD confirms Z2 Extreme chip, aims to boost PC gaming handheld battery life by over 300% * HTC announces the Vive Focus Vision with color passthrough and an eye on gaming * Who killed TouchArcade? + Also mentioned: - Blink * PlayStation Portal + Astro Bot + Also mentioned: - PlayStation Remote Play app gets renamed to chiaki-ng (chiaki-next-generation) - Chiaki-ng - Nintendo Wii Mini - PlayStation TV was a baffling idea and I deeply love mine * Anbernic RG40XXV + Retro Game Corps. Review + On Amazon * Mobapad M6 HD Joycons Nintendo Switch Controller Pro * Games Mentioned + Final Fantasy: Rebirth + Astro Bot + UFO 50
CreditsShow Art: Brendon Bigley
Music: Will LaPorte
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Source: Logitech.
Today, Logitech revealed the MX Creative Console, the company’s first product that takes advantage technology from Loupedeck, a company it acquired in July 2023.
I’ve been a user of Loupedeck products since 2019. When I heard about the acquisition last summer, I was intrigued. Loupedeck positioned itself as a premium accessory for creatives. The company’s early products were dedicated keyboard-like accessories for apps like Adobe Lightroom Classic. With the Loupedeck Live and later, the Live S, Loupedeck’s focus expanded to encompass the needs of streamers and automation more generally.
Suddenly, Loupedeck was competing head-to-head with Elgato and its line of Stream Deck peripherals. I’ve always preferred Loupedeck’s more premium hardware to the Stream Deck, but that came at a higher cost, which I expect made it hard to compete.
The Logitech MX Creative Console slots nicely into my existing setup.
Fast forward to today, and the first Logitech product featuring Loupedeck’s know-how has been announced: the MX Creative Console. It’s a new direction for the hardware, coupled with familiar software. I’ve had Logitech’s new device for a couple of weeks, and I like it a lot.
The MX Creative Console is first and foremost built for Adobe users. That’s clear from the three-month free trial to Creative Cloud that comes with the $199.99 device. Logitech has not only partnered with Adobe for the free trial, but it has worked with Adobe to create a series of plugins specifically for Adobe’s most popular apps, although plugins for other apps are available, too.
I use Adobe apps, but my interest in the MX Creative Console is its ability to run keyboard shortcuts, trigger various system events, and string together multiple actions as macros. For example, I’m using the MX Creative Console to navigate RSS, add files to Dropover, manage my windows, and take screenshots. Those are things you can do with a Stream Deck, too, but Logitech’s MX Creative Console has a few special things going for it that I love.
Up close with the MX Creative Console’s keypad.
First, there’s the fact that the MX Creative Console comes in two parts. The first is a wireless dialpad with a big knob, a scroll wheel, and four programmable buttons; the dialpad is wireless because it has no screens, allowing it to run on AAA batteries. The second part is a keypad with nine customizable buttons plus two buttons for paging among multiple sets of the nine buttons. The two devices can work together, allowing, for example, a press of something like a brightness button on the keypad to control brightness via the dialpad’s knob.
The keypad’s design is closer to that of a Stream Deck than a Loupedeck, which sacrifices some of the Loupedeck’s premium feel, but I still prefer it to a Stream Deck. The keys have a similar but perhaps slightly shallower throw and aren’t as concave as the Stream Deck. That means the icons assigned to each key’s little display aren’t as distorted by the shape of the keys as they are with a Stream Deck’s. There’s also a subtle lip on the edge of each key and a bump on the center key that makes it easy to orient your hand on the MX Creative Console’s keypad without looking at it.
Source: Logitech.
As for the dialpad, it connects to your computer wirelessly via Bluetooth or Logitech’s proprietary Bolt dongle. Either way, the dialpad can be paired with up to three devices, just like many of the company’s keyboards – something I wish Apple would do with its own input devices. In addition to a knob that’s excellent for adjusting sliders or scrolling horizontally, it includes a scroll wheel for navigating long vertical pages and four programmable buttons. The dialpad is even compatible with the iPad, too, connecting via Bluetooth and operating the same way a third-party mouse does for scrolling and clicking.
Overall, my first impressions of the MX Creative Console’s hardware have been positive. By separating the device into two parts, it’s far more portable than many similar devices. I wouldn’t hesitate to throw one or the other or both into my bag because of their compact size and minimal weight. When I’m at my desk, the keypad includes a stand that holds the device at a little more than a 45° angle, too.
Programming the MX Creative Console’s keypad with Logi Options+.
I’m less excited about the MX Creative Console’s software. I’ve been using a beta version, so I’ll reserve judgment until its final release in October, but so far, programming the device isn’t great. That’s true of the Stream Deck too. Like it, Logitech uses a cross-platform app, Logitech Options+, that appears to be built with web technologies and just isn’t very good. Loupedeck users will recognize elements of Loupedeck’s software when they dig into Options+ to program the dialpad or keypad. But that familiarity isn’t an advantage because Loupedeck’s software was one of its weakest points as well.
Logitech has done an admirable job of competing on hardware, but at least in its beta form, Options+ feels like it’s trying to steal Stream Deck’s crown for janky setup software. The only silver lining is that anyone who has used a Stream Deck or Loupedeck before won’t be surprised by Options+’s limitations.
Still, the Logitech MX Creative Console is excellent overall. I’d prefer better software support, but again, it’s worth noting that the version of Options+ I’ve been using is a beta, and it does get the job done. Although the hardware isn’t as nice as the Loupedeck Live S, I prefer it to a standard Stream Deck and appreciate that it’s been split into two components which allows for a variety of desk setups and easier portability. I can’t wait to see where Logitech takes the MX Creative Console next and how Elgato responds.
The Logitech MX Creative Console is available in black and light gray and can be pre-ordered today on Amazon or Logitech’s website. According to Amazon’s listing the device pre-orders will be delivered on October 16th.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Unlike most reviewers who were given an iPhone to test, Austin Mann didn’t head home, he headed to Kenya. Mann, whose iPhone camera reviews we’ve covered many times in the past, took the new iPhone 16 Pro on safari (not the browser), photographing a variety of wildlife, landscapes, and people. The video Mann shot of the trip is stunning:
Both the video and Mann’s accompanying article and photographs do more than just showcase the kind of shots that are possible with the iPhone 16 Pro. They both go in-depth about the new features and what each means to photographers:
The iPhone 15 Pro had the same 13mm (.5x) ultra-wide lens, but the sensor was only 12 megapixels—just 25% of the resolution of the 24mm (1x) lens. Over the past year, especially while working with the iPhone 15 Pro, I often found myself torn. Sometimes I wanted the wider perspective, but I didn’t want to sacrifice resolution. I was thrilled when the new Ultra Wide was announced with 48 megapixels, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint.
An added bonus is that the iPhone’s Macro mode also uses the Ultra Wide camera, meaning Macro shots are now 48 megapixels as well. The detail is remarkable, and the iPhone 16 Pro might just be my new favorite camera for macro photography.
Mann likes the Camera Control button for quick access to the Camera app, too, but found that in circumstances like shooting from a helicopter, it could be hard to operate.
The video and post are both worth spending time with. You’ll learn what the new cameras in the Pro iPhones can do and perhaps be inspired to go out and try the new features yourself.
→ Source: austinmann.com
iFixit has released the results of its teardowns of the iPhone 16 lineup. I love these posts because not only do they provide insights into the repairability of the new iPhones, but they also answer interesting questions like:
- Is the Cameral Control button a physical button?
- How has Apple changed the way it is managing the heat generated by the Neural Engine?
- How do the batteries differ between iPhone models?
However, this year, perhaps the most interesting discovery in all models of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro lines is the use of a new battery adhesive:
The adhesive that secures the battery, in the vanilla and Plus models, is this fancy new sticky stuff that can debond when you pass an electrical current through it. That means no more reliance on finicky, brittle adhesive strips, just a consistent, easily repeatable process.
The post goes in-depth on just how simple it is to remove the battery using tools as simple as a 9-volt battery and alligator clips.
The ease with which the battery can be replaced in the iPhone 16 line went a long way in the repairability score iFixit bestowed on the devices this year. Whereas the iPhone 15 received a score of four out of ten, the iPhone 16 received a seven, a significant year-over-year increase.
→ Source: ifixit.com
One of my favorite parts from Nilay Patel’s review of the iPhone 16 Pro at The Verge was the answer he got from Apple’s VP of camera software engineering Jon McCormack about the company’s definition of a “photograph”:
Here’s our view of what a photograph is. The way we like to think of it is that it’s a personal celebration of something that really, actually happened.
Whether that’s a simple thing like a fancy cup of coffee that’s got some cool design on it, all the way through to my kid’s first steps, or my parents’ last breath, It’s something that really happened. It’s something that is a marker in my life, and it’s something that deserves to be celebrated.
“Something that really, actually happened” is a great baseline compared to Samsung’s nihilistic definition (nothing is real) and Google’s relativistic one (everyone has their own memories). As Jaron Schneider wrote at PetaPixel:
If you have no problem with generative AI, then what Google and Samsung said probably doesn’t bother you. However, many photographers are concerned about how AI will alter their jobs. From that perspective, those folks should be cheering on Apple for this stance. Right now, it’s the only major smartphone manufacturer that has gone on the record to steer photography away from the imagined and back to reality.
I like Apple’s realistic definition of what a photo is – right now, I feel like it comes from a place of respect and trust. But I have to wonder how malleable that definition will retroactively become to make room for Clean Up and future generative features of Apple Intelligence.
→ Source: theverge.com
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
Sigmund and Devon round up the new features in this week’s tvOS 18 update, discuss Devon’s review of visionOS 2 on MacStories, and recap Sunny.
Matt needs to praise the iPad, Chris drops some iPadOS knowledge, and Niléane is intrigued by window management on other tablets looks like.
This week, Federico and I unwind on air about how we’re doing post-review week, preview Federico’s Playstation Portal theory, and share family members’ reactions to iOS 18.
Magic Rays of Light, Episode 137, ‘tvOS 18, Sunny, and Devon’s visionOS 2 Review’ Show NotesMacStories OS Reviews* visionOS 2: The MacStories Review * iOS and iPadOS 18: The MacStories Review * macOS Sequoia: The MacStories Review * watchOS 11: The MacStories Review
Trailer Talk* Where’s Wanda? * Curses!
Apple Original News* Tú También Lo Harías” (“You Would Do it Too”) Fan Trailer
Releases* La Maison
Extras* La Maison: An Inside Look * Emmys 2024 Portrait Studio: Shot on iPhone 16 Pro
Recap* Sunny
Up Next* Blink Twice * Cuckoo * Agatha All Along * The Penguin * Frasier * A Very Royal Scandal * His Three Daughters * Omni Loop * The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry * I Saw the TV Glow * The Garfield Movie * Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story * A Different Man
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
Subscribe to Magic Rays of Light on YouTube and follow us on Mastodon.
Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads
Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads
Comfort Zone, Episode 16 ‘Nicolas Cage Works Just Fine with MagSafe’ Show NotesWeekly Topics* M4 iPad Pro * Chris’s complete iPadOS 18 walkthrough * The MacStories iOS and iPadOS 18 review * Video of Android 15’s windowing mode
Other Stuff We Discussed* Retro Gameboy case not linked due to…well…legal issues. You can find it if you want 😉 * Nick Cage case * Bang!Case * Clicks keyboard case
Follow the Hosts* Chris on YouTube * Matt on Birchtree * Niléane on Mastodon * Comfort Zone on Mastodon
MacStories Unwind, ‘The Tail Unwinding the Dog’ Show NotesLinks and Show Notes* PlayStation Portal * Astro Bot * The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom * The Tail Wagging the Dog
MacStories Unwind+We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.
To learn more about the benefits of a Club MacStories subscription, visit our Plans page.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
The European Commission (EC) issued a press release today summarizing two specification proceedings that they have commenced against Apple:
The first proceeding focuses on several iOS connectivity features and functionalities, predominantly used for and by connected devices. Connected devices are a varied, large and commercially important group of products, including smartwatches, headphones and virtual reality headsets. Companies offering these products depend on effective interoperability with smartphones and their operating systems, such as iOS. The Commission intends to specify how Apple will provide effective interoperability with functionalities such as notifications, device pairing and connectivity.
The second proceeding focuses on the process Apple has set up to address interoperability requests submitted by developers and third parties for iOS and IPadOS. It is crucial that the request process is transparent, timely, and fair so that all developers have an effective and predictable path to interoperability and are enabled to innovate.
In a nutshell, the EC is unhappy with connectivity between iOS and third-party devices and plans to tell the company how to comply. The second part requires Apple to set up a process for third parties to request connectivity with iOS.
The EC has given Apple six months to comply with its latest proceedings, during which the commission will share its preliminary findings with Apple and publish a non-confidential summary of the findings publicly so third parties can offer comments.
Apple prides itself on its tight integration between hardware and software, and the EC is determined to open that up for the benefit of all hardware manufacturers. While I think that is a good goal, we’re getting very close to the EU editing APIs, which I find hard to imagine will lead to an optimal outcome for Apple, third-party manufacturers, or consumers. However, if you accept the goal as worthwhile, it’s just as hard to imagine accomplishing it any other way given Apple’s apparent unwillingness to open iOS up itself.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Friday is Relay’s annual Podcastathon for St. Jude. They’re raising money during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and the Podcastathon is a fun 12-hour live streamed show from your favorite Relay hosts that begins at Noon Eastern on Friday, September 20th. If you haven’t donated, yet, you can do so here. It’s a great cause that we’d love MacStories readers to get behind. For more details be sure to see my post from August.
As you can imagine, our pals Stephen and Myke are a little busy getting ready for their big show at the end of the week. So, they did something very trusting and handed over this week’s Connected episode to Federico who invited me and Brendon, his co-hosts on NPC: Next Portable Console, to join him.
The episode was a blast, covering topics like:
- Flappy Bird’s questionable upcoming return to the App Store that was announced recently;
- The devices we purchased in the aftermath of Apple’s Glowtime event and why;
- Federico’s different approach to this year’s iOS and iPadOS 18 review and what it means for MacStories more broadly; and
- How we’d fix Apple’s approach to videogames if we were in charge.
Plus, for the Connected Pro segment, subscribers got to hear all about our weird super powers.
Thanks to Myke, Stephen, and Federico for having Brendon and me on Connected today, so we could put a temporary NPC spin on the show.
→ Source: relay.fm
This week, Apple released iOS and iPadOS 18 to the world. One of the main new features this year is the ability to fully customize Control Center. And not only is Control Center customizable, but it now also supports controls from third-party applications. If you open the new Controls Gallery in iOS and iPadOS 18, you will find controls and toggles from some of your favorite indie apps that have been updated to support the new release.
In addition to being available in Control Center, every one of these third-party controls can be mapped to the Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro or newer, and they can used to replace the two default controls at the bottom of Lock Screen – Flashlight and Camera – which have been there since the introduction of the iPhone X in 2017.
While you may think at first that there’s only so much you can do with a simple toggle in Control Center, the range of possibilities that this enables is actually pretty wide. That is why, today, I’m taking a look at a selection of apps that have been updated to offer their own controls for Control Center and the Lock Screen. They’re all unique, and some of them are unexpectedly powerful.
Let’s jump in.
ObscuraInstead of saving it for last, I want to immediately start with my favorite new control for iOS 18 so far. Obscura by Ben Rice McCarthy is an amazing camera app that I’ve been using on and off for the past few years. The app is beautifully designed, features advanced controls for taking the perfect picture, and includes great color filters that stand out to me as some of the most pleasing I’ve ever seen in an alternative camera app.
However, Obscura has always suffered from an issue that all camera apps on iOS have until today: they were never as easy to launch as the stock Camera app. Obscura already offered a Lock Screen widget that you could place below the clock, but it was never as accessible as the default Camera control at the bottom of the screen. Now, you can swap the default Camera launcher with one for Obscura.
When its control is pressed on the Lock Screen, Obscura immediately launches into the viewfinder. And just like with Apple’s Camera app, you can start taking pictures without the need to authenticate with Face ID first. Over the past few days of testing, this Lock Screen control has made a huge difference for me. I almost exclusively use Obscura to take photos now.
Perhaps the key takeaway here that is that this significant impact on my photo-taking habits only highlights the importance of EU users’ upcoming ability to set a default camera app on iOS and iPadOS. It seems clear to me now that alternative camera app developers have been unfairly disadvantaged by the way Apple has prioritized its own Camera app throughout the system for so many years — which is why I am so glad that alternatives like Obscura now have a chance to compete on equal ground.
Obscura is available for free on the App Store. All of its features can be unlocked with a $3.99/month or $19.99/year subscription.
ChroniclingChronicling by Rebecca Owen is an everything tracker for iOS and iPadOS. While I haven’t used the app in a while, I’m happy to report that I’ve gotten back into it recently in an attempt to use it to log my water intake and some of my medication.
After setting up your own custom categories in the app, you now have the ability to add them to Control Center. There, tapping a category’s control will immediately log an event for it. If you use a medium-sized control, it will even display the date and time the category was last updated. I’ve found it extremely useful to be able to check on a category and immediately update it simply by going into Control Center.
This is a recurring theme with apps adding their own controls to Control Center: this new system feature easily turns an app’s core functionality into a quick toggle that can be accessed from wherever you are in iOS. For tracking apps like Chronicling, it’s a huge usability improvement.
Chronicling is available for free on the App Store. All of its features can be unlocked with a $0.99/month or $9.99/year subscription.
LongplayLongplay is an amazing music player for iOS and iPadOS that John previously reviewed on MacStories. For those unfamiliar, Longplay is an alternative frontend for Apple Music that presents your music library as a beautiful album wall. The app puts an emphasis on listening to your favorite music one album at a time, from start to finish. Over the years, Longplay has become one of my favorite ways to browse through my library and rediscover music. I’m especially a big fan of its Home Screen widgets, which let me quickly start listening to a random album at any time of the day.
With iOS 18, Longplay is adding a ‘Play Random Album’ control that you can add to either Control Center or the Lock Screen. With just a tap of its control, Longplay starts playing an album from your library in the background, without even having to launch the app. Just like its Home Screen widgets, you can customize the app’s control to filter the selection that albums are chosen from. Once again, it’s a simple idea that makes the app’s core functionality accessible from anywhere on iOS. If I had an Action button (I’m currently daily driving the iPhone 14 Pro), I would definitely map it to this new Longplay control.
Longplay is available on the App Store for $5.99.
Control MarkControl Mark by Arno Appenzeller is an exciting option if you’re looking to pin a specific website in Control Center. This new app lets you turn any URL into a custom control.
I’ve used it to create a button in Control Center that opens my Watch Later playlist on YouTube, which is useful for quickly catching up on my video queue. Unfortunately, the app doesn’t currently support custom app URL schemes, and it doesn’t seem to support Universal Links either. I’m not sure if this is due to a system limitation or not, but the result is that Control Mark will only open URLs in Safari.
Opening my YouTube Watch Later playlist from Control Center thanks to Control Mark.
While I’m hoping Arno can update Control Mark to support custom URL schemes and unlock the ability to open in-app links, it’s still a great option if you need to add a MacStories launcher to your Lock Screen.
Control Mark is available on the App Store for $0.99.
NoirNoir has become one of my essential Safari extensions on all of Apple’s platforms. The app elegantly and automatically darkens websites when dark mode is enabled on your system. This week, Noir added a new control that lets you quickly toggle the extension on and off from Control Center.
Even though I admire the way Noir handles its styling, browser extensions that enforce a dark mode on the web always give mixed results. For this reason, Noir has an option to let you disable the extension on a per-website basis, and the app also includes a toggle for turning it off in Safari’s extension menu. However, on iOS and iPadOS, the extension menu is not as easily accessible as it is on the Mac; being able to access this toggle from Control Center is a great improvement.
Noir is available on the App Store for $2.99.
ShareshotShareshot is an alternative to Federico’s Apple Frames shortcut that John reviewed last month on MacStories. The app lets you add a device frame to your screenshots and customize how they look. With its iOS 18 update this week, Shareshot now features a new control called ‘Frame Last Screenshot’. As its name suggests, tapping this control will immediately open the app and frame your last saved screenshot. From there, you can start customizing your framed screenshot or save it right away.
I still use Apple Frames for most of my device-framing needs, but in my case, this new control speeds up the process so much that it has replaced Apple Frames in some circumstances. I highly recommend giving it a try.
Shareshot is available on the App Store for free. You can remove the watermark from framed screenshots and access other premium features by subscribing to Shareshot Pro for $1.99/month or $14.99/year.
Fantastical, Cardhop, and Remind Me FasterFantastical’s New Event sheet (left) and Remind Me Faster’s main view (center) can quickly be accessed from their new controls in Control Center (right).
Fantastical by Flexibits is my calendar app of choice. If you’re a Comfort Zone listener, you know that I’m not big on productivity apps. I struggle with task managers, and my calendar is the main way I keep track of important events in my daily life. For that to work, however, I need to discipline myself to actually update my calendar on a daily basis.
Fantastical’s new ‘Create Event’ control in iOS 18 has been a huge help in this regard. Adding it to my Lock Screen has removed a significant roadblock for me actually remembering to add events to my calendar. The control is always right there whenever I pick up my phone.
Additionally, the app comes with two other new controls: ‘Open Fantastical’ and ‘Search in Fantastical’.
Cardhop is Flexibits’ companion app to Fantastical, and its main purpose is to be a superpowered alternative to Apple’s Contacts app. Cardhop has been updated to add three new controls: ‘Add Contact’, ‘Scan Card’, and ‘Search’. I can imagine them being super useful if you’re the kind of person who needs to update their address book on a daily basis.
Remind Me Faster is a companion utility to Reminders on iOS and iPadOS. The app’s premise is simple: it’s a faster way to create and schedule reminders with natural language input and custom time presets. This week, the app was updated to offer a new control for opening Remind Me Faster’s task creation view. Just like Fantastical’s ‘Create Event’ control, placing Remind Me Faster on the Lock Screen is a fantastic way to create reminders throughout the day without the need to go through your iPhone’s Home Screen.
Fantastical and Cardhop are available for free on the App Store. An optional subscription to Flexibits Premium costs $57/year and unlocks all features for both apps.
Remind Me Faster is available for free on the App Store. An optional $1.49 in-app purchase unlocks natural language input, and a $0.99 in-app purchase unlocks custom time presets.
There will be many more apps releasing their own custom controls for Control Center, the Lock Screen, and the Action button soon. While these new controls are often simple shortcuts to specific features of their respective apps, I’m very glad that we’ve finally reached the point where app developers are able to plug into these parts of the OS on iPhone and iPad.
In my mind, this begs the question: how long until we can add these controls to the Home Screen? After all, legacy widgets used to be confined to the Today View, but Apple has since allowed us to place modern widgets on the Home Screen, making it more modular than ever. What if they could build on the success of third-party controls just like they did with Home Screen widgets? Let me toggle Noir, log my medication, and create a calendar event all with a single tap right from the Home Screen and build the ultimate modular setup.
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In the lead-up to this year’s WWDC, it was hard to predict what an update to visionOS would look like. After all, the initial version had only shipped four months earlier when Apple Vision Pro became available for purchase in the United States. Given how late in the software cycle visionOS 1 shipped, it was reasonable to wonder if there would be a visionOS 2 announced at all, and if so, how much it could realistically add to an operating system that had just debuted the previous quarter.
Of course, Apple’s software cycle waits for no one, so like watchOS before it, visionOS is receiving a 2.0 version rapidly on the heels of its initial release. But the shortened development window doesn’t mean that this update isn’t a significant one. I believe that the 2.0 moniker is well deserved based on the features and enhancements included in this release, especially given the quieter updates across all of Apple’s platforms this year in the wake of Apple Intelligence.
visionOS 2 moves spatial computing forward with an array of welcome quality-of-life improvements, deeper integration with some of Apple’s other platforms, additional tools for developers to create spatial experiences, system app updates in line with Apple’s other platforms, and a new way to experience photos that you have to see to believe. The combination of user experience refinements and new features makes for a solid update that Vision Pro users are definitely going to notice and enjoy.
Some of the changes we’ll dive into feel so obvious that you might wonder why they weren’t included in visionOS to begin with. Having used Vision Pro almost daily since it was released, I fully understand the sentiment. But then I remember that the iPhone didn’t gain the ability to copy and paste text until iPhone OS 3, and I’m reminded that developing new platforms takes time – even for a company as big as Apple.
So while some might seem basic, many of the changes included in visionOS 2 improve users’ experiences in significant ways every time they interact with the platform. The end result is a smoother, more intuitive operating system that will delight Vision Pro believers and, if Apple has its way, convince more skeptics to take the plunge into spatial computing.
Let’s jump into what visionOS 2 has to offer.
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Join Annual$120/yearJoin Monthly$12/monthScout’s illustrations are gorgeous, and they make for some amazing wallpapers. The screen saver is remarkable, too: since the illustrations were hand-drawn in Procreate (which automatically generates a time-lapse of the entire process), we were able to create a screen saver (developed by James Thomson) that makes the artwork come alive on your Mac’s display.
The macOS screen saver.
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Quality-of-Life ImprovementsThe biggest changes to visionOS this year are ones that many users won’t explicitly notice or that users of other Apple platforms take for granted. Individually, they might not even seem like that big of a deal. But taken together, these updates add up to a much improved user experience over that offered by visionOS 1. And it all starts with the way you navigate the operating system.
NavigationApple is known for creating interaction models so intuitive that they seem completely obvious in hindsight. Multitouch on iPhones and iPads is the most obvious example, but part of what makes all of Apple’s products so appealing is that they’re easy to pick up and use from the get-go. Creating the same effect for spatial computing, a paradigm that most people have no experience with, is a big challenge.
The company’s first attempt was admirable, but flawed. For this update, system navigation has been rethought to rely less on hardware and interactions borrowed from other platforms. Instead, visionOS 2 leans into the Vision Pro’s strengths, hand- and eye-tracking, to introduce whole new ways of interacting with the system.
First up: the Home View. Pressing the Digital Crown isn’t a bad way to open the Home View (and it’s still supported in this update), but it can get exhausting and annoying to perform the motion repeatedly when opening multiple apps at a time.1 What if there were a way to access the Home View without having to lift your arm at all? That’s exactly the thought behind an all-new gesture in visionOS 2.
No matter where your hand is within the view of Vision Pro, if you hold it open and look at your palm, a Home button will appear just above your hand. Press your fingers together to activate the button, and you’ll find yourself in the Home View, no arm-raising required.
The new Home View gesture.
There’s a lot to like about this new gesture. It may not be the most important detail, but I think it’s great that Apple carried over the Home button design from the original iPhone to visionOS – a nice little nod to the past in the company’s most futuristic device.
Mostly, though, I appreciate this gesture because it’s something completely new that takes advantage of what Vision Pro is best at. When you have a young platform with groundbreaking input methods, you should use them to their fullest extent, including in frequently performed actions like opening the Home View. The home gesture breaks from the past and embraces the fact that visionOS is something new.
It also, I think, qualifies as one of Apple’s trademark “so intuitive it’s obvious” interactions. The whole premise of visionOS is based on eye and hand controls. It’s natural to use your hand, which already performs tapping and scrolling gestures, to navigate the system, too. The act of turning my hand over, looking at it, and pinching my fingers together has become second nature to me – to the point that I do it without thinking or losing my flow. I can open the app I need and get back to what I was doing with minimal interruption, which is exactly what good navigation enables.
At the same time, old habits die hard. I still find myself sometimes pressing the Digital Crown to get to the Home View, too. There might come a day when Apple can remap that button to do something else, but it was smart not to change it this time around. Giving users both options is a good call; I think the new gesture will be the one to stick long-term, though.
The system’s gesture for accessing Control Center has been overhauled as well. In this case, the old method is nowhere to be seen, completely replaced by the new one. I say good riddance.
It’s understandable how visionOS developers landed on the idea of placing an upside-down caret above the user’s view to activate Control Center. After all, Control Center spawns from the top of the interface in most of Apple’s other operating systems. But in this case, the traditional model didn’t translate well. Accessing Control Center required users to roll their eyes upwards to activate a small caret icon and then tap on it. Somehow, the gesture was both too difficult to activate purposefully and too easy to activate accidentally.2 It needed to go.
The new Control Center gesture is an extension of the new home gesture. To activate it, you start by looking at your palm, but once the Home button appears, rather than pinching it, you turn your hand over so that its back is facing you. This will activate a delightful new piece of UI called the status bar. It looks like a widget and serves several purposes, the first of which is opening Control Center. Tap on it, and Control Center will appear, giving you access to system controls, notifications, Mac Virtual Display, and more.
Activating Control Center with the new gesture.
I find myself using Control Center a lot in visionOS. The typical interface for spatial computing consists of only your environment (whether physical or digital) and the windows and objects you’ve opened. There is no concept of a persistent status bar or menu bar like on other platforms, and visionOS doesn’t support widgets. Key information like the time, date, current focus, and your device’s battery life are all tucked away in Control Center alongside media playback controls, Wi-Fi settings, and even Spotlight. So it’s important that users have easy access to it, which is exactly what this new gesture ensures.
Like the Home View gesture, this new way of accessing Control Center fits naturally with the way visionOS works. It relies on the user’s hands and eyes without requiring any exaggerated eye or head movements, which could become fatiguing over time. I’m a big fan of the way this gesture has been implemented. I use it all the time and have never run into the reliability issues I had with the previous caret approach.
Sometimes, though, I don’t even have to complete the gesture to access the information or control that I’m looking for because visionOS 2 introduces a status bar that appears just before you tap to open Control Center. It includes the information users most often turn to Control Center for: the current time, device battery percentage, Wi-Fi status, Focus mode, and system volume. It also brings up a system volume slider when the user pinches and holds it, giving near-instant access to volume controls.
Isn’t this status bar just the cutest?
This is one of my favorite new features in the operating system this year. It’s an adorable UI, it offers a massive amount of useful information while staying out the way when it isn’t needed, and it just feels futuristic to activate and move around with my hand. It might seem like a small addition, but it’s one that users will benefit from every time they use Vision Pro, and that has a big impact over time. It’s also yet another sign of the platform maturing and embracing spatial computing as a paradigm rather than trying to shoehorn old methods into a new system.
Having volume control easily accessible also takes some burden off of the Digital Crown, which serves two functions when turned: adjusting the level of environmental immersion and turning the volume up and down. When making these adjustments, the system presents the user with two virtual dials: one for immersion and one for volume. By default, the Digital Crown controls immersion, but if the user directs their gaze to the volume dial, it will switch to controlling volume instead. I never liked this dual role; I felt like I could never point my eyes to the right place for controlling volume on the first try.
By default, a turn of the Digital Crown controls either immersion or volume (top), but the volume dial can be removed (bottom).
visionOS 2 offers a couple of ways to solve this. A new Digital Crown section in the Settings app includes the option to change the default focus from immersion to volume, which is great for users who want to change volume with the Digital Crown. My preferred approach, though, is to dedicate the Digital Crown wholly to controlling immersion while using the volume control built into the status bar. I accomplished this by toggling off ‘Use Digital Crown for Volume’ in the Sound settings. Now, adjusting immersion with the Digital Crown is more straightforward, and I still have quick access to volume controls in the software. It’s a win-win.
Home View CustomizationIt’s hard to believe, but Vision Pro shipped without the ability to rearrange app icons in the Home View. A selection of system apps were shown on the first page alongside the Compatible Apps folder, which contains all of the iPad apps installed on the system, and the rest of the apps in the Home View were simply arranged alphabetically. If a user had a favorite third-party app, iPad app, or non-prioritized system app that they wanted quick access to in the Home View, they were out of luck. There wasn’t any way to move them around.
That’s all changed in visionOS 2. Now, users can arrange icons however they like, and iPad apps can even escape the Compatible Apps folder. This makes the Vision Pro Home View much more customizable and adaptable to users’ needs, but it does come with some limitations and quirks that are worth taking into account.
Rearranging app icons feels very familiar if you’ve ever used an iPhone or an iPad. Simply pinch and hold an icon, and the entire Home View UI will enter “jiggle mode,” with each icon wobbling slightly to let you know that it can be moved. You can then grab an icon and drop it wherever you want within the current page or hold it against the left or right edge of the view to scroll to another page and drop it there. If you add a new icon to a page that was previously full, the icon in the bottom right corner will move to the next page, causing subsequent icons to reflow. You can also delete an app in jiggle mode by selecting the ‘-‘ button attached to it.
Rearranging app icons in the Home View.
App icons cannot be freely placed in the Home View. Rather, icons begin at the top left of the view and fill in left-to-right until the row is full, and then a new row begins. Again, this is very much the way iPhone Home Screens worked until this year, except rather than a rectangular grid, visionOS app icons are arranged in a honeycomb pattern with a row of four icons followed by a row of five, then another row of four. Like iPhone Home Screens, pages in the visionOS Home View don’t have to be completely filled before the user is able to start a new page.
Rearranging icons in the Compatible Apps folder works a bit differently. When you pinch and hold an icon within the folder, a menu appears with three options:
- Add to Home View
- Edit Folder
- Delete App
The ‘Delete App’ option will remove the app from the device, naturally. ‘Edit Folder’ puts the Compatible Apps folder in jiggle mode, allowing you to rearrange icons within the folder. But to move an app out of the folder, you can’t simply drag it out while in jiggle mode. You have to pinch and hold it, then choose the ‘Add to Home View’ option. This will place it in the next available slot in the main Home View.
Adding an iPad app to the Home View.
iPad apps maintain their rounded rectangular shapes when added to the Home View, but the system adds a semi-transparent circle around the icons to make them blend in better with visionOS apps’ circular icons. While I find this sort of bubble effect cute, I do think it still looks out of place next to a full-size visionOS app icon, and I wonder if sticking to the plain rounded rectangle shape would have looked better.
Moving compatible apps out of the Home View and back into the Compatible Apps folder is even stranger than getting the icons out in the first place. To do so, you have to enter jiggle mode and then choose the ‘-‘ button attached to the app icon. That’s the button used to delete visionOS apps, but for iPad apps, it brings up a menu with two options: ‘Remove from Home View’ and ‘Delete.’ The ‘Remove from Home View’ option will move the icon back to the Compatible Apps folder, but it’s dangerously close to that ‘Delete’ button, so proceed with caution.
Speaking of folders, the Compatible Apps folder is the only one allowed in the visionOS Home View. Users can’t create custom folders of their own. If you try to hold an app icon over another one the way you would on an iPad to create a folder, the lower icon will simply move out of the way to make room for the one you’re dragging. visionOS apps can be arranged into pages but not folders, and only iPad apps can be tucked away in the single folder that exists. This is an odd omission and one I hope to see rectified soon.
With 13 apps per page and no way to organize apps into folders, the Home View can get out of hand pretty quickly. Pages start to pile up. On top of that, if you rearrange any icons, the system stops sorting apps alphabetically, so all future downloads are simply tacked on to the end of the last page. My Vision Pro currently has six pages of apps, and I’ve surrendered all but the first two pages to chaos. Anything beyond that just gets opened in Spotlight.
This system reminds me a lot of the iPhone Home Screen before the introduction of the App Library. Having access to my most-used apps at the beginning of the Home View is a game-changer, and it does remove a lot of friction when getting started on what I want to do. At the same time, I’m never going to take the time to organize most of the apps on my device. They’d be better off in a folder or just hidden away until I explicitly decide I want them in the Home View.
The changes to the Home View in visionOS 2 are a leap forward, but there’s another step that has to be taken. Users need folders – or better yet, a full-on App Library – to organize the majority of their apps so that the most important ones can take center stage within the Home View. Until that happens, I’d recommend you only bother with the first page or two and try not to think about the jumbled mess that lies beyond your tidy, custom Home View.
Beyond apps, the Home View also houses two other sections, People and Environments, which aren’t customizable. I personally find the People view unhelpful due to the fact that I can’t manually add contacts to it. The ability to favorite contacts that already appear in the view is nice, but its selection of people seems to be heavily influenced by my call history, which isn’t the best source of information on who I communicate with. If the People view was a customizable launcher for calling or messaging my favorite contacts, that might something I’d take a second look at; as it stands, I just wish visionOS included a full-fledged Contacts app.
Fancy a trip to Bora Bora?
The Environments view displays an expanding mini-portal into the destination option your eyes are currently focused on – a nice touch. And, of course, it includes the new visionOS 2-exclusive Bora Bora environment, a sunny beach getaway that I find so relaxing. I would like the option to move Bora Bora up to the top of my Environments list, but alas, it can’t be reordered. This is only a matter time, though. As Apple adds more environments (and hopefully opens up the option for third-party environments to be used systemwide), this list will have to be rethought with customization or, at the very least, some method of categorization.
Keyboard Awareness and Mouse SupportI’ve spilled quite a bit of ink3 extolling the power and fluidity of eye- and hand-tracking in visionOS, but let’s be honest: you need to connect peripherals if you’re going to do any productivity-related tasks on Vision Pro. Decades into its existence, the hardware keyboard still reigns supreme as the best input method for text longer than a sentence or two. A pointing device is less necessary given the accuracy of the device’s eye-tracking, but it still comes in handy sometimes. visionOS 2 brings new features for both input types.
On the keyboard side, this update introduces Keyboard Awareness. When you’re in an immersive environment, the system can now identify a Magic Keyboard or MacBook keyboard sitting in front of you and display it within your view. This is very similar to the People Awareness feature Apple touted when Vision Pro was first announced. The environment is still fully immersive, but it fades out around the keyboard to allow video from the outside world to pass through.
I can see my keyboard through all the white sand.
I’ve found this feature to be immensely useful when writing with Vision Pro. The built-in environments help me block out distractions around me and focus when I need to, but previously, I could only use them at about 50% immersion because I still needed to see the keyboard in front of me from time to time. Now, I can be fully immersed in whatever location I find most conductive to my work, and I can still look down at my keyboard if I lose my hand placement or need to find the location of a key.
It’s also one of the features that has come the longest way throughout the visionOS beta cycle. In the first version of the beta, the system sometimes struggled to identify my Magic Keyboard, especially under low light. Now, Keyboard Awareness works reliably, and in some conditions, it can even recognize my iPad’s Magic Keyboard, which isn’t an officially supported device. I hope this is a sign that the feature will be expanded to support third-party Bluetooth keyboards in the near future.
I’m not going to lie: it feels pretty cool to make the environment disappear like this.
As great as Keyboard Awareness is, it can also be a bit distracting to have the keyboard always present in my view even when I’m not typing. Thankfully, the new ‘Bring Hands Near to Reveal’ option found in the Awareness & Safety section of Settings can help with that. This setting disables keyboard passthrough until you reach your hands towards the keyboard to type. It’s quite a cool effect, and it gives you the best of both worlds: full immersion when you aren’t typing and Keyboard Awareness when you need it.
For those who want pointer control but don’t like using a trackpad, visionOS 2 introduces Bluetooth mouse support. Using a mouse in visionOS works very similarly to using a trackpad, and the same basic set of interactions are supported: clicking, dragging, scrolling, and secondary clicking. I’m surprised by the lack of special gesture support for the Magic Mouse (and even the Magic Trackpad), but I suppose it’s good that Apple isn’t giving its own peripherals special treatment in this area – at least not yet.
In my use cases, pointer control works well for text editing and working within individual apps, but I don’t find it all that intuitive for actually navigating the system. Hand gestures make more sense to me for opening apps, arranging windows, and adjusting system controls, but I’m glad that it’s possible to accomplish all of those things with a pointer for those who prefer it. Pointer control in visionOS is basic, but it gets the job done, and now it can even be done with a mouse.
Other Quality-of-Life ImprovementsHand-Tracking: The refresh rate for hand-tracking in visionOS 2 has been improved significantly. Previously, the user’s hand position was updated at a rate of 30 Hz, but it now matches the system’s current refresh rate, which is usually around 90 Hz. This three-fold increase results in smoother hand animations in video passthrough4 and tracking data that is much closer to real-time for developers. Developers can also optionally take advantage of new hand-tracking prediction in visionOS 2 to anticipate upcoming hand movements.
Reopen Apps After Restart: This new option (available in the General section of the Settings app) is the visionOS equivalent of the Mac’s ‘Reopen windows when logging back in’ feature. When the Vision Pro reboots, it will automatically respawn any windows that were left open before it powered down. Given the Vision Pro’s battery life restraints, system reboots are somewhat common, whether they occur while the device is in use or while it’s being stored. Either way, this feature allows users to hit the ground running after a reboot rather than being forced to recreate their setups from scratch.
Guest User: The operating system can now store eye and hand data for a single guest user for up to 30 days, allowing them to use the device multiple times over that period without the need to go through the setup process each time. This is a welcome change for Vision Pro owners who share their devices with others on occasion, but it still isn’t full multi-user support. It’s limited to only one guest user at a time, and data is removed after 30 days. I see this as more of an extended demo option than an actual solution for device sharing, a practice that Apple seems fundamentally opposed to.
Low-Light Performance: Vision Pro works best in well-lit environments. However, there are times when a user might need to use it in a dark space. Trying to do so with visionOS 1 resulted in a slew of warnings and repeated window respawns that could become frustrating quickly and dissuade users from trying to wear Vision Pro in non-ideal conditions. visionOS 2 makes this experience much more tenable. It still displays a warning when the device detects that it’s being used in low light and disables features like hand passthrough and window anchoring, but the system holds up better in low light, allowing me to actually use my computer in the dark. Imagine that!
Compatible App Appearance: Speaking of using Vision Pro in low light, one sure-fire way to overwhelm your eyeballs in visionOS 1 was to open an iPad app in a dark environment. Compatible apps always defaulted to light mode, which in many cases did not mix well with visionOS’s semi-transparent native aesthetic and contrasted somewhat painfully with a dark room or a virtual environment in dark mode. Thankfully, this update adds a new option in the device’s Appearance settings to switch the appearance of compatible apps to dark mode if you prefer. I made this change immediately after installing the first visionOS 2 beta and haven’t thought about going back since. iPad apps in dark mode just fit better with visionOS.
My persona is on the moon! But also in White Sands?
Persona Improvements: Apple continues to improve the accuracy of skin tones and clothing colors in Personas, users’ 3D avatars for video calls. The biggest difference I’ve noticed in Personas this year is better recreation of hand movements, likely due to improved hand-tracking system-wide. Users can also now set backgrounds for their Personas while in video calls. There are system-provided options for color backgrounds and backgrounds based on visionOS environments, or users can choose custom backgrounds from their photo libraries.
Train Support: Travel mode now supports trains in addition to planes, a feature I have been unable to test due to the disappointing lack of public transit in my area. Regardless, the ability to use Vision Pro on a moving train is a nice addition I hope I’ll be able to take advantage of someday.
The fact that such a large portion of this review is dedicated to covering these everyday quality-of-life improvements speaks to two things: the nascent nature of spatial computing and the reality that even the foundations of visionOS are still not totally settled. Vision Pro is an entry point into a whole new world for Apple, and early adopters are tagging along. I wouldn’t be surprised to see even some of the details covered above change in future versions of visionOS as the company continues to understand best practices for building a spatial computing platform for the masses. For now, these are big enhancements over what we saw in visionOS 1, and I’m thrilled by the difference they make in day-to-day use.
AirPlay ReceiverIt’s been clear from the moment Vision Pro was announced that Apple envisions it as being one of several devices from the company in a user’s life. No feature demonstrates that more than Mac Virtual Display. The ability to mirror and control a nearby Mac from visionOS helps fill gaps in third-party software support for the device and offers Mac lovers one more reason to give Vision Pro a try.
Mac Virtual Display is poised to receive a major upgrade later this year in the form of a panoramic view that’s equivalent to two 4K displays side-by-side, but that feature hasn’t been made available for testing yet. Instead, visionOS 2 adds integration with two other devices, iPhone and iPad, in the form of AirPlay Receiver.
If you’ve ever used AirPlay to mirror your device’s screen to a TV before, the process will be very familiar. The first step is to enable AirPlay Receiver in the Vision Pro’s Settings app under General → AirPlay & Continuity. Then, you can activate the Screen Mirroring feature in Control Center on your iPhone or iPad and choose Vision Pro as the output. A frameless replication of the screen will then appear at the center of your view in a window that can be moved and resized like any regular visionOS app window.
Activating AirPlay Receiver from my iPad Pro.
AirPlay Receiver seems to only work for full-on screen mirroring, not for streaming specific content from your device to Vision Pro. The only app I’ve found that does support sending content via AirPlay to Vision Pro is the Photos app, which will allow you to stream a photo memory to Vision Pro, though it oddly lists the device as an Apple TV. I’m honestly not sure whether AirPlay Receiver is meant to be limited to screen mirroring or not, but in its current version, it functionally is.
However, the AirPlay Receiver window in visionOS can function as an external display rather than a 1:1 screen mirror under certain conditions. For example, when you open a picture or video in the Photos app on iPhone, the mirrored screen on Vision Pro morphs into a 16:9 window that features only the selected content with no UI chrome around it. And when you start a Keynote presentation on your iPad, the window will adapt to show your presentation in full view while your iPad shows a presenter view with notes and presentation controls. The AirPlay implementation in visionOS 2 isn’t quite feature complete, but as long as you start with screen mirroring, you can eventually use AirPlay’s other features as well.
AirPlay Receiver morphing into a full video preview.
There are a few major differences between AirPlay Receiver and Mac Virtual Display. First of all, AirPlay mirroring can only be initiated on the source device, not Vision Pro. This means that, in order to set up AirPlay Receiver, you have to be wearing Vision Pro and then operate your iPhone or iPad via Vision Pro’s passthrough video, a task that can be tricky depending on how clearly you’re able to see your real-world device in passthrough mode. This certainly isn’t as straightforward as starting the process from visionOS, which is an option for Mac Virtual Display.
Secondly, audio from the source device does pass through to Vision Pro when using AirPlay Receiver. Anyone who’s used Mac Virtual Display and been shocked to hear audio coming from their MacBook speakers several feet away will attest that this is a useful feature. It only makes sense that if your device’s screen is being mirrored on Vision Pro, its audio should be mirrored there as well.
Finally, the iPhone or iPad that is mirroring its screen cannot be controlled by peripherals paired to Vision Pro. Whereas Mac Virtual Display allows you to share Vision Pro’s keyboard and pointing device with the Mac being mirrored Universal Control-style, AirPlay Receiver is a one-way street. It can only receive information, not send any back to the source device. This means that you’ll have to control your iPhone or iPad either via touch input or a separate set of peripherals when using AirPlay Receiver.
While this feature isn’t as robust as Mac Virtual Display, I still think it’s a great addition to visionOS. It helps solve the same problem as Mac Virtual Display, namely that a lot of apps simply aren’t available on the platform yet. If you have a favorite productivity tool, reading app, or streaming service that you’d like to use in a spatial computing environment but isn’t available on the visionOS App Store, you previously had to rely on the web as a fallback or use an app like Bezel. Now, you can simply run your preferred app on another device and beam it to Vision Pro natively.
And the quality of the mirroring is remarkable. It’s clear and high-quality, with crisp text and almost no discernible latency. Animations aren’t quite as smooth as they are on the device’s actual display, but they are being relayed over a wireless signal, after all. I’m quite impressed with how smooth the experience of using AirPlay Receiver is.
This almost feels like too much power to have all at once.
It’s worth nothing that AirPlay Receiver can only be used with a single source device at a time. If you’re AirPlaying from your phone to Vision Pro, you can’t also bring your iPad into the mix; you’ll have to turn off mirroring on one device before you enable it on another. However, it is possible to use AirPlay Receiver and Mac Virtual Display simultaneously. You can lock your iPhone or iPad while mirroring it to Vision Pro, and mirroring will temporarily pause without terminating the connection. When you unlock the device, mirroring will resume automatically.
AirPlay Receiver can be used to mirror other people’s devices as well. By default, the ‘Allow AirPlay For’ option is set to ‘Current User,’ but you can change it to ‘Everyone’ and allow others to mirror their screens to your Vision Pro. Please, though, don’t leave this on all the time and make yourself susceptible to random weirdos. Or if you do leave it set to ‘Everyone’ full-time, at least enable the ‘Require Password’ option to make sure only people you trust can start sharing content to your Vision Pro.
I’ve personally found this feature most useful when mirroring my iPad Pro in the Magic Keyboard case. Trying to navigate my iPhone or iPad mini via touch while looking up at a mirrored display on Vision Pro just isn’t natural enough for day-to-day use in my book, though I appreciate that I have the option if I ever need it. But with the Magic Keyboard’s trackpad and hardware keyboard in play, AirPlaying my iPad Pro to Vision Pro has proved quite useful.
In fact, this very review was written on my iPad Pro while it was being mirrored to Vision Pro via AirPlay Receiver. My favorite tool for long-form writing is iA Writer, an app that isn’t available on Vision Pro even in iPad compatibility mode. In order to write in my app of choice, I’ve relied on AirPlay Receiver throughout the writing process, and it’s been excellent. It offers me the best of both worlds: I can use the non-visionOS app I need (on a virtual display much larger than my iPad’s, no less) in combination with environments and a bunch of visionOS app windows displaying my notes, resources, and more.
My view when writing this review.
That said, I do wish this integration between Vision Pro, iPhone, and iPad could be taken a bit further and borrow a couple of features from the Mac integration. Being able to start Mac Virtual Display from Vision Pro and control the connected Mac with the peripherals I’m already using makes for a much simpler setup process than AirPlay Receiver. Don’t get me wrong; I’m a big fan of the feature. I’m just such a big fan that I’d love to see it evolve into iPad Virtual Display and iPhone Virtual Display down the road.
Will that evolution ever come? It’s impossible to tell. But I would have never predicted that AirPlay Receiver would be as high-quality and handy as it is, so there’s certainly hope. Either way, tighter integration between Vision Pro, iPhone, and iPad is a win for Vision Pro owners who use other Apple products, and I’m happy to see it.
PhotosWhile the Photos app for iPhone and iPad was completely rethought this year, Photos for visionOS incorporates the latest features in line with Apple’s other platforms while remaining mostly the same in its design. The Library tab continues to display all of your photos and videos5, while the new Collections tab now houses albums, memories, media types, utilities, and new features like Recent Days and Featured Spatial Photos. The continued use of a tabbed interface rather than a unified one brings Photos for visionOS more in line with the Mac than the iPhone or iPad.
The new Collections tab in the Photos app.
The Collections tab is a fascinating addition, especially in its customizability. Pinching the customize button in the top right corner of the app opens up a screen that allows you to enable, disable, and rearrange sections freely. You can literally make the Collections tab whatever you want it to be, which is an amazing feature for an app as personal and as central to people’s digital lives as Photos.
Customizing the Collections tab.
It’s a lot of fun moving around elements within the Collections tab to get them just the way you want. But what’s even more fun is diving into its various sections to rediscover pictures and relive memories. Federico has more details in his review of iOS 18, but the new Recent Days feature is a great way to look back at photos I’ve captured recently, and it does a good job of highlighting the ones I want to see most.
While the Collections tab is excellent, it’s also an experience you can get on other Apple devices. What you can’t experience anywhere else, though, is spatial content, and visionOS 2 introduces the ability to turn your regular photos into three-dimensional spatial photos with the press of a button.
Converting a spatial photo. Just look at that animation
When I saw this demonstrated in Apple’s WWDC keynote in June, I immediately thought, “There’s no way this feature works that well on regular people’s pictures.” The company’s photography demos have always been idealized in order to show off features in the best possible light. I couldn’t imagine that spatializing photos would be something I’d actually want to do as more than just a gimmick.
Wow, was I wrong.
I couldn’t imagine that spatializing photos would be something I’d actually want to do as more than just a gimmick.
From the first moment I tried this feature for myself, I could tell that Apple was onto something very special. It literally is as easy as the demo makes it seem: open a photo, select the cube button in the upper left corner, and wait a moment for the system to process the image. After a short, eye-catching animation, you’re presented with a 3D version of your photo that, in a lot of cases, is downright breathtaking.
It’s difficult to describe and impossible to replicate on a two-dimensional screen, but something about seeing my personal photos – some of which I’ve looked at dozens or hundreds of times before – translated into 3D makes the experience of viewing them more impactful. Spatialized photos feel less like pictures and more like memories. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it’s true.
What sets spatial photos apart from regular ones is depth. With its dual displays, Vision Pro is capable of displaying 3D content in a way that makes your mind truly believe that elements are reaching out towards you. Whereas depth in 2D images is implied through composition and focus, with spatial photos, depth can literally be experienced.
It doesn’t translate to two-dimensional video, but shifting your perspective when looking at a spatial photo gives an impression of true depth.
The depth of a spatial photo makes it feel more real, like you’re looking through a window into the actual world rather than at a screen. Spatial photos are also dynamic, shifting the point of view in response to head movements and window placement. Shift your head to the left, and the entire scene changes slightly to give the impression that you’re looking at it from an angle. Move the photo closer to you, and the subject appears as if standing behind a window you’re looking through. Move it further away, and you’ll reach a point where the subject breaks through the threshold of the window and is now popping out at you. And for a full-on immersive effect, the panorama option blows up the image to a larger-than-life size that takes up your full view and fades seamlessly at the edges into your surroundings, giving it a dream-like quality.
A spatial photo in panorama view.
Taken together, these elements of spatial photos leave you feeling like you’re no longer looking at a photo on a headset but actually reliving the moment the picture was taken.
I’ve spent hours converting all kinds of pictures into spatial photos: wedding pictures, newborn photos of my son, vacation shots, memories of loved ones who are no longer with us. Viewing these spatial photos is a significantly different experience than looking at them on my phone or even my TV. It’s more personal, more immersive, and more emotional – all things that I’m looking for when I dive into my photo library for a trip down memory lane.
I can’t say for certain that this feature will sell Vision Pros, but I would not be surprised to hear of people who buy the device for this purpose alone. It really is that good. If you love looking at pictures in your photo library and reminiscing, I highly recommend booking a Vision Pro demo and converting some of your own photos to see what it’s like. It’s not easy to put into words, but it’s an experience that’s won me over, and I think it will many others, too.
Feelings aside, spatial photos are also impressive from a technical level. The conversion is performed by a machine learning model that does not depend on depth data being built into the photo. In fact, I’ve thrown pictures at it that I knew for a fact included no depth information at all, and they converted to spatial photos just as well as portrait images shot on my iPhone. The model analyzes the contents of the photo and figures out how different elements relate to one another spatially, and then it applies that depth data to the photo to create an 3D image.
I wish I had a way to share the experience of seeing this photo in all its spatial glory with you. Want to come over and try out Guest Mode?
The conversion is able to capture real-world depth incredibly well. One particular example of this is a picture from my son’s newborn photoshoot. The picture was taken from inside of his crib, with him lying on the mattress and my wife and I standing over the crib looking in. The machine learning model was able to perfectly ascertain the angle of the railing and present its depth in a way that it feels like you’re inside the crib when you look at the photo. I’m amazed at how well it’s able to nail this sort of thing.
Of course, there are instances where the conversion trips up. As with Portrait mode on the iPhone, hair can be a tricky element for the model to separate from the background. In certain instances where elements overlap, the model can misinterpret the distance between them, creating an effect that’s entertaining but not realistic. Reflective and transparent surfaces don’t translate well. And there are certain one-off photos that, for one reason or another, just don’t mesh with the spatial conversion process. It isn’t perfect, but it has way more hits than misses in my experience.
Spatial photo conversion offers a truly wonderful way to re-experience pictures from the past, and I’m a huge fan of it. At the same time, I’d love the ability to take spatial photos myself so that I can capture real-world depth and then view it later rather than relying on an algorithm. That’s why I’m so excited that in a matter of days, I’ll have a spatial photo camera with me everywhere I go in the form of the iPhone 16 Pro Max. In fact, every device in the iPhone 16 lineup is able to capture spatial photos, and the latest iOS 18.1 beta even brings this capability to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. This is great because it allows current Vision Pro owners to experience even more of their memories as spatial photos and gives every iPhone user the chance to start building their spatial photo libraries now. Spatial photos: they’re here to stay.
The biggest downside of spatial photos, though, is the fact that they can’t be easily shared with other people – at least, not in their full three-dimensional glory. If I want to show someone else a picture that I love, I have to switch my Vision Pro into guest mode and walk them through the setup process first. That’s not something I’m going to do often, and it speaks to the solitary nature of Vision Pro as it stands today. This is a problem that won’t be solved unless spatial computing becomes more widespread, and it’s a shame.
If you want to share a spatial photo with another Vision Pro owner, you can always send it to them via iMessage, but visionOS 2 introduces a new way of looking at pictures together: SharePlay in the Photos app. When you’re on a FaceTime call with another Vision Pro user, a Share button will appear above the Photos app window. Pinch it, and the other user will be shown photos and videos that you select so that you can view them together in real time. This is a great way to look at vacation photos with a friend, reminisce with long-distance family members, or share your work with a client.
Of course, I do have a few hopes for improvements to spatial photos in the future. I’d like the option to convert my entire library to spatial photos automatically, even if that means the process has to run in the background while my Vision Pro is charging.6 I also wish I didn’t have to choose between viewing my pictures as Live Photos and spatial photos; why not both? And finally, I’d like to eventually be able to convert my videos to spatial versions, too. I know that’s a big ask, but after seeing what the Photos team has done with spatial photo conversion, I’m confident that they can do it. That is, after they take their celebratory lap for knocking this feature all the way out of the park, of course.
AppsSeveral system apps across Apple’s platforms are receiving new features and enhancements this year, and visionOS 2 benefits from the majority of them.7 Just to name a few:
- the all-new Passwords app spun out of Settings
- the Maps app’s new Library for saving locations, guides, and routes
- Math Notes, section folding, and text highlights in Notes
- integration of scheduled tasks from Reminders into Calendar
- tab bars for navigating system apps borrowed from iPadOS like Podcasts and News
- the new action library in Shortcuts
- compact view mode and persistent file downloads in Files
I’ll let Federico and John fill you in on all the details of system app updates that apply across platforms, but I do want to highlight a few visionOS-specific updates worth mentioning.
Safari Watching Comfort Zone the way it deserves.
Profile users, rejoice! Safari for visionOS now supports profiles, allowing you to separate your personal login credentials, browsing history, tab groups, bookmarks, extension settings, and more from your browsing for work, school, and other uses. There’s no sign of the Highlights or Distraction Control features added to other platforms this year, but the app does play a bit of catchup with pinned tabs and the ability to have Siri read a webpage to you. Safari can now display panoramic photos in immersive mode, too.
The biggest update to Safari in visionOS 2, though, pertains to video. Now, videos played in Safari can integrate into environments the same way videos from other apps can. This is important because major players like Netflix and YouTube have yet to develop apps for Vision Pro, so users have to watch those services in Safari instead. This change puts those viewing experiences on par with streaming apps, allowing them to be blown up to a gargantuan size and automatically placed within an environment for an ideal cinematic experience. This environment integration is also available for developers to add to video players in third-party apps.
TVSpeaking of cinematic experiences, Vision Pro is already the ideal way to watch films with its support for 4K, high dynamic range, 3D, spatial audio, and variable frame rates.8 It’s also the only place to experience Apple Immersive Video, the company’s 8K, 3D, 180-degree video format behind titles like Boundless and Prehistoric Planet Immersive, which is receiving a couple of updates this year.
You can now minimize immersive videos from full-screen view into a window. This allows users to enjoy the content without being fully immersed in it, and it’s also an alternate way to observe the 3D effects within the content.
On the accessibility side, captions can now be repositioned while watching immersive videos. Unlike traditional content, immersive video does not have a fixed point of view, and there’s action happening on all sides. That’s why it’s important that viewers who rely on captions be able to place them in whatever position works for their personal viewing needs and preferences. I’m thankful that Apple is continuing its work to ensure that spatial computing and immersive content are accessible to everyone.
The ‘Dim Flashing Lights’ setting is now available on visionOS as well. This is an important accommodation that was first added to the Apple TV last year, and it’s good to see it come to Vision Pro.
The TV app for visionOS will be adding support for Multiview later this year, allowing viewers to watch multiple sporting events at the same time. I’m a big fan of Apple’s Multiview implementation on Apple TV and iPad with easy source and layout switching, so I’m interested to see how this looks when it becomes available. I’m also curious to see when InSight, the feature that displays real-time information about actors, characters, and music onscreen, will come to visionOS after its launch on tvOS, iPadOS, and iOS this year.
Messages Dictating a message, no pinch required.
While Messages on visionOS 2 doesn’t include text effects or message scheduling like other platforms, it does add emoji Tapbacks and RCS support alongside a visionOS-exclusive feature this year: Look to Dictate. This option was previously available for Safari’s search bar and other search fields, but it’s now coming to the Messages composition field as well. Just look at the microphone icon to enter dictation mode and start speaking without the need to pinch your fingers together.
Mindfulness The most relaxing thing you’ll see today – now synced to your breath.
The Mindfulness app is one of the coolest experiences available on Vision Pro. It’s a true reimagining of what a meditation tool can be in an immersive environment. I find the digital petals floating around me to be both soothing and centering when it’s time for me to meditate. In visionOS 2, the movement of the petals and associated sounds can now be synced to your breath thanks to the new ‘Follow Your Breathing’ setting.
I don’t recommend replicating this experiment, but I tried enabling the feature and holding my breath during a meditation, and the animation held steady, waiting for me to exhale before starting its next motion. While I personally find that I benefit from a bit of guidance on my breathing rate when meditating, this is a good option for those who breathe more slowly or quickly than the predetermined guide and want the app to match their rhythm.
Developer ToolsTypically, a review like this one focuses exclusively on user-facing features, not behind-the-scenes tools for developers that users won’t ever use or potentially even recognize. In the case of visionOS 2, though, I think it’s worthwhile to point out a few new frameworks and APIs being made available to developers this year because they represent the evolution of the platform and the direction Apple believes spatial computing is headed. These additions aren’t necessarily things you’ll find in operating system feature lists, but they set the foundation for new types of apps and experiences in visionOS that will be important for the platform’s future.
HealthKit has made its way to visionOS.
I didn’t expect HealthKit to come to visionOS so quickly based on how long it took Apple to bring the feature to iPad, but I’m pleasantly surprised that it’s coming in visionOS 2. Now, apps on Vision Pro can request users’ permission to access, display, and update their health data. This makes the platform more viable for developers of health- and fitness-focused apps. I hope to see more apps in these categories in the Vision Pro App Store soon.
Apple isn’t taking the lead in these categories on the platform, though. Neither the Health app nor the Fitness app are included in visionOS 2, which is a shame. This lack of first-party apps in the health and fitness categories could be an opportunity for third-party developers to fill the gaps and create compelling experiences that entice new users.
Developers can now set the position of new apps windows when they appear, an improvement over the previous sytem that always opened windows directly in front of the user’s gaze. Windows placement can be set relative to existing windows in the space or relative to the user. A new option called ‘push window’ allows an app to open a new window in the place of an existing one, covering up the original window. New window controls may not be the most exciting addition to an operating system, but these options empower developers to create more tailored experiences for users of their apps, which is always a good thing.
The majority of the new developer tools in visionOS 2 pertain to augmented reality. Room tracking lets developers know when a user enters a new room, and apps can respond accordingly.9 The system is now capable of detecting not only horizontal and vertical surfaces, but slanted ones as well, giving developers a fuller understanding of the space around the user. Volumetric apps can be opened alongside other apps, and they can be resized, tilted, and customized with ornaments.
Apple’s virtual teacup looks great next to my Stanley.
Virtual objects can be attached to physical surfaces within a room, too. I was able to test this feature by opening a USDZ file for a 3D object in Quick Look and moving it around the room. As you move an object close to the level of a table or the floor, it will snap to that surface with a satisfying clicking sound. Then, you can slide that object around the surface and put it exactly where you like.
Once an object is in place, it does not move at all. You can walk around it, look away from it then back, and even leave the room and come back later, and the object will stay precisely in place no matter what. It truly is remarkable how stable these virtual objects are, and it makes them feel integrated with the physical world in a much deeper way than was possible before. Apps that place virtual objects within the user’s environment will be able to give much more realistic impressions thanks to these improvements.
Meanwhile, new object tracking APIs allow developers to use physical objects as anchors for virtual elements. Imagine buying a physical product that comes bundled with a visionOS app for augmenting and interacting with it, or an app that identifies objects within your space and lets you select them to learn more about them. These are the kinds of experiences made possible by object tracking, and I’m excited to see how developers put these tools into practice.
Playing Chess with Sigmund in Game Room.
TabletopKit makes it easier for developers to create spatial experiences based around a table. One of the coolest things I’ve ever done with my Vision Pro is playing board games with a friend in Game Room from Resolution Games via SharePlay. It does an incredible job of replicating the experience of sitting across from someone while playing a tabletop game together, and TabletopKit will enable more developers to create experiences like this. Apple featured indie game studio GRL Games’ upcoming title Haunted Chess in the WWDC keynote as an example of TabletopKit in action. I hope to see a lot of these types of games available on the platform before long.
These new developer tools follow the same pattern as the user-facing quality-of-life improvements in visionOS 2: they seem like table stakes10 in a vacuum, but when considered within the short history of visionOS, they represent a rapid pace of change in response to users’ experiences and developers’ needs. Together, they form a more complete foundation for building spatial computing applications that in turn offer more immersive, enjoyable, and beneficial experiences for users. A feature like room tracking might not seem like such a big addition now, but it will likely be considered an essential element of spatial computing in the future. And thanks to these new tools and the developers implementing them, that future starts now.
What’s Next?That’s what’s new in visionOS 2 this year. But before we go, I’d like to consider what’s next for the platform. Really, I’d like to share my personal wishes for the future of visionOS. I have several, and many of them are big asks, but given how much has changed in visionOS over its short lifespan so far, I expect that at least some of these requests will be checked off the list when visionOS 3 ships, presumably next fall.
Here’s what I’d like to see come next:
Improved multitasking: Putting together multi-window setups in visionOS by adding windows one at a time from the Home View, Spotlight, or Siri is too cumbersome and time-consuming. Even once a setup is perfect, you have to tear it all down when moving on to the next task. I want a spatial computing version of Stage Manager that allows me to create a series of multi-window views and easily switch between them. A quick launcher or dock hidden behind a hand gesture would be a great way for launching often-used apps, too.
A more robust notification system: visionOS doesn’t handle notifications well. They appear as tiny icons at the top of the user’s view that indicate nothing more than the app sending the notification. You have to tap on a notification in order to get any useful information from it, and then there’s no way to act on the notification other than to open its associated app. I’d like more information available within the notification itself, possibly by expanding the tiny icon into a larger element when the user looks at it, as well as the ability to quickly act on notifications, such as by replying to messages inline. Notification Center needs some attention, too, as the horizontally scrolling list can become a jumbled mess in no time.
Native system apps: I was surprised that no system apps were migrated from their iPad versions to native visionOS apps with the release of visionOS 2. The ability to run iPad apps on Vision Pro is a necessary feature, but Apple shouldn’t rely on it to avoid creating native versions of each of its apps. No one thinks the iPad version of Podcasts offers as good of an experience on Vision Pro as the native Music app. The company should show its commitment to the platform by getting every first-party app out of the Compatible Apps folder as soon as possible.
Core experiences reimagined for spatial computing: Once all of Apple’s apps are running natively on visionOS, it’ll be time to start rethinking many of them in light of what Vision Pro can do. Spatial computing is a new way of interacting with software, so every system app shouldn’t be limited to the flat rectangles that came before. How about a 3D virtual desk calendar showing your events for the day? Or a virtual recreation of the book you’re reading that you can hold in your hands? An envelope to fold your email into before sending it?11 The possibilities are endless in visionOS, and I’d like to see Apple think outside the literal box.
Feature parity with other Apple platforms: As far as visionOS has come, it’s still missing some features that we take for granted on other platforms: things like widgets, Find My support, Focus filters, and personal automations in Shortcuts, to name a few. That’s not to mention the fact that Apple Intelligence hasn’t been announced for visionOS at all, even as it’s poised to be released on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS later this year. Based on its prominent placement in the WWDC keynote and the fact that it’s being brought into the regular software development cycle, visionOS seems to be a high-priority platform for Apple, and it deserves the full platform treatment.
Incentives for third-party developers: The visionOS App Store continues to grow, but it’s nowhere near the size of the App Store on iOS or even iPadOS. Too many developers are opting out of developing for the platform or even allowing their iPad apps to run on it, and it’s up to Apple to convince them. I can’t say for certain what that looks like, and I imagine it won’t be a one-size-fits-all approach, but I want to see more third-party software available for Vision Pro, including some of my favorite apps that I currently have to use via AirPlay Receiver or Mac Virtual Display.
More devices running visionOS: This is actually a hardware request, and it’s almost definitely one that won’t be addressed within the next year. But the reality is that Vision Pro – as incredible and groundbreaking as it is – is not a product that appeals to the masses in terms of form factor or pricing. For spatial computing to grow, visionOS will need to be offered on a range of products with a much broader market in mind. Vision Pro is a feat to be sure, but at the same time, it’s likely the biggest, heaviest, and least comfortable device that will ever run visionOS. That presents a huge but exciting challenge for the hardware engineers working on the next Vision product, and I hope they meet that challenge with an offering that will be appealing and attainable to a wider swath of people.
ConclusionFifteen months after the Vision Pro was first announced, the product has already been on a wild ride full of twists and turns, the latest of which is visionOS 2, a major upgrade to the device’s operating system that’s barely half a year old. In that short time, the visionOS team has put together a substantial update with a compelling batch of features: quality-of-life improvements that users will benefit from constantly, integration with iOS and iPadOS to make more apps accessible on the platform, developer tools that firm up the foundation of spatial computing, and a jaw-dropping photo-viewing experience that only Vision Pro can offer. This is an update worthy of the 2.0 label, and I continue to be surprised at how much the platform has developed in such a short time.
The thing that excites me most about visionOS 2 is the way it represents how early we are in the era of spatial computing. Foundational principles still aren’t completely set in stone, and Apple is working with users and third-party developers to understand how this new paradigm for computing is going to work. Free of the baggage of legacy form factors and with so many uses cases unexplored, the possibilities are endless, and we get a front row seat to the discovery process.
visionOS 2 is a step forward in the journey of spatial computing.
What we’re seeing is a new way of computing being shaped before our very eyes. It’s going to take some time for spatial computing to reach its full potential, and the first attempt at some aspects won’t always be the right one. Things might even get a little weird. But until the system matures into yet another fully baked platform that prioritizes stability over innovation, we get the privilege of seeing it try new things, figure out what works and what doesn’t, and grow into what it will become.
visionOS 2 is a step forward in the journey of spatial computing. There’s a long way to go, but where we’re at is pretty great, and I, for one, am happy to be along for the ride.
Special ThanksI consider it an incredible honor to get to write and publish this MacStories review covering a platform I believe in and enjoy deeply. Thank you so much for taking the time to read it. This project wouldn’t have been possible without the support of some wonderful people, so I’d like to thank a few in particular:
- My wife Katherine, who is the most amazing partner and pushes me to pursue my dreams, including this one.
- My son Noah, my inspiration for trying to make the world a little better in my own nerdy way.
- Federico and John, for giving a guy with zero professional writing experience a chance to be a part of the incredible team they’re assembling.
- The rest of the MacStories team, whom I endlessly enjoy working with every day.
- Sigmund Judge, my podcasting partner in crime and consistent go-to for bouncing around ideas.
- Tim Chaten, for never saying no to nerding out about Vision Pro with me.
- Indie app developers, who create tools that improve my life and inspire me to create.
- Joseph Simpson, for generously sharing developer perspective on visionOS.
- The Vision Pro team at Apple, for their incredible work on this release and for blazing the trail of spatial computing.
- Magic Rays of Light listeners.
- Club MacStories members.
- Our Discord members, for having such interesting conversations I always learn from.
And once again, a huge thank-you to MacStories readers like you for supporting our work and being so welcoming to me as I joined the team this year. This community is amazing, and it’s a privilege to be a part of it.
- Multitasking is another ongoing issue in visionOS, and version 2 doesn’t change much on this front. We’ll talk more about this topic in a bit. ↩︎
- I had given up on playing Jetpack Joyride 2 on my Vision Pro due to so many games being interrupted by the Control Center caret until this tip from Federico helped me limit unintended activations. Moving the caret further up made it harder to use when I wanted to, though, so it still wasn’t an ideal solution. ↩︎
- Pixels? ↩︎
- This was the first improvement I noticed after installing visionOS 2, and it was immediate. I literally said out loud, “My hands look awesome!” ↩︎
- Videos, by the way, can be trimmed in the Photos app in visionOS 2. I didn’t realize this capability was missing until Apple announced it as a new feature. ↩︎
- The Photos app does offer a limited selection of automatically converted pictures in the Featured Spatial Photos collection. I find this collection delightful to browse, and it gives me hope that more automatic conversion options are possible. ↩︎
- Alas, visionOS does now remain the sole Apple platform without a built-in calculator app. ↩︎
- The platform could still win some extra points with film buffs, though, by adding support for watching iTunes Extras bundled with film purchases and giving users a path to upgrade 2D titles imported from other storefronts via Movies Anywhere to 3D. ↩︎
- The example use case Apple gives for this technology is a virtual pet that abides within a particular room and greets you when you enter it, and I want to buy this app immediately. I really hope there’s a developer out there working on it. ↩︎
- Pardon the pun. ↩︎
- Okay, maybe not that last one. Email’s enough of a chore as it is. ↩︎
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
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Apple previously said Apple Intelligence will launch with support for U.S. English only, but other languages will be added over the next year. The company has gotten a little more specific than before with statements to The Verge and others that, over the next year, additional languages will include:
- German
- Italian
- Korean
- Portuguese
- Vietnamese
- and others
In addition, according to Allison Johnson at The Verge:
Apple’s AI feature set will expand to include localized English in the UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand in December, with India and Singapore joining the mix next year. The company already announced plans to support Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish next year as well.
It’s good to see Apple becoming more open with information about its plans for Apple Intelligence language support. The iPhone 16 will be out this Friday, and Apple Intelligence’s language support will undoubtedly be a factor for many customers considering whether to upgrade to the latest model.
→ Source: theverge.com
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week, Federico and John tackle Apple’s updates to iOS and iPadOS 18 and Federico’s review of both.
In a special AppStories+ segment available as a special review season perk to all listeners, Federico explains what led him to take a different approach to this year’s annual review.
This episode is sponsored by:* Sentry: Mobile crash reporting and app monitoring. Try it for free.
Robb goes on an epic quest and fails, John has been writing reviews, and the they discuss Astro Bot.
AppStories, Episode 403, ‘iOS and iPadOS 18: The MacStories Review’ Show NotesAppStories+ Pre-Show* iOS and iPadOS 18 Review Extras: eBooks, Wallpapers, Screen Saver, and a Special Edition of MacStories Weekly + Club MacStories
iOS and iPadOS 18: The MacStories Review* iOS and iPadOS 18: The MacStories Review * iPadOS 18’s Smart Script: A Promising Start But Don’t Toss Out Your Keyboard Yet
Ruminate, Episode 193, ‘It Won’t Disgust You’ Show NotesRobb goes on an epic quest and fails, John has been writing reviews, and the they discuss Astro Bot.
- Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Oreo Limited Edition
- B&M
- Co-op
- Ultra Strawberry Dreams
- Robb’s St Jude Campaign
- iOS and iPadOS 18: The MacStories Review
- macOS Sequoia: The MacStories Review
- Club MacStories Plans
- TouchArcade is Shutting Down
- ASTRO BOT
- DualSense™ Wireless Controller - ASTRO BOT Limited Edition
- The Plucky Squire
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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A decade is an eternity on the web, which makes Six Colors’ tenth anniversary something special. It’s weird how “web time” works. On the one hand, Six Colors feels like the sort of institution that’s always been there. On the other hand, it also feels like yesterday that Jason Snell and Dan Moren left Macworld and Six Colors got its start.
Here’s Jason on his immediate jump from corporate media to working for himself:
Ten years ago I took a leap into working for myself, not working in corporate media. For most days since, I’ve worked in my garage, writing articles for my site, recording podcasts, and writing the occasional piece for other places (including my former employer, which I couldn’t ever have predicted). Lauren and I agreed we’d spend six to nine months giving it a try before judging if it was a success or a failure, but it all started succeeding so quickly that we never really even got to the point where we needed to have the conversation. All of a sudden, Six Colors and Upgrade were my primary jobs… and they still are, here in 2024.
I can only imagine what those first weeks were like. I had the benefit of an overlap of nearly two years between my corporate job and MacStories and the transition was still hard.
The good news is that a decade later, Six Colors is going strong producing great writing and podcasts. Congratulations on ten great years.
→ Source: sixcolors.com
It’s been an unprecedented week for Apple’s OSes, with updates to every OS landing at the same time at the beginning of the week. Today we’ll publish our fourth and final OS review with Devon Dundee’s visionOS review, which means I’m finally getting a chance to catch my breath and enjoy what others have to say about Apple’s OSes.
If you haven’t seen it, Chris Lawley, co-host of Comfort Zone here on MacStories, has a fantastic walkthrough of iOS and and iPadOS 18 that covers everything from Home and Lock Screen customization and the all-new Control Center to updates to system apps like Freeform, Shortcuts, Safari, and Messages. The video is especially good if you’ve had a busy week and want to get up to speed on iOS and iPadOS 18 quickly.
Chris has included a lot of excellent lesser known tips in his video that will help you get the most out of the OS updates too.
→ Source: youtu.be
Sequoia is unlike any major macOS update in recent memory. Annual OS releases usually tell two stories. The first is the tale of that release, which consists of a combination of design, system, and built-in app changes that add to the existing Mac experience. The second story plays out over time, taking multiple years to unfold and reveal itself. The best macOS releases are those that strike a balance between the two.
Often, a macOS update’s multi-year story revolves around new developer technologies that signal a change in direction for the entire platform. Swift and Catalyst were like that. Neither had an immediate impact on the day-to-day experience of using a Mac. However, even though the final destination wasn’t entirely clear at first, the corresponding macOS releases included concrete first steps that provided a sense of where the Mac was heading.
It’s possible to look at macOS Sequoia and see something similar, but the resemblance is only skin deep. This year’s release includes meaningful updates to system apps and even a brand new one, Passwords. Plus, Apple Intelligence promises long-term, fundamental changes to how people use their Macs and will likely take years to fully realize.
But Sequoia feels fundamentally different from Swift, Catalyst, and other past releases. It’s light on new features, the design changes are few and far between, and Apple Intelligence isn’t part of macOS 15.0 at all – although more features are on the way and are currently part of the macOS 15.1 developer beta. So what sets Sequoia apart isn’t so much what you can do with it out of the box; what’s unique about this release is that you could install it and not even notice the changes.
A half loaf may be better than none, but Apple has taught us to expect more, which makes Sequoia vaguely unsatisfying and out of balance compared to other releases.
That’s not to say that Sequoia is a bad update. There’s more to like than not, with excellent additions like iPhone Mirroring, window tiling, the new Passwords app, and Safari’s video viewer. The trouble is that the list of changes, good or bad, falls off steeply after that. A half loaf may be better than none, but Apple has taught us to expect more, which makes Sequoia vaguely unsatisfying and out of balance compared to other releases.
It’s clear is that Apple is placing a big bet that artificial intelligence will pay off for macOS the same way magic beans did for Jack and his mother. The question heading into macOS 15.1 and beyond is whether Apple’s beans are magical too. Perhaps they are, but based on what I’ve seen of macOS 15.1, I’m not feeling the magic yet. I’ll reserve judgement and revisit Apple Intelligence as it’s incrementally rolled out in the coming months. For now, though, let’s consider macOS Sequoia 15.0’s morsels that readers can actually dig into today.
Exclusive Extras & Support MacStorieseBook, Wallpapers, and Illustrated macOS Screen SaverWe’re taking a different approach with paid extras for this year’s OS reviews. First of all, we’ve created a special eBook version of my Sequoia review for Club MacStories Plus and Premier members, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
That eBook is joined by eBook versions of the watchOS 11 and visionOS 2 reviews for Club MacStories Plus and Premier members and the eBook version of Federico’s iOS and iPadOS 18 review, which is available to all Club MacStories members.
But there’s even more, so we’ve teamed up with our friend Chris Lawley who created a trailer that describes everything you can unlock:
So, to sum up:
You can unlock the eBook version of this review, all of our other reviews, the wallpapers, and macOS screen saver by joining Club MacStories Plus or Club Premier using the buttons below:
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Join Annual$100/yearJoin Monthly$10/monthJoin Club Premier:
Join Annual$120/yearJoin Monthly$12/monthScout’s illustrations are gorgeous, and they make for some amazing wallpapers. The screen saver is remarkable, too: since the illustrations were hand-drawn in Procreate (which automatically generates a time-lapse of the entire process), we were able to create a screen saver (developed by James Thomson) that makes the artwork come alive on your Mac’s display.
The macOS screen saver.
Or, if all you want is the eBook of Federico’s iOS and iPadOS 18 review, you can simply join Club MacStories with a $5/month or $50/year Club MacStories plan using the buttons below:
Join Annual$50/yearJoin Monthly$5/monthNow more than ever, an indie publication such as MacStories depends on income from members who want to directly support what we do. As always, though, we aim to provide as much value as we can in return. If you want to support MacStories and our ongoing efforts to team up with creatives such as Scout and James, I hope you’ll consider signing up for a Club membership and unlock all the extra perks we’ve prepared this year.
For more details on all the extras, membership plans, and release schedule of other digital downloads, you can refer to our standalone article here.
[table_of_contents]
iPhone Mirroring and NotificationsiPhone MirroringApple has methodically expanded the interoperability of its devices under the umbrella of Continuity since macOS Yosemite, and this year is no different; the trend continues. With Sequoia, you can now mirror your iPhone to your Mac’s display and interact with your iPhone apps and notifications. It’s easily the best feature of macOS 15.0, but it takes a while for it to take hold.
When Apple added widgets to the Mac’s desktop, it included the ability to display widgets from a nearby iPhone. I have to imagine that was a testbed for iPhone Mirroring. And, as much as I’ve enjoyed having my iPhone’s widgets available on my Mac’s desktop, iPhone Mirroring and notifications are a much bigger leap forward in utility.
iPhone Mirroring is added to your Mac’s Dock by default.
After you update to Sequoia, you’ll see a new icon in your Dock for the iPhone Mirroring app. Open it and click through the onboarding explanation of the feature, and your iPhone will appear in a window on your Mac, much like the iPhone simulator does for developers running Xcode. For the feature to work, your iPhone must be within Bluetooth range and connected to the same Wi-Fi network and Apple Account as your Mac, which must either be an Apple silicon model or an Intel-based Mac with a T2 Security Chip. Mirroring also requires that your Mac not be using AirPlay or Sidecar when the connection is initiated.
The alert displayed on your iPhone while mirroring (left) and after you unlock your phone (right.)
While it’s being mirrored, your iPhone will be locked, so whatever you’re doing with it on your Mac won’t be visible to someone looking at your phone. A notification appears on your iPhone’s Lock Screen indicating which device it is mirrored to. Then, when you unlock your iPhone, a notification will appear from the Dynamic Island announcing that it was used on a Mac. The notification also includes a ‘Settings’ button that takes you to the ‘AirPlay & Continuity’ section of your iPhone’s Settings app where mirroring can be turned off.
iPhone Mirroring’s window has no chrome, nor is the window framed by a hardware image. However, a title bar will appear when you hover over the top of the iPhone’s window, revealing two buttons that take you back to the Home Screen and activate the app switcher, respectively.
Hovering over iPhone Mirroring’s window reveals two buttons.
The iPhone’s window isn’t resizable either, which can make it feel a little small on some displays, depending on your resolution settings. However, having used it on my Mac Studio Display all summer using my display’s default settings, I have no complaints about the window’s size. In addition to your iPhone’s Home Screens, its Today View and App Library are available while mirroring, but Notification Center and Control Center are not.
Landscape games like Zenless Zone Zero automatically switch to landscape mode on the Mac.
Most of the time, iPhone Mirroring will be in portrait mode. If an app or game defaults to landscape orientation or switches to it automatically, the iPhone Mirroring window will switch to landscape. However, there is no way to switch to landscape mode manually to take advantage of optional landscape modes that apps like Mail offer. Also, some apps like video streaming services don’t recognize the iPhone’s mirrored UI as a proper display, so you’ll hear audio if you play copy-protected, streamed video, but there won’t be any image. You also can’t access your iPhone’s camera from your Mac while the device is mirrored. Similarly, mirroring does not work with Continuity Camera, meaning that if you’re using your iPhone for a video call, you won’t be able to access your apps using iPhone Mirroring while you’re on the call.
Navigating apps feels natural and supports Magic Trackpad and Magic Mouse gestures, such as two-finger scrolling. My Logitech MX Master 3S for Mac mouse works for clicking and right-clicking in my iPhone’s mirrored UI, but its scroll wheel and other buttons are not supported. The Magic Keyboard’s Touch ID sensor is also available for those times when you’d normally need to enter your iPhone’s passcode.
In addition to the controls at the top of the iPhone Mirroring window, the app has built-in keyboard shortcuts to return to the Home Screen, access the app switcher, and start a Spotlight search query. You can also return to your Home Screen from any app by clicking the bar at the bottom of the window. Clicking and holding with your mouse or trackpad causes your Home Screen to enter ‘jiggle mode,’ allowing you to rearrange your app icons, add widgets, edit Home Screen pages, and customize the look of your Home Screens. However, I’m sorry to report that rearranging your iPhone’s icons is no easier from your Mac than it is on your iPhone.
Also, if you’re a fan of the iPhone’s StandBy Mode, you’re in luck because iPhone Mirroring works even when your iPhone is charging nearby and displaying widgets. And speaking of widgets, if you click on an iOS widget that you’ve added to your Mac’s desktop, it will launch iPhone Mirroring.
iPhone NotificationsSequoia also introduces iPhone notifications on the Mac, which appear whether you’re using iPhone Mirroring or not and are not range-restricted. The notifications appear in your Mac’s Notification Center just like any other notification, but with a little iPhone icon in the bottom-right corner of the app icon to indicate their origin. I’m glad to see the differentiation between the two sources, but the icons are small and light gray, making it hard to notice them at a glance, so I’d like Apple to try something larger and more high-contrast in the future. Like a Mac notification, you can interact with your mirrored iPhone notifications, reading them and doing things like responding inline when that option is available. Clicking on an iPhone notification will open the associated app using iPhone Mirroring, too.
Examples of iPhone notification actions available from the Mac.
Sequoia has settings for which iPhone notifications show up on your Mac.
Sequoia gives you the ability to manage the notifications your Mac receives from your iPhone with settings to turn iPhone notifications off entirely, enable or disable notification sounds, and turn off notifications for individual apps. In addition, there’s a new ‘X’ button at the bottom of the Mac’s Notification Center that turns into a ‘Clear All’ button when you hover over it and, as the label says, will wipe out any notifications – whether they be from your Mac or iPhone – with a single click. Finally.
At long last, a ‘Clear All’ button for notifications.
When I first started using iPhone Mirroring, I wondered whether it would be of much use to me. As it turns out, I have more iPhone-only apps than I realized. Yes, some – like my bank’s app – can be replicated by visiting a website on my Mac, but others – like the apps for my thermostat, Roomba, and garage door – can’t. Instead of pulling out my iPhone to adjust the temperature, check if my Roomba is stuck under the couch, or see whether my garage door is open, I can quickly check those apps via iPhone Mirroring. It might seem like a small difference compared to grabbing my iPhone, but it’s not as disruptive, which means it’s also less distracting. It took a while, but over the course of the summer, I’ve discovered more and more apps that are useful to access from my Mac. I’ve also found it very useful when writing about iPhone-only apps, which I can now test and glance at as I write.
AirDropping an image from my iPhone to my Mac, using my Mac.
iPhone Mirroring also makes grabbing files and images from my iPhone and sending them to my Mac (or the other direction) via AirDrop easier than ever. That’s something I do a lot, and now it’s far easier because I don’t have to switch between devices. Later this year, Apple says iPhone Mirroring will gain the ability to drag and drop files between your iPhone and Mac, too, but for now, AirDrop is nearly as good a solution.
Dealing with iPhone notifications on my Mac has been a better experience than I expected, too. I manage the apps that can notify me on my iPhone carefully, so adding them to my Mac notifications hasn’t felt overwhelming. On the contrary, it’s allowed me to deal with those notifications in a more quick and timely way without having to switch to my iPhone, which I love. It also means I don’t wind up with a big stack of unread notifications at the end of the day when I stop working on my Mac and grab my iPhone.
Apple’s suite of Continuity features that have been introduced over the years is one of the brightest spots of its OSes. Sidecar, Continuity Camera, Handoff, the Universal Clipboard, and Universal Control are all Continuity features that I use daily and have had a measurable impact on my productivity. Few are features that I would have imagined I needed before they were introduced, but all of them are deeply embedded in my day-to-day workflow now. In the near term, I’d love to see mirroring work with the iPad, but I hope the Continuity team at Apple is also busy dreaming up new ways to make the company’s devices work together even more seamlessly.
Window TilingI almost wonder whether Sequoia’s window tiling feature has been sitting in a drawer somewhere inside of Apple Park, waiting to be pulled out in a year like this one when the macOS update was light on features. I mean, why now? Windows has had tiling forever, and there are many third-party window managers for the Mac ranging from simple collections of keyboard shortcuts to complex, full-blown utilities that do all sorts of fancy tricks with windows. That said, I’m glad Apple finally added window tiling, which works whether you use one screen or multiple screens.1 Sequoia’s implementation is simple but likely to satisfy a lot of users’ needs, mine included.
Accessing window tiling from a window’s green button.
Each tiling option includes a keyboard shortcut.
Sequoia’s window tiling options can be accessed in multiple ways, including from the Window menu, the green button in the corner of every window, drag and drop, and keyboard shortcuts. The variety is welcome because it accommodates a range of workflows and makes it easier to incorporate the feature into automations even though windows tiling actions have not been added to the Shortcuts app.
Dragging a window to fill the right half of the screen.
Regardless of how you prefer to access the feature, Sequoia’s window tiling is divided into two categories with four options each. The first category is ‘Move and Resize,’ which allows you to place a window on the left, right, top, or bottom halves of your screen. The second set of options is called ‘Fill and Arrange,’ which includes the following options:
- Full Screen for filling all available screen real estate with the active window
- 2-Up for placing the active and second most recently active windows side by side with each taking up half of the screen
- 3-Up for placing the active window on the left half of the screen and the two other most recently accessed windows in equally-sized quarters of your screen’s right half
- 4-Up for distributing the four most recently active windows in equally-sized quadrants
If you have fewer windows than the number necessary for the option you pick, Sequoia will make do with what it has, leaving blank spaces as needed.
Managing window tiling in System Settings.
There are new options in System Settings related to window management, too. In the app’s ‘Desktop & Dock’ tab, you can specify whether your tiled windows touch at their edges, taking up your full screen. Alternatively, you can leave a very narrow gap between windows, which I like the look of a lot. However, judging from reactions I’ve seen online, that handful of pixels around windows is viewed by many as a gross waste of screen space, so it’s a good thing users have an option.
System Settings includes toggles for tiling windows by dragging them to the edges of your screen or Option-dragging them. There’s also a new setting that allows you to double-click the title bar of a window to make it fill the screen. This is something that Windows has done forever by default and one of the few Windows interactions that I’ve always missed despite having left that world years ago. It’s a small touch, but one that I immediately turned on and don’t plan to ever turn off.
Raycast also offers simple window tiling options.
I’ve used Raycast’s window tiling feature for a few years now, and although it’s not as robust as some third-party alternatives, it works well for me because I typically don’t do anything more than maximize a single window or put two side by side. As a result, I’ve found myself continuing to use Raycast’s keyboard-driven tiling implementation, but turning to Sequoia’s new options when my hands are already on my mouse or trackpad.
For people with similarly simple window management needs, I suspect that Sequoia’s new window tiling will be a fantastic addition because it’s built-in and handles the basics very well. For anyone who wants more, apps like the recently-updated Moom (which Niléane reviewed), Lasso, Rectangle, Raycast, and others will continue to be excellent options. I don’t expect Sequoia’s new windows tiling option to have a significant impact on third-party utilities; instead, it will simply be easier for anyone who is new to window tiling to get started and perhaps graduate to a more robust third-party alternative later.
Video Conferencing EnhancementsA FaceTime call using one of my own photos as a background.
Sequoia adds new video conferencing features that will make it easier to participate in calls and share your screen without oversharing.
Background replacement is already a popular feature of a lot of video conferencing apps. For a while, macOS has offered the ability to blur your background to add a modicum of privacy and hide clutter, but with Sequoia, Apple is leveraging its advanced camera processing pipeline to detect the subject of a video feed in real-time and replace the background behind the subject with a built-in scene or one of your own photos.
Another background option is a series of images from Apple Park.
There are two sets of pre-built backgrounds, plus a third set for saving your own photos as backgrounds, all of which you can access from the video menu bar app. The first set includes eight light gradients and a black gradient. The second set includes nine scenes from Apple Park in Cupertino. The photos are nice, but if you don’t work for Apple, would you really use these? I doubt most people would. Finally, you can add your own photos to the mix, which in my experience look good as long as you don’t pick something that’s too distracting.
Regardless of the background you pick, the feature itself works well, fading in when activated with a nice animation and replacing the room you’re sitting in with the photo while managing not to look strange. The background replacement feature even handles my glasses better than the iPhone’s Camera app sometimes does in Portrait mode.
One of the simple gradient backgrounds.
Aside from hiding the dirty laundry in the background of your home office, Apple has improved screen-sharing options to make it easier to limit what you share on video calls. The feature, which Apple calls presenter preview, is triggered when you share your screen, allowing you to choose between sharing a particular app or your whole screen before your audience sees what you’re sharing. If you pick an app, no other open app’s windows or notifications are visible to the people you’re sharing with.
Sharing my entire screen with Federico.
Once sharing is started, you can click on the screen sharing icon in the menu bar to check what you’re sharing with someone, too. Users get the same sort of sharing choices when starting playback of a Keynote presentation (or another app that supports the feature) or, starting later this year, connecting an external display.
Presenter preview in action. Source: Apple.
I don’t participate in many video conferences and rarely share my screen, so I don’t have much to say about presenter preview except that offering ways to hide what you don’t want to share can only be a good thing. In my testing, the feature works well and is easy to use. Plus, it works in any video conferencing app that supports the feature’s APIs, so you can use it in apps like Zoom as well as FaceTime.
System AppsOne of the bright spots of this year’s OS updates across every device is that Apple’s system apps are more in sync with each other than ever before. In the past, it wasn’t unusual for changes made to an app on the iPhone to take a year or more to make their way to the Mac. This year is different.
With very few exceptions, the features added to Mac system apps are the same across iOS and iPadOS 18, too. So instead of covering the same changes twice, Federico and I have divided up system apps between our reviews. You’ll find our coverage of the following apps, which are also available on the Mac, in Federico’s review of iOS and iPadOS 18:
- Calculator
- Calendar
- Home
- Messages
- Music
- Notes
- Photos
- Reminders
- Weather
Likewise, unless otherwise noted, the changes to Safari, Maps, and other system apps discussed below apply to the iOS and iPadOS 18 versions, too.
It’s great to see system apps moving in lockstep in this year’s OS updates, although I would have liked to have seen Shortcuts add personal automations and more system actions. As I argued two years ago:
…if Shortcuts is to become the default way to automate tasks on the Mac, there needs to be steady, yearly progress to make macOS and its default system apps as Shortcuts-friendly as possible.
That hasn’t happened, but perhaps some progress will be made as part of the Apple Intelligence features coming in 2025. For now, though, what I said in my macOS Sonoma review remains true:
At this point, Shortcuts for Mac is beginning to feel a lot like a modern version of Automator – a neglected, dead-end tool that never fulfilled its potential. Perhaps next year will be different, but I’m no longer optimistic it will be.
Still, there are significant updates to Safari and Maps, plus the brand-new Passwords app to cover, so let’s take a look at what you can expect from each.
SafariThere’s probably no system app more important to macOS than Safari. Sure, Finder is necessary to navigate the file system, but I’d wager that few users think of Finder as an app. Safari permeates everyday life for most people in a way that few other apps do, whether it’s planning a trip, researching a topic, reading the news, or working in a web app. As a result, users are sensitive to small changes, making it difficult to update Safari without upsetting somebody. This year, that’s me with one exception.
Video Viewer
Watching Brendon Bigley’s Wavelengths using video viewer puts the video front and center, dimming out the rest of the YouTube page.
For my money, the best new feature is Safari’s new video viewer. The more I use it, the more I miss it when I’m on my laptop, which is still running Sonoma. When you come across a video on a webpage, you can activate the video viewer from the unnamed multi-purpose button in Safari’s address bar, which I am hereby dubbing the ‘Webpage Settings’ button. Once you do so, the video expands to take over most of the window, dimming the rest of the webpage behind a nearly opaque black overlay. Standard playback controls appear at the bottom of the video and fade away as the video plays, reappearing when you hover your pointer over the video. To exit the viewer, just tap the Escape key or return to the address bar and toggle it off with a click. It’s an excellent way to watch videos on the web, but it’s the little touches that make it even better.
My favorite detail about the video viewer is that it automatically enters Picture-in-Picture mode when you change your Mac’s focus to another app or switch Safari tabs. Return to Safari and the original tab, and the video pops back into the webpage. While a video is in PiP mode, you have options to close it, manually pop it back into Safari, or stop playback. However, you lose the ability to skip forward and back five seconds at a time using the arrow keys, which is disappointing.
There’s also a strange detail about video viewer that I don’t understand. If a video is muted, the option to activate the video viewer doesn’t appear when you click the Webpage Settings button. I can’t think of a reason why that is, but figured I’d mention it because the first time I tried to activate video viewer not realizing that the YouTube video’s sound was muted, I was confused at first. Another limitation is that only one video can be in viewer mode at a time.
Switching to another tab or app automatically puts what you’re watching in Safari’s video viewer into Picture-in-Picture mode.
Thanks to NPC: Next Portable Console, I’ve been watching more YouTube reviews of videogame handhelds lately. Safari’s video viewer allows me to start a video and then open a new tab to research whatever is being covered or take notes in another app without having to manage the video at all. Instead, as soon as I open a new Safari tab or move to a text editor, the video I’m watching enters PiP mode. If the video gets to a part I’d like to see in a bigger window, flipping back to Safari reverses the process, returning me to its larger viewer.
The biggest downside I’ve found to watching videos this way is that it obscures YouTube’s descriptions, which often include valuable links. I’d love to have a way of accessing those links in viewer mode so I could open them in a new tab, activating the viewer’s PiP mode. Instead, if I want to access a video’s description and links, I need to exit viewer mode, which adds the sort of friction that the feature is meant to eliminate. That said, I love video viewer and have used it nearly every day this summer because it’s made watching videos meaningfully better.
Web Apps Get Extensions
Apple hasn’t publicized it anywhere that I’ve come across, but the web apps that you can create via Safari for Mac now support browser extensions. Web apps, introduced last year in macOS Sonoma, are another Safari update that I’ve found myself using daily. I have web apps set up for social media accounts and a variety of services we use to run MacStories, and they work great.
However, as first implemented, web apps left behind the growing universe of Safari extensions from third-party developers. That wasn’t an issue with most of the web apps I created, but over the past year, I’ve heard from a lot of readers who have one or two extensions that are closely tied to the work they do in their web apps. With Sequoia, most of your Safari extensions should show up in a line along the right side of a web app’s title bar next to the share icon. I say “most” because one of mine is missing, which I believe is due to the fact that it’s only available outside the Mac App Store. In any event, the extensions work just like they do in Safari itself, and while it may seem like a very small change, it will make a big difference for a lot of users who rely on web apps.
Highlights
Highlights works best with large hotel chains.
The feature Apple spent the most time talking about at WWDC is Highlights, a new US-only feature that spotlights important content from a webpage. Apple seems to be tackling two different problems with Highlights: the first is finding important information on a busy webpage, and the second is summarizing articles, which I’ll cover below in the context of Safari’s Reader mode. The example of the first problem used at WWDC was pulling the address, a mini-map, and a phone number from a hotel’s website. Apple also says the feature works with restaurants, landmarks, people, music, movies, and TV shows.
In my testing, Highlights works well for large national hotel chains but is hit-or-miss for smaller hotels. For example, if I visit the website for a Marriott, Hilton, or Sheraton hotel, a purple sparkles icon will appear over Safari’s Webpage Settings button indicating that there’s a Highlight available. Clicking the button pops up a map of the location with truncated details about it such as its rating and hours. Clicking on the map opens the location in the Maps app. Highlights results also include a button to get driving directions to the location in the Maps app.
The feature won’t work if you visit one of the sponsored links at the top of Google search results, which are usually from hotel booking aggregators, nor does Highlights consistently work with smaller one-off hotels. I’ve found a couple of smaller boutique hotels that Highlights worked with, but not any smaller local hotels outside of urban areas. I’d love to see this feature expand to include more hotels and other countries, but as it stands, Highlights is still a useful way to track down the basics of many U.S. hotels quickly.
Highlights works with some landmarks.
Highlights’ landmark coverage is hit-or-miss, too. For example, Safari will offer Highlights for the Statue of Liberty but not the Empire State Building. You’ll also get Highlights for Yankee Stadium, but not Bank of America Stadium where the Carolina Panthers play, or the Rose Bowl. As far as restaurants are concerned, Highlights can reliably navigate you to large chains, but other restaurant coverage is spotty.
Movie information is limited, but links to the TV app if it’s available there.
Musician information is also limited, but links to a bio on Wikipedia or to Apple Music.
Early in the betas, I couldn’t find any Highlights for people, music, movies, or TV shows. Those categories are still a little hard to find, but I’ve begun seeing the familiar purple sparkles more often over the past couple of weeks.
Although visiting music artists’ webpages has never triggered a Highlight for me, they’re starting to appear on review sites like Pitchfork. Sometimes Highlights link to sites like Wikipedia for more information about the artist, but other times, they link to albums in Apple Music.
Movie and TV show Highlights have been hard to find, too, but I have seen examples on Variety, Vulture, and Wikipedia. However, I have yet to run into movie or TV show Highlights when watching trailers on YouTube or visiting IMDb. When they do appear, movie and TV show Highlights include basic information like genre, release year, and rating, and clicking on the Highlight opens Apple’s TV app if the content is available there.
A bio of Steve Jobs included in Highlights for a post about ‘The Crazy Ones.’
I was also able to find a Highlight with a short bio of Steve Jobs when I visited a website with an article about ‘The Crazy Ones.’
The bottom line is that if you have a road trip coming up and are staying at a major hotel chain in the U.S., Highlights is a handy way to get driving directions. The other available categories have potential, but the coverage is still too spotty to be something you can expect will show up regularly as you browse the web, limiting its utility.
Reader Mode
There’s actually one other feature of Highlights that I saved for this section because they’re so closely tied. Safari will often display its purple sparkles icon over the Webpage Settings button when you open an article. Click the button, and a summary of it will appear along with a button offering to open the article in Reader mode.
When you open Reader mode, the familiar stripped-down UI appears, but with a hideable sidebar on the right that includes a summary of an article and, in some cases, a table of contents. Like Highlights, I don’t find these summaries very useful.
First of all, they appear in far fewer articles than I expected. I’ve spent a lot of time comparing longform stories from sites like The Verge from similar time periods and on similar topics, and there doesn’t seem to be any discernible pattern for whether or not summaries appear. However, I have noticed articles that previously had no summaries gaining them later, so I suspect Apple’s web crawler is still indexing and summarizing in the background. As a result, article summaries may become more prevalent over time.
Summaries don’t always do a good job of parsing webpages. For example, David Pierce’s article for The Verge about robots.txt files pulls too much information into the article’s title. In contrast, Safari does a surprisingly good job with Mia Sato’s story (also on The Verge) about how the Internet molded itself to fit Google’s algorithms, despite the story’s atypical layout.
Moreover, the summaries are too short to be useful. In the examples above, Pierce’s robots.txt story is roughly 3,000 words long, while Sato’s on Google comes in at about 6,000. Both summaries are far too short to meaningfully summarize the articles, and surprisingly, the summary of Pierce’s story – which is half the length of Sato’s – is 80 words compared to Sato’s summary at 60 words.
Article summarization feel like a feature that was added because summaries are one of the things that AI is good at, not because anyone thinks you can effectively boil a 6,000-word article down to just four sentences. Perhaps Apple is being conservative with the length of these summaries to avoid copyright claims by authors, which would be understandable, but I’d prefer if it had abandoned the feature instead of shipping something with such limited utility.
This and the next article on MacStories were formatted the same way, but one includes a table of contents, and the other doesn’t.
The second addition to Reader is that it sometimes includes a table of contents for articles. I say “sometimes” because it’s even harder to find an article with a table of contents than a summary. That seems to be because tables of contents usually appear in articles that are summaries themselves, which is already a somewhat rare thing, and only builds a table of contents if the article also uses H2 or H3 headers. Still, that doesn’t entirely explain when you can expect to see a table of contents because, of two identically-formatted MacStories articles about our favorite HomeKit devices – both of which were summarized – only one includes a table of contents.
When a table of contents does appear next to the Reader version of an article, it’s far more useful than a summary. As you’d expect, clicking on an entry in the table of contents jumps you to that part of the article, making it easy to skip around in a longer story. I’d like to see tables of contents added to a wider variety of articles because when they show up, they’re an excellent way to navigate the content.
It’s also worth noting that entering Reader mode used to take a single click on Safari’s Webpage Settings button. Now that the Webpage Settings button has been loaded with additional features, it takes two clicks, which is a lot if you spend as much time as I do in Safari. Fortunately, you can also enter Reader mode using ⌘ + ⇧ + R.
Distraction Control
Highlighting a webpage element for hiding.
The remnants of an ad blown away like dust.
Distraction Control is yet another option chucked onto the increasingly-crowded set of features accessible from Safari’s Webpage Settings button. Click on it, and you enter a mode that highlights elements of a webpage as you hover over them. Click on whatever the highlighted element, and it disintegrates Thanos finger-snapping style. It’s a cool effect for a feature that I’m not sure anyone needs or wants.
Don’t get me wrong: the web is littered with pages full of nonsense that gets in the way of reading. But Reader mode already handles that well, whereas Hide Distractions is a chore to use. After activating the feature, you have to click on every element you want to hide, which can be a lot and isn’t very effective on sites that use infinite scrolling. Plus, elements that refresh periodically, like some ads, will return after a while anyway. Elements that are static will remain hidden between visits to a site.
Apple has been careful to say that Distraction Control is not an ad blocker, pointing to the fact that ads that refresh automatically come back after a time. I’d spin the feature a little differently. Distraction Control is a very effective ad blocker for sites that display static ads, but not a replacement for a third-party ad blocker that can handle dynamic ads.
Effectively, Apple is penalizing sites that use less distracting ads by making them easier to block long-term than the dynamic variety.
My concerns about Distraction Control are twofold. First, static ads – like the kind of ads we display on MacStories – are often chosen because they are less disruptive than dynamic ads. Effectively, Apple is penalizing sites that use less distracting ads by making them easier to block long-term than the dynamic variety. I’ve checked, and as things stand today, if someone hides a banner ad on MacStories, it will never reappear. That’s a problem if you’re running a website.
Hide the MacStories banner ad, and you lose the entire masthead as well as navigation controls, which isn’t great.
Second, Distraction Control is not very precise. If you try to hide the banner ad at the top of MacStories, it will wipe out the masthead and site navigation along with the banner. That’s a potential support nightmare we (and I suspect other sites) will have to deal with. I know from experience that ad blockers are the number one cause of complaints we receive that MacStories isn’t working correctly. Not that many people use third-party ad blockers, but with this feature built into Safari, I wouldn’t be surprised to see more people start hiding elements, leading to an increase in support requests.
But those are issues for people who run websites. As a user, Distraction Control’s utility is limited. I don’t think it gives me anything that isn’t solved better by Reader mode, at least for articles I want to read. Sure, it preserves more of a site’s layout, but it’s so much more laborious than entering Reader mode that I haven’t run into a situation where I prefer using it, except when I visit a site that has annoying overlays and similar elements to do something other than read. Like article summaries, Distraction Control’s limited utility makes it feel like a feature that might not have made the cut in a year with a more robust set of feature updates.
If it were me, I would have added the video viewer to Safari and extensions to web apps, and called it a day. Everything else feels underdeveloped, incomplete, or ill-conceived. Highlights has potential, but currently, the places where you’ll find it are limited. In contrast, Reader mode summaries and Distraction Control seem to be features in search of a problem. Perhaps they can be refined over time to become more useful, but as they stand, I’d like to have a setting to simply turn them both off to declutter Safari’s increasingly crowded Webpage Settings menu.
PasswordsFor years, Federico and I have wished for a standalone Passwords app, and it’s finally here. We’ve split most of the system apps between us for the purposes of our reviews, but not Passwords. It’s new, and so you’ll find it in both of our reviews because it’s not only here at long last, but it’s also very good.
I had a feeling this day would come eventually, so I’ve been weaning myself off of 1Password for about three years, moving passwords to Safari’s built-in system as I accessed sites and services. I could have imported them into Passwords all at once, but with so many years of passwords saved (many of which I no longer use), I figured a slow transition would provide me a cleaner start, and it has. I still keep 1Password around; I just find myself using it less and less. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s cover what Passwords does before exploring why you might want to switch to it too.
Passwords is a thoroughly modern Mac app that anyone who has used system apps like Reminders will feel comfortable using. That’s a big deal because people will only use an app to manage their passwords if it’s easy to use, which Apple’s Passwords is. It’s worth noting, too, that there is still a Passwords tab in Safari’s Settings, but all it includes is a button that opens the Passwords app – a smart addition for those who were in the habit of looking for their passwords there. The Passwords section of System Settings features a similar button and has been relocated to the General tab under ‘Autofill & Passwords,’ which includes a handful of other password-related settings too.
Passwords greets users with a login screen reminiscent of Safari’s passwords Settings tab.
The app, which must be unlocked with your user password upon launch, has a classic three-pane layout. The left pane gathers top-level password categories, plus any groups you’ve shared passwords with. The second pane is a list view of whatever category or group is selected in the left pane, and the third and final pane shows the details of the selected item. At the top of the middle pane, you’ll also find buttons to add new credentials and sort lists by Title, Website, Date Created, or Date Edited in either ascending or descending order. There’s a prominent search field in the toolbar, too.
I love Passwords’ approachable, simple design.
The six top-level password categories are automatically created by Sequoia:
- All
- Passkeys
- Codes
- Wi-Fi
- Security
- Deleted
What I like most about Passwords is its simplicity; the app has very few settings. I like tweaking app preferences as much as the next person, but not with my password manager. I’m invariably coming from somewhere else when I open Passwords. I want to get in, find what I need, and finish a purchase or log onto a site, not linger.
The beauty of Passwords is that it takes care of organizing things for me. With a single click, I have access to my two-factor codes, Wi-Fi passwords, and passkeys. Then, in the Security section, I can chip away at alerts, looking for vulnerabilities and fixing them. And, if I delete something that I shouldn’t have, I can scan through the Deleted category too. But most of the time, I just run a quick search to pull up what I need and move on.
Shared passwords.
Below Passwords’ categories are Shared Groups. If you created a Shared Group when passwords were accessible from Safari’s preferences, they’ll show up in Passwords automatically when you upgrade to Sequoia. You can add new ones, too. Hover over the Shared Groups section title in the left pane, and a plus button appears for adding a new group. From here, you can also click on the caret icon to hide your Shared Groups. As before, Shared Groups are not limited by things like Family Sharing; for example, I have a Shared Group with my family, but I have another one with Federico for MacStories passwords.
In Passwords’ Settings, you can display accounts as Titles or Websites. There are also checkboxes for showing the Passwords app in the menu bar, detecting compromised passwords, suggesting strong passwords, and automatically creating passkeys.
Passwords’ menu bar app suggests relevant passwords for whatever app or website you’re using.
If you choose to display Passwords in the menu bar, it will enable you to add new passwords and search for existing ones. Clicking on an entry opens its details view, where you can copy a username or password simply by clicking on it or choose any website to be taken there. My favorite feature of the menu bar app is that it detects the app or website you’re using and suggests any passwords for it at the top of the list. For instance, as I was writing this section in Obsidian, I clicked on Passwords in the menu bar, and it suggested my Obsidian passwords.
As I mentioned at the top of this section, I’ve been migrating passwords away from 1Password for a long time in anticipation of this day. 1Password is a good app, but it’s more than I really need, and I’ve always felt that version 8 makes it harder to find things than it should be.
That said, I do miss a few features from 1Password that I would like to see added to Passwords:
- a notes field, which is particularly handy for leaving instructions for participants in a Shared Group or saving backup account codes;
- file attachments, which can be partially handled by setting up a password-protected note in the Notes app, but that solution isn’t as robust as the one 1Password offers; and
- a new category for things like government IDs, credit cards, and insurance details.
The lack of a notes field and document attachments has made me hesitant to fully migrate MacStories to Passwords, and not having credit cards in the app is a pain for me personally, but for a 1.0 system app, Passwords is excellent. If there were more to say about Passwords, I would. The team behind it deserves a lot of credit for migrating years of work to a standalone app in a way that’s so simple that there’s very little that I can say about it, except that I highly encourage readers to give Passwords a try.
MapsMaps is one of those system apps that sometimes flies a little under the radar, but it shouldn’t. The app has evolved over the years to encompass far more than driving directions. That’s an essential core feature that I use more than anything else, but Maps has become as much about exploring the world around you as it is about getting from one point to another.
Maps already allows you to pin locations, save places, and create guides. This year, the app adds new Routes features, and along with them, a new Library section to organize everything.
Maps’ Library collects pinned locations, places, guides, and routes all in one place.
To access the Library, click on your profile button and select Library. That opens a view with Pinned, Places, Guides, and Routes sections, followed by recently added items. Ever since I moved a couple of years ago, I’ve been saving places I’d like to visit in Maps, so the new Library, which makes it easier to find everything you’ve saved, is a very welcome addition.
The Routes section of the Library is entirely new, and it’s another feature I know I’ll use a lot. If you’ve ever used an app like Footpath, you’ll be familiar with how this new addition works. Like a lot of system features, Routes is simpler than similar third-party apps, but I expect it will get the job done for a lot of people.
Maps’ new Routes creation feature.
At the top of the Routes section of your Library is a ‘Create’ button that activates Maps’ route creation mode. Choose a starting point, click it, and then add additional points along your route. You can click on any point to remove it, reverse your start and end points, create an ‘out and back’ route, or close your loop. As you lay down points, Maps automatically snaps to the nearest roads and paths.
Once you’ve finished a route, Maps will show you how long it is, the time it will take to walk it, elevation changes, and a graph of those changes over the course of the route. You can add Notes to a route, too. Maps will also offer directions from your current location to the start of the route, as well as the option to save the route to your Library.
Creating a route.
I wish I’d had this feature two years ago when I first moved to North Carolina. I spent a lot of time picking out walking routes in my area when I first moved here, and Routes would have been incredibly useful for that. Still, I plan to use the feature as a handy way to pick a route that matches the time or energy I have when I head out for some exercise.
This leads me to something I hope Apple adds to Routes in the future: integration with the Apple Watch. Planning a route is something walkers, runners, and cyclists do all the time, and it would be great to be able to plan a route in advance and then navigate it with a combination of the Apple Watch and voice prompts via AirPods. I’ll be surprised if Routes doesn’t come to the Apple Watch next year, but for now, the initial implementation is excellent and a nice addition that continues the app’s evolution beyond driving directions.
Maps also includes a set of built-in hiking routes for U.S. national parks that can be filtered by length, elevation, and type. They’re similar to the custom routes you can create anywhere in the app and include the same sort of data. However, although hiking routes are a terrific addition to Maps, I hope they’re expanded beyond national parks and to other countries because, unless you live near a national park with hiking trails, you probably won’t get much out of them.
Maps includes hiking trails in U.S. national parks and topographic data.
If you look at one of the hiking trails added to Maps, you’ll notice something else, too. Topographic data has been layered into Maps in the U.S. and Japan. The topographic contours of the landscape seem to show up a little differently depending on where you are. By default, you won’t see topographic features, but if you search for a park with trailheads, like Yosemite National Park, and click on the Trailheads button in Maps’ search results, the contours of the landscape will appear. They also appear if you click on the marker for the park itself or a trail, but they disappear when it isn’t selected. In other parks, I’ve noticed that topographic features only appear when you select a trail. Either way, it’s worth noting that topographic maps aren’t limited to U.S. national parks. I’ve checked multiple North Carolina state parks, and they work there, too.
Another addition for hikers this year is the option to save hiking trails for offline use. If you’re hiking far from civilization, this will be a great feature to have, but I haven’t had the opportunity to try it yet.
The detail cards for locations have been updated in Maps too.
Apple has also reorganized the detail cards for locations in Maps. There’s a new ‘+’ button next to the ‘More’ button on a location’s card for quickly adding a destination to your Library. Click on the ‘More’ button, and there are new options to add a note to a location or pin it too.
Maps’ new ‘Search Here’ button.
Finally, if you search for something in Maps and then pan around, search results will automatically update to show the new area. That’s not new. However, now, if you pan Maps’ view just a little bit, instead of updating the search results, the app will display a ‘Search Here’ button at the bottom of the map to update the results for your slightly changed view.
All in all, this year’s update to Maps is great. It continues to expand the app beyond the table stakes of navigation to include more ways to explore the world around you. Maps is an app that by definition will never be finished, but it’s great to see the team behind it not just updating existing data but expanding what’s available too.
All the RestThe new Sequoia Sunrise wallpaper.
As with any OS update, there are a lot of smaller changes to Sequoia, too. I’ve rounded up my favorites below.
WallpapersExamples of two of Sequoia’s new wallpapers.
There are three new wallpapers available in System Settings this year:
- Macintosh is a Dynamic Wallpaper that cycles through classic Susan Kare Mac iconography.
- Sequoia is an abstract Dynamic Wallpaper that reminds me of sunlight filtering through water.
- Sequoia Sunrise is a live wallpaper of a forest of Sequoia trees, and it’s my favorite.
System Settings and MoreEvery macOS review comes with a bunch of updates scattered throughout the system. It’s impossible to catalog them all, but I’ve picked out the biggest changes, along with smaller system app updates that are notable.
One of my favorite changes is that, in many apps, if you select text and type ⌃ + ⮐, the right-click contextual menu will appear. As far as I can tell, this new keyboard shortcut works in all native text fields but won’t work in a webview. That means you can use it in apps like TextEdit, Things, and Notes, but it won’t work in Safari, Obsidian, Slack, or Discord. Still, it’s a handy shortcut to keep in mind.
HDMI passthrough is an option in multiple system media apps.
Sequoia has also added HDMI passthrough for the home entertainment nerds in the audience; it can be found in the TV app, QuickTime, and Music. That means Dolby Atmos and other formats will be passed directly to soundbars, receivers, and speakers from your Mac. What’s most interesting about this change is that it seems like something that’s been built in anticipation of a more home entertainment-friendly and potentially smaller Mac mini.
AirDrop’s new progress bar.
Other system and System Settings updates include
- a progress bar that appears when a file has been AirDropped to your Mac;
- a reorganization of the System Settings sections, which are still a bit of a mess, but better;2
- a redesigned and dedicated iCloud tab in System Settings that remains accessible from your profile picture too; and
- a switch from the Appearance tab to the General tab as the default section that is displayed when you open System Settings.
With Sequoia, Apple says it has also refined Game Mode, which shifts system resources to prioritize a game when one is launched. The mode kicks in automatically, and according to Apple, Sequoia improves on the feature with smoother frame rates and better power management.
Apple has ramped up privacy notifications for apps that require screen recording privileges, too. Although the initial approach was to require user confirmation at least once a week, notifications now appear monthly, which is better, but it’s still annoying that alerts can’t be turned off entirely.
Sequoia’s new rotating Wi-Fi network option.
Sequoia extends ‘Private Wi-Fi,’ the feature that sets a unique MAC address for each wireless network to which a device connects. A new ‘Rotating’ option that allows devices to cycle between multiple MAC addresses when they connect has been added and can be found in the Wi-Fi section of System Settings by clicking on the ‘Details’ button next to the Wi-Fi network your Mac is connected to and changing the ‘Private Wi-Fi address’ option to ‘Rotating.’
AccessibilityYou can read more on the accessibility features coming to macOS Sequoia and Apple’s other platforms in this story that we published in May.
Smaller System App ChangesFreeformFreeform adds Scenes for presenting canvases that can be printed or converted to PDFs.
The headlining addition to Freeform on the Mac, iPad, and iPhone this year is the Scene navigator. If you have a big, sprawling board, the feature allows you to create incremental views that you can then navigate as you present your creation to others. Scenes can be created and navigated from the floating toolbar, which includes the app’s zoom tool and can be reordered using drag and drop. Scenes can also be printed or saved as PDFs. In addition, Freeform now includes
- an option to snap board elements to a grid for easy alignment;
- the ability to pan a canvas by holding down the space bar and dragging your board; and
- a sharing feature that lets you send of a copy of a board via an iCloud link.
Voice MemosVoice Memos’ transcription occurs in real-time and is very accurate.
If you’re the sort of person who likes to think aloud, the new Live Transcription in Voice Memos, available on the Mac, iPhone, and iPad, will be appealing. The feature, which is similar to voice transcription in Notes, allows you to simply speak into your Mac’s microphone or an external mic connected to your Mac, and as you speak, your words will be transcribed in the app. Voice Memos’ default view remains a visualization of the audio waveform as you speak, but by clicking the transcribe button in the toolbar, you can switch to a view that shows your words as they’re spoken.
In my experience, the transcription is accurate and fast. It’s simple to copy the resulting text into another app, too. When you’re finished, you can listen back in transcription mode, and your words will be highlighted as the recording plays, much like the way lyrics work in Music. The app can even go back and transcribe older recordings you’ve saved, adding a little transcription icon to the recording’s listing.
The new transcription feature has a lot of potential for students listening to lectures and anyone conducting an interview. It could also be a good way to create a hands-free rough draft or quickly preserve your thoughts about something for later.
Chess is prettier in Sequoia.
In addition to the foregoing:
- The Calculator app has added calculation history and unit conversions, along with Math Notes, which I covered in the context of my Smart Script story last month.
- The Home app has gained guest access, allowing you to grant trusted people access to your home at defined times.
- Mac App Store downloads no longer require twice the storage of the app’s size at installation. Instead, they only require the space they’ll take up when installed, which seems like the way it should have worked from the beginning.
- The Podcasts app in Sequoia doesn’t allow you to share timestamped links to episodes like you can on iOS or iPadOS, but links shared to a Mac from those platforms will load to the timestamp as expected.
- The Chess app has better graphics than before but fewer style options.
ConclusionSo, that’s Sequoia. There’s no getting around the fact that Sequoia is an odd update. It has its highs and lows as any OS release does, but it feels incomplete. In some ways, that’s easily explained by the absence of Apple Intelligence, but not entirely.
Sequoia feels like visiting a bookstore and finding a book you want to read, only to discover that half the chapters have been torn out.
Instead, Sequoia feels like visiting a bookstore and finding a book you want to read, only to discover that half the chapters have been torn out. The OS feels unfinished in a way past releases that started down a path of implementing new technologies like Swift and Catalyst didn’t.
Is that because Apple changed course midway on the path to Sequoia and scrapped features to focus on Apple Intelligence? Perhaps. It’s a theory that tracks with the fact that macOS 15.1 was released in beta to developers long before 15.0 was even released to the public, and even when 15.1 is released, its Apple Intelligence features will receive a ‘beta’ label. Those are unusual moves by Apple that arguably acknowledge that the Sequoia you can download today is incomplete and unfinished.
It’s tempting to ignore how Sequoia wound up in an odd spot and solely focus on the merits of what’s in 15.0, but I think that would be a mistake. Apple is known for waiting to announce hardware and software until it’s ready and the company can articulate a clear message about where it fits among their products.
At WWDC, Apple laid out a vision of Apple Intelligence as a personal, private, integrated approach to AI. It’s too early to judge whether Apple Intelligence will succeed at meeting those goals, but what’s different from other announcements that took years to implement is that there’s no trace of Apple Intelligence in macOS 15.0 today. In the past, even when the payoff of a new technology was years away, macOS has always included some sort of first step into the future for users alongside a full menu of standard year-over-year updates.
A good example is Mac Catalyst, which was announced at WWDC with macOS Mojave. Catalyst started as a Sneak Peek that made it clear the technology was more about the future than the present. Also, in contrast to Sequoia, Mojave offered a significantly deeper set of standard OS updates along with the first Catalyst system apps. Apple may have made it clear that Apple Intelligence is being released in stages over time, but it’s also a central part of the Sequoia story.
It’s hard to have that one both ways, which is at the core of what makes Sequoia different and has left me with a nagging sense of unease all summer. The update’s shipping features aren’t at fault; some I like, and others I don’t. Instead, it’s my, “Is that it?” reaction that concerns me and leads me to wonder what features may have been shelved to focus on Apple Intelligence.
Maybe this will all work out in the end, and we’ll look back at 15.0 as part one of an odd, quick two-part release when 15.1 comes along. I hope so, but those are stories for another day as Apple incrementally releases its AI features.
Regardless of Sequoia’s backstory, though, the result is an update that’s easy to miss unless you go looking for the new features. That may be music to some Mac users’ ears, but to me, it makes Sequoia an underwhelming release.
That’s not to say there aren’t bright spots. iPhone Mirroring is one of those Continuity features that I never knew I wanted, but I’m glad I now have. I don’t use it every day, but it makes my iPhone feel more like a part of my Mac workflow. The addition of iPhone notifications on the Mac has had a similar effect. Being able to manage and clear notifications in one place is simply more efficient.
Likewise, I’m a fan of the new window tiling system in Sequoia. It should have been added a long time ago, but it’s still a great addition. A dedicated Passwords app and Safari’s new video viewer make working with passwords and watching videos substantially better too. Plus, I appreciate the ability to create custom routes in Maps from my desk before heading out for a walk.
Other features, like Safari’s article summaries and the curiously rare tables of contents, aren’t ready for prime time. The late beta period addition of Hide Distractions to Safari strikes me as an ill-advised solution to a problem that’s better solved by Reader mode. It’s hard to imagine many of these Safari features making the cut in a year when macOS had more to offer users.
On balance, though, macOS Sequoia is fine, which is also the source of its biggest problem. Apple has taught us to expect more than fine. Maybe Apple Intelligence will fill Sequoia’s gaps and elevate it beyond fine, but I’m skeptical based on what I’ve seen of macOS 15.1 so far. Of course, there’s a long road ahead before I or anyone else can fairly judge Apple Intelligence. But by putting off those features until later and shipping a 15.0 update that’s light on other features and long on promises of a better tomorrow, Apple has simultaneously failed to tell a compelling story about this release and Apple Intelligence as the future of the Mac. Hopefully, macOS 16.0’s storylines will be more compelling on both fronts.
- Whether it's related to window tiling or not, Apple seems to have broken the ability to move the Mac's Dock from one display to another. ↩︎
- It's still popular to dump on System Settings, which is understandable because it's not great. But System Preferences isn't coming back, so I think it's time to move on to more important macOS limitations and make friends with System Settings' search field. ↩︎
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After years of steady, iterative updates to watchOS, last year, Apple dropped one of their most significant releases in years with watchOS 10. The design language was updated for all of their first-party apps, watch faces were upgraded to take full advantage of the larger screens on current models, and the Smart Stack was introduced to make glanceable information much easier to access. To make way for the Smart Stack, Apple also reassigned the Digital Crown and side button to new functions. These changes, along with the usual updates for health and fitness, made for a release that every Apple Watch user took note of.
The awkward recalibrating of muscle memory aside (I still very occasionally swipe up on my watch face to try and reveal the Control Center), it was an excellent update. My only worry coming out of it was that Apple would dust off their hands, reassign lots of their talent to something else, and go back to the usual, iterative, health- and fitness-focused updates with watchOS 11.
Thankfully, that was far from the case. Not only has Apple made some solid updates to the Apple Watch hardware line this year, but they’ve also enhanced and added to the software in ways that signal they are far from done.
The question is, are these changes going to enhance your daily use of Apple’s most personal device, or are they just, well, changes?
I’m excited to dive into this question in my first watchOS review for MacStories, but before I do, I want to thank Alex for his years of excellent watchOS coverage. I hope I can live up to the standards he set.
Right, let’s do this.
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Smart StackLast year, when the Smart Stack was introduced alongside hardware button reassignments in watchOS 10, the new interface’s many potential benefits were often lost amongst the various discussions over whether Apple should have changed the button functionality in the first place. And despite its name, daily usage of the Smart Stack didn’t really feel all that “smart.”
Part of me wonders if that was all deliberate. Now, one year out, the latest additions to the Smart Stack can be recognized for what they are: genuinely solid enhancements that actually make the Smart Stack live up to its “smart” name. Let’s see how these new features stack up. (Sorry.)
Live ActivitiesLive Activities are a great feature on iOS, but their glanceability depends on you having your iPhone on your person. So it feels only natural to bring them to the Apple Watch, a device that is literally attached to your body. Thankfully, this is one of those times Apple has channeled Steve Jobs’ famous phrase and Live Activities “just work.”
Rather than taking an app’s Lock Screen Live Activity from iOS and cramming it into a widget in the Smart Stack, watchOS uses the detail contained in a Live Activity’s Dynamic Island. It then displays this information in a slightly tweaked version of the Dynamic Island that also includes the app’s name.
Live Activities ‘just work’ by taking existing information from the Dynamic Island on the iPhone.
The great thing about this approach is that developers don’t need to write a single line of additional code. They don’t even need to offer an Apple Watch app; watchOS mirrors what’s in the iPhone’s Dynamic Island and shows it in the Smart Stack. During a session, Live Activities will show temporary updates (like a change in your food delivery status) before switching back to the Dynamic Island data. If you are currently using an app on your Apple Watch, the update will appear as a small banner at the bottom of the screen, which you can either tap on to launch the Live Activity or dismiss.
This is a fantastic way of bringing the Smart Stack to the Apple Watch, and watchOS offers more customization, both for users and app developers.
Developers aren’t limited to mirroring the Dynamic Island in their watchOS Live Activities; they can create richer versions more in line with their Lock Screen Live Activities using only a few lines of code. They can also add buttons for actions like pausing audio content. Apple encourages developers to only use one button in Live Activities on the Apple Watch, but that recommendation doesn’t seem to be an enforced rule, so it will be interesting to see what developers do with this new functionality.
From a user perspective, the way Live Activities activate has also been well thought out. Launching a Live Activity on your iPhone will automatically launch the Smart Stack on your Apple Watch with the Live Activity at the top. This includes the Now Playing Live Activity, which appears rather than the full-screen player from previous years.
At first, this might seem annoying. The Smart Stack launches every time I have a Live Activity on my iPhone? Will I ever see my watch face again? Mercifully, in the Watch app on iOS, you can fully customize each app’s Live Activity behavior. You can have it auto-launch the Smart Stack, appear quietly in the Smart Stack for when you choose to bring it up, or not appear at all.
One of the first things I’d recommend every user do after updating to watchOS 11 is go down your list of apps and specify your preferences. Unfortunately, this is where you’ll butt up against a frustrating limitation of this feature: you need to go through every app one by one. If you’re someone who has a lot of apps on your iPhone – so, everyone – this will take some time.
Setting Live Activity settings for the Apple Watch. It takes a while so get comfy.
Ideally, there would be a toggle at the top of the app list to turn all Live Activities off; then, you would be able to turn on the subset you want to use and specify how you want them to work.
If you tap on a Live Activity in watchOS, one of two things will happen. If the app is installed on your Apple Watch, it will launch. If the app is not installed, a full-screen alert will appear that includes a button to open the app on your iPhone. Tapping it will automatically open the app on your phone – after you authenticate, of course.
One final thing to note is that these Live Activities don’t work when your Apple Watch isn’t connected to your iPhone. This hasn’t been an issue for me yet; I suspect it rarely will be.
Except for the time-consuming list of settings in the Watch app, the introduction of Live Activities on the Apple Watch is exceptional. The way it all “just works” while offering a high level of customization for each app is very well thought out. I’ve found a lot of use in having Live Activities like my food orders, sports scores, and multiple simultaneous cooking timers easily glanceable on my wrist. I know I won’t be the only one.
Suggested WidgetsFor the past year, the Smart Stack was supposed to be suggesting widgets for things like an upcoming meeting or reminders that hadn’t been completed. This was originally touted as a machine learning feature, and while it did periodically work for me, it felt half-baked. In watchOS 11, Apple has doubled down on this capability with suggested widgets.
This feature uses data like time and date, location, sleep schedule, music detection, Activity ring status, rain alerts, and more to suggest widgets in your Smart Stack. “Suggest” may be too gentle a term for what it does, though, as the widgets are literally added to your Smart Stack, sometimes right at the top.
Widget suggestions are, for the most part, useful.
After spending a lot of time last year carefully picking the widgets I liked and in which order I wanted them, I initially found this feature a bit chaotic. I had several pinned widgets in my Smart Stack, and suggested widgets are never allowed to appear above pinned ones. So I was getting several widget suggestions, but they were three or more widgets deep, which meant I never took advantage of them.
To properly test this feature, I unpinned all of my widgets and deleted a couple I didn’t need. That’s when I started to see the real benefit of suggested widgets. There are countless examples of times I looked at my Smart Stack at a particular moment and what appeared at the top was very relevant to me. To list just a few of them:
- When I leave home, a Home app widget appears, showing me the status of devices in my house and, crucially, if any contact sensors on my windows and doors are open.
- When I wake up, the Smart Stack always shows me a sleep widget displaying my sleep data from the night before and a weather widget with the current conditions.
- If I have a meeting coming up soon, a Calendar widget with that event will be visible.
- After a workout, the Smart Stack shows my Activity rings at the top of the stack.
Another convenient widget suggestion is meant to occur when the Apple Watch detects music playing prominently in your environment. In response, it will supposedly add the Music Recognition (also known as Shazam) widget to the Smart Stack. (You will need to give your permission to enable automatic music detection.)
The Music detection widget should automatically appear when music is playing.
I say “supposedly” because I can’t for the life of me get this to work. I’ve tried playing music on my MacBook, putting on vinyl records, and even checking it while at a gig – all to no avail. Here’s hoping it works better for others.
When the Smart Stack makes widget suggestions, they’re not always perfect. For instance, it occasionally adds a Home widget with my ‘Goodnight’ scene at around 7:00 pm, way before I should be in bed. Those occasional errors notwithstanding, widget suggestions work very well.
As with Live Activities, suggested widgets are enhanced by the ability to customize how each widget might be suggested. You can turn off suggestions for an app completely or specify the types of widgets the Smart Stack can suggest for a particular app. To give you an example, in the Home app’s settings, you can individually define whether to allow it to suggest accessories, scenes, controls, electricity usage, and electricity rates.
Refining your preferences for widget suggestions is even more time consuming and fiddly than Live Activities.
Unfortunately, as with Live Activities, there is no way to toggle all apps on or off (though you can turn the entire feature off with a toggle). To make matters worse, the controls are only available in the Settings app on the Apple Watch itself, not in the Watch app on iOS. This makes for a very fiddly and time-consuming experience when refining your setup.
Nevertheless, suggested widgets are another impressive addition to the Smart Stack. The level of granular control is particularly welcome. Apple could have just added this feature and let it run wild, but the company is allowing users to drill down into each app’s settings to precisely control suggestions, which is to be commended. After getting over my initial confusion about the feature, I’ve found it to add welcome contextualized information to my daily life.
Interactive WidgetsThe enhancement of the Smart Stack continues with the new ability for developers to add interactivity to their widgets. We got a small glimpse of how this works last year with the Timer and Now Playing widgets. They each featured a simple, circular button on one side to start and stop a timer or playback, with a countdown or the currently playing song on the other. If you’ve seen those, you know the basics of how interactive widgets work in watchOS 11.
Interactive widgets are maybe too simple.
The most prominent example of interactive widgets in watchOS 11 is a Home widget that toggles an accessory on or off with a tap of its circular button. This implementation is okay, but it’s too constrained. If you want to control a light, you can turn it on or off, but you can’t specify the tint or color. Even tapping on the widget’s text performs the same action as pressing the button, which almost defeats the point of the layout. To adjust the tint or color of a light, you have to open up the Home app as before and access the setting that way.
A Home app widget to control a scene.
This is a needless way of doing things. Tapping on the text should launch a details panel for the light containing these settings, just like in the Home app on iOS. Additionally, the widget featuring three recent workouts, which launches the selected workout when you tap on it, would make an excellent template for a Home widget layout. It would allow you to add your three favorite scenes or accessories and quickly toggle them on or off.
The new workout widget shows your three most recent workout types.
The term “interactive” is doing a lot of work here: you can technically interact with the widgets, but they really just feature a single button that starts or stops something. As with Live Activities, Apple suggests using only one button per widget in their developer videos. However, I hope we’ll see developers ignore that and create three-button group widgets that take advantage of this new control system. And since widgets can also be dynamically updated, developers could take this even further and make their widgets’ contents change based on user interactions.
Smart Stack MiscellanyThe clock at the top of the Smart Stack now appears in the same style and format as your current watch face. It’s a nice touch, but I still believe it wastes space. It would be more efficient to immediately show two widgets when activating the Smart Stack instead of one or allowing room for complications. After all, when you scroll a bit further to show more widgets, the date and time are still displayed at the very top of the screen, so you’re never missing out on that information.
The clock in your Smart Stack changes style to match the watch face.
There are several new system widgets in watchOS 11. The severe weather alert is excellent, as is the one for upcoming rain. I’m not so keen on the Photos widget because it’s so tiny, but it’s there should you want it. There are also widgets for the new Vitals and Translate apps as well as Training Load – but more on them later.
Health and ActivityWe all know the story of how Apple changed course with the Apple Watch in the initial years after its launch, focusing more on health and fitness rather than fashion and “personal connections.” Sorry, Digital Touch, you were ahead of your time. Or behind. I can never be sure.
This was once a banner feature of watchOS. Really.
Apple’s commitment to health and fitness with this product has meant yearly enhancements in that area. You needn’t look any further than the number of workout types the Apple Watch now supports for proof of that.
Alongside notifications, my primary use for the Apple Watch is tracking my health; anything new in that area will always catch my eye. While last year’s focus was more on OS design and interactions, watchOS 11 turns its attention back to significant new health and fitness features.
To be fair, there isn’t anything here that hasn’t been seen before in third-party apps or other fitness devices, but Apple has approached them all in a unique way, leaning on the company’s years of experience and even some of the medical studies it has helped facilitate.
First up is a new app that, like many watchOS apps before it, brings together and expands on several capabilities the Apple Watch already has.
VitalsApple’s slow and steady march forward with sleep tracking continues again in watchOS 11. Sleep tracking was added four years ago in watchOS 7 with only basic sleep/wake tracking and the ability to schedule a wind down as part of your bedtime routine. Back then, with the Series 6, tracking your sleep was a little challenging to do due to battery limitations – namely, the time it took to charge the device. Getting enough charge before going to sleep meant you had to efficiently plan when to take your watch off for a significant period of time. I remember hearing tales of people buying two watches just so they could track their sleep with one while the other charged.
A year later, the Series 7 was released with fast charging, allowing the battery to charge up to 80% in 45 minutes, and watchOS 8 added respiratory rate tracking during sleep. Now, with fast charging on the Series 10 down to 30 minutes for 80% battery and the addition of sleep apnea detection, there are more compelling reasons than ever to wear your watch to bed. watchOS 11 adds another big one: the new Vitals app.
However, before we get to that, we should note that Apple is making it easier to start tracking your sleep in the first place. In watchOS 10, if you wanted to track your sleep, you had to enable the Sleep Focus on your Apple Watch. Forget to do so and, well, your watch wouldn’t record any metrics (despite some third-party apps being perfectly capable of doing so). Starting with watchOS 11, you don’t need to trigger sleep tracking with a Focus change. Your Apple Watch will leverage its built-in motion sensors and sleep detection algorithms to identify when you fall asleep, allowing you to track your sleep – including naps throughout the day – automatically.
Sleep data in it’s various forms.
I had the terrible task of testing this out by taking several daytime naps this summer (“It’s for my review!” I told my justifiably skeptical wife) and am happy to report that it worked perfectly. I slept with an Apple Watch on each wrist (which, yes, did look ridiculous); one was set to the Sleep Focus, and the other was not. Both watches tracked my sleep within a minute or two of each other every time.
I suspect I’ll continue sleep tracking via the Sleep Focus technique, as I like to have my watch’s screen locked and turned off on a schedule. Still, it’s good to know that, should I pass out on the sofa on a Sunday afternoon, my Apple Watch will be able to tell me how much of the afternoon I lost to the land of nod.
There is a downside to automatic sleep detection, and it’s a strange one: when it detects sleep automatically, my Apple Watch never records my wrist temperature or blood oxygen. I have no idea why, but it’s not great, considering the new Vitals app relies heavily on those pieces of data.
The new vitals app is a nice overview of key metrics while you slept.
The Vitals app itself is pretty simple to understand: wear your watch to bed, and it will track your average values for heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, blood oxygen, and sleep duration. After the first week of use, the Vitals app will establish your typical ranges for each of these metrics. If two or more of those figures ever fall outside your typical range, your Apple Watch will alert you and suggest possible reasons for this discrepancy.
If you use auto-detection for sleep tracking you loose two metrics. If you have a recent Apple Watch in the U.S. that doesn’t support blood oxygen measuring that column is removed completely.
The interesting thing about this new app is that it doesn’t actually measure anything new. All the metrics mentioned above are already available in the Health app on your iPhone. What Apple is doing here is taking the data and putting it together in a way that’s easier to review. In the Health app on iOS, the figures are just dots on a graph; unless you’re an expert, they don’t mean a lot. Showing if a metric is outside your typical range is helpful, and along with an alternative seven-day view of each metric, you can get an idea of what might be affecting the quality of your sleep.
Each metric has a small ‘i’ button that, when tapped, explains its importance and factors that can affect it. Apple claims that the notification algorithm that alerts you of outliers in your vitals is informed by data from the Apple Heart & Movement Study and input from clinical experts.
The info about each metric is very useful and informative.
There’s more to this app than initially meets the eye, with some nice touches but also a couple of glaring absences. Let’s focus on the good stuff first. The information you’re given about each metric and its importance is very useful, and if you’ve never paid attention to these vitals as part of your sleep, it will educate you on what makes a good night’s sleep. Plus, the couple of times my wrist temperature has been shown to be out of range when I wake up, I’ve felt a bit rough later that day, which was interesting to see. One time, I even canceled an evening gym visit based on an alert from the Vitals app, which proved to be the right choice when I started to feel run down later in the afternoon.
Vitals in the Health app.
Still, there are some missteps here that Apple would do well to address. First, healthy sleep is about consistency, and an excellent way to measure that is through the concept of sleep debt. As an example, if you normally sleep 7.5 hours every night except one when you slept sleep 5, you’ll be creating sleep debt that will have to be addressed. Sleep debt would be a much better vital to track in this new app than the somewhat simplified sleep duration.
Second, one common measurement provided by health devices is Heart Rate Variability (HRV). HRV is based on the amount of time between a person’s heartbeats and how much it varies. A high HRV suggests your body is well rested, you had a good night’s sleep, and you’re primed for a big day or a challenging workout.
This is an incredibly useful metric, and I find it strange that Apple hasn’t included it in the Vitals app, especially since HRV data is already available in the Health app. The only reason I can imagine for its absence is that it sounds like a complicated metric, but if you look anywhere in the Health app on iOS, there are tons of complicated-sounding metrics.
Overall, the Vitals app is a well-intentioned and, to some extent, useful app. There’s certainly room for improvement to make it a truly powerful tool, but if it follows the trajectory of sleep features on the Apple Watch, I suspect watchOS 12 will see an expanded version. If I were a betting man, I’d say that sleep debt tracking will be next on the list.
Training LoadTraining load is a common term amongst athletes that measures the impact of exercise on a person’s body over a set period (typically seven days). It’s calculated by measuring the intensity and length of a workout along with the frequency of other workouts. Getting this figure and comparing it to the last 28 days allows you to be better informed about how to train. If your training load score is well below your average for the past 28 days, then you know you need to pick up the pace to push your body a bit more to see results. If it is well above, you might want to dial it back a bit so your body has time to recover and you don’t get injured.
Considering the fact that the Apple Watch has always been firmly aimed at the general consumer, especially when it comes to health and fitness, it’s a big move for Apple to step into this field. Proper training load can be a complex measurement, so in addition to using it in watchOS 11, I had to do a fair amount of research into the subject to fully understand it and how Apple’s approach is unique.
Unsurprisingly, this being a feature from Apple, it’s straightforward to use your workouts to inform training load and log the necessary data. Quite simply, after a workout, all you have to do is rate the effort you feel you put in on a scale of one to ten. Those options are also split into four categories: Easy, Medium, Hard, and All Out. You can enter your rating any time after a workout, and you can also change it later, should you wish. After a cardio workout, the Workout app will even suggest a rating for you based on age, height, weight, GPS, heart rate, and elevation.
Giving your workout an Effort rating straight afterwards or (right) later on.
This effort rating goes toward your training load score for that day, but that’s where things start to get a little murky.
Your effort rating is entirely based on your input (unless you leave the cardio ratings as suggested), so the question has to be asked: is that reliable? There is evidence to suggest people generally get these ratings right. Still, it strikes me as a potentially unreliable approach when other devices from brands like Garmin use metrics to give you a decisive, locked figure.
I’ve found the automatic ratings generated from cardio workouts to be okay, if not a little low compared to how I felt the workout went. However, non-cardio workouts are entirely reliant on my rating. Plus, I need to remember to enter the rating each time, which – I’ll be perfectly honest – doesn’t always happen.
The Training Load feature is a little hidden (top right on in the Activity app). You can also refine by workout type (right).
I have other questions about Apple’s handling of this feature. For instance, there is no way to see a correlation between your workouts, effort ratings, and training load. The system also offers no advice concerning what to do about your training load, whereas third-party apps (such as Athlytic) will tell you whether you’re primed for a big workout or in need of a rest day.
As another example, if a user keeps pushing their workouts to get a higher percentage above their average 28-day training load, taking their training load higher and higher, would they know they need to ease up a bit? If you don’t know what these numbers truly mean, they can be confusing and, in the worst-case scenario, dangerous.
You can also view your training load in the Fitness app on iOS (with your figures from the Vitals app shown just below for comparison), where there is advice on what your percentage means. But is everyone going to look there? When I opened the Fitness app for the first time in iOS 18, the training load card wasn’t even present; I had to add it. I’d like to see Apple better present this potentially great feature and what it means to users.
Training Load in the Fitness app shows more detail and actual advice with what to do with your rating. The Apple Watch app does not.
That said, I have been using training load a lot, and after reading up about what it actually is, I’ve found it to be a good motivator for pushing myself rather than just closing my Activity rings every day. It’s also good that I can go back and adjust my effort rating for a workout later, something other devices don’t allow. This was particularly useful when I went on a long hike for a couple of hours that my Apple Watch rated as a 2. You know what? I felt pretty tired after all that walking, so I was glad to be able to up it to a 6.
This is only the first iteration of training load on the Apple Watch, so I’d like to see a couple of things change next year in watchOS 12. First, your training load figure relies entirely on your effort rating being input after every workout, which you are prompted to do when you end the workout from your Apple Watch. However, if it ends automatically - like with a Fitness+ workout or if you use Siri and don’t look at the screen - it’s easy to forget. If you don’t enter it, then your training load isn’t accurate. While you can go back and scan through the past few workouts to enter a rating, it would be good to have a more reliable reminder to rate a workout after completion, like a notification that stays in your Notification Centre on your iPhone or Apple Watch.
HRV in the Health app (left), in Athlytic (middle), and the recovery rating in Athlytic (right).
Secondly, Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is typically used to show readiness for training in the form of a ‘recovery’ percentage. As mentioned in the Vitals section earlier, your Apple Watch already takes HRV readings, and it would be good to combine this information with your training load to give solid advice to users about what sort of workouts would be suitable for their bodies that day.
Training Load is a fascinating addition to the Apple Watch. For the most part, I think it’s a good feature – if you understand it. However, it feels like Apple is holding back a bit with what they could really do here.
That said, what is really fascinating about training load is that it is the first truly “pro” training feature to be added to the Apple Watch. Sure, it’s watered down a bit, but this is a change from Apple’s “close your rings” approach of the past.
So why now? My theory is that the company seems to be having a hard time adding new sensors for things like blood glucose to the Apple Watch, which means it has to focus on adding more value in other places. Extending the capabilities of the Apple Watch into pro-athlete territory does just that, and I hope we see more pushes into this area.
Activity RingsLet me posit a scenario: someone gets an Apple Watch as part of an effort to get fitter and maybe lose some weight. They’ve heard all about how the Apple Watch can help you get more active by “closing your rings”, so they’ve taken the plunge and brought their all. On the days that they are exercising and closing their rings, they feel great, but not having regularly exercised before, it’s a huge physical and mental challenge to do this every day. Nevertheless, on days they struggle to motivate themselves to work out – or even when they just want to have a day off – their Apple Watch keeps saying things like, “There’s still time to close your rings!” and “Find some time to be active today.”
I’ve created this hypothetical person to help explain how significant the new ability to pause your rings in watchOS 11 truly is. I’ll confess that if I’m having a rest day and don’t intend to close my rings, it doesn’t bother me. But for many people just starting out on their journey with getting fit, being constantly nudged to work out can have a negative effect mentally. Being able to essentially “turn off” your rings for the day is huge for those people and many others.
Let’s be clear: Apple doesn’t deserve massive praise for this. It’s something that we should have been able to do years ago. Nevertheless, I’m delighted it’s here, and of course, it’s very well implemented.
Pausing your Activity rings is very easy.
To pause your rings, tap on your weekly summary in the top-left corner of the Activity app. Then, scroll right to the bottom, and you’ll see two buttons: ‘Change Goals’ (more on that later) and ‘Pause Rings.’ Select ‘Pause Rings,’ and you’ll be presented with four options for pause durations: ‘For Today,’ ‘Until Tuesday,’ (other people seem to get ‘Until Monday’ so it’s a bit unclear what is happening here), until the next month, and ‘Custom.’ The ‘Custom’ option allows you to set the length of your pause in days. Once you’ve made your selection, your Activity rings will turn grey, and all alerts will be disabled. The night before your rings are due to resume, you will get an alert asking if you’re “ready to get back to it,” with the option to extend your pause should you wish to.
The prompt you will receive the night before your Activity rings restart.
It’s a simple option that should have been here before, and now it is. Thankfully, that’s not the culmination of your power over your Activity rings. watchOS 11 also allows you to set a daily schedule for all three rings.
Scrolling down to the bottom of your weekly summary screen and tapping on the ‘Change Goals’ button will bring up your usual daily goal, with the move ring showing first. If you tap the calendar icon in the top right, you can switch to a weekly schedule with different daily targets. This is a much more elegant way to refine your rings’ targets than pausing them altogether. I don’t really get a chance to work out on weekends, so it was great to adjust my ring targets to more reasonable levels for those days. You can also do this in the Fitness app on the iPhone.
Setting a schedule for your Activity rings.
There is one final, relatively hidden change to your Activity rings. If you scroll to one of the rings in the Activity app, you can adjust its target just for that day, and it will snap back to its usual target the next day. Our lives and schedules aren’t always consistent, so this is a nice touch.
The only thing I’d like to see added to this feature is the ability to keep my stand reminders for the day even if I pause my move and exercise rings. Remembering to stand regularly is an impactful way to help reduce cardiovascular problems, improve circulation, and more. I love the stand reminders, as my days can sometimes pass by so quickly, and don’t want to disable them.
Regardless, the other changes here add up to some good enhancements to one of the Apple Watch’s central elements.
Fitness AppThe Fitness app on the iPhone last underwent a significant change with the introduction of Apple’s Fitness+ service in December 2020, adding a tab that contains an ever-increasing library of workouts. (The app wasn’t available at all on the iPad until the launch of Fitness+.) I’m a very regular user of the service, using it almost every weekday for cycle, core, and strength workouts. Suffice to say, I’m a big fan.
Apple seems to be, too, since the company adds new workout types, trainers, themed workouts, and more on a very consistent schedule. These service additions aren’t tied to software updates, but iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 do include some improvements to navigating the plethora of workouts. The main change is the addition of a navigation bar along the top of the Fitness+ tab that features four sections: For You, Explore, Library, and search.
For You in Fitness+.
The For You section contains recommendations for workouts you might like based on what you usually do. If you’re new to Fitness+, the app will prompt you to pick activities you might be interested in to help populate this section. Since I stick to cycling, core, and strength workouts, that’s what the app suggests for me. What I like about these suggestions is that they are all workouts I haven’t done before. Too often, I have to search through the Fitness+ library to find a new workout; this speeds the process up. Your favorite trainers are also shown here, as well as your workout history.
The Explore tab in Fitness+.
In the Explore section, you can find new workouts, suggested sections and collections like ‘Get Back to a Routine’ or ‘Yoga for Every Runner,’ and beginner programs to get you started. I don’t really use this because I stick to a similar routine every week, but if you’re new to Fitness+ or have trouble picking workouts, this will be very helpful.
The Library tab is a great overview of what you have already done including custom plans and stacks.
Next is the Library, where you can browse all the workouts, meditations, programs, custom plans, and stacks you have saved. When all Fitness+ content was clumped together in a single tab, your Library was tough to find and navigate because it was much further down the screen and not very well categorized. This redesign makes the Library much easier to access and use.
It’s far easier to search. Kim’s a Hackney girl so always good to hear a local voice.
Finally, there’s search. Under the search bar, this tab includes cards representing different activity types offered in the app as well as a Discover section of collections like ‘Run Your First 5K.’ Tapping on the search bar allows you to search for workouts, trainers, music, and more. Yes, that’s right: workout music is available as searchable metadata in-app. Now, I can look for a workout that includes some AC/DC to get me fired up.
This new four-section organization scheme is most welcome and has helped me find new workouts much more easily than before.
One thing I’d like to see added to Fitness+ is support for custom interval workouts displayed on your watch. Sometimes, getting your iPhone out and doing a full video workout is impossible; maybe you’re at a busy gym, or you don’t have your iPhone nearby. It would be great if you could download a workout with different intervals to your Apple Watch so you could do it anywhere. The Up Next workout view, new in watchOS 11, would work very well with this feature, showing which exercise is next while you perform your current one.
Still, these are all very helpful quality-of-life changes that make Apple’s fitness service easier to use, which I’m really happy to see. While Fitness+ is not perfect, it’s constantly evolving and contains a lot of great workouts and trainers who make keeping active approachable.
As if the layout changes for Fitness+ weren’t enough, the rest of the Fitness app is also getting a significant shakeup this year in the form of customization. Scroll down to the bottom of the Summary tab, and you will see two new buttons: ‘Edit Summary’ and ‘See All Categories.’ Tapping the former will send all the cards in the Summary into “jiggle mode.” From there, you can rearrange their order – except your Activity rings, which stay locked to the top – and add in additional cards like Training Load, trends, friends, Fitness+ recommendations, and more.
Editing the summary in the Fitness app. Jiggle mode included.
As I mentioned before, I primarily do cycling, core, and strength workouts, so I appreciate the ability to add a card for each of those workout types for a quick check-in on my last session. Other cards, like Training Load, are nice to have in the mix, too, but I wish I could shrink or even remove the Activity Rings card. I always have my rings visible on my Apple Watch, and the card takes up almost a third of the screen that could be used for another category summary.
After organizing your perfect layout, you can tap the ‘See All Categories’ button to go to any category, including those you haven’t added to your main summary, and check in on its data.
Like the Fitness+ changes, this new layer of customization makes a meaningful difference to how I use the Fitness app. We will likely never know how successful Fitness+ is in raw numbers, but someone high up at Apple (maybe even early morning workout boy Tim Cook) really likes both the service and the app, and I enjoy seeing them grow. Thanks to the hard work of everyone involved, from the trainers in the videos to the software developers behind the scenes, the Fitness app remains one of Apple’s lowkey success stories.
Pregnancy TrackingWell, I have a confession to make: I haven’t been able to try any of the new pregnancy features in watchOS 11. I really wanted to, but let’s just say I wasn’t up to the task. Nevertheless, having been through a slightly problematic pregnancy with our daughter (she’s fine now), I welcome any tangible help with things like high heart rates and mental health during and after pregnancy.
If you already use the cycle tracking feature built in to the Health app, you can now add a pregnancy by heading to the pregnancy section and selecting ‘Add a Pregnancy.’ You will then be taken through a setup process, and once you’re finished, the cycle tracking section will be changed to show your gestational age down to the day.
From there, you can add various data points, such as unexpected bleeding and even appetite changes. As usual, Apple never tries to offer medical advice, so when bleeding occurs, the app will prompt you to reach out to a healthcare provider.
Heart rates often increase during pregnancy, so if your high heart rate threshold is lower than 120 bpm, the Health app will notify you to review it. Furthermore, you will be alerted if your walking steadiness decreases during pregnancy.
Pregnancy tracking on iOS and watchOS. Source: Apple.
You also have the option to be reminded more frequently to take a mental health assessment both during and after pregnancy. I think this is an excellent idea. Especially after birth, it’s so difficult to find time to step back and consider your changes in mental health, so being prompted to take stock of how you feel is essential in managing any changes that might come up.
Lastly, you will be able to see the time you were pregnant across all charts within the Health app, and your Medical ID will display your pregnancy along with your due date.
There many great apps available to help you manage or log your pregnancy, but having essential tools like walking steadiness tracking and heart rate notifications built into your Apple Watch is Apple at its pragmatic best.
More Health and Activity AdditionsI’m not sure how many different types of sporting activities there are in the world, but surely Apple must be close to adding all of them as workout types on the Apple Watch. I say this because this is the second year in a row the company hasn’t added any new items to its infinitely scrollable list in the Workout app. What it has done is make notable expansions to its existing range of workout types, particularly the outdoor kind.
Route maps have been added to the following workout types: cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowboarding, outdoor rowing, and even golf. You can now display distance as an on-screen metric in outdoor hockey, lacrosse, disc sports, outdoor skating, American football, Australian football, rugby, soccer, paddle sports, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowboarding, outdoor rowing, and – again – golf.
Custom workouts, a feature of the Workout app I feel people should be talking more about, can now create interval-based workouts for swimming, using haptics to signal when to switch segments. As I mentioned in the Fitness app section, each time you start a custom workout, you will see a new view on the workout screen showing your next interval.
These are all small additions when considered individually, but stepping back and looking at watchOS updates over the last few years, it’s clear that the enhancements to many different sports and activities have been quite astounding. I suspect Apple is far from finished.
OS and AppsWhile the Apple Watch dominates its field, it often lags behind its very attached sibling – the iPhone – in gaining the latest apps and features. This year, several additions are coming to watchOS not long after debuting on iOS. Heck, some even arrive this year in tandem with their release on the iPhone.
It’s good to see, and it means there’s plenty to try out when you upgrade to watchOS 11. Let’s take a look.
Watch FacesThere are two new watch faces coming this year. As part of the Apple Watch Series 10 unveiling, Apple announced the Flux and Reflections watch faces. Flux features what the company calls a “bold graphic design” with numbers that take up the whole screen. As the seconds tick by, color fills the screen from the bottom up. It’s nice enough, but maybe on the lower end of the inventive scale.
The new Flux face. Source: Apple.
Then there’s Reflections, which features a simple hand design in front of a metallic-like dial. The gimmick here is that the dial will change and shimmer to imitate real metal as you turn your wrist. This is a clever effect and the first of its kind for the Apple Watch. I’d love to see these sorts of subtle reactions come to more watch faces in the future.
The new Reflection face. Source: Apple.
A few years ago, Apple proudly stated that the Photos face is their most popular watch face. In watchOS 8, the company introduced the Portraits face to take advantage of depth data within your photos, making the subject interact with the digital time. Well, the Portraits watch face is no more, as those features have now been merged into the Photos face, which is also seeing some upgrades.
When you first edit an existing Portraits or Photos watch face, you will be prompted to upgrade to the new Photos face in the Watch app on your iPhone. This is where the creation and editing tools for this watch face now reside. You can keep an existing Portraits watch face intact, which you may wish to do since there are only three very condensed fonts available in the new Photos watch face.
Try to edit your photos face and this is what you’ll get.
You can add up to two text complications to the Photos face and choose whether you want to use just one photo or have your Apple Watch shuffle through several that you specify, just like before.
Creating a new photos face in the Watch app on iOS.
Where this watch face gets its supposed upgrade is the way it chooses how your selection of photos is displayed. You can choose your preferred font and a style (basically, a tint) to be applied, but if you set the time size to ‘Dynamic,’ the position and size of the digital time will change to compliment the subject’s position in the current photo. Apple uses machine learning to do this and claims that if you choose a category of photos to shuffle through, such as ‘People,’ it will select the best pictures based on facial expressions, aesthetics, and composition.
The new Photos watch face gets very mixed results.
When I tried this watch face, it occasionally chose a picture that didn’t fit in – like a picture of me instead of my wife and daughter – or the subject appeared behind the time. It also seems to struggle with landscapes, especially when a tint is applied. But with faces, it works fine, I guess.
Look, I don’t wish to sound down on these watch faces because they are nice. It’s just hard not to feel a bit disappointed with what feels like such a minor update to one popular watch face, along with two subtle new ones. Really, what I want is third-party watch faces, or at least some daring new designs to choose from. Remember last year when we got that incredible Snoopy watch face?
Say goodbye to Numerals, Siri, Chronograph watch faces.
There are actually fewer watch faces in watchOS 11 than before. In addition to Portraits and Photos combining into one watch face, the Siri watch face is gone, as are Explorer, Numerals, and Chronograph (though Chronograph Pro still exists).
For once, it’s all a bit quiet on the watch face front, which is frankly a bit disheartening.
Check InCheck In was introduced last year in iOS 17. I’ve used it quite a few times when cycling home from work as peace of mind for my wife. If I’m not home by the expected time, she will receive a notification to check in with me, along with my location, battery level, and more.
Check In in the Messages app.
watchOS 11 brings the feature to the Messages app for watchOS, the same place it appears on iOS. More importantly, though, Check In has also been added to workouts.
When I start an outdoor cycling workout on my Apple Watch as I head home, I can swipe right on the workout screen to show the controls, then scroll down to tap the Check In button. From there, I can Check In with my wife after a certain amount of time, when I arrive at a specific location, or when my workout ends.
Check In when doing a workout.
The Apple Watch even takes Check In to the next level by adding the ability to let my wife know if my speed dramatically increases or my heart rate drops to an unusually low level. Thankfully, I have not needed these features yet, but I can foresee many people using Check In on a cellular Apple Watch, leaving their iPhone at home, and heading out for a late-night run.
The ability to start a Check In when you’re not connected to your iPhone but have a Wi-Fi or cellular connection is also welcome. Lastly, you can have your Apple Watch remind you to send a Check In to someone every time you start an outdoor workout. This is perfect for when I forget to do so manually, which is about 50% of the time.
Check In is a great feature, but I would still like to see the option to send your live location along with your Check In. My family can, of course, use the Find My app for this, but not everyone wants to share their location with their friends and family all the time, so an option to do so temporarily within Check In would be a good addition.
Hiking RoutesApple loves talking about – and even raising money for – the U.S. national parks – so much so that they have an annual national park-themed activity challenges to earn special awards. This year, they brought their love of national parks to a new Hiking Routes feature in the Maps app on iOS. You can create your own custom routes, too, but the thousands of built-in hikes you can browse through are all located in U.S. national parks.
Browsing, searching, and viewing a hiking route on iOS.
To be clear, hiking trails and trailheads aren’t new this year, despite what Apple implies. They’ve just been given more prominence and curation.
When viewing a U.S. national park in the maps app on iOS, you can find hikes by bringing up the search bar and typing “Hikes” or by tapping on ‘Hikes’ under the ‘Find Nearby’ section. (This option disappears when looking at locations outside the U.S.) You can also find hikes by tapping on a trailhead on the map and seeing which hikes it is a part of. When you find a hiking route you like, you can then add it to your library and also get directions to its start.
Once you add a route to your library, that’s where the Apple Watch comes in. From the Maps app on your Apple Watch, you can see a route’s duration, length, and elevation. When you are near enough, you can tap ‘Go’ to start turn-by-turn directions with optional voice guidance.
The library is new to the Maps app. This is where you can browse your saved routes.
Details of your route. When you’re nearby just hit go!
It’s also possible to save these routes to your Apple Watch for offline use. This process is not clearly explained, but you need to download the route to your iPhone first. Then, in my experience, the route will sync over whenever my Series 9 darn well feels like it.
This sort of vagueness would be frustrating if I were just about to head out on a hike and wanted to leave my iPhone behind. Why introduce such a great feature and make its setup process so opaque? There should really be a button next to each route in the iOS Maps app that syncs the route to your Apple Watch.
Creating a custom route in the Maps app on iOS. You can do this anywhere in the world, like this random route in New York.
You can also create your own routes on your iPhone by using a trailhead or any landmark as a starting point and then simply tapping around the map. The route will snap to the nearest pedestrian route, such as paths or roads. This is perfect for creating a route for a lovely country walk wherever you are in the world and then leaving your iPhone at home to truly take a break from your online life.
When I was able to download a route to my watch, I enjoyed the experience, even using it once for a cycling route. However, the unreliability of the offline syncing between my iPhone and Apple Watch is disappointing. I’d also like the option to turn a map from a walking workout I’ve previously completed into a saveable route in the Maps app.
TranslationI’m perfectly primed to take advantage of the Translation app’s transition to the Apple Watch: my wife is Spanish, and only a couple of her family members speak English. I also have a three-year-old who is rapidly overtaking my ability to speak the language.
I frequently use the app on iOS to quickly translate a word, tell me how to say a phrase in Spanish, or sometimes have an entire back-and-forth conversation using the Conversation tab. The iOS app is clean, easy to use, and very fast at translating. I’m excited about the watchOS version because it puts the app on my wrist, making it even easier to access.
The Translate app on iOS is excellent.
To be perfectly honest, if you’ve already been using the Translate app on iOS, there isn’t a whole lot more to talk about here. The watchOS version is missing camera translation (unsurprisingly) and the conversation feature. My guess is that Apple thought having two people huddle together over a watch screen might be too much. Otherwise, all the other Translate features are present, including your favorites, which sync between your watch and iPhone.
The Translate app on watchOS is identical to iOS. Just compare with the previous image.
To translate a word or phrase, you simply select the language you speak and the one you want to translate to, then tap the microphone button. (You can change the default input to the on-screen keyboard, should you wish.) When you’re finished speaking, you can tap the stop button or wait a couple of seconds for the app to automatically stop listening. Your translation will appear, and you can tap either language’s version to hear it phonetically or swipe right to add it to your favorites.
If you don’t have headphones connected to your Apple Watch, the translation’s audio will play through the device’s speaker, which I appreciate. I certainly don’t want to have to reach for my AirPods anytime I want to hear a Spanish phrase.
The Translate app comes with a final touch I appreciate, and it involves the Smart Stack. When you travel to another country, the Smart Stack will suggest the Translate widget automatically, giving you handy access to the appropriate translation you might need.
The Translate widget (left), and the suggested widget when you travel to another country. It’s a great touch.
Writing this section was hilariously straightforward because the Translate app is just the iOS version running on the Apple Watch. But let me be clear: this isn’t a dig at Apple in any way. The Translate app on the iPhone works brilliantly; now, it also works brilliantly on the Apple Watch. Job well done.
Additional OS FeaturesUltra Wideband Home Keys
Up to this point, a home key on the Apple Watch has allowed you to use the device’s NFC chip to unlock supported smart door locks by tapping them. In watchOS 11, you can now leverage the Apple Watch’s Ultra Wideband chip to unlock doors hands-free as you approach.
This sounds great, but there’s a twist: no door locks currently support this feature, and none will until the release of a standard called Aliro in 2025. So great job, Apple, for getting ahead of the game, but this isn’t anything to get too excited about just yet – especially when we can’t see how reliably it will work. (For an explanation of Aliro and this possibly tactical move by Apple, check out this video from Eric Welander.)
Enhanced Ticketing
This is another feature that I haven’t been able to test and won’t be able to until companies start rolling it out. Enhanced ticketing allows issuers to add much more information to tickets in your watchOS wallet.
This feature, also launching on iOS, can include extra information like an event guide, directions to parking, venue open and start times, and more.
As with many new features this year, the Smart Stack also has a role to play: a Live Activity for an event will start when you arrive at its location so you can quickly get information like your seat number. This all sounds great, but no one has rolled this out yet, so its usefulness remains to be seen.
Indian Script Support
There is now support for showing the time in a variety of Indian scripts on certain watch faces. The nine Indian scripts are Bengali, Gujarati, Gurmukhi, Kannada, Malayalam, Meitei, Odia, Ol Chiki, and Telugu. These can be used in three different languages (Burmese, Khmer, Urdu) and are supported on the Astronomy, California, Memoji, Modular, Modular Duo, Modular Compact, Utility, World Time, and X-Large watch faces.
Maybe it’s because I’m used to staring at boring western numerals every day but these look beautiful.
I’m not fluent in any of these languages whatsoever, but having used scripts like these in design materials before, I must say that they are very nicely crafted.
Double Tap
The Double Tap feature introduced in watchOS 10 is now more functional. You can use it to scroll through almost any app, such as the Activity app with its various screens or a third-party app like CARROT. This feature is automatically available in all apps, but developers can also take advantage of a new Double Tap API to control specific parts of their apps. I’ve been testing a few apps that have done so, which I’ve featured in the Tidbits and Extras chapter.
This is one of those accessibility features that will hugely benefit users with limited mobility as well as regular users like myself. I hope to see it expand even further in the coming years with more functionality – maybe a tap-and-hold gesture, or even a triple tap.
Tidbits and ExtrasSmall Tweaks and TidbitsOne of the fun parts of any OS release is spotting the smaller tweaks and extras. They can be fun, helpful, or potentially even annoying, no matter their seemingly trivial nature.
This year is no different, with many interesting tidbits scattered across watchOS 11.
- Swimming workouts will now display the water temperature if you’re wearing an Apple Watch Series 10 or Apple Watch Ultra 2 .
- The new AirPods Pro 2 hands-free gestures on iOS – which let you say yes with a nod or no with a head shake – also work with automatic workout prompts on the Apple Watch. Nice.
- When you are in the Sleep Focus and want to unlock your Apple Watch, you only need to press the Digital Crown instead of holding it down for a few seconds like in watchOS 10.
- Similarly, if you have the water lock on, you only need to hold down the Digital Crown for about one second to turn it off, as opposed to around three seconds in watchOS 10.
- The small Now Playing icon that appears at the top of the watch face now gently pulsates when media is playing and stops when it’s paused.
- Full-screen notifications now have a subtle fade-in and scale-up effect.
- Scrolling down with the Digital Crown from the watch face will now pull your notifications down from the top of the screen.
- watchOS 11 includes the ability to change the system ringtone and set separate ringtones for different apps like Calendar and Reminders.
The new Quick Switch menu on the Apple Watch Ultra will be a favourite for Ultra fans. The new stopwatch (left) and timer (right) apps.
- When you start multiple timers, they appear as widget-shaped tiles in the Timers app. Previously, you had to swipe through full-screen timers; having them in a scrollable list is much better for access and glanceability. It also enables you to quickly swipe to delete each one. Each timer also shows up as a widget in the Smart Stack.
- The Stopwatch app’s white background has been replaced with a black one that’s easier on the eyes.
- The Action button on the Apple Watch Ultra has a useful new feature: holding it down brings up the Quick Switch menu, allowing you to quickly reassign it without going into the Settings app. You can adjust the options shown in the Quick Switch menu in Settings.
- Tap to Cash, the feature announced for the iPhone that allows you to transfer money by tapping two devices together, is also available on the Apple Watch.
The new Remote app (left and right) and the only part of Apple Intelligence coming to watchOS: notification summaries.
- The Remote app for your Apple TV gains the ability to control the power and volume, as well as use Siri hold-to-talk.
- While the Apple Watch will not get any Apple Intelligence features for the foreseeable future, it will be able to mirror summarised notifications from the iPhone when Apple Intelligence launches with iOS 18.1.
Third-Party AppsThe last piece of the puzzle in all of Apple’s platforms is third-party apps. Now more than ever, their importance in shaping the platforms is beyond doubt, so I’d like to feature updates to a few indie apps that are using some of the new watchOS APIs.
Oxpecker
Oxpecker is a Mastodon client built exclusively for the Apple Watch. You can do quite a lot with it, from scrolling your timeline to replying to posts to viewing your notifications.
Its latest update supports Double Tap, but developer Vincent Neo has gone further by making it very customizable. Within the app’s settings, you can choose what Double Tap does when the app is open. You can choose from scrolling (the default), creating a post, viewing the nearest visible post, and refreshing your timeline.
As good as this new functionality is, it does cry out for Apple to add more variations to the tapping gesture so you both can scroll and create a new post without touching your screen.
Zenitizer
From Manuel Kehl, Zenitizer is a clutter-free meditation app for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and even Vision Pro. With its latest release, the app now supports interactive widgets, Live Activities, and Double Tap. There are two widget options: one showing your daily goal and a group widget to launch up to three different meditations.
When you tap any of the meditations in the group widget, the app will launch and start the selected meditation. It then will launch a Live Activity in the Smart Stack that includes the current stage of the meditation and a stop button.
As if that wasn’t enough, Double Tap now works within the app to quickly start or stop a meditation. It’s great upgrade all around.
Actionary
A simple app for glanceable health stats like heart rate, steps, and cardio fitness, Actionary has embraced the new group widget displaying the three most recent metrics.
µBrowser
As far as I know, this is the only browser available for the Apple Watch. You can enter a URL and scroll through almost any website, all on your wrist.
The latest update, developer Arno Appenzeller adds a new group widget containing either three bookmarked sites or your three most recently visited sites. And because watchOS supports scrolling in any app with Double Tap, you can scroll down a webpage hands-free. I’m not suggesting this means you can secretly scroll through websites in boring work meetings, but I’m not not suggesting it.
Wrist Pipe
This app is built to be a stand-in for a pitch pipe. It’s a utility that helps you tune your instruments and includes the ability to store many different set lists.
In the latest update, developer David Freeman has added the ability to play the selected pitch with Double Tap. I imagine this would be perfect for times when your opposite hand is busy holding an instrument.
Chronicling
Chronicling, by Rebecca Owen, allows you to track anything in your life. The latest update for watchOS 11 adds an interactive widget to log an event directly from the Smart Stack. It also includes Double Tap support to log the event that’s currently on-screen in the app.
ConclusionThis is my first watchOS review, and to be honest, I wasn’t fully sure what to expect going in. Alex has done such a great job with previous releases that I just wanted to provide a good enough experience for readers that they wouldn’t come banging down the doors at MacStories HQ (a fictional place that should definitely exist), asking him to return to reviewing watchOS.
One aspect of the review I didn’t expect was the sheer scale of what there was to cover. I think there were two reasons for this. On the one hand, there is far more to these operating systems that we use every day than we realize; we only use the parts that we need. On the other hand, this has been a bumper year not just for watchOS but for the Apple Watch as a whole. (Just don’t tell the Apple Watch Ultra.)
The Series 10’s form factor underwent notable changes, and charging speeds and screen viewing angles were upgraded. On the software side, there was something new in almost every corner of the OS.
Training Load and Fitness app upgrades improve how we exercise. Vitals can help us sleep better (and that’s to say nothing of the just-released sleep apnea detection capabilities). The Smart Stack is fully smart now and creates an Apple Watch that is even more adaptable to our current situations. Then there’s Translate and Check In that make their way over from our iPhones and land successfully on the Apple Watch. Even Double Tap is more useful.
It’s a really expansive update. There is one outlier, however.
In his review of watchOS 10 last year, Alex praised the new Smart Stack but lamented the reassignment of Control Center to the side button without any UI changes. He suggested that Apple may not have had enough time to update it and watchOS 11 could see some refinement. Well, spoiler alert: they haven’t touched it.
This is the one significant part of watchOS that Apple has completely ignored, and it’s starting to show its age. In the same year the company introduced interactive widgets in the Smart Stack, the Control Center does exactly the same thing it has done for – checks notes – seven years. This really has to change in watchOS 12, and seeing how much work has been poured into watchOS 11, I’m hopeful that Apple has the bandwidth to take a real run at it.
Now back to the good part. Reading the fantastic conclusion to Federico’s iOS and iPadOS 18 review, I was struck by what he described as his interest in people. The Apple Watch has always been a very personal device – it tracks your heart rate, for goodness sake – but so many of the changes in watchOS 11 are designed to make fundamental differences for the people who wear an Apple Watch.
Of course, the fitness elements are very much aimed at people, but take a look at all the other new additions. Pregnancy tracking aims not only to keep track of a pregnancy, but also to help with things like heart rate monitoring and mental health. Check In is meant to help you feel safe when you’re out and about. Translation is now here to help you communicate better with people who don’t speak your native tongue. Finally, the Smart Stack adjusts to what’s happening in your day.
All of these features are focused on people and their interactions with each other and the world around them.
It’s also notable that while so much coming from Apple right now seems focused on that other thing, watchOS 11 is almost entirely plowing its own furrow. It arrives complete and ready to go. As someone who’s been using the iOS and iPadOS 18 betas over the summer, it’s been great not to have to wait for the other shoe to drop for watchOS.
There is a lot to enjoy about this year’s release, and the past three months I’ve been using it have been fun. Almost all of the features relevant to me (again, I can’t enjoy the miracle of pregnancy) have stuck after I tried using them. I feel that the Apple Watch is more relevant than ever, and judging from this release, so does Apple – which makes me happy.
CreditsThis is my first year reviewing watchOS, and it is by far the biggest project I’ve ever undertaken. It could not have been done without chocolate, the music of Eels, and the following people (cats are people):
- L&L, my girls. Thank you for the amazing love and support you always give me, as well as making me laugh more than anyone possibly could.
- Nina and Ella, for keeping me company while I wrote and bringing me that dead mouse once.
- My family, and in particular my parents, for the lifelong support of my nerdy tendencies. Thanks for introducing me to a Macintosh 30 years ago, Dad.
- Federico and John, for your patience, support, and for having faith in me to do this. You constantly inspire.
- Devon, for being an incredible editor and offering suggestions that are genuinely helping me do good words and write more pretty.
- Niléane, we’ve been on the team for a year now, and it’s been so much fun doing it with you.
- Paul Stockton, for walking around for ages trying to test out a feature for me.
- Jonathan (no, the other one), for getting me that Vitals screenshot.
- All the app developers for doing awesome work and in particular those who sent me betas to test.
- Ulysses, Remind Me Faster, Shortcuts, Apple Notes, Reeder Classic, Omnivore, Photoshop, and Blender. Awesome apps that got this done.
- Everyone at Apple who keeps plugging away at these great features for the Apple Watch. Can’t wait to see what’s next (sleep debt tracking and recovery scores?!)
- Every Club MacStories member for supporting everything we do here.
- Our amazing Discord members. As Community Manager, you make it easy; I’ve not come close to kicking any of you. You’re so nice, smart, and considerate of one another. The Internet could learn a lot from you.
And of course, you, dear reader. You made it this far and even read the credits. Kudos. You get a gold star and my eternal gratitude.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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A short time ago, Federico published his annual iOS and iPadOS 18 review. As in past years, we’re releasing a wide variety of perks exclusively for Club MacStories members throughout the week, but this year, the perks are a little different – just like the review.
Here’s our friend Chris Lawley with the details:
First of all, we’re releasing this week’s episode of AppStories+ to everyone who listens to the show for free.
AppStories+ is the extended version of our flagship podcast that’s typically released a day early and ad-free in high-bitrate audio. The show is part of a Club Premier or AppStories+ subscription, but this week, everyone gets the extended version of the show. If you’re not a subscriber, you’ll still get an ad with the episode (we do have bills to pay), but you’ll also get the full extended version of the episode in high bitrate audio, just like subscribers. It’s our way of saying thanks to everyone who has listened to AppStories through the years and share why this year’s review is not just different, but part of an editorial evolution of MacStories.
As Chris explains in his video, we have an eBook version of the review for all Club members. We’ll also publish a special making-of edition of MacStories Weekly, our Club newsletter, on Saturday.
If you’re not already a member, you can join Club MacStories for $5/month or $50/year using the buttons below:
Join Annual$50/yearJoin Monthly$5/month
A short sample of one of the six screen savers for Club Plus and Premier members.
Also, this year, there will be even more perks than ever for Club MacStories Plus and Premier members, including:
- More eBooks of my macOS Sequoia review, Jonathan Reed’s watchOS 11 review, and Devon Dundee’s visionOS 2 review;
- A bonus eBook that collects tips and tricks from Federico’s iOS and iPadOS 18 review;
- High-res wallpapers of the delightful illustrations created for Federico’s review by Scout Wilkinson; and
- A screen saver developed by James Thomson that brings Scout’s artwork to life on your Mac.
To unlock all of these additional perks, use the buttons below to join Club MacStories Plus:
Join Annual$100/yearJoin Monthly$10/monthor Club Premier:
Join Annual$120/yearJoin Monthly$12/month
Now more than ever, an indie publication like MacStories depends on income from members who want to directly support what we do and our ability to collaborate with people like Scout and James more often. As always, though, we aim to provide as much value as we can to Club members, so we have more details after the break, for anyone who wants to learn more about this year’s perks and Club MacStories before joining.
Club-Wide Review PerksThe eBookiOS and iPadOS 18: The MacStories Review. The eBook version of Federico’s review is fully interactive, complete with all the images and videos. The review is a great read on the web, where you can enjoy its special navigation features, but the eBook is an excellent alternative, especially for sitting back with your iPad and Apple Books, where you can take notes, highlight passages, and enjoy Scout Wilkinson’s wonderful illustrations.
Also (because we are asked this a lot), if you read the eBooks in Apple Books and want to zoom in to get a close look at any of the illustrations or screenshots, double-tap images on iOS devices (or double-click on the Mac) to open a full-sized version.
Federico’s iOS and iPadOS 18 review is available now as a free download exclusively for members of Club MacStories who can access them from their member downloads page.
MacStories WeeklyIn Saturday’s edition of MacStories Weekly, Federico will share his annual ‘Making Of’ story. This year’s review was a big departure in format and style from prior years. In his column, Federico will explore what led him to take a different approach and what it means to MacStories and the Club.
You can join Club MacStories for $5/month or $50/year using the buttons below:
Join Annual$50/yearJoin Monthly$5/monthClub MacStories includes year-round perks too. In addition to the special iOS and iPadOS 18 review perks, Club MacStories features:
- MacStories Weekly, a weekly newsletter with our favorite iOS and Mac apps, tips and in-depth automation tutorials, exclusive stories, interviews, and more.
- The Monthly Log, a monthly newsletter with behind-the-scenes stories from the MacStories team delivered at the end of each month.
- An early, ad-free, high-bitrate audio version of MacStories Unwind, the podcast that Federico and I record weekly. MacStories Unwind is a fun exploration of the differences between American and Italian culture and recommends media we enjoy, including books, movies, TV shows, music, and videogames.
Club MacStories Plus and Premier PerksWe have exclusive review perks for Club Plus and Premier members, too.
Three More OS eBooks and an iOS and iPadOS 18 Tips and Tricks eBookClub Plus and Premier members get eBooks of every OS.
We’ve created eBook versions of my macOS Sequoia review, Jonathan Reed’s watchOS 11 review, and Devon Dundee’s visionOS review. All three books will be released over the course of the next two days alongside the publication of the related reviews on MacStories. As with Federico’s review, the eBook versions of the other OS reviews are a fantastic way to sit back and soak in the details of everything that Apple released today for the Mac, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro.
Federico has also created a bonus eBook that compiles the best iOS and iPadOS 18 tips and tricks from his review;
Club members old and new will be able to download the books from their Club downloads page.
Wallpapers and Screen SaversOne of the six screen savers created from the illustrations in Federico’s iOS and iPadOS 18 review.
Scout Wilkinson’s artwork is so wonderful that we’ve released it to Club Plus and Premier members as high-resolution wallpapers. There are a total of six colorful wallpapers for the iPad and Mac. Federico’s been using them for a while now in full resolution on his Lock Screen and blurred on his Home Screen, and they look fantastic.
Also, Procreate automatically generates a time-lapse of an artist’s work, and when Scout showed us the time-lapses of the review’s illustrations, we were mesmerized. With the help from James Thomson, we’ve brought those time-lapses to life for Club Plus and Premier members as macOS screen savers. There are six total screen savers that can be played at random, or you can pick your favorite to play every time your Mac’s screen sleeps. There are even speed controls for the playback.
These screen savers are really something special. It’s fascinating to watch Scout’s creative process play out in front of you in high-resolution as the illustrations take shape from rough sketches to the polished finished product.
By joining Club Plus or Premier, you’ll get everything. Federico’s eBook, our special edition of MacStories Weekly, three additional eBooks of our other OS reviews, full-res illustrated wallpapers, and macOS screen savers by Scout Wilkinson.
Join Club MacStories Plus:
Join Annual$100/yearJoin Monthly$10/monthJoin Club Premier:
Join Annual$120/yearJoin Monthly$12/monthOf course, as a Club Plus or Premier member, you’ll also receive access to our vibrant Discord community, special audio events that are held in the Discord community after Apple events and released as a Club-only podcast, bonus columns from Federico and me, an advanced version of the Club website that includes advanced search and filtering controls, custom RSS feeds of Club articles, and more. And, for just $2/month or $20/year more, Premier members get AppStories+ too, the extended, ad-free, high-bitrate audio version of our flagship podcast, which is released early most weeks.
Today is the culmination of a lot of work by Federico and the entire MacStories team. Every year, we try to make our reviews extra special for readers of the site and Club members who want even more of the iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and visionOS coverage that we’re known for. Thanks as always for reading MacStories and to our Club members who help us continue to do what we love.
Also, a special thanks to Scout Wilkinson and James Thomson for bringing Federico’s review to life this year. This review means a lot to us because it’s more than just a review of iOS and iPadOS 18. It also represents our vision of the future of the web as a place where individual creativity thrives and is celebrated. Our mission is to do everything we can to help make that a reality, and we hope you’ll consider helping us achieve our goal by signing up for the Club.
Thanks, and happy reading from the entire MacStories team.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
If you haven’t heard of Copilot yet, it’s time to check out Apple’s Editors Choice award-winning money tracker app. Copilot makes it simple to monitor your finances while providing valuable insights.
Their native iPhone and Mac apps can do it all: you can track your spending, budgets, investments, and net worth all in one place, allowing you to drill into the details without losing sight of the big picture.
In the Apple community, Copilot is known for staying in sync with new iOS launches, from responsive widgets to tinted icons ready for iOS18. Beyond beautiful design and functionality, Copilot’s mission is to build a future where everyone has a clear picture of their finances, without all the anxiety. Where anyone can reclaim their data from the banks to build their own plan for achieving their goals — with confidence and trust in their tools for doing so.
Copilot’s new Cash Flow section brings them closer to that vision. It focuses on three key areas: income, spending, and net income. You can easily compare your progress over different time frames to see how your financial habits stack up month-to-month or even week-to-week.
For a limited time, MacStories readers can get a special two-month free trial by using the code MACSTORIES when signing up. Visit their website to learn more and download Copilot from the App Store to get started today.
Our thanks to Copilot for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
Sigmund and Devon break down the exciting announcements from Apple’s It’s Glowtime event and grade their event predictions.
It’s all challenge this week as the gang brings (and defends) their phone home screens. Rules were followed by all, but of course there’s a little twist this time as well.
This week, as we approach the release of Apple’s updated OSes, Federico and I check in on where our reviews stand and the one distraction we’ve both allowed ourselves in the final stretch.
Magic Rays of Light, Episode 136, ‘It’s Glowtime Event Recap’ Show NotesIt’s Glowtime Recap* It’s Glowtime Event * Apple Announces the New Apple Watch Series 10 and a New Color for the Apple Watch Ultra 2 * Apple Announces AirPods 4, Minor AirPods Max Update, and New AirPods 2 Features * Apple Unveils New Health Features Coming to the Apple Watch and AirPods Pro 2 * iPhone 16 and 16 Pro: The MacStories Overview * Maybe I’m Not a Pro Anymore
Apple TV News* Hue Play HDMI sync box 8K
Trailer Talk* The Last of the Sea Women
Apple Original News* Blitz Screenings
Extras* Shot on iPhone 16 Pro: The Weeknd – “Dancing in the Flames”
Up Next* Robot Dreams * The Lion King * Star Wars: A New Hope
Comfort Zone, Episode 15, ‘Don’t You Want to Be Anxious?’ Show NotesWeekly Topics* Niléane’s home screen * Chris’s home screen * Matt’s home screen
Other Stuff We Discussed* Matt explaining his iPhone on Home Screens
Follow the Hosts* Chris on YouTube * Matt on Birchtree * Niléane on Mastodon * Comfort Zone on Mastodon
MacStories Unwind, ‘Are We There Yet?’ Show NotesLinks and Show NotesAn OS Review Vibe Check* Coming Soon on MacStories
Picks* Federico and John’s Joint Pick: * Astro Bot on the PS5
MacStories Unwind+We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.
To learn more about the benefits of a Club MacStories subscription, visit our Plans page.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Next week is going to be fun. Not only is every OS being updated on Monday, but Apple is opening up the iPad to alternative app marketplaces and browser engines in the EU according to a post by the company on its developer news site.
You may recall that in April, the European Commission has added iPadOS to the products and services subject to the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Before then, the DMA only applied to the iPhone, meaning that, if you live in the EU, changes to iOS, like browser default choices and alternative app marketplaces, are currently only available on your iPhone. That changes on Monday, according to Apple:
Starting September 16:
- Users in the EU can download iPadOS apps on the App Store and through alternative distribution. As mentioned in May, if you have entered into the Alternative Terms Addendum for Apps in the EU, iPadOS first annual installs will begin to accrue and the lower App Store commission rate will apply.
- Alternative browser engines can be used in iPadOS apps.
- Historical App Install Reports in App Store Connect that can be used with our fee calculator will include iPadOS.
It’s good to see this change happening alongside the update to iPadOS. The App Store and browser experiences on iOS and iPadOS are effectively the same, and having that be different based on which platform users were on didn’t make much sense. It may have taken a nudge by the EC to make it happen, but it’s the right call for Apple’s EU customers.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Apple’s Craig Federighi was interviewed by Wired about the company’s Private Cloud Compute infrastructure that will handle Apple Intelligence requests that can’t be handled locally on-device. Federighi told Wired’s Lily Hay Newman:
What was really unique about the problem of doing large language model inference in the cloud was that the data had to at some level be readable by the server so it could perform the inference. And yet, we needed to make sure that that processing was hermetically sealed inside of a privacy bubble with your phone. So we had to do something new there. The technique of end-to-end encryption—where the server knows nothing—wasn’t possible here, so we had to come up with another solution to achieve a similar level of security.
Still, Apple says that it offers “end-to-end encryption from the user’s device to the validated PCC nodes, ensuring the request cannot be accessed in transit by anything outside those highly protected PCC nodes.” The system is architected so Apple Intelligence data is cryptographically unavailable to standard data center services like load balancers and logging devices. Inside a PCC cluster, data is decrypted and processed, but Apple emphasizes that once a response is encrypted and sent on its journey to the user, no data is retained or logged and none of it is ever accessible to Apple or its individual employees.
PCC is a complex system that leverages technologies that Apple has developed like the Secure Enclave, Secure Boot, and Trusted Execution Monitor to ensure customer privacy. Those technologies are backstopped by making every PCC server publicly available for inspection and verification by third parties. That said, Wired spoke to security researchers and cryptography experts who told the publication that although PCC looks promising, they hadn’t spent significant time studying it yet.
Cloud-based privacy is a tough problem to solve. I’m keen to hear what independent researchers think of Apple’s solution, once they’ve had more time to evaluate it. If PCC is as robust as Apple claims, it’s the sort of thing I could see Apple turning into a standalone product as worldwide regulation pushes tech companies to offer better privacy protections for their customers.
→ Source: wired.com
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week, Federico and John finish their tour of the apps they use for work and play to be productive.
On AppStories+, Federico has an iPad surprise for John.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Memberful – Help Your Clients Monetize Their Passion
This week, Anbernic comes through with another retro handheld, PC makers announce new Windows handhelds, an iPhone case built for the Delta emulator, and Federico declares his love for a gaming pillow.
AppStories, ‘Productivity Powerhouses (Part 2)’ Show NotesAppStories+ Pre-Show* An iPad Surprise: + 11” iPad Pro with cellular data and a nano-texture glass
Productivity Powerhouses (Part 2)* Follow-Up + Reeder + Reeder Classic + Lire + Also mentioned - Unread - GoodLinks - Omnivore * Read Later, Automation, Media, and More + Federico - Readwise Reader - Clip from AltStore on iOS - Shortcuts - Sofa - Unwatched and Play for video + John - Readwise Reader - Raycast - Airtable - Dropover - Sequel
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, a video experiment, I have iPad Pro follow-up, and Federico has technical follow-up and a question for listeners about streaming videogames over Wi-Fi.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
NPC, Episode 8, ‘Pillow Talk’ Show NotesThe Latest Portable Gaming News Anbernic 406V * Philips Hue Play HDMI sync box 8K + The new Philips Hue Play HDMI sync box 8K amps up the immersive entertainment experience * Retroid Pocket 5 Handheld Revealed With All New Style & Ergonomics * Pre-Order Dates & Pricing For Retroid Pocket 5 & Mini Finally Announced + Editor’s Note:* Pricing details were released after NPC was recorded * MSI Claw 8 AI+ with Intel Lunar Lake to feature 80Wh battery and two Thunderbolt 4 ports * Acer’s first handheld gaming PC is the Nitro Blaze * Acer’s Project DualPlay concept laptop has a pop-out controller and speakers * The Legion Ecosystem Expands with New Monitors and a Host of Lenovo Legion Go Accessories * Nintendo can’t repair your New 3DS because it ran out of parts * Bitmo Lab Opens Pre-Orders for a Delta Emulator-Friendly iPhone Case * More Weird iPhone Controllers, Please * Let’s turn Nothing’s $200 phone into a 3D-printed marvel + CMF by Nothing Phone 1/MakerWorld Contest * Also mentioned + AmbiOdin + PortMaster + PortMaster Starter Guide
Gaming Pillows* AboveTEK Tablet Pillow Stand * Mechanism Gaming Pillow * Also mentioned: + Viture Pro Mobile Dock + Acrylic Magic Keyboard and Trackpad Support Stand
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Apple’s presentation moved fast yesterday, and since the event concluded, more details have emerged about everything announced. We’ve been combing Apple’s product pages, social media, and other sources to learn more about everything announced, which we’ve collected below:
- As reported by Juli Clover at MacRumors, FineWoven iPhone cases are no longer for sale, but the material continues to be used for Apple Watch bands, MagSafe Wallets, and AirTag Key Rings.
- Clover also reports that mmWave 5G technology is still limited to iPhones sold in the U.S.
- 9to5Mac’s Filipe Espósito reports that all iPhone 16 models include Wi-Fi 7 support.
- According to Joe Rossignol of MacRumors, all iPhone 16 models have 8GB of memory.
- Apple went all-in on Watch bands with six new types and almost 40 new colors, according to MacRumors’ Harley Charlton.
- Another detail reported at MacRumors by Clover: Beats has entered the iPhone case business for the first time with a polycarbonate case that comes in four colors with support for MagSafe and the iPhone 16’s new Camera Control button.
- Apple released an update to its Human Interface Guidelines for the iPhone 16’s new Camera Control button UI.
- Apple’s satellite-based services are being expanded to the U.K. and Canada, according to MacRumors’ Hartley Charlton.
- Neil Long, writing for mobilegamer.biz, rounds up the games that Apple touted as AAA iPhone gaming experiences during the event, which included some that struggled on the iPhone 15 Pro models.
- The AirPods 4 do not include a USB-C charging cable in the box, according to 9to5Mac’s Filipe Espósito.
You can follow all of our September 2024 Apple event coverage through our September 2024 Apple event hub or subscribe to the dedicated September 2024 Apple event RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Apple just wrapped up their September event revealing a bunch of updates to the Apple Watch, AirPods, and iPhone lineups, and I have only one major takeaway as a person who was absolutely, positively going to get the iPhone 16 Pro if it came in gold: I am seriously considering downgrading to the non-Pro iPhone 16 this time around.
I’ve been an iPhone Pro user since it was first announced — and in some ways even earlier if we consider the iPhone X to be the first true Pro iPhone when it was released alongside the 8. I always went Pro because I take a huge amount of photos with my phone and, despite currently owning four dedicated photography cameras, none beat the ease of use, access, and versatility of the iPhone. It made sense to use the best camera system available. In a lot of ways, I credit the Pro models with keeping me interested in photography throughout all these years, and learning to utilize the different lenses for different scenes and subjects has felt like learning a skill, like the iPhone Pro was helping me become a pro. I truly believe a lot of those skills transferred directly to the photography I create today.
I read a piece by Allison Johnson over the weekend about the base iPhone experience that resonated with me. She wrote:
At the very least, it looks like Apple is about to bring a little more balance back with the iPhone 16 series. I think that’s how it should be — the Pro iPhone should feel like you’re getting something extra, not being cornered into paying more for an essential feature.
It occurred to me watching today’s presentation that this is the first year where the iPhone’s Pro models feel like they were actually made for professionals. The “extras” Allison is referring to used to be the marquee features of the newest lineup — the Dynamic Island, the Action button, etc — but are now seriously professional features. The latest additions and the reasoning behind their inclusion all felt completely alien to me. I kept wondering: how many people will actually use camera options like the ability to dynamically shift the audio mix while recording in ProRes or capturing 4K content in slow motion to use for a music video? It became clear that the reach of what “Pro” means to Apple has outpaced my own photographic use case. I simply went with the Pro models year after year because I liked having a third lens in my kit and also got some kind of fun bonus feature to mess around with, but I don’t think that’s enough of a reason to justify the jump anymore. And that’s okay!
The base iPhone lineup seems to have pretty much everything I could ever need this time around — including the dedicated Camera Control button and the more fun colors I’ve always been so envious of — so the idea of downgrading seems almost prudent despite being a nonstarter for me as early as this very morning. I think I can be perfectly happy with one less lens and Halide’s Process Zero to keep experimenting with. And maybe the limitation of having one less lens will help me grow as a photographer in an entirely new way this time around. That would be nice!
I’m legitimately very happy for the people out there who will get the iPhone 16 Pro and make use of the latest and greatest Apple’s incredible product design teams have to offer, but I think it’s finally time I step down from the precipice of what the iPhone is capable of. In some ways, it feels simpler now, and the “Pro” name has the weight it should have all along. No artificial reasoning behind which features make it to which device, just one iPhone for the people who need it and one iPhone for the rest of us.
I’m fine being lumped into that second bucket this time around.
You can follow all of our September 2024 Apple event coverage through our September 2024 Apple event hub or subscribe to the dedicated September 2024 Apple event RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Source: Apple.
At today’s Glowtime event, Apple unveiled new AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Pro Max with a range of new features.
One of the biggest updates was to the AirPods 4, which now come in two varieties. Both versions look more like the AirPods Pro than before, but without the in-ear silicone tips and are powered by the H2 chip, which Apple says provides better audio range, adaptive EQ, and clearer phone call quality. The AirPods 4 are IP54 rated for sweaty workouts too.
The AirPods 4 also feature a smaller case that can be charged using a USB-C cable or Qi-compatible wireless charger. With the new case, the AirPods 4 have 30 hours of listening, too. The updated headphones also add gestures, allowing users to shake their heads or nod to respond to Siri prompts. Apple says it has updated the force sensor in the device for toggling playback and muting or ending phone calls.
The biggest change, though, is that Apple is offering a second model of the AirPods 4 that includes Active Noise Cancellation. That’s not unheard of in an open-ear style set of headphones, but it’s rare. Apple claims that the AirPods 4’s upgraded microphones and H2 chip allow it to offer noise cancelation as well as Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio, and Conversational Awareness. I’m very keen to see how well these work.
The AirPods 4 can be ordered today for delivery on September 20th. The base model AirPods 4 are $129 and the model with active noise cancelation is $179.
New features were also announced for the AirPods Pro 2 to help prevent hearing loss, test for hearing loss, and assist people with mild to moderate hearing loss. For more on these features, be sure to check out Niléane’s story.
Source: Apple.
Finally, the AirPods Max received a minor update with new colors and USB-C connectivity. The latest iteration of the headphones comes in midnight, blue, purple, orange, and starlight and adds Personalized Spatial Audio too. The price remains $549, with ordering available today for delivery on September 20th.
You can follow all of our September 2024 Apple event coverage through our September 2024 Apple event hub or subscribe to the dedicated September 2024 Apple event RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Going into today’s ‘It’s Glowtime’ event, there were high expectations for a significant redesign for this, the tenth version of the Apple Watch. We’ve been burned before by rumors of a redesign, but thankfully, this year’s rumors turned out to be true. The new Apple Watch Series 10 looks like a noticeable upgrade; however the Apple Watch Ultra wasn’t upgraded and only received a new color option.
Hardware RedesignThe first Apple Watches measured 38mm and 41mm, but their height has gradually increased over the years to 41mm and 45mm, respectively, for last year’s Series 9. This year marks the most dramatic form factor change in many years, as not only do the watch faces get a notable size increase, but the devices themselves are much thinner.
The Series 10 features a larger screen, allowing for more lines of text.
The case overall has more rounded corners, and the sizes have jumped up 1mm each to 42mm and 46mm. With that increase in size, the Series 10 now offers 9% more screen real estate than the Series 9, surpassing even the Apple Watch Ultra 2. The watch features a new wide-angle OLED screen, which Apple claims offers up to 40% more brightness when viewed from an angle. The OLED screen is also now more power efficient, allowing the refresh rate in always-on mode to dramatically increase from once a minute to once a second. This means that watch faces will show ticking second hands and, I’d imagine, more frequent updates to a workout screen when in always-on mode.
The Apple Watch screen is now 40% brighter when viewed at an angle.
The back of the case is now matched in material and color to the rest of the watch, making it seem like the entire case is one single piece of metal. The case’s back is now integrated with the antenna, too, combining two layers into one. The Series 10 is thinner than before, coming in at 9.7mm, 1mm thinner than the Series 9. This was achieved by engineering the new S10 SiP with a thinner profile.
The back of the Apple Watch is now made with the same material and finish as the rest of the case.
As for materials, the Series 10 now comes in glossy, jet-black aluminum, along with an updated rose gold tint and the existing brushed silver variant. This year, the Apple Watch is also available in titanium (which replaces the stainless steel options) with natural, gold, and slate finishes.
All new models are lighter than their previous generations while maintaining the same listed 18-hour battery life. For example, the 42mm titanium Apple Watch is a massive 10 grams lighter than the previous 41mm stainless steel model and 5 grams lighter than the 42mm Series 10.
Depth and Temperature Sensors and a New Tides AppJust like the Apple Watch Ultra, the new Series 10 now includes a water temperature sensor and a depth gauge that measures down to six meters. (The Ultra goes further: up 40 meters.) With that, the Depth app moves over from the Apple Watch Ultra to the Series 10.
The new Tides app for Apple Watch.
Apple is introducing a new Tides app that shows tidal forecasts for the next 7 days for coastlines and surf spots around the world. This includes high and low tides, rising and falling tides, tide height and direction, and sunrise and sunset. The data is all visually presented in the app on a horizontal timeline. Users can see nearby beaches on a map and use complications on their watch faces to show current tide levels.
The company also announced the release of a new app called Oceanic+, developed with Huish Outdoors, that shows details of local snorkeling locations.
Watch Faces and BandsApple revealed two more watch faces today, joining the new Photos watch face in watchOS 11. The first, called Flux, is a simple design with bold numbers and a gauge that fills the screen with each second that passes. The second, Reflections, is designed to complement the reflective titanium cases available for the Series 10 and features a shimmering dial that reacts as you adjust the angle of your watch to make it look more realistic.
Two new watch faces for the Apple Watch.
The Milanese Loop and Link Bracelet bands have been updated with the new colors to match the Series 10, and the Nike Sport Loop and Sport Band are available in new colorways as well. Lastly, Hermès has released four new watch bands, including their first metal band, the Grand H.
Apple Watch Ultra 2The new black titanium finish for the Apple Watch Ultra.
Unfortunately, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 didn’t receive an update and remains on the S9 chip. The only love it saw was the introduction of a sleek new black titanium finish and the new Titanium Milanese Loop. Both of these look incredible, but it’s disappointing not to see any updates to the hardware, especially since the Series 10 received a new processor and a screen that is now larger than the Apple Watch Ultra.
Additional Tidbits* Any Apple Watch Series 10 model with a Sport Loop band, Braided Solo Loop, or Milanese Loop is now carbon neutral. * You can now playback audio through the Apple Watch speakers. It’s unclear if this will be limited to the Series 10. * The Series 10 now uses the Neural Engine and a new voice isolation neural network to reduce background noise during phone calls. * Fast charging is now even faster: up 80% in 30 minutes, down from 45 minutes with the Series 9. * There is a new sleep apnea detection feature, which you can find more details about here.
Final ThoughtsThis year’s updates to the Apple Watch seem very compelling. A lighter and thinner form factor might be enough to tempt many Series 9 owners, not to mention people with older models. Furthermore, there are several small quality-of-life updates that are very welcome, like faster charging and the ability to play audio through the device’s speakers. In contrast, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 looks a little sad, literally just given a fresh coat of paint. Maybe next year will be its time to shine.
You can preorder the Apple Watch Series 10 and the black Apple Watch Ultra 2 now. Both devices will be available starting Friday, September 20th.
You can follow all of our September 2024 Apple event coverage through our September 2024 Apple event hub or subscribe to the dedicated September 2024 Apple event RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Today’s Glowtime online Apple event was packed with facts, figures, and statistics throughout the presentation and elsewhere. We’ve pulled together the highlights.
iPhonesiPhone 16 and 16 Plus
- The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are 6.1” and 6.7”, respectively
- The new 12MP ultra wide lens captures 2.6x more light
- The main camera is 48MP and can take cropped 12MP 2x telephoto images
- 50% stronger ceramic shield on screen
- Brightness ranges from 1 to 2,000 nits
- The A18 uses 35% less energy than the A16 Bionic
- The A18 chip is 40% faster than the A16 Bionic
- The A18 has a 5-core GPU and a 6-core CPU
- The A18 has 17% more system memory bandwidth and a 16-core Neural Engine for 2x faster machine learning tasks
iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max
- 6.3” and 6.9” screens, respectively
- 2x faster ray tracing
- Can shoot 4K video at 120 fps
- 48MP ultra wide camera
- The A18 Pro has a 6-core CPU that is 15% faster than the A17 Pro and uses 20% less power
- The A18 Pro also has a 6-core GPU that is 20% faster and a 16-core Neural Engine that does 35 trillion operations per second
Apple Watch Series 10* The Series 10 comes in 42 and 46mm variants * 30% more screen area compared to previous watches * 40% brighter display at 2,000 nits * the S10 chip has a 64-bit dual core processor and a 4-core Neural Engine * Battery life is up to 36 hours in low power mode * 30% thinner than prior models * 30% smaller speakers * Charges to 80% in 30 minutes * Titanium models weigh 20% less than stainless steel models
AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2AirPods 4
- 30 hours of battery life with new case but only 20 if you use Active Noise Cancelation with the compatible model
- Up to 5 hours of listening time for the standard AirPods 4 and 4 hours with Active Noise cancellation turned on
- 4.5 hours of talk time on both models which increases to 20 hours when the case is accounted for
- Both models use Bluetooth 5.3
AirPods Pro 2
- Up to 6 hours of listening time down to 5.5 hours with head tracking and Spatial audio enabled and adding the case bumps listening time to 30 hours
- Up to 4.5 hours of talk time and adding the case bumps the talk time to 24 hours
- Up to 4 hours of lossless audio when used with the Vision Pro
- 10 minutes charging in the case provides one hour of listening or talk time
You can follow all of our September 2024 Apple event coverage through our September 2024 Apple event hub or subscribe to the dedicated September 2024 Apple event RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Source: Apple.
Today, Apple unveiled this year’s iPhone lineup consisting of four devices: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. There are noteworthy improvements and additions across the line, so let’s dive in to what these phones have to offer.
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 PlusThe iPhone 16 and its larger-screened variant add not one, but two new hardware buttons this year. They also include improved cameras and an important processor bump.
The A18 chip is built on a second-generation 3nm process. It features a six-core CPU with two performance cores and four efficiency cores, a five-core GPU that enables hardware-accelerated ray tracing in games, and Apple’s new 16-core neural engine. Its increased memory and bandwidth make the iPhone 16 capable of running Apple Intelligence, the first non-Pro iPhone to do so. The chip is also more efficient, which, in combination with a bigger battery and better heat dissipation, results in what Apple calls a “big boost” to battery life.
The Action button is the latest iPhone Pro feature to make its way down to the standard line. Everything true of last year’s Action button applies to this one: its size and shape, the fact that it’s physically pressable, and its software capabilities. I imagine many iPhone 16 buyers will just use the Action button as a slightly nicer mute switch, but for those who wish to, they can customize it to open the camera, turn on the flashlight, run Shortcuts, or perform any number of other actions.
Source: Apple.
The other new button on the iPhone 16 is called Camera Control. I was a little surprised by this addition because I predicted that it would be a Pro-exclusive feature for at least a year. Apple refers to it as a “tactile switch,” but whatever you call it, Camera Control includes force sensitivity to tell the difference between a full press and a light one, plus the Taptic Engine to offer haptic feedback when pressed. A press of the Camera Control will open the Camera app, where the button can be pressed again to take a photo, pressed and held to take a video, or lightly pressed to enable a clean preview of the viewfinder with quick access to camera functions including zoom and depth-of-field. Camera functions can be controlled by swiping left and right on the button.
Developers will be able to take advantage of Camera Control in their apps, and it will also integrate with Apple Intelligence later this year in a new feature called visual intelligence. By pressing and holding the Camera Control, users will be able to learn more about the world around them, including a restaurant’s hours or the breed of a passing dog. Visual intelligence will integrate with system apps like the calendar as well, allowing users to create new events based on information from a poster. Finally, Camera Control will optionally allow users to send photo prompts to third-party tools like Google Search and ChatGPT.
The camera system itself is getting some upgrades, too. The Ultra Wide camera now includes autofocus and takes in significantly more light, both improving ultrawide shots and enabling macro photography for the first time on the standard iPhone line. The main camera, now dubbed the 48MP Fusion camera, continues to offer a 2x Telephoto option created by cropping from the center of the camera’s sensor. The cameras have been realigned on the back of the device to enable stereo capture of spatial videos and – new this year for the entire iPhone lineup – spatial photos. Videos captured on the iPhone 16 will include improved sound with Spatial Audio capture and a new Audio Mix feature that separates voices from background noise, enabling users to apply one of three mixing styles (In-Frame, Studio, or Cinematic) to the sound.
In terms of size, shape, and displays, these phones are identical to last year’s iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, though Apple says the protective Ceramic Shield coating on the Super Retina XDR display has been improved. They are available in five color options: black, white, pink, teal, and ultramarine. While the choices are limited, the three colorful finishes look bold and vibrant, a refreshing break from previous color trends on the iPhone.
The iPhone 16 starts at $799 with 128 GB of storage and costs up to $1,099 for the 512 GB version. The iPhone 16 Plus costs $100 more than the iPhone 16 in every configuration. Preorders begin this Friday, September 13, at 5:00 am Pacific time, with deliveries and in-store purchases starting a week later, on September 20.
iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro MaxSource: Apple.
In addition to the new Camera Control, the iPhone 16 Pro and its big sibling offer larger screens, fantastic additions to the camera and audio capture systems, and improved battery life.
Camera Control works the same on the iPhone 16 Pro as it does on the iPhone 16, but the camera system on iPhone 16 Pro is seeing some major improvements this year. The Ultra Wide camera now features a 48MP quad-pixel sensor with autofocus, and the 5x Telephoto camera is now available on both the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. Meanwhile, the 48MP Fusion main camera is faster and more efficient, resulting in zero shutter lag when shooting 48MP ProRAW or HEIF photos. The camera is now capable of filming video at 120 frames per second in 4K Dolby Vision, and it can capture spatial photos in addition to spatial videos
The audio capture system is new this year, featuring four studio-quality mics that record Spatial Audio. The new Audio Mix feature on the iPhone 16 is also available on the iPhone 16 Pro, offering users more control over the sound mix in recorded videos.
The phones are powered by the A18 Pro chip. Built on a second-generation 3nn process, the chip includes a six-core CPU (with two performance cores and four efficiency cores), a six-core GPU capable of ray tracing two times faster than last year’s A17 Pro chip, and a 16-core neural engine. The chip also features advanced media features and ML accelerators optimized for Apple Intelligence. As with the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, Apple claims that chip efficiency, better heat dissipation, and larger batteries result in a “huge leap” in battery life, going so far as to say that the iPhone 16 Pro Max has the best battery life ever in an iPhone.
Source: Apple.
Apple is increasing the screen size of the Pro phones this year while simultaneously reducing their bezel size. The iPhone 16 Pro has a screen size of 6.3”, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s screen comes in at 6.9”. The phones are made with Grade 5 titanium with a micro-blasted texture available in four finishes: black titanium (which is darker than the same finish last year), white titanium, natural titanium, and this near’s new entry: desert titanium.
Pricing for the iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999 with 128 GB of storage, and it’s available in configurations up to 1 TB for $1,499. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro Max costs $1,199 for the base model and goes up to $1,599 with 1 TB of storage. The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will be available for preorder starting this Friday, September 13, at 5:00 am Pacific time. They will begin arriving to customers and become available for purchase in-store on the following Friday, September 20.
You can follow all of our September 2024 Apple event coverage through our September 2024 Apple event hub or subscribe to the dedicated September 2024 Apple event RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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It seems the tech community’s search for the perfect reading setup continues unabated. Just this week on AppStories, Federico and John discussed which RSS readers have stood the test of time. Between text-to-speech apps, RSS readers, eReaders, and more, surely there’s no room left for another approach to catching up on articles? Apparently, there is. Enter Ticci Tabs with a straightforward but specific solution.
You may have noticed something familiar about the name of this app: it contains the nickname of our venerable Editor-in-Chief here at MacStories, Federico Vitcci. That’s because Ticci Tabs has an amusing backstory. Several weeks ago on Connected, Federico lamented that there wasn’t an app that allowed him to browse his favorite “six or seven” websites in their original form, separate from a browser or RSS reader in a stripped down version of Safari. Less than a week later, developer Jonathan Ruiz released a beta version of Ticci Tabs on TestFlight, and it did just what Federico described. What might have seemed at first like a fun app carrying out a function requested by one specific person has blossomed into an intriguing and well-thought-out utility. Let’s take a closer look.
The opening flow of Ticci Tabs.
When you first launch the app, below a nice trio of onboarding screens (which you can access again from the app’s settings, an option I always appreciate) is a big ‘Save a new tab’ button. Tap this, and you’ll be shown a card containing two fields: Title and URL. Input the title and URL of the website you want to add and tap ’Save.’ It’s as easy as that. The website now appears in your Ticci Tabs list. You can add as many sites as you want (not just six or seven), and anytime you tap on a tab, the app will open an in-app browser window displaying the selected website. You can then read and scroll through the site and, when you’re finished, close the browser window and move on to another website in your list. Within your website list, you can also drag sites around to reorder them and quickly delete one with a swipe to the left.
That’s the core of what Ticci Tabs does. However, this simple-seeming app has some clever touches that elevate the user experience beyond the basics. Chief among them is saving website logins. Using cookies, the app will keep you logged in to every website in your list, which is especially helpful for sites that require a login. If you’ve ever used an in-app browser in another app, you’ll know that persistent logins are not a given.
The process for signing in to sites that use secure email links.
Most impressive of all, though, is the way the app deals with websites that send “secure” sign-in links via email. Apart from being a bit unsafe and very annoying, these links are also incompatible with tools like Ticci Tabs. When you tap a sign-in link from an email, it opens in your default browser, defeating the point of starting a login session within the app. Ruiz has come up with a novel way around this. After you add a website to Ticci Tabs, open the page and start the login process. When you receive your login link via email, copy its login link and switch back to Ticci Tabs. Long press on the website in your list and select ‘Use sign in link.’ The system will prompt you to grant clipboard access to the app, and after you allow it, the website will open up and log you in. From then on, you will stay logged in when you open the site in Ticci Tabs.
Ruiz didn’t stop there, though. He’s included Shortcuts actions, a share sheet extension, and some basic widgets as well. The app’s Shortcuts actions allow you to add new tabs as well as open, delete, or get information for any tab in the app. The share sheet extension will create a new tab with the URL and title of any website you send to it, and the widgets grant one-tap access to any tab in your list, with options to configure widgets to display a single site or a grid of favicons for multiple sites.
Ticci Tabs has solid support for Shortcuts, the Share Sheet, and Widgets.
If this all seems like a very back-to-basics approach to browsing the web, that’s because it is. But to be honest, after using it for only a short period, I’ve been enjoying this simplified way of browsing my favorite websites. It directs my attention to the sites themselves, and I like the feeling of opening the app purposefully to visit my chosen sites rather than mixing them in with the dozens of other tabs I have open in Safari or the endless list of articles in my RSS reader.
One aspect of the app I’m not a fan of is the visual design of its UI elements. The gradients feel like a very early iPhone design style and could do with a more modern look. The layout of the UI is good; it’s just the look of the individual elements that I can’t get onboard with. I also think there should be a warning when you swipe to delete a tab from your list. It’s not a big issue, but it would be a helpful precaution.
These minor issues aside, developer Jonathan Ruiz has a great little utility on his hands. He took a half-brief from someone on a podcast and created an app with a very specific purpose. But he also took the time to really think through the various user interactions involved to make sure that nothing gets in the way of the app’s intention: giving people easy access their favorite six or seven (or so) websites.
Ticci Tabs is available for free on the App Store and built for the iPhone and iPad, though the iPad version can also be installed on Apple silicon Macs and the Vision Pro. The app includes a tip jar should you wish to show the developer your appreciation.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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This summer, my all-time favorite window management utility Moom received a major 4.0 upgrade more than 12 years after the initial release of Moom 3. Ever since I went back to the Mac as my main computer, Moom has allowed me to create automations to arrange my windows and easily save and restore specific window layouts. From a fully customizable palette to new keyboard shortcut options to the ability to chain custom commands, Moom 4 offers a wide range of new features that make it an even more advanced utility that will appeal to anyone looking for more flexibility than Apple’s new window tiling feature, which is coming in macOS Sequoia.
Let’s check out the main new features in Moom 4.
The new version of the app still includes an optional palette that appears when hovering over the green button in a windows’s title bar. This palette is meant to supplant macOS’ default tooltip and lets you quickly tile your windows to either side of the screen, maximize them to fill the entire desktop, or create a vertical layout with your windows.
But this update takes the palette even further: it’s is now entirely customizable. In addition to repositioning every button inside the palette, you can now also enrich it with your own custom shortcuts and layouts created with Moom. While I used to turn off the palette in Moom 3 and solely rely on keyboard shortcuts and predefined layouts, the ability to customize the palette has completely changed that for me. I am now a big fan of the feature.
Moom’s palette is now customizable. To add one of your custom layouts, drag it from the sidebar to the palette editor.
One of Moom’s main features is its window resizing grid, which carries over from previous versions. When enabled, you can use it to quickly draw a rectangle onscreen to immediately move and resize a specific window. The grid’s cell sizes can be customized in the app’s settings, and there’s also an option to add gaps between and around tiled windows. The smaller the cells, the more flexibility you have when tiling windows on the fly.
Moom’s window resizing grid is still here.
But if like me, you’re not a fan of arranging your windows in a grid and prefer to let them float above each other, Moom 4 has you covered with a great new feature called ‘Hover.’ This lets you move and resize windows on the fly with your cursor while holding down specific modifier keys, without the need to click and hold on a window’s title bar or reach for one of its four corners.
In my setup, I’ve chosen to use the Globe (fn) key as the move window modifier and Globe + Control (^) as the resize window modifier. In practice, this means that I can place my cursor over any window onscreen and hold down the Globe key to reposition that window simply by moving the mouse. To resize that window, all I have to do is place my cursor near a corner and add the Control (^) key into the mix. You may think that I’m exaggerating, but in usage, this combination makes rearranging windows with the mouse extremely satisfying.
Rearranging and resizing two Safari windows using Moom 4’s Hover feature.
Customizing the modifier keys to be used with Hover.
This modifier key logic has also enriched Moom’s ‘Snap’ feature. In addition to replicating the experience from Windows 11 and macOS Sequoia by letting you drag windows to the edges of the display to tile them, Moom 4 also allows you to hold down the modifier key of your choice when moving a window to quickly place it in a custom ‘drop zone’. This is especially useful if there is an area on your screen where you always like to keep a specific application.
For instance, I have set up this feature to set up a custom layout that allows me to quickly snap the Ivory window back into a predefined position on the screen:
After creating a custom layout to save Ivory’s position onscreen…
…and assigning that custom layout to a modifier key (Option ⌥),…
…all I need to do is hold the modifier key while moving the Ivory window to snap it back into position.
In addition to the ability to save and restore custom window layouts, Moom 4 can now chain any of the app’s built-in commands together. For example, you can create a chain that will successively resize a window and center it on the screen.
The possibilities with chained commands are endless, and it’s hard to imagine every conceivable use case, but I was able to leverage the feature to create two useful chains for my workflow. At my desk, I often use my iPad Pro as a secondary display with Sidecar while I’m working. When that happens, I almost always like to put windows in full screen on the iPad’s display. However, this process is often tedious and requires that I spend ten seconds every time moving a window and putting it in full screen.
To solve this, I used Moom 4 to create a chain called ‘Move to Sidecar.’ When triggered, this chain moves the currently active window to the iPad’s display and immediately puts it in full screen. I created a second chain called ‘Move back from Sidecar,’ which exits full screen and immediately moves the window back to my main display. Now, I can easily send a window to the iPad’s display with a single click, directly from Moom’s palette, without having to manually drag the window over and toggle full screen.
I’ve set up a chain in Moom 4 to easily move a window to the iPad’s screen in Sidecar and immediately put it in full screen, plus a second chain to quickly move a window back to the main display.
Since almost everything in Moom 4 can be tied to a keyboard shortcut, all of these features are available without the need to ever use the mouse. But even if you haven’t assigned a keyboard shortcut to one of your custom commands, you can still trigger it using only the keyboard via Moom’s new onscreen controller. The controller can be launched via a dedicated keyboard shortcut (I’m using Option ⌥ + Shift ⇧ + H) and looks a lot like Spotlight on the Mac. When the controller is displayed, you can immediately start typing to select and run a specific Moom command, or navigate between options using the arrow keys.
The new onscreen controller in Moom 4.
Moom 4 is an incredible update to a long-standing Mac utility that had already found its place on my list of apps I always recommend to Mac newcomers. The app is more flexible than ever and will prove itself useful to a wide range of Mac users, including both those who are looking for ways to manage their windows entirely from the keyboard and those who would rather use the mouse.
This is especially true when you consider that every single feature in Moom is optional and can be disabled entirely. Think of Moom as a window management Swiss Army knife: it is always nice to have, even if you’re not going to use more than half of its built-in tools.
While macOS Sequoia is finally getting the ability to tile windows side by side this fall, it is clear that Moom has nothing to worry about. Its flexibility and enhanced potential for automation place it miles ahead of anything macOS has to offer natively.
Through September 4th, Moom 4 is on sale for $10 for new users and $6 for users upgrading from Moom 3. After that date, Moom 4 will be available to purchase for $15, or $8 for Moom 3 users. The app can be purchased and downloaded directly from ManyTricks’ website.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
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Source: Bitmo Lab.
Bitmo Lab, an affiliate of JSAUX, a videogame accessory maker, has announced pre-orders for an intriguing new iPhone case. The GAMEBABY case, which I came across on Overkill.wtf, is a two-part iPhone case that allows users to remove the bottom half, moving it from the rear of an iPhone to the front. The switch transforms your iPhone into a Game Boy lookalike with A and B buttons, a D-pad, Start and Select buttons, and more.
According to Bitmo Lab, the GAMEBABY’s buttons are capacitive, meaning they don’t require power, a Bluetooth connection, or other technology to work. It’s a simple solution that, when paired with the Delta iOS game emulator, should be able to play classic emulated games on the go with the added benefit of physical buttons.
How well the GAMEBABY works remains a mystery. Bitmo Lab’s website says the case is still under development, but you can pre-order one for the iPhone 15 Pro Max or iPhone 16 Pro Max with expected shipping in October for $19.99, which is 50% off the launch price.
I’ve pre-ordered a GAMEBABY and will report back after I’ve had a chance to use it for a while.
→ Source: bitmolab.com
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
Sigmund and Devon compete to predict what Apple will announce at the upcoming It’s Glowtime event. Then, they go on a quick trip through the ages with the Time Bandits and land in 1960s Baltimore to recap Lady in the Lake
Matt is trying to find the right temperature, Chris is floating on Air(table), and Niléane finds out if she’s feeling lucky about getting 10 blue links.
This week, I research a local dive bar, as you do, before Federico and I both recommend gadgets that aren’t computers or videogame consoles and chat about Loot, Season 2.
Magic Rays of Light, Episode 134, ‘It’s Glowtime Predictions and a Look Back at Lady in the Lakes’ Show NotesEvent Predictions* It’s Glowtime
Apple TV News* 50% Off Paramount+ Annual Subscriptions Through September 6
Trailer Talk* La Maison
Apple Original News* Weekend Rebels * Pachinko Pop-Up Store | Tabletops
Releases* Castle Crumble * K-Pop Idols
Extras* The Morning Show: Cory’s Top 5 Monologues * The Instigators: Matt Damon & Casey Affleck Have a Boston Debate * Time Bandits: Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement Travel Through Time l Origin Story
Recaps* Time Bandits * Lady in the Lake
Up Next* Longlegs * Adam Sandler: Love You * The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power * Sasquatch Sunset * A Quiet Place: Day One * Kinds of Kindness * Gary * The Deliverance * Borderlands * The Fall Guy * The Watchers * Trap * F-1 Trillion * The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
Subscribe to Magic Rays of Light on YouTube.
Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads
Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads
Comfort Zone, Episode 13, ‘Celsius Has No Character’ Show NotesWeekly Topics* Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) * Airtable * Lucky for Safari
Wallpapers* Matt’s wallpaper * Chris’s wallpaper * Niléane’s wallpaper (dynamic version) * Niléane’s variant 1 * Niléane’s variant 2 * Niléane’s variant 3 * Niléane’s variant 4 * Niléane’s variant 5 * Niléane’s variant 6 * Matt’s bonus 1 * Matt’s bonus 2 * Matt’s bonus 3 * Matt’s bonus 4
Other Stuff We Discussed* Ecobee Thermostats * Things 3 * Notion * SwitchBot
Follow the Hosts* Chris on YouTube * Matt on Birchtree * Niléane on Mastodon * Comfort Zone on Mastodon
MacStories Unwind, ‘Too Dive-y, Even for Me,’ Show NotesToo Dive-y* It doesn’t get much divier than this.
Favorite Gadgets That Aren’t Computers or Videogame Consoles* John’s Picks + LG C2 55” OLED TV + Breville Precision Brewer Drip Coffee Machine
Federico* DeLonghi EC9355M La Specialista Prestigio Espresso Machine
Picks* John’s Pick: + Loot, Season 2 on Apple TV+
MacStories Unwind+We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.
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MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Wired reported today that many large websites are blocking Applebot-Extended, Apple’s artificial intelligence (AI) web crawler. Wired determined this by examining the sites’ public robots.txt file, which Apple says it respects, but some AI companies don’t. According to its research:
WIRED can confirm that Facebook, Instagram, Craigslist, Tumblr, The New York Times, The Financial Times, The Atlantic, Vox Media, the USA Today network, and WIRED’s parent company, Condé Nast, are among the many organizations opting to exclude their data from Apple’s AI training. The cold reception reflects a significant shift in both the perception and use of the robotic crawlers that have trawled the web for decades. Now that these bots play a key role in collecting AI training data, they’ve become a conflict zone over intellectual property and the future of the web.
With the release of Apple Intelligence around the corner, I suppose it makes sense to single out Apple here, but this is not really news. A study in July that Kevin Rouse wrote about for The New York Times concluded that websites are blocking web crawlers from all AI companies at a dramatic rate:
The study, which looked at 14,000 web domains that are included in three commonly used A.I. training data sets, discovered an “emerging crisis in consent,” as publishers and online platforms have taken steps to prevent their data from being harvested.
The researchers estimate that in the three data sets — called C4, RefinedWeb and Dolma — 5 percent of all data, and 25 percent of data from the highest-quality sources, has been restricted. Those restrictions are set up through the Robots Exclusion Protocol, a decades-old method for website owners to prevent automated bots from crawling their pages using a file called robots.txt.
The study also found that as much as 45 percent of the data in one set, C4, had been restricted by websites’ terms of service.
These numbers don’t seem to account for websites using server-side methods of blocking crawlers or Cloudflare’s tool, which could mean the decline in available data is underreported.
Still, it’s interesting to see more and more websites evaluate the tradeoffs of allowing AI crawlers to scrape their sites and decide they’re not worth it. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if the media companies that cut deals with OpenAI and others are contractually obligated to block competing crawlers.
I’d also point out that it’s disingenuous of Apple to tell Wired that Applebot-Extended is a way to respect publishers’ rights when the company didn’t offer publishers the chance opt out until after it had scraped the entire web. However, therein lies the explanation of why so many sites have blocked Applebot-Extended since WWDC I suppose.
What’s unclear is how this all shakes out. Big media companies are hedging their bets by making deals with the likes of OpenAI and Perplexity in case Google search continues its decline and is replaced by chatbots. Whether those are good bets or not remains to be seen, but at least they offer some short-term cash flow and referral traffic in what has been a prolonged drought for the media industry.
For websites that don’t make deals or are too small for AI companies to care about, I can see a scenario where some play along anyway, allowing their sites to be scraped for little or no upside. For those sites that choose to stay outside the AI silos, it’s easy to paint a bleak picture, but the Internet is resilient, and I have a feeling that the Open Web will find a path forward in the end.
→ Source: wired.com
Source: Apple.
The carefully controlled demos of Smart Script at WWDC reminded me of every time Apple shows off the Photos app, where each picture is a perfectly composed, beautiful image of smiling models. In contrast, my photo library is full of screenshots and random images like the blurry one I took the other day to capture my refrigerator’s model number.
Likewise, handwriting demos on the iPad always show someone with flawless, clear penmanship who can also draw. In both cases, the features demonstrated may work perfectly well, but the reality is that there’s always a gap between those sorts of perfect “lifestyle” demos and everyday use. So today, I thought I’d take iPadOS 18’s Smart Script for a spin and see how it holds up under the stark reality of my poor handwriting.
Smart Script, meet John’s handwriting (auto-refine enabled).
The notion behind Smart Script is to make taking handwritten notes as easy and flexible as typing text. As someone who can touch type with my eyes closed, that’s a tall order, but it’s also a good goal. I’ve always been drawn to taking notes on an iPad with the Apple Pencil, but it’s been the constraints that held me back. It’s always been easier to move and change typed text than handwritten notes. Add to that the general messiness of my handwriting, and eventually, I abandoned every experiment with taking digital handwritten notes out of frustration.
Smart Script tries to address all of those issues, and in some cases, it succeeds. However, there are still a few rough edges that need to be ironed out before most people’s experience will match the demos at WWDC. That said, if those problem areas get straightened out, Smart Script has the potential to transform how the iPad is used and make the Apple Pencil a much more valuable accessory.
Supported BySetappSetapp: End the search, start the work. One subscription to dozens of apps for Mac and iPhone.
First off, it’s worth noting that Apple is doing some very impressive real-time machine learning to process what you write. I’ve primarily been testing Smart Script on an 11” M4 iPad Pro with 1TB of storage and 16GB of memory. That’s a top-of-the-line iPad Pro, but the feature also works with most modern iPads. Here’s the full list of supported devices:
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation and later)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation and later)
- iPad Air (M2)
- iPad Air 10.9-inch (4th generation and later)
- iPad (10th generation)
- iPad mini (6th generation)
I briefly tested Smart Script on my iPad mini too, and so far, the experience has been roughly the same as on my iPad Pro.
That said, on the M4 iPad Pro, Smart Script runs smoothly, but my iPad gets noticeably hot and the battery drains more quickly than usual while filling a full screen of notes with my handwriting. This is the sort of issue that tends to settle down with the public release of an OS update, but it’s worth noting because the heat and battery drain I’ve experienced during the betas makes using Smart Script feel more like working in Final Cut Pro for iPad than Notes.
Auto-refinement is subtle. The notes on the left were auto-refined by Smart Script, while the ones on the right weren’t.
I suspect most people are probably not thrilled with their own handwriting. I know I’m certainly not; it pains me to show mine off in this story. But that’s why Smart Script’s ability to refine your handwriting is so useful. The feature isn’t replacing your handwriting with a facsimile. Instead, it’s analyzing your writing style and preserving it while also smoothing it to make it straighter and more legible, which helps take the edge off of my scratchings.
Turning on auto-refine.
To turn on text refinement, go to the three-dot ‘More’ button in the Apple Pencil’s tool menu. (With the Apple Pencil Pro, this is the array of buttons that appears when you squeeze the barrel of the Pencil.) Choose the gear icon, and you’ll see a toggle to turn on ‘Auto-refine Handwriting.’ I’ve found that I can write a line or two of text using Notes in landscape orientation before refinement kicks in, animating to magically improve my handwriting. It’s wild to see and works just as Apple says: the more you write in this mode, the closer the refinement looks to your own writing style. The one glitch I’ve run into with auto-refine is that if I’m furiously taking notes and refinement kicks in while I’m writing, Notes will stop accepting my writing for a beat, which usually means I have to rewrite one or two letters.
Smart Script recognizes misspelled words and offers suggested changes.
I don’t think this looks like my handwriting, but at least it’s spelled correctly.
Spell-checking is baked into Smart Script, too. If a word isn’t recognized, it will be underlined with a blue dotted line. Tap it, and suggested spellings will appear in the action menu popover. If you select one, the word you hand-wrote will be replaced by the correctly spelled word in your own handwriting. The replaced word doesn’t always match my handwriting well, but it’s close enough and still breaks my brain a little to see in action.
Also, if you scratch out a word without removing the Apple Pencil from the surface of the iPad when you’re finished, the word will be erased. For more than a single word, I think the eraser tool works better, but the scribble gesture is a nice alternative because it doesn’t require switching tools.
The parts of Smart Script that have the most rough edges are moving text around and pasting text in your own handwriting. If you tap and hold with the Apple Pencil, a cursor will appear that can be used to move text around the page. You can move the text a little to make room to add a word or two, or you can move whole lines and paragraphs down to make room for a drawing, larger blocks of handwriting, or pasted text. The trouble is that moving text around isn’t as precise or accurate as it should be.
Moving text around can be a challenge.
In the video above, I first moved my notes a little to make room for some additional text in a different color. That caused the notes to wrap down the page as I made space, but the left margin didn’t stay aligned the way I would have liked. Next, I added a few sloppy words in a different color, which, once refined, changed the color of one of the words I hadn’t added. I then accepted a spelling suggestion, which resulted in a jumbled mess. The problem seems to stem from having added two lines of text on one line and cramming in the last word diagonally because adding just a couple of words that match the words before and after the edit worked fine.
During earlier betas, I saw even worse results. However with yesterday’s beta release, many of the issues seem to have been resolved. Reflowing text still isn’t perfect, but it’s come a long way in a short period of time. So, while I recommend sticking to simpler edits to avoid text reflowing problems, Apple seems to have gotten the feature on the right track going into the fall updates.
Another interesting aspect of Smart Script is the ability to insert copied text in the style of your handwriting. Digital type can be jarring when looking at a page of handwritten notes. Smart Script’s solution is to give you the option to paste text that approximates your handwriting.
Pasting works a lot like moving text. After you copy something, long-press with the Apple Pencil until the cursor appears. If you have text on your clipboard, ‘Paste’ will appear in the action menu allowing you to drop in whatever you copied. Here’s an example of a sentence I pasted from an article I wrote on MacStories.
The text at the top of the note was pasted in and doesn’t exactly match my handwriting, but it’s sort of close.
It’s pretty clearly not my handwriting. The pasted text looks a little too perfect. Perhaps that’s a good thing because it helps distinguish your words from the ones pulled from another source, but if that’s the intent, I’d think Apple would automatically allow you to paste in a source reference, too. That’s not an option, though.
One quirk of pasting text is that you can only do it within existing handwritten notes, meaning that if you start by making room for what you want to paste on a page and long-press on a blank space, you won’t get the option to paste what’s on your clipboard. Instead, you need to long-press on a line that already includes text. It’s a strange limitation that confounded me at first.
Source: Apple.
Finally, Math Notes, a feature of the Calculator app and Notes, integrates with Smart Script. As you take notes, you can add mathematical expressions and formulas, including variables, and solve them inline. I particularly like the integration of Math Notes with both Calculator and Notes. You can start in Calculator by tapping the button with a calculator icon and choosing Math Notes. That opens a UI that looks just like Notes. Write your expressions, and moments after you write an equals sign, your answer will appear in the app’s tint color to indicate that it was calculated for you. If you prefer, you can turn off automatic calculations entirely or have the app suggest calculations before actually doing them. Then, when you switch over to Notes, you’ll find the note you created in Calculator waiting for you along with your other notes.
Some simple examples of Math Notes in action. The feature can also create graphs that change dynamically as you change variables.
Math Notes is the sort of feature that I expect students will love, but it’s also going to be handy for the kinds of simple calculations everyone comes across in daily life. You might want to split the cost of a purchase among multiple people, calculate the cost of a trip you’re planning, or figure out how long it will take you to save for a big purchase. In all of these cases, it’s useful to have the math inline with surrounding notes that provide context.
Apple’s goal of making handwritten notes as versatile as typed text is admirable, but it’s not quite there yet. I love the auto-refinement of my handwriting and plan to use it anytime I take notes. Math Notes is another bright spot that I don’t expect I’ll use frequently, but I’m glad it will be there when I need it. I’ll use Smart Script’s text reflow feature, too, but sparingly until I’m sure the reliability issues I saw during the betas have been resolved.
Despite the rough edges, what I like most about Smart Script is that the Apple Pencil has become more than a tool for artists and a pointing device for the rest of us. It’s a far more capable accessory than ever before that I find myself slowly using more and more over time. Part of that evolution has been my move to the 11” iPad Pro, which I use far more often without the Magic Keyboard case than I did the larger iPad Pros I’ve owned. However, it also comes down to what the Apple Pencil Pro can do. It has become my highlighter and markup tool for PDFs, a way to take notes, and more. It’s not an accessory I use every day yet, but with Smart Script, I’m enjoying taking handwritten notes more than in the past – which has made me less likely to grab my keyboard and more likely to simply jot down a note or use Scribble in text fields. Smart Script is off to a promising but imperfect start, and with time, I hope it can fulfill Apple’s vision of handwriting as coequal with typing as an input method.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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With the rerelease of iOS 18.0, the EU and the rest of the world will have two flavors of the iPhone’s operating system. As Jason Snell writes for Macworld, this is one of Apple’s greatest fears, but there are potentially bigger risks on the horizon for the company. As Jason explains:
…to me, the bigger danger is envy. It strikes me that Apple has tried to make residents of the European Union envious of other regions by withholding Apple Intelligence, at least at first. There are legal reasons to do so, of course, but it’s also a lesson to Europeans that if they support such a strict regulatory regime, they’re going to be left on the side of the road while the rest of the world enjoys the bounty of AI features inside iOS. (Whether that bounty actually exists is beside the point.)
Yet, when I consider everything being experimented with in the EU, I start to wonder if the envy is actually going to flow in the other direction. The Verge said that the iPhone is now “more fun” in the EU. Noted iOS expert Federico Viticci wrote that the EU version of iOS “is the version of iOS I’ve wanted for the past few years,” and that “we can finally use our phones like actual computers.”
As someone who loves clipboard managers and uses several apps that aren’t Apple’s defaults, I am warming up to their point of view.
I’m right there with Jason. At first, the differences between my iOS and Federico’s didn’t seem like that big of a deal. Sure, it was easier for him to access AltStore, but it’s available outside the EU if you jump through some extra hoops. However, over time, the differences have multiplied. I’ve also had the chance to try Apple Intelligence in 18.1, and although there’s more to come from Apple on the AI front, which could change my calculus, from where things stand today, I’d gladly trade iOS 18.1 for the EU’s 18.0.
→ Source: macworld.com
Today, Relay kicked off its annual fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to help combat childhood cancer. We’d love it if MacStories readers joined us in supporting this cause.
You can make a donation by visiting here.
If you’re a MacStories reader, there’s a good chance you have listened to one of the shows Federico co-hosts on Relay or have another favorite, in which case you may have already contributed. However, if not, please consider donating.
St. Jude plays an important role in the fight against childhood cancer, treating kids, and doing research with other medical facilities around the world. Your donations help ensure that families aren’t charged for treatment, travel, housing, or meals, so their sole focus is helping their child get better.
Relay, which has raised millions for St. Jude over the past five years, will be raising money through the end of September, culminating in the Podcastathon, a 12-hour video streaming event featuring the hosts of many of Relay’s shows that will be held September 20th. As in past years, the Podcastathon will be streamed on Relay’s YouTube channel.
Thanks in advance for checking out Relay’s fundraiser for St. Jude and to all who donate.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week, Federico and I celebrate episode 400 by considering what the future will hold for apps 400 more episodes from now.
On AppStories+, Federico reveals why he’s using the third generation AirPods.
This episode is sponsored by:* Balance – A thoughtfully designed personal finance and budgeting app from one of our own Club MacStories members.
On NPC, Brendon, Federico, and I cover newly announced handhelds, a gaming pillow, and other news before covering how Federico is dual booting Windows and SteamOS on his ASUS ROG Ally X and an update on retro handhelds from Brendon and me.
AppStories, Episode 400, ‘The Future of Apps’ Show NotesAppStories+ Pre-Show* Ticci Tries AirPods + AirPods (3rd Generation)
Follow UpJBL made its charging case touchscreen more useful with a size boost
The Future of Apps* The Atomization of Apps + Related: - iOS and iPadOS 17: The MacStories Review - The Future of Workflow - iOS 10: The MacStories Review * Glasses and Audio Widgets + Related: - Three Things Apple Should Make Now * Web Apps + Related: - Web Apps and Services - The Web Apps We Use - Native Mac Apps Will Be Fine * More Alternative App Stores + Related: - Apple Announces New Changes to the Browser Choice Screen and Default Apps on iOS and iPadOS in the EU - European Commission Preliminarily Finds That Apple Has Violated the Digital Markets Act - Apple Releases iOS and iPadOS 17.4 with Major Safari and App Store Changes in the EU, Transcripts for Podcasts, New Emoji, and More - Understanding Apple’s Response to the DMA * App Customization + Related: - Reminders, Notes, and App Customization - The App Customization Trend * Will the Digital Hub Change? + Related: - The Evolution of Apple’s Digital Hub - Macintosh Desktop Experience: No Mac Is an Island - Dismantling the Digital Hub
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, a video experiment, I have iPad Pro follow-up, and Federico has technical follow-up and a question for listeners about streaming videogames over Wi-Fi.
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NPC, Episode 7 ‘My Dogs Are My Gaming Pillow’ Show NotesThe Latest Portable Gaming News* Zotac Zone + Also: Hands-on with the ZOTAC ZONE at Gamescom * Retroid Pocket Mini teaser trailer + Also: Adin Walls, The Future of Retro Gaming * ANBERNIC Secretly Reveals New RG40XX V With “Ultra-Narrow Bezel” + Also: Anbernic RG40XXV In-Depth Review, Retro Game Corps * Valve confirms it’ll support the ROG Ally with its Steam Deck operating system + Also: Notepad newsletter by Tom Warren of The Verge + Compact Mode is now in Game Bar for Xbox Insiders * Let this tiny bean bag chair for your lap hold your heavy handhelds + Gaming Pillow + Also: Viture Pro Mobile Dock * Playdate Pizza Cover * Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp to close as Nintendo’s slow retreat from mobile continues + Also: Miitomo
Dual Booting Windows and SteamOS on the ASUS Ally X* SteamOS on Handheld PCs! Bazzite Setup Guide * Bazzite * SteamOS on Handheld PCs! Bazzite Setup Guide * Playnite
A Retro Handheld Check-In* Ayan Odin2 Mini * Powkiddy V10 * Anbernic RG28XXH * Miyoo Mini A30
Games Mentioned* Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door * Emberward * Animal Crossing Pocket Camp * Super Mario Run * Dragalia Lost * Dragon Quest XI * Starfield * Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth * The Binding of Isaac * Spelunky * Nuclear Throne * Rogue Legacy * Lufftrausers * Rogue Legacy 2 * Spelunky 2
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Last year, I wrote about how I was able to display the temperature from my outdoor sensor in my Mac’s menu bar using a combination of Shortcuts, SF Symbols, and small utilities like One Thing and Data Jar. I’ve been using this approach ever since, but this summer, I came across a tool that changed that: MenuBot.
MenuBot is an app for the Mac that lets you build your own indicators and applets for your menu bar directly from the output of a shortcut. The app is more powerful than it may seem at first: you can create entire submenus and even tie URLs and actions to each menu entry. In the end, I was able to use it to completely revamp my outdoor temperature indicator in the menu bar and even enhance it with HomeKit controls.
I’ve been having a ton of fun playing with MenuBot. Let me show you what I’ve done with it.
MenuBot is incredibly easy to set up. When you first start the app, all you have to do is pick from one of the provided example shortcuts and set a reload interval to decide how often your custom menu bar applet will refresh. By default, MenuBot comes with seven built-in example shortcuts: Weather Summary, Rain Probability, Today Events, Next Event, Web Links, Network Summary, and Shortcut Launcher. Each is pretty self-explanatory, and if you inspect them, they give you a broad idea of what kind of menu bar applets you can build using MenuBot and Shortcuts.
MenuBot comes with seven example shortcuts to get you started.
Menus can be set to reload from every 30 seconds to every 24 hours.
In addition to being handy, the built-in shortcuts are also great examples for learning the syntax needed to build your own shortcuts for MenuBot. Using that syntax, you can configure what appears directly in the menu bar item as well as what goes inside the menu that opens when you click it.
Here’s what the output syntax looks like for MenuBot’s Weather Summary example shortcut:
MenuBot’s Weather Summary example shortcut is a good way to learn how to create your own MenuBot shortcut.
MenuBot’s Weather Summary shortcut in action in the Mac’s menu bar.
To add MenuBot functionality to a new or existing shortcut, insert a Text block containing the formatted data that will be used by the app to build your menu bar applet and set that Text block as the shortcut output. The syntax works as follows:
- The first line of the output is what will appear directly in the menu bar. Every subsequent line will appear in a menu.
- Insert
---on a new line to add a separator to the menu. - Insert
>at the beginning of a line to add a submenu item. - Add a URL at the end of a line to turn the menu item into a link. This works with web URLs as well as app URL schemes.
- For example, add
https://macstories.netat the end of a line to open MacStories when clicking the menu item, orweather://to open Apple’s native Weather app on macOS. - This can also be used to execute other shortcuts using this URL scheme:
shortcuts://run-shortcut?name=[name of your shortcut]
- For example, add
- Optionally, at the beginning of every line, insert the name of an SF Symbol. MenuBot will automatically render SF Symbols in the menu bar and in submenus. For example,
cloud.fillwill be rendered as a filled cloud icon.
To explore Apple’s full catalog of SF Symbols, you can install the SF Symbols app for free from Apple’s Developer Portal.
With this information in hand, I knew that adapting my old menu bar shortcut would be very easy.
Most of the fundamentals of my shortcut stayed intact. I’m still using the temperature and humidity data from the Eve Weather station positioned outside my bedroom window via HomeKit and assigning SF Symbols based on the current weather condition. I am also still using Data Jar and a math formula to calculate whether the recorded temperature has been trending upward or downward over the past hour and display an indicator accordingly. (Read my previous story to learn more about this setup.)
However, MenuBot’s ability to build entire menus and submenus has allowed me to add more functionality to my shortcut. I specifically had two ideas in mind for my custom menu bar applet:
- Add the ability to compare at a glance the weather data from my outdoor sensor to the forecast coming from Carrot Weather (which handily supports Météo France, France’s national weather service, as a source).
- Add the ability to quickly turn on and off the air conditioning, air purifier, and fans in my home directly from the same menu.
While the former was straightforward and mostly consisted of assembling a menu that gathers weather variables and SF Symbols, the latter posed a small challenge. After setting up a shortcut to toggle my bedroom fan (I named it “VentilateurON”), I added a “Toggle Bedroom Fan” line to my MenuBot shortcut output and ended it with the URL scheme to run the bedroom fan shortcut. It looked like this:
fan Toggle Bedroom Fan shortcuts://run-shortcut?name=VentilateurON
However, this method had one drawback. When run, the shortcuts URL scheme will always open the Shortcuts app on the Mac. As a way to quickly turn on the bedroom fan from the menu bar while working on something, this was too distracting and meant that I had to manually close the Shortcuts app every time.
But once again, this is where BetterTouchTool came in and saved the day. The app has the ability to run shortcuts completely in the background, without having to spawn any windows on your workspace. Even better, BetterTouchTool also provides a fully-featured URL scheme that can be used within MenuBot.
To leverage this, I created a ‘Named Trigger’ (also called “VentilateurON”) in BetterTouchTool that launches the bedroom fan shortcut.
To leverage BetterTouchTool’s URL scheme, I created a Named Trigger (“VentilateurON”) in the app with a single action that launches my bedroom fan shortcut.
Then, back in the MenuBot shortcut output, I modified the line to use BetterTouchTool’s URL scheme instead of Shortcuts’, ending it with the BetterTouchTool Named Trigger:
fan Toggle Bedroom Fan btt://trigger_named/?trigger_name=VentilateurON
Now, clicking Toggle Bedroom Fan in my custom menu bar applet runs the shortcut to turn the bedroom fan on and off completely in the background via BetterTouchTool, without spawning any distracting windows.
I repeated this process for each of the HomeKit climate control appliances in my home, and even went so far as adding ‘If’ conditions to detect and display in the menu whether my fans, air purifiers, and air conditioning units are currently on or off. Not only that, but I also added dynamic indicators to the first line of the shortcut output to display specific SF Symbols in the menu bar when rain is in the forecast or the air quality is poor. To do this, I was able to tap into Air Grenoble, an app with Shortcuts support that was specifically built to monitor the air quality in my home area of Grenoble, France.
The resulting custom menu bar applet is extremely customized to my needs and home. From top to bottom, it displays temperature and humidity data from my outdoor sensor, living room, and main bedroom, and the fourth and final section compiles a summary of the weather forecast sourced from Carrot Weather. Each room’s section has controls to toggle air purifiers, fans, and air conditioning — each accompanied by an SF Symbol to reflect their current state.
Here’s what it looks like:
My custom MenuBot shortcut that combines weather data and home climate controls. (Pardon my French.)
The output syntax of my custom MenuBot shortcut.
I couldn’t be happier with this result. It’s the culmination of so many indie apps and utilities working together to create a hyper-specific Mac menu bar applet. With a single click in the menu bar, I can get a quick look at the forecasted conditions, compare them with the actual reading from my outdoor weather sensor, see how warm or cold each of my main rooms are, and even directly toggle each of my home climate control appliances accordingly. All of this is Shortcuts, HomeKit, Data Jar, Carrot Weather, Air Grenoble, BetterTouchTool, and MenuBot coming together, and that is precisely why it’s so perfect.
I have one wish to leave you with. If you are reading this and feel inspired to use MenuBot in combination with other utilities to create your own custom menu bar applets, please do not hesitate to share them with me on Mastodon or the Club MacStories Discord server. I’m excited to see what you come up with.
As you can tell, my custom shortcut for MenuBot is specifically tailored to my needs, location, and accessories, but if you want to take a look for inspiration, you can download it by clicking here.
MenuBot is available to purchase on the Mac App Store for $3.99.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Apple’s Luca Maestri. Source: Apple.
Apple has announced that CFO Luca Maestri will leave that position effective on January 1, 2025, but continue at Apple to lead Corporate Services. Maestri will be replaced by Kevan Parekh, Apple’s Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis, who has been at Apple for 11 years. Maestri has been Apple’s CFO for a decade.
In a press release issued by Apple, Tim Cook had this to say about Maestri and Parekh:
Luca has been an extraordinary partner in managing Apple for the long term. He has been instrumental in improving and driving the company’s financial performance, engaging with shareholders, and instilling financial discipline across every part of Apple. We’re fortunate that we will continue to benefit from the leadership and insight that have been the hallmark of his tenure at the company.
During his time as CFO, Maestri enabled essential investments and practiced robust financial discipline, which together helped the company more than double its revenue, with services revenue growing more than five times.
More details on Apple’s CFO transition are available in its press release.
→ Source: apple.com
A short time ago, Apple announced that it will hold an event on September 9, 2024, at 10 AM Pacific time with the tagline “It’s Glowtime.” Glowtime is likely a reference to the new capabilities coming to Siri with the updates coming to the company’s OSes. If history is any indication, in addition to a recap of changes to Apple’s OSes, we’ll also see new iPhones and revised Apple Watches. Rumors point to new AirPods too.
You’ll be able to watch the event from home at apple.com/apple-events/.
As always, the MacStories team will be covering every aspect of the event.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Allison Johnson, writing for The Verge on the latest EU-mandated and Apple-designed changes to iOS in Europe:
They’re getting all kinds of stuff because they have cool regulators, not like, regular regulators. Third-party app stores, the ability for browsers to run their own engines, Fortnite_,_ and now the ability to replace lots of default apps? I want it, too! Imagine if Chrome on iOS wasn’t just a rinky dink little Safari emulator! Imagine downloading a new dialer app with a soundboard of fart sounds and setting it as your default! Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t seem interested in sharing these possibilities with everyone.
And:
It’s starting to look like the company sells two different iPhones: one for people in Europe, and one that everyone else can buy. That’s weird, especially since keeping things simple and consistent is sort of Apple’s thing. But the company is so committed to keeping the two separate that it won’t even let you update apps from third-party app stores if you leave the EU for more than a month.
As I wrote on Threads (much to the disbelief of some commentators), I personally feel like the “DMA fork” of iOS is the version of iOS I’ve wanted for the past few years. It’s still iOS, with the tasteful design, vibrant app ecosystem, high-performance animations, and accessibility we’ve come to expect from Apple; at the same time, it’s a more flexible and fun version of iOS predicated upon the assumption that users deserve options to control more aspects of how their expensive pocket computers should work. Or, as I put it: some of the flexibility of Android, but on iOS, sounds like a dream to me.
Apparently, this thought – that people who demand options should have them – really annoys a lot of (generally American) pundits who seemingly consider the European Commission a draconian entity that demands changes out of spite for a particular corporation, rather than a group of elected officials who regulate based on what they believe is best for their constituents and the European market.
That point of view does Apple a disservice: rather than appreciating how Apple is designing these new options and collaborating with regulators, some commentators are just pointing fingers at a foreign governmental body. From my European and Italian perspective, it’s not a good look.
I think that Apple is doing a pretty good job with their ongoing understanding of the DMA. It’s a process, and they’re doing the work. I don’t find the installation of third-party marketplaces as horrible as others have painted it, and I’m excited about the idea of more default apps coming to iOS. Whether you like it or not, this is the world we live in now. A law was passed, and iPhones (and iPads soon) must be made more versatile. As a result, iPhones are more fun for people like me (a clipboard manager! Fortnite!), while very little has changed for those don’t care about new options.
Apple is adapting to this new reality. Perhaps more folks in the Apple community should, too.
→ Source: theverge.com
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
Sigmund and Devon highlight the return of Pachinko and share their earliest experiences with Apple TV.
The gang shares their very sane, and not at all controversial 👀 notification preferences. Then they explore some new and interesting Obsidian plugins you might not have heard of.
This week, John and Federico discuss peanut butter, the limits of testing gadgets in public, and Federico’s latest Spotify experiment before turning to a movie and two music recommendations.
Magic Rays of Light, Episode 133, ‘Pachinko Returns and Our Apple TV Origin Stories’Opening Chat* George Clooney and Brad Pitt are Hollywood’s BFFs | GQ
Highlight* Pachinko
Apple TV News* Beats Studio Pro - Kim Special Edition * Tubi for Apple Vision Pro
Trailer Talk* K-Pop Idols * Slow Horses Season 4 * Midnight Family
Apple Original News* First Look at Bad Sisters Season Two
Releases* Scamtown
Extras* The Relay * Apple Fitness+ Artist Spotlight: Camila Cabello * The Instigators: Bost In Translation with Matt Damon and Casey Affleck * The Instigators: Real Bostonions Ask Anything * Apple Maps Guide: A Day Off in Boston with Casey Affleck * Pachinko: Season 1 Recap
Up Next* Evil Does Not Exist * That ’90s Show * The Killer (2024) * Greedy People * City of God: The Fight Rages On * The First Slam Dunk * Smoking Tigers * Time to Walk * Time to Walk: Common * Time to Walk: Jason Segel * Only Murders in the Building
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
Subscribe to Magic Rays of Light on YouTube.
Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads
Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads
Comfort Zone, Episode 12, ‘The Statue of Liberty is Full of French People’Obsidian PluginsNote: The following links open directly in Obsidian on a Mac if it’s installed:
- Projects
- Commander
- Cards View
- Image Captions
- Paste Link
- Home Tab
- Trash Explorer
Follow the Hosts* Chris on YouTube * Matt on Birchtree * Niléane on Mastodon * Comfort Zone on Mastodon
MacStories Unwind, ‘The Limits of Public Gadget Testing’Sponsored by:
- FastMinder – The popular app designed for tracking intermittent fasting, created by Funn Media, the developers behind other successful health & fitness apps like WaterMinder, Calory or FitnessView.
Links and Show NotesPeanut Butter SandwichesThe Limits of Public Gadget Testing* Insta360 X4 * Insta360 Chest Strap
Revisiting Spotify* Spotify
Picks* John’s Pick: + Furiosa - Streaming on Max - For purchase or rent * Federico’s Picks: + F-1 Trillion by Post Malone + Forever by Charly Bliss
MacStories Unwind+We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.
To learn more about the benefits of a Club MacStories subscription, visit our Plans page.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Today, Apple announced a series of new changes coming later this year to users running iOS and iPadOS in the European Union.
In March 2024, as part of Apple’s response to the DMA, iOS 17.4 introduced a new browser choice screen that prompted users in the EU to choose a new default browser when first opening Safari after the update. Later this year, once again, this screen will be shown to all European users who have set or kept Safari as their default web browser on iOS and iPadOS, “including users who have already seen the choice screen prior to the update.” The screen will also be shown to these users when migrating to a new device.
This updated browser choice screen will now feature App Store subtitles and descriptions for each listed web browser, and will let you tap on a chevron to open its product page on the App Store.
Additionally, if the selected default browser is not already installed, you will now be able to see its download progress right from the browser choice screen. But that’s not all: Apple says that the newly selected browser’s icon will now immediately replace Safari if it was placed in the Dock or on the Home Screen on iOS and iPadOS.
The updated browser choice screen in iOS 18. Source: Apple
Along with the updated browser choice screen, Apple announced the addition of a new ‘Default Apps’ section in Settings for users in the EU running iOS and iPadOS 18. In addition to web browsers, alternative app marketplaces, and email apps, you will now be able to set a new default app for each of the following features:
- Dialing phone numbers
- Adding Call spam filter
- Sending messages
- Navigating with maps
- Managing passwords
- Using alternative keyboards
- Translating text
Apple will now also let users in the EU uninstall the following core apps on iOS and iPadOS:
- App Store
- Messages
- Camera
- Photos
- Safari
A new ‘Default Apps’ section in Settings will be available to users in the EU as part of iOS and iPadOS 18. Source: Apple
These changes to the browser choice screen and the ability to select new default apps on iOS and iPadOS come a few months after the European Commission announced their intention to open a non-compliance investigation against Apple in regard to the DMA. In its press release from March 25th, the Commission specifically cited the design of the browser choice screen introduced in iOS 17.4:
The Commission is concerned that Apple’s measures, including the design of the web browser choice screen, may be preventing users from truly exercising their choice of services within the Apple ecosystem, in contravention of Article 6(3) of the DMA.
It is unclear at this time whether these changes will satisfy the Commission.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Yesterday, during Gamescom’s opening night ceremonies, Netflix Games released a trailer for Monument Valley 3. The franchise’s sequel from Ustwo Games, which has been in development for five years, will be published exclusively on Apple’s App Store and Android by Netflix Games on December 10th. Monument Valley 1 and 2 are also moving to Netflix Games on September 19th and October 29th, respectively. Both games previously launched on the App Store as paid titles and were later added to Apple Arcade.
Few details have been shared about Monument Valley 3, although the trailer does reveal that the game’s protagonist Noor will sail a boat for the first time. According to Jennifer Estaris, Ustwo’s Game Director of Monument Valley 3:
Monument Valley is a title that has pushed boundaries of what is possible in games, from the power of minimalist design, to the simplicity of play and the emotion of interactive storytelling. Our goal is to bring our biggest Monument Valley yet to as many people as possible, which is why we partnered with Netflix to deliver the game to hundreds of millions of players around the world as part of their memberships.
Netflix has promised additional information about the game during its September 16th Geeked Week event.
I’ve had my eye on Netflix Games for a while. Its catalog, which we discussed on NPC: Next Portable Console and I’ve written about a lot, is full of high-quality indie games as well as casual games and TV tie-ins. I’ve half expected Netflix to veer in a more Arcade-like direction, but so far, the company’s game library continues to outdo Apple Arcade in terms of game quality and balance among genres.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week, Federico and I look at the gadget landscape to find inspiration for expanding Apple’s hardware lineup.
On AppStories+, a behind-the-scenes look at our expansion into video and a conversation about the Vision Pro.
- Memberful – Help Your Clients Monetize Their Passion
The snack cup overfloweth this week with chips, seasoning, and a very blue beverage. The onto the App Store and finally a new Ruminate family member has joined.
AppStories, ‘Hardware Ideas Apple Should Steal’ Show NotesLinks and Show NotesApp Store Fees and What’s Going on with Patreon* Apple adds nearly endless 20 percent fee for developers in latest EU update * Apple relents and approves Spotify app with EU pricing * Patreon Lays Out How It Will Deal with Apple’s Insistence That It Use App Store In-App Purchases - MacStories
Hardware Ideas for Apple* Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold * Review: Microsoft Surface Pro (11th Edition, 2024) * Apple’s Mac Mini With M4 Chip Will Be Its Smallest Computer Ever * Intel Introduces Thunderbolt 5 Connectivity Standard * The first Thunderbolt 5 cables are here, but there’s barely anything to plug in * The ZenScreen Fold OLED MQ17QH portable display brings unbounded on-the-go versatility
Ruminate, Episode 191: ‘The King of Weird Colors’* Condimaniac Pizza The Action * Pepsi Electric 500ml * Jalapeno Queso Chips - Carolina Kettle * Han-Dee Hugo’s * Patreon Lays Out How It Will Deal with Apple’s Insistence That It Use App Store In-App Purchases * Is this the slow decline of the Apple “cult”? * Anders Borum: “The app used OAuth to act on b…” - Mastodon
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Apple Podcasts got the full Apple Music treatment with its own web app today. The UI is essentially the same as Apple’s native app but with the added flexibility of working on non-Apple devices. Apple says Podcasts works on all major browsers, including Safari, Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, and can be accessed in more than 170 countries and regions in their local language. If you’re an Apple Podcasts user, your progress will be synced from the web to your Apple devices, too.
Apple Podcasts’ web app is nearly identical to the native version.
The web app strikes me as a win for both listeners and podcasters. Podcast fans now have more ways to enjoy their favorite shows, discover new ones, and share episodes with others. Suddenly, Apple Podcasts is cross-platform, which is still relatively rare among the most popular podcast apps, except for Pocket Casts.
Your entire library of shows is available on the web and syncs across all versions of the app.
Links opened on Apple devices will open in the native Podcasts app and in the browser on other devices, although on the Mac, it is possible to play episodes in a browser if you prefer. Here’s Comfort Zone playing on everyone’s current obsession, the Boox Palma:
The latest episode of NPC running on my Boox Palma.
It sounds great, too.
The web app also means podcasters can now reach a bigger audience. Not only are free RSS-based shows available on the web, but listeners can also subscribe and listen to paid shows.
I’ve only played around with the web version of Apple Podcasts a little, but it works well on every device I’ve tried with it so far, including the Palma, a Boox Android tablet, and a Windows gaming handheld using Chrome and Edge. In every case, the Podcasts web app worked just as well as listening in the native app.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Today on its website, Procreate announced that it would not build generative AI tools into its apps. The company’s position is clear and unequivocal:
Generative AI is ripping the humanity out of things. Built on a foundation of theft, the technology is steering us toward a barren future. We think machine learning is a compelling technology with a lot of merit, but the path generative AI is on is wrong for us.
We’re here for the humans. We’re not chasing a technology that is a moral threat to our greatest jewel: human creativity. In this technological rush, this might make us an exception or seem at risk of being left behind. But we see this road less travelled as the more exciting and fruitful one for our community.
In a short video on X.com, Procreate CEO James Cuda said:
I don’t like what’s happening to the industry, and I don’t like what it’s doing to artists.
I couldn’t agree more or be happier to see Procreate take a stand in defense of artists. Federico and I interviewed Cuda at WWDC, and although Cuda struck a diplomatic tone having just received an Apple Design Award for Procreate Dreams, it was clear to me then that we were unlikely to see generative AI in Procreate’s apps. For everyone who wasn’t in the room with Cuda that day, though, today’s statement should set their minds at ease. I hope we see more developers whose apps support creative fields take a similar stand.
→ Source: procreate.com
I thoroughly enjoyed this two-part series on the Twenty Thousand Hertz podcast about sound design at Apple and the care that goes into crafting sound effects and alerts that complement the user experience (speaking of the parts of Apple I still love).
I’ll be honest: like many other people these days, I don’t often hear sound effects at all since my iPhone is constantly silenced because I don’t want to bother people around me. However, sound plays an essential role for accessibility reasons and is an entire dimension of software design that is not treated like an afterthought at Apple. I especially appreciated how both episodes went into explaining how particular sounds like Tapbacks, Apple Pay confirmation messages, and alarms were created thanks to members of Apple’s Design team, who participated in both episodes and shared lots of behind-the-scenes details.
I hope we get a third episode about sound design in visionOS eventually. (I listened to both episodes using Castro, which I’m using as my main podcast client again because its queue system is unrivaled.)
→ Source: 20k.org
The headline may be a little provocative, but this article by Matt Birchler encapsulates a lot of the feelings I shared on the latest episode of Connected following Apple’s decisions regarding the Patreon iOS app.
Part of this is that Apple is no longer the underdog, they’re the biggest fish in the sea. It’s simply not as fun to root for the most successful consumer company of all time than to root for the upstart that’s trying to disrupt the big guys.
But another part is that despite achieving massive success, Apple continues to make decisions that put it at odds with the community that used to tirelessly advocate for them. They antagonize developers by demanding up to one third of their revenue and block them from doing business the way they want. They make an ad (inadvertently or not) celebrating the destruction of every creative tool that isn’t sold by Apple. They antagonize regulators by exerting their power in ways that impact the entire market. They use a supposedly neutral notarization process to block apps from shipping on alternate app stores in the EU. Most recently they demand 30% of creators’ revenue on Patreon. No single action makes them the bad guy, but put together, they certainly aren’t acting like a company that is trying to make their enthusiast fans happy. In fact, they’re testing them to see how much they can get away with.
And:
And to be super clear, I think the vast majority of folks at Apple are amazing people doing amazing work, especially those in product, design, and development. There’s a reason that I use their products and there’s a reason I care enough to even comment on all this in the first place. The problems all stem from the business end of the company and I don’t know how to convince them that reputation matters. How do we convince them that they need the rebel spark like they used to have? How do we convince them there are more ways to increase their profits than by going after the paltry earnings of creators on Patreon?
It’s a pretty dark place to be when Apple’s biggest, long time fans are hoping that the US government will step in to stop them from doing multiple things that they’re doing today.
I couldn’t have said it better myself. On the latest Connected, I argued that it almost feels like there are two Apples within Apple: the company that designs the hardware products and operating systems I still love using, which I find superior to most alternatives on the market today; and there’s the business entity, which is antagonizing developers, creators, governments, and, in doing so, alienating customers who have been supporting them for years.
I don’t know how to reconcile the two, and I don’t think I’m alone in feeling this way lately.
→ Source: birchtree.me
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
Sigmund and Devon highlight the debut of Bad Monkey, discuss the future of Apple Original Films in theaters, and go on an immersive elephant adventure with Wild Life.
Sponsored By:
- Play – Save and Organize Videos to Watch Later
Matt has to apologize for the things he said last week, Chris tries to find out if we’re smarter than Apple Intelligence, and Niléane has a quiz nobody could predict.
This week, Federico and John discuss alligator races and distraction free E-Ink thermostats for writers, plus a TV show pick and three videogame recommendations.
Magic Rays of Light, Episode 132 Show NotesOpening Chat* Beats Solo 4
Highlight* Bad Monkey
Apple TV News* Magic Rays of Light: Fly Me to the Moon, Apple TV Pro Revisited, Trying, and Sunny * VirtualFriend * Blackmagic Camera 2.0 * Tailscale and Password Sharing
Trailer Talk* Disclaimer
Apple Original News* First Look at Shrinking Season Two * First Look at The Last of the Sea Women
Releases* Fly Me to the Moon (PVOD)
Recap* Wild Life: Elephants
Up Next* Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles * Daughters * Jackpot! * Immaculate * Inside Out 2 * Arrested Development * English Premier League
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
Subscribe to Magic Rays of Light on YouTube.
Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads
Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads
Comfort Zone, Episode 11 Show NotesWeekly Topics* Pocket Casts * Apple Intelligence
Other Stuff We Discussed* Overcast * Raycast * Pixel Pro Golf * Pile-up-Poker (Puzzmo) * Star Wordle * Coffee Golf * Mini Metro * Mini Motorways
Follow the Hosts* Chris on YouTube * Matt on Birchtree * Niléane on Mastodon * Comfort Zone on Mastodon
MacStories Unwind, They Can’t Slalom, But They’re Good at Downhill Show NotesLinks and Show NotesAlligator and E-Ink Follow-Up* How to survive an alligator attack – or better yet, avoid one entirely
Here are some more survival tips from various wildlife departments and other experts:
If you can escape on land, run away in a straight line. Experts debunk the advice to zig-zag. Gators can move really fast on land, but only in short bursts and distances before they tire out.
- BYOK
Picks* John’s Pick: + Presumed Innocent on ATV * Federico’s Picks: + 1000x Resist + Steamworld Heist II + Minishoot Adventures
MacStories Unwind+We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.
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MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Source: Epic Games.
Epic Games launched its iOS alternative app marketplace in the EU today with three of its games: Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe, and Fall Guys. Those games are also available from AltStore PAL and will be available later from Aptoide, both of which offer alternative storefronts in the EU. Epic has also said that third-party games will be added by the end of the year.
According to Stephen Totilo, who interviewed Epic CEO Tim Sweeney and others earlier this week for his excellent newsletter Game File:
The company has spent hundreds of millions battling Apple and Google since 2020 to get to this point, Sweeney told Game File during an interview conducted earlier this week.
And, he added, Epic may have missed out on as much as $1 billion in Fortnite revenue in the process,
Tim Sweeney can be a little over the top at times when talking about his company’s disputes with Apple and Google, but his in-depth response to Totilo’s question about the impact of App Store fees on the mobile gaming industry are excellent and rang true to me. Both he and Altstore co-founder Riley Testut explained to Totilo that mobile gaming and Apple would thrive if fees were reduced, with Testut pointing to changes in App Review Guidelines about emulators and virtual machines as evidence of the positive results of competition.
For anyone in the EU interested in installing the Epic Game Store, Epic has published a walkthrough video on YouTube:
→ Source: gamefile.news
Jason Snell has an excellent interview on Six Colors with Zach Gage one of the creators of Puzzmo and a ton of other games we’ve covered on MacStories over the years. Federico and I interviewed Zach ages ago on AppStories, and more recently at WWDC, and the only thing I like more than hearing him talk about game design and theory is playing his games.
As I read the interview, I was struck by the thoughtfulness with which Zach’s games are made, including this tidbit about Pile-Up Poker, the most recent addition to Puzzmo:
We have a lot of games on the website right now that are very cerebral and based on you and trying hard and being at your peak. And for me, thinking about how we balance a portfolio of games, I really wanted to have something in there that would be a lot more random every day and would still fit the guidelines that we have for Puzzmo. The game should be healthy. It should be a thing where you are creative and clever and improve your strategy. It should be something that anybody at any skill level can play and win, but people who are really highly skilled can play at a super high level and really compete.
Poker is one of my favorite games ever. I think it’s a magical game. For me, the biggest trick of poker is that you can play poker with your friends for 20 years and then someone can show up and have never played poker before and win. And that is something that doesn’t exist with, I don’t think, any other game. So it felt like the right kind of game to bring to Puzzmo to find something that fits that space. It would be super approachable, but also there’s a depth.
If you haven’t tried Puzzmo yet, I highly recommend it.
→ Source: sixcolors.com
Earlier today, Apple announced another major new functionality coming to iOS 18.1: the ability for third-party apps to offer NFC transactions via the iPhone’s Secure Element:
Starting with iOS 18.1, developers will be able to offer NFC contactless transactions using the Secure Element from within their own apps on iPhone, separate from Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. Using the new NFC and SE (Secure Element) APIs, developers will be able to offer in-app contactless transactions for in-store payments, car keys, closed-loop transit, corporate badges, student IDs, home keys, hotel keys, merchant loyalty and rewards cards, and event tickets, with government IDs to be supported in the future.
This is coming in iOS 18.1, which will also mark the official debut of Apple Intelligence. Even better, Apple has published extensive documentation on the new APIs, from which I noticed one detail: in addition to overriding the iPhone’s side button double-click with a different app, a third-party app running in the foreground will still be able to initiate its own NFC transactions, even if you set a different default app.
Eligible apps running in the foreground can prevent the system default contactless app from launching and interfering with the NFC transaction.
And:
You can acquire a presentment intent assertion to suppress the default contactless app when the user expresses an active intent to perform an NFC transaction, like choosing a payment or closed-loop transit credential, or activating the presentment UI. You can only invoke the intent assertion capability when your app is in the foreground.
The irony of all this, of course, is that Apple is under regulatory scrutiny in both Europe and the United States regarding the inability for third-party developers to offer alternative wallets and tap-to-pay systems on iPhone. But as it’s becoming apparent lately, it seems there’s no greater project manager for new iOS features than the fear of regulation.
→ Source: apple.com
Images taken using Process Zero. Source: Lux.
Today, Lux released an update to Halide, its manual control camera app. The marquee feature is Process Zero, a mode that allows photographers to take images with no algorithmic or AI processing. As Lux’s Ben Sandofsky explains it:
Process Zero is a new mode in Halide that skips over the standard iPhone image processing system. It produces photos with more detail and allows the photographer greater control over lighting and exposure. This is not a photo filter— it really develops photos at the raw, sensor-data level.
The result is that it’s possible to capture finer details than a processed photo under some conditions. The resulting image is a RAW file that’s 12 MB, significantly smaller than a ProRAW photo. In addition to Process Zero, the Halide team introduced Image Lab, a feature accessed from your Halide photo library, that offers a single dial element for adjusting your RAW photos.
Process Zero comes with some tradeoffs as explained in depth in Sandofsky’s post. The images it produces are “less saturated, softer, grainier, and quite different than what you see from most phones.”
I’ve had limited time to try Process Zero, but it was immediately apparent that the process of taking photos is different and harder compared to relying on the iPhone’s image processing. The feature requires a more deliberate, attentive approach to Halide’s manual camera settings to get a good shot. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it is clearly different, and I imagine it’s also probably the best way to really learn how the app’s manual camera settings work.
I also appreciate that the Halide team is taking a human-focused approach to photography at a time when so many developers and AI companies seem all too willing to cast aside photographers in favor of algorithms and generative AI. Process Zero’s approach to photography isn’t for everyone, and I expect most of the time, it won’t be for me either. However, I’m glad it’s an option because, in the hands of a skilled photographer, it’s a great tool.
If you’re interested in checking out Halide’s new Process Zero and Image Lab features, which are the foundation of what will become Halide Mark III, the app is currently on sale. For the rest of this week, Lux is offering Halide membership subscriptions for $11.99 per year, which is a 40% discount. The app is also available as a one-time $60 purchase.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week, Federico and John rethink podcast apps, exploring why it’s such a tricking category to get right for the greatest number of users.
This week, Federico returns to join John and Brendon to recap the latest portable gaming news before Federico drops a massive GameCube surprise on his co-hosts.
AppStories, Episode 398, Rethinking Podcast AppsLinks and Show NotesAppStories+ Pre-Show* LOC8 MagSafe Finder Wallet and Stand
Rethinking Podcast Players* Apps Discussed + Apple Podcasts + Overcast + Castro + Pocket Casts
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, a video experiment, I have iPad Pro follow-up, and Federico has technical follow-up and a question for listeners about streaming videogames over Wi-Fi.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
NPC, Episode 6, GameCube To GoLinks and Show NotesThe Latest Portable Gaming News* Genki SavePoint * SteamOS 3.6.9 Beta for Steam Deck curiously mentions the ASUS ROG Ally * Where is the Xbox mobile store? * ASUS launches Adol Book 14, world’s first laptop with built-in fragrance * This $60 chip fixes a longstanding Super Nintendo flaw * AYANEO is at it again + Pocket S: Snapdragon G3x Gen2 New Android Handheld + Pocket DMG: Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 Vertical Handheld | Indiegogo + Pocket MICRO: Tribute to Classic Pocket Handhelds | Indiegogo
Ticci’s Surprises* Into the Aether VII: The Nintendo GameCubehttps://intothecast.transistor.fm/episodes/into-the-aether-vii-the-nintendo-gamecube)
* Hacking the Wii
+ Wii Hacks subreddit
+ SCART Connector
+ Wii to HDMI Cable
+ Elgato Capture Card
+ Orion
+ CleanRIP
* GingerOfMods
+ The Louii
+ RV Loader
+ Nintendont
+ GC2WiiMote
- Mariokartwii.com
* The Emulation Angle
+ RG Cube
+ Ayn Odin 2
+ Managing Saves
- Dolphin for Desktop
+ DS Emulation
- DraStic DS
- MelonDS
* Ashida Wii
+ Best Built
* Twelve South AirFly Pro for Bluetooth headphones
* Games Mentioned
+ Super Smash Bros. Melee
+ Mario Kart: Double Dash
+ Luigi’s Mansion
+ The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
+ Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
+ Chibi-Robo!
+ Custom Robo
+ Somabringer
CreditsShow Art: Brendon Bigley
Music: Will LaPorte
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Today, we’re expanding NPC: Next Portable Console to include video on YouTube. The reception to the show has been fantastic. NPC debuted in the top five on the Apple Podcasts Video Game chart and has been attracting more listeners every week as an audio-only podcast on YouTube. However, with videogames being such a popular category on YouTube, we knew we could do more for listeners by adding a proper video version of the show.
So beginning today, you can watch NPC on the MacStories YouTube channel:
Today’s episode was the perfect place to start with video. I don’t want to give away Federico’s surprises here, but he plotted a big reveal for months that he springs on Brendon and me in today’s episode. It’s a deep dive into the console modding community and a classic Federico reveal. As always, we highlight the latest portable gaming news, too.
If you haven’t tried NPC or checked out the MacStories YouTube channel yet, you can subscribe to NPC on YouTube or subscribe to the MacStories channel for access to all six of our podcasts and more. Of course, all of our shows are available as audio-only podcasts too.
Thanks to everyone who has listened to NPC and our other new shows these past few months. It means a lot to us. Our ongoing experiments with YouTube are a direct result of the enthusiasm for the shows and something we plan to do more of in the coming months.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
I’ve used Federico’s Apple Frames shortcut to add device frames to screenshots for years. It’s a great way to quickly process multiple screenshots and upload them to the MacStories CDN with minimal effort. But as great as Shortcuts is for simplifying this sort of task, there are advantages to using a native app instead.
Editing screenshots on the iPad.
Shareshot is an app for iPhone, iPad, and Vision Pro that occupies a lot of the same feature space as Apple Frames, using Apple hardware to frame screenshots. However, the app simultaneously does more and a little less than Federico’s shortcut. That one missing feature means that I won’t be abandoning Apple Frames, but because of the things the app can do that Apple Frames can’t, Shareshot will be joining the shortcut as a utility I expect to use a lot.
Let’s dig into what makes Shareshot shine.
Shareshot isn’t the first app to frame screenshots, but it’s the most tastefully designed one I’ve used. The app is also incredibly easy to use, allowing users to quickly frame iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV screenshots. In addition to official hardware frames, the app lets users add their own custom frames, too.
Editing screenshots in Shareshot.
When you open Shareshot, you’re given three options: frame the most recent screenshot in your photo library, pick another screenshot from among your photos, or choose a screenshot from the file picker. You can also paste screenshots from the system clipboard into Shareshot. Once you’ve chosen a screenshot, the app automatically frames it based on its dimensions. If multiple devices match the screenshot’s size, Shareshot picks a frame based on various factors such as the type of device you’re using. It’s a clever educated guess that I expect will be correct for most people, most of the time. If the app gets it wrong, though, you can always swap in another frame.
Shareshot comes with an extensive collection of flat and gradient backgrounds to set your framed screenshot against, as well as the option to use any photo or a blurred version of the screenshot itself as a background. Shareshot’s backgrounds are excellent, and I appreciate the variety available, but I’d also like the option to use a system color picker to create a flat or gradient background with a color I pick myself. Still, it’s a testament to the quality of the built-in backdrops that I haven’t gotten bored of them.
Shareshot offers multiple aspect ratios for framing screenshots.
Near the top of Shareshot’s main view are three aspect ratios and a transparent background option that produce framed shots that work in most social media and web contexts as well as for incorporation into other apps. At the very top of the view are buttons to access the app’s settings and rename the image, too.
The bottom of the main view includes buttons to edit your composition, share it, and adjust its size to 50% or 25% of the original. The Edit view is where you can swap in a different background, change the angle of the image’s light source or eliminate it, and adjust the diffusion of the framed hardware’s drop shadow or remove it. The Edit view also includes options for changing the padding around a device, picking a different hardware frame, changing the frame’s color, and sharing your screenshot.
Shareshot’s ability to use any photo as a backdrop for your screenshots opens up some interesting possibilities.
When you tally all the choices available, it’s a lot. It’s also a testament to the app’s design that I haven’t found a way to create an ugly framed screenshot, except perhaps by picking a horrible photo from my own library. Yet, despite the number of parameters that can be tweaked in Shareshot, it’s very easy to use, making it simple to create images that look great quickly.
Shareshot works with the Vision Pro, too.
It’s also worth noting that Shareshot’s settings include ten app icon options. Screenshots are exported as PNG images by default, but there is a setting to export them as JPEGs instead.
Finally, Shareshot works with Shortcuts. There are actions to frame your last screenshot or a specific screenshot, use a custom background with a screenshot, or open the app with your most recent screenshot. Best of all, the actions that generate framed images all include the ability to set parameters like the aspect ratio, background, and other options described above.
Using transparent backgrounds and a combination of Pixelmator Pro and CleanShot X, it’s possible but not convenient to build multi-device screenshots with Shareshot.
Shareshot is great, and the only reason I don’t plan to use it for most of my screenshot generation needs is that it can only frame one screenshot at a time. You could use transparent backgrounds and then stitch multiple screenshots together, as I’ve done in this review, but I’d prefer to feed the app multiple images, have access to its excellent backgrounds, and let it do all of that work for me. I’d also like the option to frame screen recordings.
That said, Shareshot does things that a shortcut can’t, and the results it produces look fantastic. So, despite a short wishlist of features, I’ve subscribed to the app and expect it will be a staple among the many iOS and iPadOS utilities I use. If you’re a developer, designer, or marketer, or if you you find yourself regularly using screenshots for any other purpose, I highly recommend adding Shareshot to your app toolbox.
Shareshot is available on the App Store as a free download that adds a watermark to the images you create. You can remove the watermark and access other features by subscribing to Shareshot Pro for $1.99/month or $14.99/year, although for the next week, the subscription is available for $1.39/month or $10.99/year as part of the app’s launch week sale.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Today, Patreon alerted creators who use its platform that Patreon must begin using Apple’s In-App Purchases system in its iOS app or face the app’s removal from the store. According to Patreon:
This has two major consequences for creators:
- Apple will be applying their 30% App Store fee to all new memberships purchased in the Patreon iOS app, in addition to anything bought in your Patreon shop.
- Any creator currently on first-of-the-month or per-creation billing plans will have to switch over to subscription billing to continue earning in the iOS app, because that’s the only billing type Apple’s in-app purchase system supports.
This change was first publicized by Patreon late last year, but the exact date of the 2024 transition was unknown at the time. The Patreon post linked above and a video by Patreon founder Jack Conte explain the situation in depth and walk through what the company is doing to help transition creators and their members to new billing systems.
The changes don’t affect supporters who purchase a membership before November 2024. Also, Patreon has created a tool for creators to pass Apple’s 30% fee on to their members who sign up using the iOS app, which it recommends doing. However, that’s bound to create some ill will with members, and it doesn’t solve the fact that certain kinds of billing like ‘per creation’ charges aren’t available as part of Apple’s payment system, meaning that many creators will need to change their financial arrangements with their members.
It’s a real shame to see this. On the one hand, I’ve always wondered why Patreon was able to use its own billing system. Apparently, so was Patreon. On the other hand, though, Apple allowed Patreon to do its own thing for years. Patreon and creators built businesses that don’t fit neatly into Apple’s payment system, so it doesn’t strike me as fair that now, they have to find a way to fit that square peg into a round hole.
I wish this were an isolated thing, but it isn’t. Apple’s caring-for-creators engine seems to have run out of gas.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
Sigmund and Devon preview Apple Intelligence, highlight new Apple Original heist flick The Instigators, discuss improvements to Continuity Camera in the tvOS 18 beta, and recap Land of Women.
Chris is absent for mysterious reasons, Niléane finds clever ways to watch the Olympics, and Matt explores his podcast app feelings.
This week, Federico returns to discuss the animal kingdom and share our E-ink device hot takes, along with a movie pick.
Magic Rays of Light, Episode 131 Show NotesOpening Chat* Friend
Highlight* The Instigators
Continuity Camera* Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Apple TV 4K * imluckies Adjustable Continuity Camera Mount Clip Compatible with Magsafe * Belkin Stand Pro
Apple TV News* Pixagogo
Releases* Yo Gabba GabbaLand! * Yo Gabba GabbaLand! – Live Watch-Along and Q&A * Wild Life: Elephants
Extras* Silo: Common’s Freestyle Rap at San Diego Comic-Con * Lady in the Lake: Another Take with Natalie Portman * Vince Vaughn on Hot Ones
Recap* Land of Women
Up Next* MacStories Unwind: Media Tracking Apps and Picks with Special Guest Devon Dundee on Apple Podcasts * A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder * The Umbrella Academy * Industry * The Bikeriders * Girl You Know It’s True * Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga: Black & Chrome * Twisters * Watchmen Chapter I * Mothers’ Instinct * Succession * Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
Subscribe to Magic Rays of Light on YouTube.
Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads
Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads
Comfort Zone, Episode 10 Show NotesWeekly Topics* Plex * The Olympics * Overcast
Other Stuff We Discussed* HDHomeRun * Channels app * Infuse * VLC * Marco on the Overcast update * Accidental Tech Podcast with tech details * Pocket Casts * Castro
Follow the Hosts* Chris on YouTube * Matt on Birchtree * Niléane on Mastodon * Comfort Zone on Mastodon
MacStories Unwind, ‘Two Weeks Is an Eternity’, Show NotesSnakes, Alligators, and Bears, Oh My!* Alligator found on dark road north of Charlotte, far from its known range, NC cops say
E-Ink Readers* Boox Tab Ultra * Boox Palma * Boox Go Color 7
Picks* John’s Pick: + Civil War
MacStories Unwind+We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.
To learn more about the benefits of a Club MacStories subscription, visit our Plans page.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week, I am joined by Jonathan to preview watchOS 11, which is one of the most feature packed OSes being updated this fall.
On AppStories+, John reports on how his travel tech setup fared.
- Setapp – the place to get apps. Use the code appstories20 at checkout for 20% off.
- MusicHarbor – New Music From Your Favorite Artists and Record Labels.
This week, Robb is this snackplier this week, and I had a sour patch kids situation, and we both discuss Samsung’s renaming of a train station.
AppStories, Episode 397, ‘watchOS 11 Preview’ Show Notes
AppStories+ Pre-Show* John’s Travel Setup: What Worked, What Didn’t
+ 11” iPad Pro
+ Magic Keyboad Case
+ EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter with GaN 75W Charger
+ Airalo eSIMs (Use JOHN64205 for $3 off your first purchase)
+ Nintendo Switch OLED
+ Miyoo Mini A30
+ Audio Technica ATH-M70X
+ Boox Palma
+ Insta360 X4
+ Belkin Battery Pack
* EarPods Rule
watchOS 11 Preview* watchOS 11: The MacStories Public Beta Preview + Topics Covered: - Smart Stack and Live Activities - Interactive widgets * Health and Fitness + Training Load - Other apps mentioned * Gentler Streak * Athlytic * Whoop + Vitals + Pausing Goals + Fitness app customization on iOS * Watch Faces + Suggested photos for watch face * Translation + Similar to iOS app in functionality * Cycle Tracking * Maps adds hikes in US national parks
Ruminate, Episode 190, ‘What You Plied to Me’ Show NotesRuminate underground sign
Burger Restaurant in Spitalfields | Burgers in Spitalfields | Honest Burgers
Jaffa Cakes | McVitie’s UK
Why Jaffa Cakes are cakes, not biscuits? - Kerseys Solicitors
Colin the Caterpillar - Wikipedia
Samsung renames Old Street station as Fold Street in foldable phones drive
Elon Musk’s X sues advertisers over alleged ‘massive advertiser boycott’ after Twitter takeover | AP News
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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One of my greatest frustrations with read-later apps is how hard most make it to get your data out on your terms. Few allow you to export links using Shortcuts or some other system, and even fewer offer to do the same with highlights – until now. With version 2.0, GoodLinks adds highlighting and note-taking combined with excellent Shortcuts support, giving users full access and flexibility to incorporate saved URLs, highlights, and notes into their workflows however they want.
Thanks to Obsidian’s deep catalog of plugins from third-party developers, it’s been possible to import highlights from read-later apps like Readwise Reader and Amazon’s Kindle app for some time. Those are good solutions when I’m working in Obsidian, but both I and our readers use lots of different apps. That’s why I was so glad to see GoodLinks (available for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac) get this major 2.0 revision that transforms it from a place to save links and articles to a more well-rounded research tool, thanks to highlighting and notes.
GoodLinks offers six highlighter colors.
MacStories readers should be familiar with GoodLinks because we’ve covered it many times in the past. It’s an app that I’ve come back to time and again because it’s native on all of Apple’s platforms and I appreciate its clean design and support for the latest OS features.
Now, with the addition of highlighting and note-taking, developer Ngoc Luu has eliminated one of GoodLinks’ biggest shortcomings. The app’s saving, organizing, and reading experiences have always been excellent, but until the release of version 2.0, the inability to highlight text and take notes meant it didn’t work well as a research tool.
Highlighting and note-taking options are available in the edit menu on iOS and iPadOS.
Like the other aspects of GoodLinks, highlighting a saved article in version 2.0 is a thoroughly native experience. On iOS and iPadOS, select text, and ‘Highlight’ and ‘Add Note’ appear in the popover edit menu. Tap ‘Highlight’, and the selected text is overlaid with your default highlighting color, which you can choose in the app’s settings. Tap again and you can ‘Copy,’ ‘Add Note,’ ‘Delete’, ‘Share’, or switch to any of the six highlighting color options. The ‘Share’ button offers plain text or Markdown-formatted text as options and then shares the results via the share sheet. The app also has a wonderfully nerdy setting for tweaking how exported highlights and notes are formatted. On the Mac, the same features and options are available by selecting text and right-clicking on it.
Highlights and associated notes are housed in a panel that appears from the right side of the screen on the iPhone and iPad with a swipe from the device’s edge when reading an article. Alternatively, you can access highlights and notes by tapping on the pen icon in GoodLinks’ floating toolbar. On the Mac, there’s a dedicated panel button in the app’s toolbar.
Color-coded tick marks in the margin make it easy to navigate your highlights.
One touch I love is that on every platform, GoodLinks displays small colored tick marks to show where your highlights are located. The color corresponds to the color you use during highlighting, and tapping on one jumps you to the spot in the article where the highlight is located.
I’ve been using GoodLinks on macOS Sonoma and Sequoia 15.0, iPadOS 17 and 18.1, and iOS 18.1, and highlights and notes have synced well between devices with a few exceptions that seem to be limited to iOS and iPadOS 18.1. The instances where a highlight didn’t sync as quickly as on other OSes were uncommon and limited to the latest developer betas, so it’s not something that I’ve found to be a problem or concerning, but it’s still worth mentioning in case you’re on those bleeding-edge builds.
Extensive Shortcuts support sets GoodLinks apart from all other read-later apps.
GoodLinks surpasses other read-later apps in ease and flexibility of exporting highlights and notes simply by making them available via the share sheet. However, the app goes much further than that with deep Shortcuts support. That’s nothing new to GoodLinks, but I’m glad to see it continue with version 2.0. New Shortcuts actions include the following:
- Open Highlight
- Find Highlight
- Edit Highlight
- Delete Highlight
It’s worth noting that Find Highlight offers filters with multiple parameters, sorting, and limiting the number of results returned, and Edit Highlight adds a note to a highlight. Combined with GoodLinks’ other actions for working with links and tags, the flexibility offered is better than any other read-later app I’ve used.
GoodLinks’ new Highlights widget.
GoodLinks also has a new widget available in small, medium, and large sizes that draws from your most recent highlights or those associated with a specific tag.
Version 2.0 of GoodLinks comes with a new business model, too. The app was previously a one-time purchase but has switched to a subscription plan similar to apps like Due. The base app costs $9.99, with GoodLinks Premium adding $4.99. If you pay $4.99 for GoodLinks Premium, you’ll get updates for one year, and even if you cancel your subscription, you’ll retain all of the features released in that year. Also, if you purchased GoodLinks in the 12 months prior to version 2.0’s release, you’ll get the highlighting and note-taking features for no additional fee.
GoodLinks is a great example of the argument for native apps over web apps. There are very good read-later and link-saving apps that have gone the web app route, and it has some advantages. However, if you primarily use Apple devices and care about automation and the latest OS features, GoodLinks is the better choice.
GoodLinks is available on the App Store for $9.99.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Yesterday, Federal District Judge Amit Mehta issued a ruling in the U.S. Justice Department’s antitrust case against Google in favor of the government. Judge Mehta didn’t mince words:
Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly. It has violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act.
The Judge further explained his ruling:
Specifically, the court holds that (1) there are relevant product markets for general search services and general search text ads; (2) Google has monopoly power in those markets; (3) Google’s distribution agreements are exclusive and have anticompetitive effects; and (4) Google has not offered valid procompetitive justifications for those agreements. Importantly, the court also finds that Google has exercised its monopoly power by charging supracompetitive prices for general search text ads. That conduct has allowed Google to earn monopoly profits.
It’s a long opinion, coming in at nearly 300 pages, but the upshot of why Judge Mehta ruled the way he did is summed up nicely near the beginning of the tome:
But Google also has a major, largely unseen advantage over its rivals: default distribution. Most users access a general search engine through a browser (like Apple’s Safari) or a search widget that comes preloaded on a mobile device. Those search access points are preset with a “default” search engine. The default is extremely valuable real estate. Because many users simply stick to searching with the default, Google receives billions of queries every day through those access points. Google derives extraordinary volumes of user data from such searches. It then uses that information to improve search quality. Google so values such data that, absent a user-initiated change, it stores 18 months-worth of a user’s search history and activity.
If you’re interested in how web search works and the business deals that drive it, the opinion is a great primer. Plus, although the details already dribbled out over the course of the 10-week trial, there are lots of interesting bits of information buried in there for anyone interested in Apple’s search deal with Google.
One thing I took away from reading the opinion is that it’s easy to claim that Apple should just build its own search engine like the company created its own Maps app, but the reality is more complex. Doing so would be costly and entail substantial execution risk. Faced with a choice between the certainty of a large payment from Google ($20 billion in 2022) and the financial risk and complexity of building its own search engine, it’s not surprising that Apple has let Google take the business risks of search.
Here’s a sampling of what it would take for Apple to build its own search engine even though the company has already indexed billions of websites according to John Giannandrea’s testimony:
In late 2020, Google estimated how much it would cost Apple to create and maintain a GSE [general search engine] that could compete with Google. Google “estimate[d] that the total capital expenditures required [for Apple] to reproduce [Google’s technical] infrastructure dedicated to search would be in the rough order of$20 [billion].” UPX2 at 392–93; Tr. at 1644:8-20 (Roszak).
…
On top of that, if Apple could sustain a business with only one third of Google’s engineering and product management costs, it still would cost Apple $7 billion annually. Seven billion dollars was equal to more than 40% of Apple’s total research and development expenditure in 2019. Id.
…
The cost of maintaining a fully-integrated GSE once built runs into the billions of dollars. In 2020, Google spent $8.4 billion to operate its search engine (excluding revenue share payments).
Furthermore:
Apple itself has estimated that it would cost $6 billion annually (on top of what it already spends developing search capabilities) to run a GSE. Tr. at 2295:9-16 (Giannandrea); UPX460 at 177.
The opinion is also replete with data on just how sticky default search engine choices are and the value of those defaults to Google:
- In the U.S., only 30% of search engine queries are made in search access points that don’t default to Google.
- Google’s own analysis projected that it would lose 60-80% of its iOS query volume if Apple switched search engine defaults.
- 65% of searches on Apple devices are entered in the Safari search bar, where the default search engine is Google.
- Apple’s projections show that it would lose over $12 billion in revenue in the first five years if its search exclusivity deal with Google ended.
I highly recommend skimming through the opinion if, like me, you find those sorts of stats fascinating.
So, what’s next? The answer is, “A lot.” Judge Mehta hasn’t said what the consequences of the ruling are yet; he’ll decide that later. Also, Google has said it plans to appeal to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, and depending on how that goes, either side could then appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Plus, Google faces a separate antitrust trial over its alleged monopolization of digital ad tech next month.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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The Dynamic Island has been one of my favorite software additions to the iPhone since it was introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro lineup. The feature is a fun blend of hardware and software that turns the new pill-shaped TrueDepth camera array into a status bar that can collapse and expand to display media controls, Live Activities, and more.
While Live Activities are now also available on iPadOS, neither the iPad nor the Mac have gotten a Dynamic Island following their latest hardware and software revisions. I would argue that the latest generations of Apple silicon MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are pretty good candidates for a Dynamic Island. Both lineups feature a notched screen that currently doesn’t serve any purpose apart from expanding the display to the top edges of the laptop’s aluminum case and limiting the amount of space available for Mac menu bar apps.
Today, I’m taking a look at two Mac apps that add functionality to the notch to make it more Dynamic Island-like. Both have made me realize that, while not absolutely essential, the Dynamic Island definitely has a place on the Mac.
MediaMateMediaMate’s main purpose is to replace the Mac’s default volume and brightness indicators. In their place, the app replicates the volume and brightness indicators found on iOS and iPadOS, down to making them interactive with the mouse and displaying specific icons when using AirPods, AirPods Max, or Beats headphones.
The app offers four different indicator styles, and if you select the ‘Notch’ style, the MacBook’s notch at the top of the screen will slightly expand to reveal a volume or brightness slider whenever you press the dedicated keys on your keyboard.
MediaMate allows you to integrate the brightness and volume indicators with the notch…
…but it can also replicate the iOS look.
The app even allows you to assign a specific style based on your currently active display. I’ve set up MediaMate to replicate the iOS volume and brightness sliders when I’m at my desk using my external display and to integrate with the notch when I’m using my M2 MacBook Air’s built-in display.
MediaMate can also display playback controls for your music. Similarly to the volume and brightness controls, these can be set to appear in the notch or as a separate floating UI on an external display.
MediaMate adds media controls to your notch.
Media controls can also be set to appear in a floating, interactive notification.
The app’s settings are quite advanced. You can set specific timing rules to define how long the UI stays onscreen and when the notch should expand (on track change, on Play/Pause, or on volume change). You can also exclude specific apps from appearing in MediaMate’s playback controls. Incredibly, MediaMate even supports Focus Filters and will remain hidden when a specific Focus mode is enabled.
MediaMate can be hidden when a specific Focus mode is enabled.
I’ve been impressed with MediaMate. The app is stable and well-designed with smooth animations all around. If you’re looking to add some basic media functionality to your Mac’s notch, I recommend giving it a try. It’s one of those small Mac apps that you can set up once and then forget that it’s not even a part of the native macOS experience.
MediaMate is available to purchase on Gumroad for $9.20 with a free trial available on the official website.
NotchNookNotchNook by lo.cafe is similar to MediaMate, but it attempts to bring even more functionality to the notch. In addition to adding media controls, NotchNook can expand the notch even further to display widgets.
As of version 1.2, four widgets can be added to NotchNook: Media Player, Calendar, Shortcuts, and Mirror. While the first three speak for themselves, Mirror is actually a quick way to activate and preview your webcam with just a click, similar to Hand Mirror. More widgets are listed in the app’s settings – Notes, Quick Apps, and To-dos – but they’re currently labeled, “Coming soon…”
Just like the Dynamic Island on iOS, NotchNook displays the album artwork and a waveform on each side of the notch when music is playing.
NotchNook configured with three widgets when expanded: Media Player, Calendar, and Mirror.
The app can be used as a quick way to launch shortcuts.
Widgets aside, my favorite feature in NotchNook is its ability to act as a temporary space to store files. When the app is running, you can drag any file on your Mac onto the notch. There, you can either drop it into the Tray, which will temporarily hold your file until you drag it out into another app, or onto the AirDrop area, where you can you easily send it to a friend or one of your other devices. These are the only two file functions currently available, but the developer says more are coming, including the ability to compress images and zip/unzip files.
When dragging a file to the notch, NotchNook will expand to let you send it via AirDrop or temporarily store it in the Tray.
My main issue with NotchNook is that, unlike MediaMate, it always looks like a notch – even on an external display. While it works as expected, the addition of a software notch where there isn’t a hardware one on my actual monitor is visually jarring. My suggestion to the developers would be to handle external displays differently, perhaps by making NotchNook look like a floating island rather than an artificial notch.
Stability-wise, the app isn’t perfect. To name a few minor issues, I am currently unable to populate the Calendar widget with my events, the Mirror widget doesn’t work with my external camera (only with the MacBook Air’s built-in webcam), and the Now Playing preview is always visible on top of fullscreen apps, including fullscreen videos, sometimes obscuring part of the content. However, since the app is updated regularly, I’m hopeful that these issues will all disappear over time.
NotchNook is available on lo.cafe for a $3/month subscription or $25 one-time purchase with a free trial.
Trying both MediaMate and NotchNook has convinced me that Apple needs to add native functionality to the notch. I would be content with just brightness and volume indicator integration, but I think the most logical development would be the addition of Live Activities to the Mac. Last year, Live Activities were successfully brought to iPadOS, albeit only to the iPad’s Lock Screen. Why not bring them to macOS via a notch power-up?
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Upgraded offers an easy way to get the MacBook you need right away — and in the future.
Choose a new MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, starting at $36.06 and $52.17 a month, respectively, then upgrade to the latest model every two years.
Interest rates start at 0%, and AppleCare+ is included. See for yourself at getupgraded.com.
Here’s how it works1. Choose your new MacBook. Select anything from an entry-level Air to a fully-loaded Pro. AppleCare+ is always included. 2. Enjoy low monthly payments. The cost is spread over 36 months, with the option to upgrade after 24 payments. 3. Get upgraded every two years. Select a new MacBook, transfer your data, and send the old one back to Upgraded. They’ll refurbish it and give it a new life, saving you the hassle of selling it yourself.
Don’t want to upgrade? You can continue paying off the remaining 12 months to keep it instead.
Trusted partnersCheck if you’re eligible to join without impact to your credit score.
Behind the scenes, Upgraded works with trusted partners to make sure everything runs smoothly.
- The upgrade program is financed through Citizens Pay, the same bank used by Apple for the iPhone Upgrade Program.
- GatorTec, an Apple Premier Partner, ensures fast delivery from Apple warehouses across the country.
- All devices come with AppleCare+, meaning insurance and support are covered by Apple if needed.
Upgraded may be a new name in the States, but they’ve been helping large retailers in Europe create similar programs since 2016 and have already served over 200,000 customers worldwide. Early investors include Y Combinator and OpenAI’s Greg Brockman.
Get upgraded todayWith low monthly payments, bundled insurance, and effortless upgrades, Upgraded makes it easy to keep your gear up to date. And MacBooks are just the beginning: The company plans to offer more devices soon. See all available options at getupgraded.com.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Yesterday, Vidit Bhargava, the developer of LookUp, Word of the Day, and other apps, published an excellent story on Pixel Posts about designing for today’s app interactions. Vidit makes the excellent point that the way we use apps is changing. They’re no longer iPhone-only islands that are siloed off from other apps and devices. As Vidit explains:
Not only is the iPhone app not the center of a user’s interaction on the phone. It’s increasingly becoming one of the many parts of an ecosystem where apps are expected to scale both in terms of interface and functionality starting from something as small as an Apple Watch and going all the way up to an unbounded experience like Vision Pro.
Not only do apps exist in the larger ecosystem of products, they are constantly interacting and communicating between them.
I couldn’t agree more. Today, I expect apps to be available on every device I use and to let me move my data between apps.
Vidit also explores the practical effect of the evolution of apps, arguing that it no longer makes sense to start by designing for the iPhone. Instead, Vidit suggests that we:
…think of “apps” as clusters of actions that help us reach or present information, and carry out processes (i.e. other actions).
The post is full of practical examples that are worth browsing through and an exploration of how to effectively design for actions. Vidit’s apps are among the best-designed apps I use, so I consider this post is a must-read for developers, designers, and anyone who is interested in where app design is heading.
→ Source: blog.viditb.com
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week on Magic Rays of Light, Sigmund and Devon are joined by developer Devin Davies to chat about Crouton, summer movie snacks, and more. They also highlight the debut of Women in Blue and recap season one of Presumed Innocent.
This week, on Comfort Zone, Matt is leaving Unread, Chris is gaming on the go, and Niléane brings an addictive drug you can download from the App Store. Oh yeah, and there are several terrifying reveals, too.
This week on MacStories Unwind, I am joined by Devon Dundee to talk about media tracking strategies and share three TV series picks.
Magic Rays of Light, Episode 130 Show NotesHighlight* Women in Blue
Chat with Devin Davies* Crouton * Crouton on the Late Show * WWDC 2024: The AppStories Interviews with ADA and Swift Student Challenge Distinguished Winners * Sourdough Discard Crackers With Rosemary and Olive Oil * Homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch * Follow Devin on Mastodon * Follow Devin on X
Apple TV News* Balenciaga * RIMOWA Explore
Trailer Talk* Bad Monkey
Apple Original News* Silo Season Two Motion Poster * First Look at K-Pop Idols * First Look at Midnight Family * For All Mankind Seasons 1-3 Soundtrack | Mondo
Releases* Cowboy Cartel * Temple Run: Legends * Vampire Survivors+
Extras* First Look at Disclaimer | Variety * Presumed Innocent: Unlicensed Therapy with Lily Rabe * Silo: Behind Rebecca Ferguson’s Character Tattoos * Lady in the Lake: Another Take with Moses Ingram * Twitch Apple TV+ Promo
Recap* Presumed Innocent
Up Next* Disney Junior Music Nursery Rhymes on Disney+, Apple Music, and YouTube * Apple TV+ Children’s Hour | Everyman * Omnivore * Chris Young * A Quiet Place: Day One * Janet Planet * Futurama Season 12 * Batman: Caped Crusader * Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes * Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie * Despicable Me 4 * MaXXXine
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
Subscribe to Magic Rays of Light on YouTube.
Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads
Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads
Comfort Zone, ‘I Need to Tell You Something’ Show NotesWeekly Topics* Unread 4 on the App Store * 8BitDo Lite 2 controller * Disc Brick
Other Stuff We Discussed* Dark Side of the Moon on Apple Music * Daft Punk on Apple Music * Reeder 5 * feeeed * MacStories feeeed review * Feedbin * Inoreader * The Verge full-text RSS feed * Delta emulator * Backbone controller * 8BitDo Micro * Gamesir G8 * Analogue Pocket * Firefox OS TCP * Firefox tablet photo 1 * Firefox tablet photo 2 * Firefox tablet photo 3 * Firefox tablet photo 4 * Wordle * Puzzmo * Grindstone
Follow the Hosts* Chris on YouTube * Matt on Birchtree * Niléane on Mastodon * Comfort Zone on Mastodon
MacStories Unwind, ‘Media Tracking Apps and Picks with Special Guest Devon Dundee’, Show NotesLinks and Show NotesMedia Tracking Strategies* Sequel * Sofa * GameTrack * MusicHarbor * TV Forecast * Devon’s Shortcut:Watch History Journal 2 * Also mentioned: Collections
Picks* Devon’s Picks: + Lessons in Chemistry - Trailer + Mr. Robot - Trailer * John’s Pick: + Sunny - Trailer
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MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Last quarter, Apple reported revenue of $90.8 billion, which was a 4% year-over-year drop. The decline reflected weak iPhone sales in China, which were somewhat mitigated by increases in the company’s services business.
Today, third-quarter earnings are out and Apple reported revenue of $85.8 billion, a 5% year-over-year gain.
Quarterly Revenue.
According to Apple CEO Tim Cook:
Today Apple is reporting a new June quarter revenue record of $85.8 billion, up 5 percent from a year ago. During the quarter, we were excited to announce incredible updates to our software platforms at our Worldwide Developers Conference, including Apple Intelligence, a breakthrough personal intelligence system that puts powerful, private generative AI models at the core of iPhone, iPad, and Mac. We very much look forward to sharing these tools with our users, and we continue to invest significantly in the innovations that will enrich our customers’ lives, while leading with the values that drive our work.
Revenue by region.
Going into today’s earnings call, Reuters reported that analysts expected a 2.2% decline in iPhone sales, which is substantially less than the 10.5% decline the previous quarter. The same report also explained that analysts expect the iPhone 16 to sell well this fall, driven, in part, by iOS’s upcoming artificial intelligence features.
Services revenue continues to grow.
This fall will be an interesting one for the iPhone. Many of the Apple Intelligence features that were shown off at WWDC are unlikely to ship with the iPhone 16. That could have a negative impact on the bump in iPhone 16 sales that analysts are expecting. However with iOS 18.1 already in developer beta, I expect Apple will be able to deliver enough of its promised AI features to keep Wall Street happy for another quarter.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Earlier this year, Neil Long of mobilegamer.biz published an inside look at Apple Arcade from game developers’ perspectives. The story reflected developers’ frustration stemming from their interactions with Apple, project cancelations, declining revenue, and more. The story didn’t paint a pretty picture.
This week, Long is back with a follow-up story that cites anonymous developer sources, claiming that developers have to wait months for payments, Apple is slow and unresponsive to support requests and other inquiries, and the Vision Pro struggles to run ‘complex’ games.
The list of problems cited is long and worth reading in full because it has led some of Long’s sources to conclude that they’re symptoms of a more fundamental problem:
…[J]ust like last time, most developers agreed that Apple sees games and game developers as a ‘necessary evil’, and that Arcade appears to be directionless and lacking in support from the rest of the tech giant.
“Arcade has no clear strategy and feels like a bolt-on to the Apple company ecosystem rather than like it is truly supported inside the company,” said one source. “Apple 100% does not understand gamers – they have little to no info on who plays their games that they can share with developers, or how they interact with games on the platform already.”
It’s important to take the complaints of unnamed sources with a grain of salt. However, it’s impossible to look at what’s going on with Arcade and App Store gaming in general – which Brendon and I discussed on NPC: Next Portable Console this week – and not conclude that Apple needs to shake up its approach to videogames.
→ Source: mobilegamer.biz
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
In the latest episode, Brendon and John go it alone without Federico with Powkiddy V10 follow-up, a report on Brendon’s first week with the Nothing CMF Phone 1 and a first look at the Ayn Odin2 Mini. Along the way, they also consider the less-than-stellar sales of AAA games on the iPhone, Analogue’s spendy aluminum Pocket, and the Xreal Beam Pro, before veering into a philosophical discussion of gaming on phones versus dedicated devices, comparing notes on their Miyoo Mini A30 setup experiences, and mulling over whether to start modding handhelds.
NPC, Episode ‘A Pizza and a Vita’ Show NotesFollow-Up* Powkiddy V10 * Vaydeer 3-Slot Vertical Laptop Stand * Resident Evil 7 Is The Latest AAA Port To Flop On iPhone
The Latest Portable Gaming News* New Limited Edition Aluminium Analogue Pockets Drop With A Premium Price + Analogue Pocket: Aluminum Editions + Analogue Pocket + Funny Playing FPGBC Kit + ModRetro Chromatic + Analogue Super NT + Your Cool Uncle Marissa + Gatcha SP metal edition * The Xreal Beam Pro has good ideas about AR — but not enough juice * Nothing CMF Phone 1 First Impressions
+ Nothing’s CMF Phone 1 is proof that gadgets can still be fun
+ Retroid Pocket 4 Pro
+ Ayn Odin 2
+ GameSir Galileo G8
+ Into the Aether: The Sega Dreamcast
+ Front Ends
- Niagra Launcher for Android
- Daijishō
- Beacon
- Emulation Station for Android
+ Also mentioned
- Boox Palma
New Gear* Ayn Odin2 Mini * Miyoo Mini A30 * Compared to: Anbernic 28XX
Modding* Roman Lefebvre’s black and white 2DS * Kyle Starr’s Game Boy Advance mods for Into the Aether * Federico’s MacPad Mod
Games Mentioned* Zenless Zone Zero * Dragons Quest XI
CreditsShow Art: Brendon Bigley
Music: Will LaPorte
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Unread by Golden Hill Software has long been an excellent and elegant RSS client for iOS and iPadOS. Today, it arrives on macOS with version 4.0. While I have been exploring new ways to keep up with my favorite feeds as the web enters its federated era, using Unread on the Mac hasn’t felt like a step backwards. Unread 4.0 is a fully native, fully-featured app built using AppKit and SwiftUI that feels modern and performs incredibly quickly.
Let’s check it out.
In addition to keeping your subscriptions on-device or using the app’s own syncing service, Unread supports a variety of third-party RSS syncing options including my service of choice, Feedbin, which lets you subscribe to email newsletters. But the app also allows you sign in to several read later services – like Raindrop.io, Pocket, Plinky, and more – to perform ‘Article Actions’ via toolbar buttons that allow you to save an article with a single click.
Several third-party RSS syncing services are supported…
…as well as several read later services that can be added to Unread’s toolbar.
Unread’s interface on the Mac is very straightforward. In the leftmost sidebar, you will find all of your subscribed feeds in alphabetical order, as well as three main sections to view your unread, starred, and saved items. While I wish the sidebar also included favicons to help distinguish feeds, this classic layout style remains the clearest way to design an RSS reader, and I’m glad that Unread 4.0 is sicking with it.
The app’s toolbar behaves like any native Mac app’s. It is fully customizable with a selection of buttons that can be placed in any order. In Unread 4.0, a new button will also let you easily fetch an article’s content from either the RSS feed or directly from the webpage. The app will even ask if you would like to make that setting persistent for the current feed.
Unread’s toolbar is customizable like most native Mac apps.
Overall, I have been impressed with the way Unread fetches and displays content. Newsletters (via Feedbin), regular articles, and YouTube videos all display perfectly inside the app. Unlike other RSS clients on macOS, Unread is able to display images and video in fullscreen and thus can act as a great YouTube client.
Unread 4.0 can fetch content from the RSS feed, directly from the linked web page, or from both at the same time.
Even YouTube feeds behave nicely in Unread.
Despite its native foundation, Unread’s appearance on the Mac is still fairly customizable. It comes with 14 different theme palettes (seven light and seven dark) that will alter the app’s accent colors as well as its desktop widgets. You can also combine these themes with one of Unread’s 32 custom Dock icons. Even though the custom Dock icon will only appear when the app is running due to a system limitation, it is a welcome touch that I wish we could see in more native apps on the Mac.
Unread’s 14 themes…
…and 32 Dock icon options.
Unread’s widgets look great on the Mac desktop and follow the app’s color theme by default.
Unfortunately though, it is currently impossible to change Unread’s default font, Whitney, apart from tweaking its size.
Font customization is limited to size adjustment.
Moving forward, I plan to use Unread as my go-to RSS reader on the Mac, at least for a while. The app’s ability to cache articles will likely prove useful during my regular train trips across France, where cellular connectivity can become unreliable at times.
Most importantly, I should stress again how refreshing it feels to have such a great native experience with Unread. The app is really fast, even when it’s loaded up with hundreds of feeds. In this respect, it contrasts with Reeder, my long-time favorite RSS client on the Mac. If it gains a few more display options, like favicons in the sidebar and custom font choices, Unread may be able to win me over in the long run.
Unread 4.0 is available to download for free on the App Store for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. An optional $29.99/year or $4.99/month subscription unlocks caching articles, saving to Unread via the share sheet, saving to third-party services from Unread, widget customization, and custom icons.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week, Sigmund is joined by guest co-host Christopher Lawley to highlight the debut of Time Bandits and talk about Apple’s upcoming slate of immersive video releases.
This week, Niléane reviews the AirPods Max, Matt got a new GPU, and Chris keeps things non-controversial by bringing up The Acolyte. Then we get into using the Vision Pro for something new and Niléane challenges us to bring some old tech back to life.
Magic Rays of Light, Episode 129 Show NotesGuest Co-Host: Christopher Lawley* YouTube * Mastodon * Threads * Instagram * The Untitled Site * Comfort Zone
Highlight* Time Bandits
Main Topic* New Immersive Video Content for the Vision Pro and Creative Aspirations
Trailer Talk* Cowboy Cartel * Pachinko Season Two * Yo Gabba GabbaLand!
TV App Highlights* Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire * Bad Boys: Ride Or Die * Femme * Primos * Thelma
Up Next* Civil War * Godzilla x Kong * Godzilla Minus One * Sunny * Olympic Games
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
Subscribe to Magic Rays of Light on YouTube.
Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads
Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads
Comfort Zone, Episode 8 Show NotesWeekly Topics* AirPods Max * NVIDIA RTX 4070 Super * The Acolyte
Other Stuff We Discussed* Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones * AirCover for Vision Pro * SoloTop for Vision Pro
Follow the Hosts* Chris on YouTube * Matt on Birchtree * Niléane on Mastodon * Comfort Zone on Mastodon
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Yesterday, AltStore co-creator Riley Testut posted on Mastodon that the ‘cat’s out of the bag.’ That cat was the announcement from Epic Games that their hugely popular game ‘Fortnite’ would be coming to AltStore PAL in the EU.
Epic had previously announced they would be launching the Epic Games Store in the EU on iOS and worldwide on Android ‘soon’ with what they called ‘great terms’ for developers. However, this announcement of their most popular title coming to an alternate App Store was somewhat of a surprise.
In the statement, Epic also said they plan to bring their games — including Fortnite — to other mobile stores, though AltStore PAL was the only one confirmed.
This being Epic Games, the statement didn’t forget to take some shots at the larger App Store owners. In addition to mentioning the recent legal battles Apple and Google have faced in Europe, the statement also reminded everyone of Epic’s win against Google in the US before making one final announcement.
In what Epic Games called a ‘protest of Samsung’s anticompetitive decision to block side-loading by default on Samsung Android devices,’ the company announced it would be withdrawing Fortnite and their other games from the Samsung Galaxy Store.
While it was only one sentence in another spicy statement from Epic Games, the announcement of Fortnite on AltStore PAL is a testament to the hard work Riley Testut and Shane Gill have put into the store. It’s also the realization of a joke Riley made way back in 2020.
→ Source: epicgames.com
Today, Apple has launched Apple Maps on the web in a surprise announcement. This beta version of Apple Maps on the web is accessible via the url beta.maps.apple.com, and is said by the company to be compatible with Google Chrome, Safari, and Microsoft Edge on Windows. Additionally, developers will now be able to link out to Apple Maps on the web using MapKit JS.
Apple Maps on the web seems to be rather limited so far. The web app supports panning and zooming on the map, searching and tapping on locations, looking up directions, and browsing curated guides. However, it isn’t currently possible to tilt the map to view 3D building models or terrain elevation, and directions are limited to Driving and Walking. Look Around (Apple’s equivalent to Google Street View) is not available on the web either, but Apple says the feature will arrive in the coming months.
The web UI itself is reminiscent of Apple Maps on macOS and iPadOS. Recent locations can be found in a sidebar, and buttons to navigate the map are located in the top-right and bottom-right-hand corners of the page.
Just like on macOS and iPadOS, location details open in a collapsible sidebar.
Curated guides and satellite imagery are also supported in Apple Maps on the web.
Directions are limited to Driving and Walking.
In my testing, performance across Apple Maps on the web isn’t stellar in Safari. I’m observing stutters in transition animations, as well as when panning the map. In Google Chrome, however, the web app feels significantly smoother. If you attempt to access Apple Maps from Firefox, the app will not load and redirect you to Apple’s (short) list of supported browsers. The same message is displayed if you access the URL from Safari on iOS.
Firefox isn’t supported yet.
Apple Maps on the web is a welcome addition. Google Maps has always been available on the web for all to use, and I’m glad to finally see Apple try and compete beyond its native apps on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Hopefully more languages and features are coming to the web version soon.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Even though we have a podcast together, I promise I did not talk to my friend Brendon about something I started doing myself last month: using EarPods – yes, the old wired ones – as my “universal earbuds” that can connect to just about anything these days. In any case, Brendon came to the same conclusion:
At the death of my most recent pair of Beats Fit Pro — the left earbud started to emit a loud electrical sound every so often or just disconnect entirely — I decided to give up on them for the time being. I instead bought some wired Apple EarPods which I haven’t used since the final days of the iPod. It’s hard to overstate how much I’ve loved having them with me for the past month.
And:
I’m not about to wax poetic about all of the ways using wired headphones in 2024 “changes everything” like a clickbaity YouTube video, but I will say that the proliferation of USB-C on pretty much every device is slowly returning the EarPods to their once-ubiquitous days of the 3.5mm jack. Yes I’m using them on my iPhone when I’m commuting, doing chores around the house, meditating, and what-have-you — but being able to plug them into my gaming devices, laptop, and tablet does in some ways feel like a return to form when it comes to ease of use.
I’m still using AirPods when I want to listen to music or podcasts without bothering my girlfriend at home or when I’m taking the dogs for a walk (although the Meta Ray-Bans have replaced a lot of my AirPods usage outdoors – something I plan to write about soon). A few weeks ago, however, fed up with limitations of Bluetooth multipoint-enabled earbuds, I thought: maybe I should just get Apple’s $20 USB-C EarPods and stop worrying about which wireless earbuds I use with my Apple devices and various gaming handhelds.
I’m here to tell you, like Brendon, that those $20 earbuds still rule. The ubiquity of USB-C means I can use them with my iPhone, iPad, Legion Go, Steam Deck, and even more novel devices such as the RG Cube and ROG Ally X (stay tuned for my thoughts on these on a future episode of NPC). I don’t have to worry about battery life, pairing, or latency. Sure, there’s a wire, and there’s no noise cancelling when using them – but these are my “downtime earbuds” anyway, so I don’t care.
Wireless earbuds – and specifically AirPods – are amazing. But if, like me, you often find yourself playing around with non-Apple devices and wishing you didn’t have to buy separate wireless earbuds for them…Apple’s EarPods are still great, and they’re better than ever thanks to USB-C.
Hear me out: a single cable standard that ensures headphones can work with any device, with no concerns regarding wireless protocols, batteries, and latency. What a concept, right?
→ Source: wavelengths.online
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week, John tours the highlights of the macOS Sequoia public beta.
This episode is sponsored by:* Setapp – the place to get apps. Use the code appstories20 at checkout for 20% off.
This week, Robb located some pizza snacks, John visited a QuikTrip, and they both have some mild takes.
AppStories, Episode 396 Show NotesmacOS Sequoia* macOS Sequoia: The MacStories Public Beta Preview
Ruminate, Episode 189 Show Notes* Overview | Stream Deck Kit * QuikTrip * Mr. Quikie Richardson 112 Black Trucker Hat – QuikTripShop * Polygon’s hottest takes on games and entertainment - Polygon * Ruminate Podcast - YouTube
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week on Magic Rays of Light, Devon is joined by guest co-host Jonathan Reed to discuss Jonathan’s first impressions of Apple Vision Pro, new Apple Original documentary series Omnivore, 72 Emmy Awards nominations for Apple Originals, and Devon’s experience seeing Fly Me to the Moon in theaters.
This week, Chris can finally talk about iPadOS 18, Niléane goes on a quest for great dynamic wallpapers, and Matt brought a tea kettle for some reason. Then they all say nice things about new browsers and Chris has a “visionary” new challenge.
This week, John decides to take the iPad-only travel plunge, and Federico advises on which gaming handhelds to bring on a trip.
Magic Rays of Light, Episode 128 Show NotesGuest Co-Host: Jonathan Reed* Mastodon * Threads * Jonathan’s watchOS 11 Public Beta Preview
Highlight* Omnivore
Apple TV News* Insta360 Flow Pro
Apple Original News* Severance Season 2 Date Announcement
Releases* Lady in the Lake
Extras* Shot on iPhone 15 Pro: The Making of “¡Suerte!” * Shot on iPhone 15 Pro: ¡Suerte! * Me: Between Takes * Upgrade #521: I Can Get Pineapple Into Anything
Recap* Fly Me to the Moon
Up Next* Balls on Film Newsletter * Disney’s A Whole New Sound
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
Subscribe to Magic Rays of Light on YouTube.
Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads
Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads
Comfort Zone, ‘I Win’ Show NotesWeekly Topics* iOS 18 preview on MacStories * Dynaper * Dynamic Wallpaper Club * Fellow Stagg EKG Pro Electric Kettle
Other stuff we discussed* Arc browser * Vivaldi * Firefox * Quiche Browser
Follow the Hosts* Chris on YouTube * Matt on Birchtree * Niléane on Mastodon * Comfort Zone on Mastodon
MacStories Unwind, ‘Summer Travel Edition’ Show NotesLinks and Show NotesSummer Travel and Tech* John’s Tavel Setup
+ 11” iPad Pro
+ Magic Keyboad Case
+ EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter with GaN 75W Charger
+ Airalo eSIMs (Use JOHN64205 for $3 off)
+ Nintendo Switch OLED
+ Miyoo Mini A30
* Federico’s Travel Setup
+ Waterfield City Slicker for the Steam Deck
+ Plugable 5-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Hub
+ XREAL Air AR Glasses
* The latest update to the MacStories Setups page
MacStories Unwind+We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.
To learn more about the benefits of a Club MacStories subscription, visit our Plans page.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Source: Apple.
Beginning today, Apple says it will begin releasing a series of films, documentaries, music, sports, travel, and other video content for the Vision Pro.
First up is ‘Hot Air Balloons,’ which will be available beginning at 6 PM Pacific today, and is part of a series dubbed Boundless. That will be followed in August by a new installment of Wild Life, and a new travel series called Elevated in September. Later this year, Apple will release an immersive concert experience with The Weeknd, a scripted short film called Submerged by director Edward Berger, a behind-the-scenes and court-side look at the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend, and Big-Wave Surfing, part of a new sports series with Red Bull.
According to Tor Myhren, Apple’s vice president of Marketing Communications:
Apple Immersive Video is a groundbreaking leap forward for storytelling, offering Apple Vision Pro users remarkable experiences with an unparalleled sense of realism and immersion. From soaring over volcanoes in Hawaii and surfing huge waves in Tahiti, to enjoying performances by the world’s biggest artists and athletes from all-new perspectives, Apple Immersive Video revolutionizes the way people experience places, stories, sports, and more by making viewers feel like they’re truly there. It’s the next generation of visual storytelling, and we’re excited to bring it to more people around the world.
I’m really looking forward to these new immersive videos. There’s been a real dearth of content produced for the Vision Pro since its release, but with the device available in more countries, it’s great to see new content available for the growing audience.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Smart Script and Math Notes are two of the most notable features coming to iPadOS this fall. Both take advantage of the Apple Pencil and the iPad’s computer power to do a lot of complex work under the hood, which makes taking good-looking notes and working with numbers and equations feel natural.
Chris Lawley, co-host of Comfort Zone, sat down for an exclusive interview with Jenny Chen, an Apple engineering manager for input experiences, and Ty Jordan, an Apple system experiences product manager, to talk about both features in-depth for his YouTube channel. It’s an excellent interview full of little details you may have missed from the WWDC keynote:
When the new iPad Pros were released, I debated whether to buy an Apple Pencil Pro. I’ve never been a heavy user of the Apple Pencil, but I’m glad I bought one in the end. With features like Smart Script and Math Notes added to Quick Notes and the other Pencil features, my use has slowly crept up to the point where I’m now looking to find places where I can do even more with it.
→ Source: youtu.be
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week, Federico and John run down the highlights of the iOS and iPadOS 18 public betas that were released today.
On AppStories+, Federico and John compare earbud notes, covering recent models from Sennheiser, Technics, and Beats.
This episode is sponsored by:* CleanMyMac X: Your Mac. As good as new. Get 15% off today with code APPSTORIES15. * Setapp – the place to get apps. Use the code appstories20 at checkout for 20% off.
It was a busy news week in the world of portable gaming hardware, plus Federico’s quest for cable perfection continues, a return of the Steam Deck, and a look at mobile phone gaming, controllers, and more.
AppStories, ‘iOS and iPadOS 18 Preview’ Show NotesThe iOS and iPadOS 18 Public Betas* iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 First Impressions - Without AI, It’s Mostly About Apps and Customization
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On AppStories+, Federico and John compare earbud notes, covering recent models from Sennheiser, Technics, and Beats.
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NPC: Next Portable Console, Episode ‘I Found This Cable Via a Google Ad’ Show NotesLinks and Show NotesNews* The GB Operator Is Adding Game Boy Camera Support + Also Discussed: - Save the Hero Builders cartridge reader * Powkiddy V10 * Anbernic Announces the RG40XXH + Portgate * Another Anbernic RG35XXSP Overheats * A Miyoo Mini A30 Preview * AYANEO Pocket EVO * Nothing CMF Phone 1 * Thunderbolt 5 Cables + The first Thunderbolt 5 cables are here, but there’s barely anything to plug in * Federico’s 10m USB 4 Fiber Cable
Federico Dips Back into the Steam Deck* Steam Deck OLED with Etched Glass Screen * Mechanism Accessory Systems + Deckmate + Plugable Dock + XReal Air AR glasses
Mobile Phone Gaming* Netflix Gaming + Netflix’s Slow and Steady Infiltration of the Videogame Industry + Microsoft and Netflix Aim to Challenge Apple in Mobile Gaming * Local and Cloud Streaming + NVIDIA GeForce NOW + PSPlay (Android) + XBXPlay (Android) + MirrorPlay * Controllers + Backbone One + Razer Kishi + Razer Ultra + GameSir G8 + GameSir X2S + Scuf Nomad - Retro Game Corps Review + Joyclamp + Sony Dual Sense Edge + 8BitDo SN30 Pro + A Homemade Vertical Controller - MEENEA Game Handle Connector - Moment Wall Mount Magnet * Sean Fletcher’s Delta skins * Game Mode and Game Porting Toolkit 2 + Whiskey + Matt Horton’s YouTube channel
Games Mentioned* Final Fantasy VII * Dragon Quest XI * Zenless Zone Zero * Zach Gage games + SpellTower + Knotwords + Good Soduku * Guncho * Alto’s Odyssey * Hades * Into the Breach * Poinpy * Dead Cells * Kentucky Route Zero * Immortality * TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge * Sayonara Wild Hearts * FANTASIAN * The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap * Golden Sun * Golden Sun: The Lost Age * Soma Bringer
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Federico has been on quite a journey with his gear setup over the past few months. If you’ve been following along on NPC: Next Portable Console, MacStories Unwind, and AppStories, you know that he’s been assembling a modular system that lets him switch effortlessly from work to play. He’s working on a story that pulls the threads of his experience together for readers, but in the meantime, Federico has updated our dedicated Setups page with what’s changed.
If you start with Federico’s latest entry in our Setups changelog, you’ll notice right away that the updates he’s made to his setup are all about simplifying his tech life. But, while many things have been taken away, several have been strategically added too. Let’s take a look.
The additions to Federico’ desk include:
- 13” M4 iPad Pro (Wi-Fi + Cellular with nano-texture glass)
- Gigabyte M27U monitor for his iPad Pro and gaming
Like me, Federico has also been experimenting with video and has added the Elgato FaceCam Pro and Elgato Key Light with Mini Mount to his setup.
As for gaming, Federico is still using the Lenovo Legion Go, but he upgraded to a new Steam Deck OLED with an etched glass display and added a bunch of Legion Go accessories, along with a custom-built eGPU:
- Custom-built eGPU with NVIDIA 4090 Founders Edition (more details on NPC)
- ROG Loki SFX-L 1000W PSU
- ADT-Link UT3G USB4 board
- 4K 120Hz HDMI 2.1 Dummy Plug and USB-C to HDMI Adapter Cable for Moonlight streaming
- King Kable 10m USB4 fiber optic cable
- Legion Go Accessories
- Comfort grips
- Controller Connector
- Mechanism Universal 7-in-1 mounting system
On the home automation front, Federico has added Aqara E1 cameras and an Aqara Camera Hub G3 to his setup along with a variety of Philips Hue lights, a smart plug, and more.
For the complete list of gear in Federico’s setup, along with mine, be sure to check out our dedicated Setups page.
→ Source: macstories.net
The past few months have been busy at MacStories. The release of new iPads was followed by our launch of new podcasts and then WWDC. Along the way, my gear setup has changed a little, too.
Portable Setup Changes11” iPad Pro and AccessoriesLeading up to Apple’s spring event and knowing that it would feature new iPads, I was on the fence about buying one. The Pencil Pro and the Tandem OLED display tipped the balance, though, and I ended up getting the 11” Wi-Fi-only model with a Magic Keyboard Case, a Smart Folio cover, and Apple Pencil Pro.
I was tempted by the nano-texture display but ultimately passed on it as well as cellular connectivity. I expect there’s a nano-texture device of some sort in my future, but even without it, the iPad Pro’s Tandem OLED display works better in sunlight than previous displays. I don’t use an Apple Pencil often, but with the new Pro model, I plan to play around with it more to see if I can find a place for it in my day-to-day computing. The lack of meaningful iPadOS 18 updates coming this fall is a letdown, but I’m still pleased with my purchase because the smaller form factor and fantastic display have led me to use my iPad Pro more.
Desk Setup ChangesBalolo’s tablet holder accessory.
With the change in iPad sizes, the articulating arm I used for the 12.9” iPad Pro no longer worked for me. Instead, I’ve transitioned to another Balolo accessory, the Tablet Holder. It sits neatly in the center of my Desk Cockpit shelf, where I can set my iPad for use with Sidecar or Universal Control. If you’re a Club member and interested in Balolo’s Desk Cockpit setup, which I covered in detail this past February, there’s a coupon code for 10% off on the Club Discounts page.
My new video gear from Elgato.
I have been experimenting more with video in recent weeks, too. That led to the addition of an Elgato Facecam Pro and Key Light to my desk, along with an Elgato Mini Mount stand for the camera.
Portable PodcastingThe Shure MV7+ in its protective case.
This year, I decided to update my portable podcasting setup with a new microphone that can record over USB-C and an XLR cable at the same time. The Shure MV7+ is a step up in sound quality from the Shure Beta 87A I used in the past, even though it doesn’t sound quite as good to my ear as the Earthworks ETHOS mic I use at my desk. The biggest advantage, though, is that I can record directly to my laptop over USB-C and to an SD card in the Sound Devices Mix-Pre 3 II that I pulled out of storage. This offers me the simplicity of direct recording to my laptop’s internal SSD and the security of having a backup on a separate device. Along with the Shure MV7+ mic, I bought a hard case to protect it when traveling.
HeadphonesThe Beats Fit Pro.
As I mentioned in this week’s AppStories+ pre-show, I’ve recently been testing out the Sennheiser Momentum Sport Earbuds. The jury’s still out on those for the reasons I explained on the podcast, but a set of headphones that I now use daily is the Beats Fit Pro. I had a pair of Powerbeats Pro for about five years, but I wanted something smaller with transparency mode so that I can be more aware of my surroundings. After a couple of months of use, I’m very happy with the Beats Fit Pro. They sound good, connect easily to my Apple Watch, and have most of the other features found in AirPods Pro.
GamingThis is how you do Windows, right?
The biggest change in my gaming setup is the addition of the Lenovo Legion Go portable Windows gaming handheld to my setup. I don’t use it for every game I play, but I also purchased a ONEXGPU eGPU that gives me a nice graphics boost when playing the most demanding games. I pair the Legion Go with Logitech’s new Keys-To-Go 2 (which I reviewed in MacStories Weekly last month) and a yellow POP Mouse whenever I need to dive into Windows for more than launching a game.
The Anbernic RG35XXSP (left) and Miyoo Mini A30 (right).
Since I started NPC: Next Portable Console with Federico and Brendon Bigley, I have been exploring retro handhelds again, including two new devices:
- Miyoo Mini A30, a Game Boy Micro-inspired handheld that’s perfect for travel
- Anbernic RG35XXSP, a Game Boy Advance SP-inspired handheld that folds up to protect the screen and controls
Over time, I’m sure I’ll settle on one of these devices or my Miyoo Mini+ over the others, but so far, I’ve enjoyed rotating between all three.
Save the Hero Builders cartridge reader.
To copy ROMs from my collection of game cartridges I also added a Save the Hero Builders cartridge reader to my setup. It’s custom-built in Japan and based on an open source project. I love the look of the model I got with its yellow PCB and black thumbscrews. It looks intimidating but is actually pretty simple to use.
Of course, I have new controllers.
Finally, no gear update would be complete without a couple of new controllers. On Brendon’s recommendation, I picked up 8BitDo’s SN30 Pro in transparent green. It looks a lot like a classic SNES controller, but with thumbsticks. It’s nice and compact, which makes it a good companion for playing games on my 11” iPad Pro. For iPhone gaming I recently acquired the Razer Ultra controller, which is big but solidly-built and features high-quality components.
I also purchased a CRKD Nitro Deck+ wrap-around controller for my OLED Switch. The Nitro Deck+ transforms the Switch into something about the size of a Steam Deck, and compared to the original Nitro Deck model, this one features a quieter rumble feature and easier removal of the Switch. Plus, it’s transparent, which sealed the deal for me. My only reservation is that I’m not sure putting the ABXY buttons under the right thumbstick was a good idea, but I haven’t had the Nitro+ long enough to decide yet.
Okay, that’s all for now. For a complete overview of the tech I use every day, check out the Setups page. If you have any questions about the gear discussed above, feel free to get in touch with me in the Club MacStories Discord community, on Mastodon, or on Threads.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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There are thousands of things on sale during Amazon Prime Day, including a lot of my favorite gadgets, so I thought I’d highlight the deals I’ve found for the gear I’ve used, tested, and love. Here are my top picks.
Apple Hardware and Accessory DealsApple Studio Display with Adjustable Stand (15% off)Source: Apple.
I’ve had an Apple Studio Display for two years now and love it. Colors are bright, text is crisp, and having a set of additional Thunderbolt ports available on its rear panel comes in surprisingly handy.
Apple iPad mini (6th Gen), 256GB Storage, Wi-Fi (15% off)Source: Apple.
It may be getting a little long in the tooth, but I still love my mighty iPad mini. My new 11” iPad Pro has absorbed some of the reading and video-watching I used to do almost exclusively on the mini, but the mini’s size is perfect for reading, which is what I still use it for almost every day.
Beats Fit Pro (25% off)Source: Beats.
I haven’t gotten around to writing about the Beats Fit Pro yet, but I picked up a pair a couple of months ago, and I love them. They’re smaller than the Powerbeats Pro that wrap around your ears, which I like, and because they use Apple’s H1 chip, they include features like fast pairing with the Apple Watch and transparency mode. They don’t have every feature of the latest AirPods Pro, but they have the most important ones that I want when I go out for a run on a hot day.
Belkin Apple AirTag Secure Holder with Key Ring (30% off)There are fancier ways to attach AirTags to your bag or luggage, but I’ve had several of Belkin’s sturdy key ring holders since the AirTags were first released. They’ve held up so well that I’ve continued to buy more as my collection of AirTags has grown. Belkin’s AirTag key ring isn’t expensive to begin with, and at 30% off, it’s worth buying one for all your AirTags.
tomtoc 360 Protective Laptop Sleeve for 14-inch MacBook Pro (26% off)I’ve been using this tomtoc sleeve since late last year for the MacBook Pro I have on loan from Apple for testing. The design is simple but provides an excellent layer of protection in my bag and includes a small pocket on the outside for a charging cable or other small accessory. After seven months of use, the sleeve looks just as nice as it did the day I received it in the mail.
Logitech MX Master Mouse 3S for Mac (16% off)The MX Master Mouse 3S for Mac is the mouse I use at my desk every day. It’s comfortable, glides smoothly across my desk, and matches well with the Mac’s aesthetic. The mouse also has a bunch of customizable buttons that can be programmed to perform different actions, but I generally stick to the basics, using the mouse with my right hand to give my left hand a break from using a trackpad all day long.
VideogamesPS5 Games: The Last of Us Part I (42% off), plus Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (57% off)Source: Sony.
These are all great PS5 titles at deep discounts. If you’ve had a PS5 since the beginning, you may already have some of them. However, the systems were so hard to find for so long that now is a great time to fill out the back catalog of games you might have missed. Every one of these is a winner that I’ve played myself.
8BitDo Ultimate 2.4G Wireless Controller (Black) (16% off)Source: 8BitDo.
8BitDo’s Ultimate controller has a fantastic premium feel. The controller includes Hall Effect thumbsticks and a charging base that stores its 2.4G wireless dongle. Plus, it’s compatible with Windows 10 and above, SteamOS, iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and macOS, making it an incredibly versatile option that works across multiple gaming platforms.
8BitDo SN30 Pro Bluetooth Controller (20% off)The 8BitDo SN30 Pro is one of my most recent controller purchases. The SNES-style controller works with any Bluetooth device, but I particularly love pairing it with my iPad Pro. The two are a perfect match for on-the-go gaming.
Networking DealsSource: ASUS.
TRENDnet 8-Port Unmanaged 2.5G Gaming Switch (23% off)Fast Internet connectivity is a big priority for me. I work with large files and record podcasts every week with Federico, who is almost 5,000 miles away. Speed and low latency help with both, so when I can, I run my computers and other gear on a wired Ethernet connection. I have a 2 Gig fiber connection to my house, which runs to each room via this TRENDnet switch that I’ve had for almost two years now. It’s been reliably serving a steady, fast signal throughout the house ever since.
ASUS ZenWiFi Pro AXE11000 Tri-Band WiFi 6E Mesh System (ET12 2-Pack) (23% off)ASUS’ Wi-Fi 6E routers are expensive but 100% worth it from my perspective. Not only are they far faster than the previous Orbi setup I had, but the coverage is better, and thanks to ASUS’ detailed admin panel, I can customize my network setup to my heart’s content. As you might imagine, I’ve optimized it for streaming videogames wirelessly to my various handheld consoles and the Vision Pro.
Audio and Video DealsSource: Elgato.
Elgato Wave Mic Arm (30% off)I’m a much bigger fan of Elgato’s audio and video gear than I am of the Stream Deck, which has always struck me as an unattractive hunk of plastic. Elgato’s Wave Mic Arm is a good example of the company’s higher-quality gear. I’ve had this arm for several years and found it to be well-built and thoroughly adjustable with a great range of motion.
Elgato Key Light Air (23% off)If you take calls or do any video work at your desk, it helps a lot to have a key light. Elgato’s Key Light Air can be dialed in to a wide range of light temperatures and is minutely dimmable, which I like a lot. Plus, the light can connect to Wi-Fi, allowing you to control it from your Mac’s menu bar, a handy option as you set up for a call.
More Deals: A Travel Mouse, Power Bank, and SSDSource: Anker.
Anker Prime Power Bank, 27,650mAh 3-Port 250W Portable Charger (33% off)I’ve had this big Anker battery since late last year, and it’s fantastic because it both charges devices and re-charges quickly. Plus, it has a handy display to let you know exactly how much juice you have left and how fast each connected device is charging.
Samsung T9 4TB SSD (45% off)I have several T9 SSDs in a variety of sizes. The 4TB model is expensive, but because it connects using USB-C 3.2 2x2, read/write times are fast. Plus, it’s silent, making it the perfect backup drive that you can tuck away out of sight, backing up your Mac all day long.
Alright, that’s it for my Amazon Prime Day recommendations. There are a lot of other excellent deals to be had out there, so be sure to browse around, but I wanted to focus on just the gear and games I’ve personally tried and can recommend. If I come across other deals for products I’d recommend, I’ll add them here, so stop by again tomorrow for any updates. We’ve also set up a Prime Day channel in the Club MacStories Discord community where members are sharing their favorite deals, so be sure to visit there, too.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Overcast has long been my favorite podcast player on iOS and iPadOS with its beautifully simple user interface that complements a great audio engine. Today, developer Marco Arment is celebrating Overcast’s tenth anniversary with the release of a new version featuring a user interface that’s been rewritten from the ground up.
From the app’s main screen to playlist and podcast pages, show notes, chapters, and search, this new version of Overcast looks completely modern, and it feels fast. But at the same time, the app remains true to itself and retains a familiar look, with no drastic visual changes that would disorient its long-time users.
The app’s revamped player is perhaps my favorite aspect of this fresh coat of paint. There, you can still find the app’s landmark audio features, Voice Boost and Smart Speed, but the player’s sections have been reorganized to create a clearer overall layout. Chapters have been moved to a separate view, with more space on each line for longer chapter titles. Episode notes, on the other hand, can be toggled on and browsed through with the player controls still accessible at the bottom of the screen.
The new player also comes with a great quality-of-life addition: when skipping chapters or seeking through an episode, a ‘Go Back’ button now appears briefly on top of the podcast artwork. Tapping this button immediately returns you to your previous position. This is essentially an ‘undo’ function for accidental taps within the player view. (If you unintentionally scrub the player on your iPhone Lock Screen, you can quickly open the app and go back as well.) I never realized that I needed this feature in a podcast player until now.
Overcast’s new player. Notice the ‘Go Back’ button (left) that appears when skipping chapters or seeking through an episode.
In addition to iOS, Overcast shines on iPadOS. The app now utilizes the iPad’s wider screen in a way that I wish more iPad apps would: by presenting a great three-pane layout. The app’s main screen resides in the leftmost pane, the middle section is reserved for subsections like podcast pages, and the player can be found on the right. This left-to-right hierarchical layout subtly reminds me of the official Twitter app that launched on the iPad about 14 years ago.
The new Overcast on iPad.
With this release, Overcast no longer has the ability to stream podcast episodes. Instead, episodes must be downloaded before you can start listening to them. In my experience using the new version of the app, this hasn’t bothered me. Most of the time, I only need to wait a couple of seconds before Overcast finishes downloading an episode, and when it does, the episode automatically starts playing.
Combined with the option to automatically remove downloaded episodes (either when completed or 24 hours after completion), I don’t think this change will be noticeable, even to users who previously chose to stream their podcasts.
Rather than streaming episodes, Overcast will always download them before you can start listening.
Aside from the ability to create priority rules for sorting podcasts within playlists, there aren’t any other notable new features in this release. And with the recent introduction of transcripts in Apple Podcasts recapturing some listeners’ attention (including my own), there’s certainly room for new features to come to the app. Still, I’m glad to see Overcast gain a brand-new foundation on top of which it will hopefully keep evolving in the near future.
This is an exciting new start for my favorite podcast player.
Overcast is available to download for free on the App Store. Subscribing to Overcast Premium for $9.99/year removes banner ads from the app’s playback screens and allows users to upload their own audio files for listening.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
iOS 18 launches in public beta today.
My experience with iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, launching today in public beta for everyone to try, has been characterized by smaller, yet welcome enhancements to Apple’s productivity apps, a redesign I was originally wrong about, and an emphasis on customization.
There’s a big omission looming over the rollout of these public betas, and that’s the absence of any Apple Intelligence functionalities that were showcased at WWDC. There’s no reworked Siri, no writing tools in text fields, no image generation via the dedicated Image Playground app, no redesigned Mail app. And that’s not to mention the AI features that we knew were slotted for 2025 and beyond, such as Siri eventually becoming more cognizant of app content and gaining the ability to operate more specifically inside apps.
As a result, these first public betas of iOS and iPadOS 18 may be – and rightfully so – boring for most people, unless you really happen to care about customization options or apps.
Fortunately, I do, which is why I’ve had a pleasant time with iOS and iPadOS 18 over the past month, noting improvements in my favorite system apps and customizing Control Center with new controls and pages. At the same time, however, I have to recognize that Apple’s focus this year was largely on AI; without it, it feels like the biggest part of the iOS 18 narrative is missing.
As you can imagine, I’m going to save a deeper, more detailed look at all the visual customization features and app-related changes in iOS and iPadOS 18 for my annual review later this year, where I also plan to talk about Apple’s approach to AI and what it’ll mean for our usage of iPhones and iPads.
For now, let’s take a look at the features and app updates I’ve enjoyed over the past month.
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cricketsSo, Yeah, About iPadOS 18In this article (and, most likely, in my review later this year), I will focus on iOS 18 and use screenshots taken on my iPhone 15 Pro Max. The reason is simple: if Apple isn’t working to fix the glaring limitations of iPadOS 18, which I documented in May, there is nothing new for me to say here.
To the best of my knowledge, there are two iPad-exclusive features in this year’s release: a redesigned tab bar for apps, and Smart Script to enhance and straighten Apple Pencil handwriting. I don’t use the Apple Pencil, so I don’t feel that I’m qualified to cover its new features in iPadOS 18. I’m also on the record as being skeptical regarding the new tab bar UI for iPad apps, which I have also been unable to test since none of the developers of my favorite third-party apps have adopted it in beta versions of their apps yet. Other features that we initially thought were going to be iPad-only (Math Notes and formatting external drives in the Files app) are also available on iOS.
At the very least, iPadOS received support for dynamic Home Screen layouts and icon theming this year, bucking the historical trend that forced iPad users to wait a year before getting the iPad version of any Home Screen changes.
What a sad state of affairs it is when we have to be grateful that the iPad gets iOS’ latest features instead of rejoicing that Apple is devoting time and resources to iPad-specific enhancements. And yet here we are, once again.
AppsThere are lots of app-related improvements in iOS 18, which is why I’m looking forward to the next few months on AppStories, where we’ll have a chance to discuss them all more in-depth. For now, here are my initial highlights.
Reminders and Calendar, Together At LastI almost can’t believe I’m typing this in 2024, but as things stand in this public beta, I’m very excited about…the Calendar app.
In iOS and iPadOS 18, the Calendar app is getting the ability to show your scheduled reminders alongside regular calendar events. I know, I know: that’s not the most incredible innovation since apps like Fantastical have been able to display events and tasks together for over a decade now. The thing is, though, with time I’ve realized that I don’t need a tool as complex as Fantastical (which is a great app, but its new business-oriented features are something I don’t need); I’m fine with Apple’s built-in Calendar app, which does everything I need and has an icon on the Home Screen that shows me the current date.
By enabling the ‘Scheduled Reminders’ toggle in the app’s Calendars section, all your scheduled tasks from the Reminders app will appear alongside events in the calendar. You can click a reminder inside Calendar to mark it as complete or use drag and drop to reschedule it to another day. As someone who creates only a handful of calendar events each week but gives every task a due date and time, I find it very helpful to have a complete overview of my week in once place rather than having to use two apps for the job.
Reminders alongside events in the Calendar app.
Right now, the ability to use drag and drop to reschedule reminders in the calendar only works on iPad, not on iPhone.
The integration even extends to Calendar’s Home Screen widgets, including the glorious ‘XL’ one on iPad, which can now show you reminders and events for multiple days at a glance.
Reminders are also displayed in the XL Calendar widget on iPad. iOS and iPadOS 18 also include the ability to resize widgets without deleting and re-adding them from scratch every time.
Historically speaking, this is not the first time we’ve seen a direct, two-way communication between Apple apps on iOS: in iOS 12, Apple brought News articles to the Stocks app, which I covered in my review at the time as an exciting opportunity for system apps to cross-pollinate and for Apple to provide iOS users with an experience greater than the sum of its parts. This year, the company is going to much greater lengths with the same idea. Not only is Reminders data appearing inside Calendar, but tasks are interactive in the Calendar app, to the point where you can access the full-blown Reminders task creation UI from inside Calendar:
The Reminders UI embedded within Calendar.
Does this mean the Calendar app has become the one productivity app to rule them all for me? Obviously not, since there are still plenty of reasons to open the standalone Reminders app, if only to browse my various lists and smart lists or use specific features like tagging and rich links. But the idea of providing a common ground between the two apps is solid, and as a result, I find myself spending more time managing my week inside the Calendar app now.
As we’ll see later this year, these two apps aren’t the only ones becoming capable of talking to each other in iOS 18: Notes and Calculator will also get the ability to share Math Notes and allow users to edit the same document in two distinct places. This is a trend worth keeping an eye on.
Speaking of Reminders, there are a handful of improvements in the app I want to mention.
For starters, subtasks now appear in the ‘Today’ and ‘Scheduled’ lists as well as custom smart lists. Previously, reminders nested within a parent reminder would be hidden from those special views, which – again, as someone who schedules everything in his task manager – hindered the utility of subtasks in the first place. To give you a practical example, I have an automation that creates a new list for the next issue of MacStories Weekly every week (which I adapted from my Things suite of shortcuts), and one of the tasks inside that list is an ‘App Debuts’ parent reminder. When I come across an interesting app or update during the week, I save it as a subtask of that reminder. In iOS and iPadOS 18, those subtasks can appear in the ‘Today’ view on Saturday morning, when it’s time to assemble MacStories Weekly.
Subtasks for a reminder in a specific list (left) can now appear in the Today page and other smart lists.
Although the ‘Today’ default smart list still doesn’t support columns, it now lets you customize the order of its default sections: all-day, overdue, and timed reminders.
You can now customize the order of sections in the Today page.
I’m also intrigued by Apple’s promise of new Shortcuts actions for Reminders, though I suspect the work is unfinished and we’re only seeing partial results in this public beta. There is a new ‘Create Reminder’ action in Shortcuts (which I can only see on my iPhone, not on the iPad) that exposes more options for task creation than the old ‘Add New Reminder’ action.
The ‘Create Reminder’ action was introduced in developer beta 2 of iOS 18; it still works in developer beta 3 and the public beta, but I can’t find it anymore in the Shortcuts action library. I hope it comes back soon.
Namely, this action now lets you enter properties for a list’s sections and assignees; strangely enough, the action doesn’t contain an option to enter a URL attachment for a task, which the previous action offered. I’m guessing that, as part of Apple Intelligence and with the ultimate goal of making Siri more integrated with apps, Apple is going to retool a lot of their existing Shortcuts actions. (It’s about time.) I wouldn’t be surprised if more apps follow Reminders in modernizing their Shortcuts integrations within the iOS 18 cycle because of Apple Intelligence.
Passwords: The “Finally” of the YearAt long last – and the finally is deserved here – Apple has made a standalone Passwords app for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. I (and many others) have been arguing in favor of cutting password management out of Settings to let it blossom into a full-blown app for years now; I’m not kidding when I say that, on balance, the addition of the Passwords app has been the most important quality-of-life improvement in iOS 18 so far.
The addition of the Passwords app has been the most important quality-of-life improvement in iOS 18.
I moved all of my passwords out of 1Password and into iCloud Keychain just before WWDC (following Simon’s excellent guide). As soon as I updated to iOS 18, they were all transferred to the Passwords app, and I didn’t have to do anything else. iCloud Keychain already supported key password management features like verification codes; with the Passwords app, you don’t need to go hunt for them inside Settings anymore thanks to a more intuitive UI that also adds some welcome options.
The Passwords app has a design that’s reminiscent of Reminders, with pinned sections at the top for passkeys, logins that have one-time codes, Wi-Fi networks, security recommendations, and deleted items. With the exception of the Wi-Fi section, these aren’t new features, but the presentation makes them easier to find. These sections are followed by your shared groups, which aren’t new either, but are more discoverable and prominent. The design of login item pages is consistent with iOS 17’s old iCloud Keychain UI, but the app now supports multiple URLs for the same login; the main list view also includes sorting options.
The Passwords app is my favorite addition of the year.
My favorite detail of the Passwords app, however, is this: if you need to quickly copy an item’s username, password, code, or URL, you can simply right-click it in the main view and copy what you need:
This is a good menu.
The best thing I can say about Passwords is that it obliterated a particular kind of frustration from my life. With Apple’s app, I don’t need to worry about my password manager not working anymore. In fact, I’d argue that Passwords’ strongest quality is that you never think about it that much, and that means it’s doing its job.
Those who, like me, come from more than a decade of using 1Password and have witnessed the app’s slow descent into instability know what I’m talking about: having to constantly worry about the app’s Safari extension not working, search not bringing up results inside the app, or the extension auto-filling the wrong information on a page. With Passwords, all these issues have evaporated for me, and I can’t describe how happy it makes me that I just don’t have these thoughts about my password manager anymore.
Don’t get me wrong; there are features of 1Password that Apple’s Passwords app can’t match yet, and that I’m guessing will be the reason why some folks won’t be able to switch to it just yet. The biggest limitation, in my opinion, is the lack of secure attachments: if you want to store a file (like, say, a PDF document or an encryption key) associated with a login item, well, you can’t with Passwords yet.
Apple’s Notes app can’t act as backup here since it still can’t lock notes that contain attachments such as PDFs. I also find it quite strange that I can look up my known Wi-Fi networks in the Passwords app, but if I want to find my saved credit cards, I still need to open the Settings app. Ideally, I should be able to see my saved credit cards in the Passwords app and store all kinds of secure attachments in Notes.
These limitations need to be addressed, and now that Passwords is a standalone experience, I’m more confident that Apple will have the headroom to do so rather than having to cram everything into a Settings page. Moving from 1Password to the Passwords app has been one of the most useful tech-related migrations I’ve made in recent memory; if you’re on the verge and primarily use Apple devices, I highly recommend taking the time to do it.
The New Photos App: Tradition, Discovery, and CustomizationBeyond Apple Intelligence, I’d argue that the most important change of iOS 18 – and something you can try right now, unlike AI – is the redesigned Photos app. As I shared on MacStories a couple of weeks ago, I was initially wrong about it. Having used it every day for the past month, not only do I think Apple is onto something with their idea of a single-page app design, but, more importantly, the new app has helped me rediscover old memories more frequently than before.
The concept behind the new Photos app is fairly straightforward to grasp, yet antithetical to decades of iOS UI conventions: rather than organize different app sections into tabs, everything has been collapsed into a single page that you can scroll to move from your library to various kinds of collections and suggestions. And that’s not at all; this fluid, single-page layout (which is powered by SwiftUI) is also highly customizable, allowing users to fine-tune which sections they want to see at the top in the main carousel and which pinned collections, albums, or trips they want to see further down the page.
The new Photos UI on iPad.
It’s easy to understand why the move from a tabbed interface to a unified single-page design may – at least in theory – bolster discovery inside the app: if people aren’t using the app’s other sections, well, let’s just move all those sections into the screen we know they’re using. Or, think about it this way: we already spend hours of our lives discovering all kinds of digital information – news, music, memes, whatever – by scrolling. Why not use the same gesture to rediscover photos in our libraries, too? (The opposite of doomscrolling, if you will.)
What I think Apple designers have achieved with the new Photos app – and what I will explore more in-depth later this year in my review – is balance between tradition, discovery, and customization. By default, the new Photos app shows your usual grid of recent photos and videos at the top, occupying roughly 60% of the screen on iPhone. Immediately below, the app will automatically compile smart collections for recent days (where only the best shots are highlighted, removing stuff like screenshots and receipts) as well as your favorite people and pets. So if you’re looking for the photo you just took, you can still find it in the grid, but there’s also a chance something else may catch your eye down the page.
Photos’ new UI.
The grid can be expanded to full-screen with a swipe, which reveals a new segmented control to enable the Years and Months views as well as a menu for sorting options and new filters to exclude media types such as screenshots and videos. The transition from half-grid to full-grid is incredibly smooth and pleasant to look at.
Expanding the grid reveals new filters.
So that’s tradition: if you want to keep using the Photos app as a grid of photos, you can, and the app supports all the features you know and love in the grid, such as long presses to show context menus and drag and drop. This is where Photos bifurcates from the past, though: if you want, at this point, you can also keep scrolling to discover more, or you can spend some time customizing the look of the app to your needs and preferences.
There are a lot of recommended sections (and more coming with AI in the future) and customization options – too many for me to cover in this preview article today. Allow me to highlight just a few. The main grid at the top of the app? That’s actually a carousel that you can swipe horizontally to move from the grid to other “pinned” sections, and you can customize which collections are displayed in here. In my app, I put my favorites, videos, photos of my dogs, featured photos, and screenshots (in this order) after the grid. This way, I can move to the right if I want to discover old favorites and memories, or I can quickly move the left to find all my screenshots quickly. Once again: it’s all about tradition, discovery, and customization.
Customizing the carousel.
I’ve become a huge fan of Recent Days, which is a section that follows the grid, automatically groups photos by day, and sort of serves as a visual calendar of your life. Apple’s algorithm, in my experience, does a great job at picking a key photo from a particular day, and more often than not, I find myself swiping through this section to remember what I did on any given day.
I also like the ability to customize Pinned Collections, which is another section on the page and, effectively, a user-customizable space for shortcuts to your Photos library. You can pin anything in here: media types, specific albums, specific trips (which are curated by iOS 18), photos of your pets, photos of people and groups of people (also new in iOS 18), and more.
Recent Days and Pinned Collections.
I’ll save more comments and tidbits on the redesigned Photos app for my iOS and iPadOS 18 review later this year. For now, though, I’ll say this: a month ago, I thought Apple was going to revert this drastic redesign like they did with Safari three years ago; now, I think Apple has created something special, and they should be diligent enough to iterate and listen to feedback, but also stick to their ideas and see this redesign through. The new Photos app allows me to see recently-taken pictures like before; at the same time, it gives me an easier, less disorienting way to discover forgotten moments and memories from my library that are continuously surfaced throughout the app. And at any point, I can choose to customize what I see and shape the app’s experience into something that is uniquely mine.
I was skeptical about iOS 18’s Photos app at first, but now I’m a believer.
User Customization: Home Screen Icons and Control CenterApple’s progressive embrace of user customization on its mobile platforms isn’t new. (We could trace the company’s efforts back to iOS 12’s rollout of Shortcuts and, of course, iOS 14’s Home Screen widgets.) For the first time in years, however, I feel like a part of Apple’s customization features in iOS 18 aren’t meant for people like me at all. Fortunately, there’s another aspect to this story that is very much up my alley and, in fact, the area of iOS 18 I’m having the most fun tweaking.
Let’s start with the part that’s not for me this year: Home Screen customization and icon theming. At a high level, Apple is bringing three key changes to the Home Screen in iOS 18:
- You can now place app icons and widgets anywhere, leaving empty spaces around them.
- You can make app icons larger, hiding their text labels in the process.
- You can switch app icons to a special dark mode version, as well as apply any color tint you like to them.
Of these three changes, I’ve only been using the setting that makes icons larger and hides their labels. I think it makes my Home Screen look more elegant and less crowded by getting rid of app and shortcut titles underneath their icons.
Regular icons (left) compared to the new larger icon size in iOS 18.
As for the other two changes…they’re really not my kind of thing. I think the ability to freely rearrange icons on the Home Screen, going beyond the limitation of the classic grid, is long overdue and something that a lot of folks will joyfully welcome. Years ago, I would have probably spent hours making dynamic layouts for each of my Home Screen pages with a particular flow and order to their icons. These days, however, I like to use a single Home Screen page, with Spotlight and the App Library filling the gaps for everything else. And – as you’ve seen above – I like filling that Home Screen page to the brim with icons for maximum efficiency when I’m using my phone.
I don’t foresee a scenario in which I voluntarily give up free space on my Home Screen to make it more “aesthetic” – including on my iPad, where this feature is also supported, but I’d rather use the extra space there for more widgets. At the same time, I know that literally millions of other iPhone users will love this feature, so Apple is right in adding support for it. As a meme would put it, in this case, I think it’s best if people like me shut up and let other people enjoy things.
It’s a similar story with icon tinting, which takes on two distinct flavors with iOS 18. Apps can now offer a dark mode icon, a great way to make sure that folks who use their devices in dark mode all the time have matching dark icons on their Home Screens. Generally speaking, I like what Apple is doing with their system apps’ icons in dark mode, and I appreciate that there are ways for developers to fine-tune what their icons should look like in this mode. My problem is that I never use dark mode – not even at night – since I find it too low-contrast for my eyes (especially when reading), so I don’t think I’m ever going to enable dark icons on my Home Screen.
From left to right: large icons, dark mode icons (for some of my apps), and tinted icons.
The other option is icon tinting using a color picker, and…personally, I just don’t think it looks good at all. With this feature, you can effectively apply a color mask on top of every app icon and change the intensity of the color you’ve selected, thus completely disregarding the color palettes chosen by the app’s creator. To my eyes, the results look garish, to the point where even Apple’s promotional examples – historically, images that are meant to make the new version of iOS appear attractive – look awful to me. Are there going to be people out there who will manage to make a tinted layout that looks nice and that they’re going to love? I’m sure. And this is why user customization is important: we all have different tastes and needs, and I think it’s great when software doesn’t judge us for what we like (or dislike) and lets us shape the computer however we want.
I want to wrap up this story with the one customizable feature that I adore in iOS 18, and which I know is going to define my summer: the new Control Center.
In iOS 18, Control Center is becoming a multi-page, customizable affair. Controls now come in multiple sizes, and they’re powered by the same technologies that allow developers to create widgets and Shortcuts actions (WidgetKit and App Intents). This rewrite of Control Center has some deep ramifications: for the first time, third-party apps can offer native controls in Control Center, controls can be resized like widgets, and there is a Controls Gallery (similar to the Widget Gallery on the Home and Lock Screens) to pick and choose the controls you want.
The new Control Center can span multiple pages with support for resizable controls and third-party ones.
Given the breadth of options at users’ disposal now, Apple decided to eschew Control Center’s single-page approach. System controls have been split across multiple Control Center pages, which are laid out vertically (rather than horizontally, as in the iOS 10 days); plus, users can create new pages to install even more controls, just like they can create new Home Screen pages to use more widgets.
Basically, Apple has used the existing foundation of widgets and app intents to supercharge Control Center and make it a Home Screen-like experience. It’s hard for me to convey in an article how much I love this direction: app functionalities that maybe do not require opening the full app can now be exposed anywhere (including on the Lock Screen), and you get to choose where those controls should be positioned, across how many pages, and how big or small they should be.
Before the final release, I hope Apple makes it easier to move controls around and adds a way to move multiple controls of the same size at once. Right now, reorganizing controls in Control Center can be very tiresome, with buttons seemingly shifting around at random. The process should be easier.
You can customize Control Center sort of like the Home Screen by rearranging and resizing controls. There is a Controls Gallery (center) and controls can be configured like widgets, too.
If you know me, you can guess that I’m going to spend hours infinitely tweaking Control Center to accommodate my favorite shortcuts (which you can run from there!) as well as new controls from third-party apps. I’m ecstatic about the prospect of swapping the camera and flashlight controls at the bottom of the Lock Screen (which are now powered by the same tech) with new, custom ones, and I’m very keen to see what third-party developers come up with in terms of controls that perform actions in their apps without launching them in the foreground. A control that I’m testing now, for instance, starts playing a random album from my MusicBox library without launching the app at all, and it’s terrific.
So far, the new Control Center feels like peak customization. Power users are going to love it, and I’m looking forward to seeing what mine will look like in September.
iOS and iPadOS 18There’s a lot more I could say about iOS 18 and its updated apps today. I could mention the ability to create colored highlights in Notes and fold sections, which I’m using on a daily basis to organize my iOS and iPadOS research material. I could point out that Journal is receiving some terrific updates across the board, including search, mood logging based on Health, and integration with generic media sources (such as third-party podcast apps and Spotify, though this is not working for me yet). I could cover Messages’ redesigned Tapbacks, which are now colorful and finally support any emoji you want.
But I’m stopping here today, because all of those features deserve a proper, in-depth analysis after months of usage with an annual review this fall.
Should you install the iOS and iPadOS 18 public betas today? Unless you really care about new features in system apps, the redesigned Photos app, or customization, probably not. Most people will likely check out iOS 18 later this year to satisfy their curiosity regarding Apple Intelligence, and that’s not here yet.
What I’m trying to say, though, is that even without AI, there’s plenty to like in the updated apps for iOS and iPadOS 18 and the reimagined Control Center – which, given my…complicated feelings on the matter is, quite frankly, a relief.
I’ll see you this fall, ready, as always, with my annual review of iOS and iPadOS.
You can also follow our 2024 Summer OS Preview Series through our dedicated hub, or subscribe to its RSS feed.
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Sequoia is not your typical macOS release. In recent years, new features of all Apple OSes have been increasingly meted out over time instead of dropping all at once in the fall. That’s been true of macOS, too, but this year, the magnitude of the staged release will be more pronounced, which has trickled through to the public beta released today.
macOS Sequoia will be a phased release. That means you won’t find everything announced at WWDC in the public beta. Some features, notably large parts of Apple Intelligence, won’t be available until 2025. That’s something worth keeping in mind if you’re thinking about installing the Sequoia public beta today. The beta is generally stable, but you’re likely to run into bugs, and with many features still to come in the months ahead, the upside of running it is more limited than in past years.
Apple Intelligence promises to round out Sequoia over time, but neither I nor anyone else outside of Apple has had a chance to try those features yet. So, for now, let’s focus on what you can expect if you install the macOS Sequoia public beta today.
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Is It Safe to Install the Beta?I get this loaded question every year. Generally, yes, it’s safe. I’ve been running Sequoia since WWDC, and I’ve run into bugs and had apps crash, but I haven’t lost any data, which in my estimation makes it safe.
However, my Mac setup isn’t your Mac setup. I work with a lot of different apps, but they aren’t going to be the same mix as yours, so I always encourage anyone interested in macOS betas to think about what they would do if a critical app is broken by one of the beta releases.
My ‘Plan B’ is a MacBook Pro running Sonoma instead of Sequoia. If something goes terribly wrong with the macOS beta, I can easily switch to that laptop. So, before diving into the beta, have a ‘Plan B,’ make sure all of your data is safely backed up, then go for it.
iPhone Mirroring and NotificationsApple Podcasts running in the macOS iPhone Mirroring app.
The biggest difference in my day-to-day workflow with Sequoia has been the addition of iPhone Mirroring (when it works) and iPhone notifications on the Mac.
iPhone Mirroring displays your locked iPhone’s UI on your Mac, where it’s fully interactive. To work, your iPhone must be nearby and locked. That makes it perfect for those times when you get a notification on your iPhone for an app that’s not on your Mac but your iPhone is across the room, in your pocket, or in a bag. Another great use case for mirroring is when your iPhone is in StandBy and you see a notification come in. Instead of picking up and unlocking your iPhone in any of these situations, you can simply open the iPhone Mirroring app in your Mac’s Dock.
If an app is landscape-only, iPhone Mirroring switches to that orientation automatically.
Your iPhone’s UI takes a few moments to load in the Mac app, but once it appears, you can use all of your apps as you would on your iPhone using your Magic Trackpad. You can navigate with a mouse, too, but I haven’t been able to scroll app interfaces with my Logitech MX Master 3S mouse. The iPhone Mirroring app also has three useful keyboard shortcuts that allow you to navigate to the Home Screen, App Switcher, and Spotlight Search on your iPhone.
iPhone Mirroring isn’t a feature I’ve found myself using daily, but it can come in handy. For instance, the app that controls my Roomba isn’t available on the Mac. When the vacuum is on another floor of my house, I like to check in on it to see if it’s gotten stuck or needs emptying. In the past, that has meant checking the app on my iPhone from time to time as the Roomba does its thing. With iPhone Mirroring, I can simply open that app in a window on my Mac and flip over to it for a quick status check now and then. It’s still an interruption of what I’m doing, but it’s less so than grabbing my iPhone.
As much as I’ve enjoyed iPhone Mirroring, it has been buggy. In fact, for most of the past week, it didn’t work at all. The problem arose after the release of iOS 18 developer beta 3. When I’d try to connect my iPhone to my Mac via the iPhone Mirroring app, it would tell me that it couldn’t connect because my iPhone’s microphone was in use. The trouble was that the mic wasn’t actually being used. Nothing I tried would fix the problem until, on a whim, I opened the microphone access section of my Mac’s System Settings and toggled microphone access off and then on again for one random app I haven’t used in months, which fixed it.
What made me try that? I don’t know. Call it reviewer’s intuition. I’ve seen a lot of bugs, and I figured it might shake something loose, which it did. Despite those troubles, I’m a fan of iPhone Mirroring. Just keep in mind that it’s still a very new feature and might cause you some trouble if you install the public beta.
It’s less flashy than the iPhone Mirroring app, but getting iPhone notifications on my Mac has really grown on me. They appear just like any Mac notification and are fully interactive.
iPhone notifications from my ecobee security system. Note the small iPhone icon in the corner of the notification indicating its source.
I get it if your first reaction to getting iPhone notifications on your Mac is a negative one. That was certainly how I felt. However, the reality is that it’s been a fantastic addition to macOS because I’m already careful about which apps can notify me on my iPhone. As a result, I’m only getting notifications I want, and being able to deal with them on my Mac is easier than pulling out my phone.
For example, I run the reminder app Due on my iPhone. The app is perfect for tasks you can’t forget to do because it will alert you continually until you check them off. However, many of those tasks are things I need to do on my Mac, and once I’m finished with them, pulling out my iPhone to mark the task as completed is a distraction. Instead, I can do that from my Mac now.
Another good example is Xero, the accounting app we use for MacStories, which wanted me to confirm my identity using its iPhone app when I tried to log in on the web the other day. Xero doesn’t have a Mac app, but with iPhone notifications, its interactive alert asking me to confirm my identity popped up immediately on my Mac, allowing me to quickly gain access to Xero’s website.
Clicking on a Gentler Streak notification opened the app in iPhone Mirroring so I could check my latest workout on my Mac.
I’ve only been using Sequoia for about a month, so the jury’s still out on whether iPhone Mirroring and notifications prove to be sticky long-term, but I think they probably will for a couple of reasons. First, in the 10 days or so that iPhone Mirroring didn’t work on my Mac, I missed it. Second, the longer I’ve used Sequoia, the more I’ve run across iPhone notifications that I’m glad to have appear on my Mac. Both features are what Continuity is great at: reducing friction and creating a more seamless experience across devices.
Window TilingHovering over the green button reveals Sequoia’s window tiling options.
Why it took macOS until 2024 to include basic window tiling is beyond me, but it will finally arrive with Sequoia, and it is nicely done. There are too many third-party apps that have filled this gap in macOS to list, but as well as window tiling is implemented in Sequoia, I don’t think the best third-party apps have anything to worry about. The new macOS feature will satisfy many users, but the OS’s built-in options are not nearly as extensive as apps like Lasso, Rectangle, or Magnet. Power users will still turn to third-party apps, but I’m glad to see there will be a built-in solution for anyone who doesn’t need the added bells and whistles.
Apple has added two groups of window management options with four options each, and they can be accessed in a variety of ways. The first group is ‘Move & Resize,’ which moves and resizes the current window to fill the left half, right half, top, or bottom of your Mac’s screen. The other group is called ‘Fill & Arrange’ and allows you to
- fill the entire screen with the current window,
- tile the current and last active window to fill the left and right halves of your screen
- tile the current and last two active windows with the current window on the left half of the screen and the other two windows in the right quarters, or
- tile the four most recent windows in quarters.
Two Obsidian windows with a narrow border around each.
In the current beta, the quarter-sized windows overlap vertically on my Studio Display, which seems wrong and is probably a bug. I’m fairly certain that behavior wasn’t present in earlier betas. Other than that, though, the feature works as expected.
As I mentioned above, there are several ways to invoke window tiling. You can hover over a window’s green button, use a keyboard shortcut, drag a window near the edge of your screen (activating a preview of where your window will be tiled), or ⌥-drag a window in the direction of where you want it to be tiled, which I find is easiest.
The System Settings app also includes a few options for how window tiling works. There are toggles to turn off tiling by dragging windows to your screen’s edges or using the Option key. Also, you can specify whether the windows should touch or leave a narrow margin between each.
Window Tiling options are found in the Desktop & Dock section of System Settings.
I rarely do anything other than fill my screen with one window or use two apps side-by-side in equally-sized windows. For that, Raycast has done the trick for me, but over time, I’ve found myself using the new Sequoia tiling options more and more. It’s hard to beat Raycast’s keyboard-driven efficiency, but the built-in drag options have grown on me, especially when I’m already using my mouse or trackpad.
NotesNotes continues to add powerful features year after year. What was once a simple text editor with limited formatting options now rivals many of the best third-party note-taking apps. Chief among the changes coming this fall is the ability to record audio that is transcribed live inside your notes. The transcription can be mixed with typed text and other media in the same note as well. When your transcript is visible, the related text is highlighted as the audio plays back, similar to how lyrics are highlighted in the Music app when a song is playing.
Transcription is a fantastic addition to Notes.
The Notes toolbar has a new button that looks like a sound wave and opens a panel on the right side of a note that reveals the audio recording interface. At the bottom of the panel are playback controls, a record button, and a transcription toggle that switches between a visual representation of your recorded audio and its transcript. At the top of the panel is a ‘More’ button with options to share your audio, copy the transcript, incorporate the transcript’s text into your note, and find text within the transcript. There are also options to save the audio as a separate file or delete it. Overall, the new transcription tool is a great addition to Notes and is going to be perfect for students and anyone who wants to create a record of a meeting.
Math Notes made a splashy debut on on the iPad, where it works with the Apple Pencil, but it’s available on the Mac too. Just type an equation, and when you hit the ‘=’ key, a preview of the result will appear after the equal sign. Type Return or Tab, and the result will added to your note. You can even assign numbers or equations to words and then use the words as variables in separate equations. Unfortunately, Math Notes does not work inside tables embedded in notes.
There are a few other refinements to Notes, too, including
- the ability to highlight text in any of five built-in colors,
- inline searching of PDFs, which has some visual glitches currently, and
- collapsible heading sections, which will make navigating long notes much easier.
An example of a collapsed and uncollapsed section of a note.
Few system apps have received as much attention over the past few years as Notes. The result is an app that works in a variety of contexts for a wide range of users. Notes may also benefit from the writing tools coming with Apple Intelligence, but even without them, this fall’s update to the app promises to be another good one.
PasswordsFederico and I finally got one of our long-term wishes this year with the introduction of a standalone Passwords app on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac that syncs between devices securely using iCloud. I have been slowly but surely transitioning my saved logins from 1Password to Apple’s system for a couple of years in anticipation of this day, and it has paid off. When I opened the new Passwords app on my Mac, it was already pre-populated with over 1,500 passwords, passkeys, verification codes, and Wi-Fi credentials. The app also collects the apps and websites where you’ve used ‘Sign in with Apple’ or ‘Hide My Email’ and includes both a Security category alerting you to any issues with your passwords and a Deleted section where you can recover any recently deleted passwords. There is a section that collects shared passwords, and the app supports importing and exporting passwords, too.
What you won’t find in Passwords is the ability to save attachments or take notes about accounts. That’s too bad because I’ve used 1Password to securely store important legal documents and add notes to shared passwords about how to use certain web accounts in the past. However, with password-protected shared notes in the Notes app, you can partially accomplish the same result, albeit in a different app.
The Passwords app will look very familiar if you’ve used Passwords in Safari’s settings before.
If you’ve used the Passwords section of Safari before, you’ll have no trouble acclimating to the new Passwords app because it includes all the same functionality. If you forget about the app and head to Safari’s settings instead, you’ll find a button that will open the Passwords app, which I think is a great touch because I opened Safari’s settings out of habit the first week I was using Sequoia, and I’m sure other people will too.
While the Passwords app doesn’t break any new ground in terms of features this year, the fact that it is a standalone app is significant. By its very existence, it signals to users the importance of passwords, making them more central to users’ daily computing experience. What’s more, with smart sorting options and a simple interface, it makes good security habits easy to get started with and not intimidating, which I love.
MessagesThis fall, you’ll be able to schedule messages.
I spend a lot of time in Messages on my Mac. It’s not as fun as the app’s iPhone and iPad versions, but at least most of the same features are available everywhere. This year, that will include the ability to schedule a message for sending later and text effects.
Scheduling messages to be sent later is a nice addition, but it’s not one I expect I’ll use often. With friends and MacStories colleagues in a wide range of time zones, it’s understood that the burden is on the recipient to silence their notifications at night or when they don’t want to be bothered. But that doesn’t work for everyone; I have family members who don’t live by what I think of as the International Messaging Treaty. For them, it will be nice to have the option to set a message so it arrives at a sane time of day. Likewise, I’m sure I’ll use the feature when I know someone is busy, pushing a message out until later whether they have silenced notifications or not, so I don’t distract them.
The text effects that can be added to messages are the same as you’ll find on the iPhone and iPad. There are eight, including Big, Small, Shake, Nod, Explode, Ripple, Bloom, and Jitter. However, unlike on the iPhone and iPad, you don’t get a preview of the effect before you pick it on the Mac. Instead, you select the text you want to add an effect to and add the effect, which is then previewed in the Messages text field before you click send. Messages will also add more standard text styling this year with bold, italics, underline, and strikethrough options.
Messages and text effects.
Finally, as in iOS and iPadOS 18, tapbacks are now colorful and can include emoji and stickers. Once activated, the tapback popup can be scrolled horizontally with a swipe to reveal your most frequently used tapbacks, emoji, and stickers, too.
Calendar and RemindersReminders is integrating with Calendar.
Sequoia continues Apple’s trend of integrating system apps with each other by giving you the option to display Reminders tasks alongside your events. If you turn on the integration in the left sidebar under the ‘Other’ section, not every task will appear in Calendar. Instead, the calendar will only show tasks that have been assigned a date, which I think makes sense for what most people would want to see on their calendars.
In addition to bringing scheduled tasks into Calendar, you can now create, complete, and delete tasks from within Calendar using an interface that’s a lot like what you’re already familiar with in the Reminders app. Apple has updated the interface of Calendar’s month view, which distinguishes between events (using a color-coded bar) and tasks (using a color-coded dot) too.
Task integration probably isn’t a feature I’ll use because I don’t like the visual clutter of mixing events with tasks. However, I know a lot of people rely on a system of strict event and task scheduling, and this will be an excellent addition for them.
SafariThe only article I’ve found that uses Safari Reader’s new summary feature takes Apple’s side regarding the DMA. 🤔
This fall, Safari Reader will add a sidebar with a table of contents for navigating within a webpage, beneath which you’ll find a summary of the article. So far, this feature seems to have been applied to vanishingly few articles. I browsed several websites and the longest stories I could find on Longreads, and I’ve only found one article that included a short summary and no table of contents. Perhaps the feature isn’t finished yet, but I expected to be able to find more examples. You’ll know a summary is available if you see a purple sparkle icon overlaid on top of the icon on the far left side of Safari’s address bar.
The same gleam will appear when you visit other websites, indicating that the Highlights feature is available. Highlights surfaces key information from web pages, like pulling the address from a hotel’s site and offering a map in a popover window. The feature also offers summaries of articles that are identical to what you’ll find in Safari Reader and information about people, music, movies, and TV shows. In my early searches, I haven’t found any Highlights featuring people or music, and movie and TV show Highlights have been limited to Wikipedia pages, but I expect this feature will become more widespread later.
Highlights is handy for locating hotels as long as they are national chains.
An example of Highlights linking to a TV show in the Apple TV app, although Amazon Prime isn’t available to stream in that app from the Mac.
Finally, Safari has an excellent new viewer interface for videos. You invoke the viewer from the same address bar button that activates Safari Reader and Highlights. On a site like YouTube, the video takes over a bigger portion of the screen, and the rest of the site fades into the background. QuickTime-like controls appear at the bottom of the video too. If you switch to another app, the video automatically continues playing in a resizable and re-positionable Picture-in-Picture window. My early experience with the new viewer has been nothing but positive. Having one set of controls for every video regardless of the website makes life easier and reduces the clutter of sites in the same way Safari Reader does for text.
Watching Comfort Zone in Safari’s new video viewer.
Everything ElseA hiking trail at Yosemite national park.
There are other changes coming to macOS Sequoia this fall that I’ll cover in greater depth in my full review, but here’s a quick rundown of the highlights.
Video Conferencing: Video conferencing has been a highlight of macOS updates for the past few years, and I have a hard time getting excited about it because I don’t do many video calls. That said, there are useful new features like the ability to replace your background with one of Apple’s built-in options or your own photos and a presenter preview that lets you see what you are going to share before you share it and limit what others can see.
Maps: This year’s Maps update is all about getting outdoors. There are new topographic maps and hikes in U.S. national parks, and you can save your own hiking routes, too. The new maps and hikes are excellent, so I hope they expand to other countries and other U.S. parks in the future. A new Places Library has been incorporated into Maps’ toolbar as well. With the click of a button, search results can be added to your Places Library, where you’ll also find saved guides and hiking routes.
Freeform: This fall, you’ll be able to define areas of a board called Scenes that can be played back in sequence as a slideshow or shared individually. In addition, the app will add a new snap-to-grid feature for easily aligning board elements.
macOS SequoiaSequoia: A Mac and iPhone 2-in-1.
I’ll cover a few additional odds and ends along with everything else in my macOS Sequoia review this fall. By then, some (but not all) of the Apple Intelligence features should be entering beta, which I expect will help round out the feature set beyond where it is today.
That said, my first month with Sequoia has been a little disappointing. It’s not that the features that have been added aren’t welcome additions to the OS; it’s just that few will make an everyday difference to most Mac users. I know from my day-to-day work on the Mac Studio where I’m running Sequoia that most days, I forget I’m even running a beta.
On the one hand, that’s good because, other than a few bugs here and there, the experience has been smooth. On the other hand, though, there remain many apps and features like Music, Stage Manager, and Shortcuts that have barely been touched in recent years and are in need of attention. Have those things been put on the back burner in favor of Apple Intelligence? Only Apple can answer that question. However, regardless of the answer, I hope Apple Intelligence is worth the wait. My first month with macOS Sequoia has been a positive one on balance, but at the same time incomplete and a little underwhelming.
You can also follow our 2024 Summer OS Preview Series through our dedicated hub, or subscribe to its RSS feed.
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Last year, Apple declared watchOS 10 the biggest update to the Apple Watch’s software since its introduction. I don’t think that was actually the case, but there were undoubtedly some notable changes to how we interact with our watches every day, with the introduction of the Smart Stack being key among them.
While Apple hasn’t forgotten about UI enhancements like the Smart Stack, this year sees the company turning its focus back to health and fitness tracking with some significant new features in those areas. I’ll be saving a deeper dive into the software update – including all the tiny changes and fun additions – until the fall, but with the watchOS 11 public beta going live today via the Apple Beta Software Program, now is the perfect time to go over the key features Apple has in store for Apple Watch users.
SetappSetapp: End the search, start the work. One subscription to dozens of apps for Mac and iPhone.
Smart StackThe introduction of the Smart Stack last year ran hot and cold with many users. Some found it difficult to relearn years of muscle memory previously tied to interacting with the watch face (by turning the Digital Crown) or bringing up Control Center (by swiping up from the bottom of the screen). These actions were remapped to open the new Smart Stack instead. Almost a year after I installed the watchOS 10 beta, I still occasionally swipe up from the bottom of my Apple Watch screen, trying to bring up Control Center.
However, change can be good, and the new Smart Stack held a lot of promise for widgets from both system apps and third-party ones. Unfortunately, since the initial burst of activity from developers, new widgets have become quite rare. I came to feel that the Smart Stack, while certainly useful, was not quite fulfilling its potential. This could all change with watchOS 11, which introduces several compelling features to the Smart Stack, including Live Activities.
Live Activities from Crouton, Flighty, and Timery.
Live Activities were introduced in iOS 16 alongside the iPhone 14 Pro and its Dynamic Island. While the Dynamic Island has been useful, I (and I suspect many others) mainly use it to interact with media playback. Live Activities on the Home Screen, on the other hand, have gone from strength to strength. Many developers have adopted them, and now, they’re coming to the Smart Stack in watchOS 11.
Apple’s implementation of Live Activities on watchOS is impressive in terms of how easy it is to use and how customizable it is. To start with, you don’t have to have an app installed on your Apple Watch to use its Live Activity. If you have the app on your iPhone and start a Live Activity there, the same Live Activity will automatically launch on your Apple Watch. It’s incredibly simple, and it also makes the feature discoverable for all users, as the Smart Stack will auto-launch when the Live Activity starts and even stay open when you put your wrist down.
I initially thought it would be annoying to have every Live Activity automatically appear on my Apple Watch, but in the Watch app on iOS, you can customize Live Activity behavior on a per-app basis. For example, if you start a timer with Timery, you can specify that its Live Activity should appear at the top of the Smart Stack, but only when you rotate the Digital Crown; you can also turn it off completely. I instantly turned off auto-launch for all media apps since I’m constantly listening to something on my iPhone and would never see my watch face otherwise.
Fine-tuning Live Activity settings in the Watch app on iOS.
The feature feels very well thought out, even down to the dismissible mini-widget that appears if you’re doing something on your Apple Watch and a Live Activity starts on your phone. It brings a lot of new functionality to the Smart Stack without any extra effort on the user’s part.
Another addition to the Smart Stack is interactive widgets. Whereas in watchOS 10, tapping on a widget would launch its app, you can now control apps directly via buttons within a widget. Apple has shown this capability off with widgets for the Home app, but it’s a little disappointing that they are limited to only a single button, which seems to be Apple’s recommendation for all apps.
New interactive widgets on watchOS 11 take a cue from Live Activities such as the timer.
Lastly, there are suggested widgets that appear in the Smart Stack automatically based on a number of parameters. These work pretty much the way you’d expect. For example, if my Activity rings are low and it’s getting into the late afternoon, the Activity app’s Rings widget will appear in my Smart Stack. As with Live Activities, you can specify which widgets can be suggested and which should not appear.
Suggested widgets and customizing which ones can be suggested.
After trying them for a month, I really like these new additions. It feels like the Smart Stack is now a more complete feature and presumably closer to what Apple imagined it to be in the first place. However, I still feel the huge clock and date that appear at the top are a waste of space. The clock may now reflect the font of your current watch face, but surely that area could be better utilized with a couple of complications or another widget alongside a small time indicator in the corner.
Training LoadThis year, Apple has introduced two new features that push the boundaries of what the Apple Watch can do more into ‘pro’ territory. The first is Training Load. You might be familiar with the concept of training load if you’re a serious athlete or if you’ve ever owned a Garmin smartwatch. It’s a way of measuring the cumulative amount of exercise performed over a week and its impact on the body. Typically, metrics like duration and intensity are used to calculate this figure, but whereas duration is simple to calculate, intensity is more esoteric.
Training Load on watchOS 11.
Apple determines intensity using what the company calls an ‘effort’ rating. Every completed workout is categorized as either easy, moderate, hard, or all-out. These scores are calculated automatically for cardio workouts, though you can adjust them manually. For non-cardio workouts such as weight training, you’ll be prompted to add your own effort rating when you’re finished exercising.
The effort score is multiplied by the duration of the workout to calculate your training load. (See, I told you this was a pro feature.) Figures for the last seven days are weighted against the previous 28 days to give you a chart showing whether your training load is going up or down and to what extent.
Training Load data is also available in the Fitness app on iOS.
I’ve been impressed with this feature thus far. Seeing my progress in the past week compared to the previous month is great for motivation and allows me to moderate what I do to the correct level. While it’s not a full-blown pro fitness tracker like Athlytic, Apple has done a good job of bringing a pro feature to the Apple Watch and making it easy for the average user to understand.
VitalsThe Vitals app, new in watchOS 11, is the other feature pushing watchOS to pro levels this year. It allows you to monitor key overnight health metrics – average heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, blood oxygen, and sleep duration – and receive notifications if one of them is outside of your normal range. This might sound like Apple is simply taking metrics already available in the Health app and putting them together in a different way, but what the company is doing here is actually quite interesting.
The new Vitals app in watchOS 11.
After an initial period of you wearing your watch overnight for seven days, the Vitals app calculates your typical range for each metric. However, it’s not quite that simple. Apple is using data from its Heart and Movement Study to generate an algorithm used in these calculations. The company hasn’t gone into more detail than that, but this suggests the Vitals app is doing far more than using an average of each metric and creating a standard range on either side.
If a metric is out of its typical range, the Vitals app will notify you when you wake up with information about what’s out of range and what might be causing it. I’ve been lucky enough not to have received any of these notifications as of yet, but the idea that your Apple Watch could suggest tangible reasons for a change in your vitals seems like a nice addition.
Information from the Vitals app is also available in the Health app on iOS.
You can choose to display your latest vital measurements in the Smart Stack, and they also integrate with Training Load to give you additional context when planning your exercise for the day.
Fitness and ActivityPausing your rings in watchOS 11.
watchOS 11 includes arguably the most-requested Apple Watch ‘feature’ ever, after years of users asking for it: the ability to pause your Activity rings. It’s frankly ridiculous that this hasn’t been possible until now, but I’m glad it finally is. The option has been introduced nicely, too. When you pause your Activity rings, you can choose to do so for today, a week, a month, or a custom time period up to 90 days. Additionally, the day before your Activity rings are due to resume, you will receive a notification asking if you’re “ready to get back to it,” with the option to extend the pause if you wish to.
You can also adjust each Activity ring goal based on the day of the week. For me, weekends are always filled with family activities, so it’s great to be able to reduce my Move ring goal for those days and not feel the pressure to do a workout or pause my rings.
Creating a goal schedule in the Fitness app on iOS.
Over on iOS, Apple has introduced the ability to personalize the Summary tab in the Fitness app, enabling you to rearrange tiles and prioritize the information you care about most. I enjoyed playing around with these tiles, and it’s good to be able to feature an activity I do a lot, like cycling, prominently on the screen. However, in classic Apple style, each element is very chunky, and you can’t move the huge Activity rings tile at the top, which takes up over a quarter of the screen. Even shrinking that tile down to just show the rings themselves would be welcome. Nevertheless, it’s a nice change to the app.
Customizing the Fitness app on iOS.
Finally, as is tradition each year, Apple has improved the Workout app, adding distance as an in-session metric to more workouts and route maps to outdoor rowing and cross-country skiing. Pool swims now support custom workouts, and there is a new Up Next view in the app that shows how much of the current interval you have left and what the next interval will be. I don’t personally use any of these new Workout features, but many will, and it’s good to see Apple continue to push what the Apple Watch can do with their already massive array of workout options.
Photos Watch FaceCreating a Photos face in the Watch app on iOS.
Apple is very proud of the Photos face, which the company says is the watch face used most by Apple Watch owners. In watchOS 11, the company has brought its old friend machine learning along for the ride. Now, just like when you choose photos for your Lock Screen in iOS, your Apple Watch will surface suggested photos that the system thinks will work well as a watch face. Also, as on iOS, you can adjust selected photos with tints and use depth data to position elements in front of or behind the time.
This is, well, fine. It’s what you’d expect, but it’s a bit difficult to get excited about a customizability feature like this when what we really want are third-party, custom watch faces. Nevertheless, this will be a great enhancement for the many people who already use the Photos watch face.
Other Notable AdditionsThe Translate app is now available on the Apple Watch. It’s essentially the same as the iOS version, except for the fact that you can’t use voice and text input at the same time; you have to choose one or the other. My wife is Spanish, so I’ve been able to test the app out quite a bit, and it is a solid translation tool that is now even more handy, being as it is on your wrist.
The Translate app on watchOS.
One addition that I will never be able to test due to my inability to experience the miracle of childbirth is new support for pregnant users. The existing Cycle Tracking feature will now change to show your gestational age when you are pregnant and enable you to track various symptoms. You will get a notification if your heart rate goes below the normal threshold, receive prompts to take a mental health assessment, and be offered the option to add your pregnancy status to your Medical ID. Apple’s focus on pregnancy health is impressive, and I hope the company continues to add more – like the option to bring in data like blood pressure for additional context, even though the Apple Watch doesn’t measure that (yet).
Maps in iOS 18 adds thousands of curated hikes across America’s national parks, as well as the ability to create custom routes. You can access these routes from your Apple Watch and store them for offline use. It’s not made explicitly clear, but what the Maps app on the Apple Watch seems to do is sync its library of routes with the Maps app on iOS. If you’ve downloaded the route for offline use on your iPhone, the Apple Watch will do the same. You can browse routes on your Apple Watch, but you can’t save them for offline viewing, which is a bit frustrating, especially if you’re out walking with your cellular watch and want to download a route before moving away from cell service.
A curated route in Maps on watchOS.
In addition to support for enhanced ticketing in the Wallet app and a new Double Tap API for developers, there is one more notable new feature in watchOS 11: Check In.
Check In is available in Messages (left) and Workout (center and right).
Check In was introduced last year in iOS 17 as a safety feature for letting friends and family know when you arrive at a destination and alerting them if you are later than planned or outside of your expected destination. Just like on iOS, the feature is available in Messages on watchOS 11, but you can also use it in the Workout app. By swiping to the right during a workout and tapping the Check In button, you can choose to notify a contact when your workout ends. If your speed increases abnormally or if your heart rate decreases to near resting when it shouldn’t, you will receive a notification on your Apple Watch, and your selected contact will be notified if you don’t respond. Check In is a great feature, and it’s good to see Apple extending it to watchOS and even taking it a step further with exercise integration.
watchOS 11Apple Watch updates often seem on the lighter side post-WWDC, but after a month with watchOS 11, I’ve come to appreciate it as a significant upgrade. While last year’s update was geared mainly toward UI changes, this year’s is firmly focused on the health and fitness aspects of the Apple Watch.
It’s also notable that Apple has expanded into two areas – the new Vitals app and Training Load – that use already-available data to enable more advanced features. As Apple continues struggling to develop new sensors for the Apple Watch, it seems that the company has been pushed to increase the device’s usefulness with more advanced health and fitness capabilities. They’re very welcome, and while Apple certainly isn’t sleeping on features like the Smart Stack, these sorts of additions emphasize how much potential the Apple Watch has as a device for serious athletes as well as everyday users.
If you want to try out these new features, you can now do so with the watchOS 11 public beta, available here.
You can also follow our 2024 Summer OS Preview Series through our dedicated hub, or subscribe to its RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week on Magic Rays of Light, Sigmund and Devon spotlight the theatrical release of Fly Me to the Moon, revisit the idea of an Apple TV Pro, recap Trying season four, and highlight new Apple Original series Sunny starring Rashida Jones.
This week on Comfort Zone, Niléane has a social media surprise, Matt tries to take his email to superhuman levels, and Chris blows his hair back with Wi-Fi speeds you wouldn’t believe. Then we reflect on last week’s very chill challenge before jumping into the next one where we must be nice.
This week, I am joined by Jonathan Reed for some travel picks for my upcoming trip to London, plus a movie, TV show, and Irish band.
Magic Rays of Light, Episode 127 Show NotesSpotlight* Fly Me to the Moon
Apple TV Pro* It’s time for a new gaming-focused ‘Apple TV Pro’ with the M4 chip | 9to5Mac * Magic Rays of Light: Apple TV Pro * Leak Confirms Apple’s Work On ‘Home Accessory’ | MacRumors
Apple TV News* Surreal Touch Is A 6DoF VR Controller For Apple Vision Pro | UploadVR * Dear Roku, you ruined my TV | The Verge
Trailer Talk* F1 Teaser * Severance Teaser * Time Bandits * Omnivore
Highlight* Sunny
Releases* Me * MLS Cup Rematch
Extras* Me — An Inside Look * Comparing Scenes: Fancy Dance & Killers of the Flower Moon with Lily Gladstone * Another Take: Lily Gladstone, Isabel DeRoy-Olson and Erica Tremblay
Recap* Trying
Up Next* Mac Power Users #752: Exploring Apple’s TV Efforts, with Sigmund Judge * That ’90s Show * Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire * Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes * The Bikeriders * The Garfield Movie * The Animal Kingdom * IF * The Long Game * Frosty the Snowman * Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer * Longlegs
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
Subscribe to Magic Rays of Light on YouTube.
Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads
Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads
Comfort Zone, ‘Who among Us Is Sane?’ Show Notes* Twitter (X) * Superhuman * Deco TP-Link WiFi 7 Router
Other stuff we discussed* Sidekick notepad * Sanebox * Mimestream * Day One
Follow the Hosts* Chris on YouTube * Matt on Birchtree * Niléane on Mastodon * Comfort Zone on Mastodon
MacStories Unwind, ‘An ‘H’ But in the Wrong Place’ Show NotesLinks and Show NotesJonathan’s London Travel Picks* Walk down the Southbank, from Greenwich to Westminster + Introducing London: a walk along the South Bank * Thames Clipper, from Greenwich to Westminster + Official website * The view from Primrose Hill + Apple Maps location + The Royal Parks: Primrose Hill * Abbey Road + Apple Maps location + Wikipedia * Tate Modern + Apple Maps location + Official website * Four Quarters + Official website * The Barbican + Apple Maps location + Official Website + Slough House - Spy Write * Columbia Flower Market + Apple Maps location + Official website * London Fields + Apple Maps location + Wikipedia * Pophams Bakery – around the corner from the Hackney Empire + Apple Maps location + Official website * John’s Pick: + Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire - Trailer - Stream on Max - Rent or buy on Apple TV * Jonathan’s Picks: + We Are Lady Parts - Trailer + Fontaines D.C. - On Apple Music
MacStories Unwind+We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.
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MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
As Twitter was crumbling under Elon Musk’s new leadership in 2023, various online circles found themselves flocking to alternative platforms. While some may have kept using Twitter (now known as… X), a non-negligible number of communities migrated over to Mastodon and other smaller platforms. Meanwhile, Meta shipped its own textual social media platform, Threads. The service initially launched in most parts of the world except for the European Union, but it’s been available in Europe for over six months now and has seen its usage soar.
For many, Threads understandably felt like a breath of fresh air following the chaos that engulfed Twitter. Unlike the latter, Threads is not run by someone that I and many others find to be an exceptionally despicable human. Its algorithmic timeline contrasts with Mastodon’s exclusively chronological feeds, and its integration with Instagram has attracted a number of big names and stars.
I’m an activist. In my daily life, I work and advocate for the advancement of trans people’s rights in France. As a result, my expanded online social circle mostly consists of LGBT people, and most of them are activists, too. However, in the span of a few months, almost everyone in that circle who was excited about Threads launching in Europe has now stopped using it and migrated back to Twitter, Mastodon, or elsewhere. When I ask around about why those people left Threads behind, their responses vary, but a trend persists: most felt like they were being shadow-banned by the platform.
Without hard data, it is difficult to investigate this feeling, to understand if it is truly widespread or specific to some online bubbles. But one thing is certain: Threads hasn’t felt like a breath of fresh air for all who tried to use it. In my experience as a trans woman, at its best, it has felt like Jack Dorsey’s old Twitter: a social platform overrun by an opaque moderation system, free-roaming hate speech, and a frustrating algorithm that too often promotes harmful content.
As months go by, incidents where Threads consistently failed to uphold its understood promise of a better-moderated Twitter-like platform have added up. Today, for many non-white, non-straight, non-male users, it is a repulsive social media experience, where their voices are silenced and where hate speech offenders who target them go unpunished.
Let’s talk about this.
This prevalent sentiment among LGBT people has increased over time. You need only rewind back to January 2024, soon after Threads launched in Europe, to find something pretty disgusting that started happening in people’s For You feeds. Homophobic and transphobic posts kept plaguing the app, despite people’s efforts to report these posts and hide them from their timeline. This wave of hateful content also included anti-abortion posts, and reports of this happening were widely shared. Worse, these posts were often pushed into people’s feeds on Instagram as well, prompting some trans people to stay clear of Threads altogether.
This widespread incident is the only one so far that has prompted an official response from Threads, through the voice of Instagram’s head Adam Mosseri. However, that response is very telling of Meta’s approach when it comes to addressing these moderation issues. In his 23-second video, Mosseri acknowledges that there have been “low-quality recommendations” in users’ feeds but makes no explicit mention of what these recommendations were actually made of: anti-abortion comments, sexism, and violent homophobia and transphobia.
In March, this spike of violent hate speech targeted at LGBT people was followed by the release of a damning report from GLAAD, a renowned non-profit organization focused on LGBT advocacy. This report, entitled Unsafe: Meta Fails to Moderate Extreme Anti-trans Hate Across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, paints a picture that has come as no surprise to any trans or marginalized person who has ever used any of Meta’s platforms for a significant amount of time. It puts forward a sample collection of viral harmful posts that, despite being in clear violation of Meta’s policies, have remained in circulation across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.
For anyone doubting that there is a consistent, reproducible, and wide-ranging problem of Meta failing to moderate harmful content targeted at marginalized people on its platforms, I highly encourage that you set aside some time and read through the report.
In its introduction, GLAAD writes,
Characterized by fear-mongering, lies, conspiracy theories, dehumanizing tropes, and violent rhetoric, these posts — many by high-follower accounts — aim to boost engagement, generate revenue, and seed hateful narratives about trans, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming people. These accounts profit from such hate, and so does Meta and its shareholders. Meanwhile, LGBTQ people and other targeted groups experience an increasing number of well-documented real-world harms stemming from these long-term anti-LGBTQ propaganda campaigns, driven by the anti-LGBTQ extremists that Meta allows to flourish on its platforms.
Since the release of the GLAAD report, Meta has not offered any further acknowledgment of this long-standing issue. Instead, in February 2024 – a couple of weeks before the report was released – the company introduced a worrying and seemingly unrelated policy change: Meta would now opt all of its users out of “political content” in their platform’s algorithmic timelines. Along with that change, a new toggle was added in Instagram’s settings panel. If you want to see political content in your feed, you need to flip the switch.
Since it was announced, the nature of what would be filtered by this new, on-by-befault ‘Political Content Control’ on Instagram and Threads has never been clarified. On an Instagram support page, the company states: “Political content includes content that mentions: Governments, Elections, Social topics.”
What are “social topics”? Does that include black people speaking out against systemic racism? Does that include LGBT people speaking out against homophobia and transphobia? Does that include anyone identified as a part of a socially marginalized group of people? I am worried that it does – especially thinking back to my online circle of LGBT activists who have all left Meta’s platforms behind in favor of Twitter, Mastodon, or Bluesky, because they were all under the impression that they were being shadow-banned. I feel certain that opting everyone on the platform out of seeing political content has only contributed to this impression.
But I’m not alone. In the wake of this change, hundreds of political and news content creators, LGBT activists, and journalists, have signed an open letter to Meta asking the company to reverse its decision.
They write:
…Meta’s vague definition of political content as “likely to mention governments, elections, or social topics that affect a group of people and/or society at large” endangers the reach of individuals and organizations whose identities and/or advocacy have been rendered a ‘social topic’ in this country. This undermines the reach of marginalized folks speaking to their own lived experience on Meta’s platforms and undermines the reach of advocacy work in important areas that have become ‘social topics’ including climate change, gun violence prevention, racial justice, transgender rights, and reproductive freedom to name just a few.
Meanwhile in France, during that same month of February, Le Coin des LGBT+ (@lecoindeslgbt) was inexplicably suspended from Threads and Instagram. The account is extremely popular in the country, as it focuses on relaying LGBT news and events and plays a key role in online advocacy of LGBT people’s rights. Today, the account is still up and running on Instagram, but if you try looking for it on Threads, all you will find are countless messages of outrage from people asking Meta to reinstate the account.
While Le Coin des LGBT+ was restored a few days after its suspension without any explanation, the account’s holders chose not to stick around on Threads, limiting their activity to Instagram and Twitter. I would have made the same choice. For the few weeks that it was around on Threads, every single one of the account’s posts was bombarded with insults, death threats, and literal nazi imagery. Day after day, I spent hours trying to report every single one of them. Not only did the swastikas stay up and reappear faster than I could report them, but every single one of my reports was also met with a cold, disturbing, automated message from Instagram in my email inbox telling me that, “No violation was found”.
The extremely worrying thing is that we don’t know how often this happens. Le Coin des LGBT+ has a huge following, and as result, the issue became widely relayed on both Instagram and Threads. But what about all of the victims who have less than a few hundred followers? Is light ever shed on the threats, insults, and hate that they have received?
This is all starting to add up. If you’re an activist, a journalist reporting on issues affecting LGBT people, or an LGBT content creator, Threads is now both silencing your voice and exposing you to death threats.
Quite recently, I once more experienced this frustrating and harmful opacity around Meta’s moderation. Snap legislative elections took place in France this month. I will spare you the summary of this chaotic political situation at home, but long story short: we were at risk of an extremist far-right party rising to power. For all minorities and LGBT people in France, sharing our voices and our concerns online about this imminent threat was of crucial importance.
On the opposite end of the French political spectrum, an alliance of all the left and green parties was formed, and it became the only real hope for all marginalized people to elect a government that would further their rights instead of repressing them. This alliance is called the New Popular Front. One of its main ways of raising awareness online during the campaign was sharing its political manifesto, accessible via the following URL: nouveaufrontpopulaire.fr.
However, a mere week before the first round of the legislative elections, people started to realize that this URL was blocked by Meta. It suddenly became impossible to post a link to the New Popular Front’s website on all of its platforms: Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. I documented this finding myself on Mastodon and Threads. The URL was disallowed in posts, in Instagram stories, and even inside conversations in Messenger and Instagram DMs with no explanation.
The New Popular Front’s website worked and could be shared on Twitter, Mastodon, and other social platforms without any issues. While many of us thought this ban was perhaps applied to all the running parties in the election, it turned out that sharing a link to the far-right party’s website on Threads, Instagram, and Facebook was still possible. To add insult to injury, Meta started removing all posts on Threads that contained a link to the New Popular Front’s website; one of mine, posted one week prior, was affected. My Instagram and Threads accounts were even suspended for a few hours after that post was removed.
There we were, seven days before a crucial election that could upend our entire lives, unable to share links to one of the few platforms that could save us. This suspension lasted for more than 24 hours, which felt like an eternity in an incredibly fast-paced campaign where every second counted. When Meta lifted the ban on shared links to the New Popular Front’s website, it once again didn’t issue any statement. Posts that were previously removed were quietly restored, and moderation appeals that had been filed by hundreds of French users have seemingly been lost into Meta’s automated moderation void.
This was probably a mistake, a glitch in Meta’s automated process that perhaps erroneously flagged the URL as dangerous. But even if that was the case, why did it take more than 24 hours for the company to resolve the problem? Why would they refuse to even acknowledge that something happened? Like I said, it starts to add up. Now, as a black or LGBT person, in addition to having your voice silenced and exposing yourself to death threats on Meta’s platforms, you are also at risk of having your account suspended for sharing a link to a political manifesto just days before a crucial election.
As Threads is slowly opening up to the fediverse, perhaps federation can feel like an escape hatch. It could be reassuring to think, “Perhaps if I can’t possibly stay active on Threads, I’ll be active on Mastodon, and thanks to federation, people on Threads can still read and follow me.” But I’m not hopeful. Last month, Threads published a new page that lists all of the fediverse servers that it blocks and does not federate with. Any account hosted on one of the Mastodon servers listed on this page cannot follow and interact with Threads users. And when Threads starts allowing its users to follow Mastodon accounts, they will be barred from following any account hosted on the listed servers.
Of course, this is not surprising by any means. All Mastodon servers maintain such a list on their About pages. (You can take a look at my own server’s list of moderated servers here.) These lists often contain the same set of long-known offenders: servers harboring and promoting hate speech, CSAM, and a wide range of gruesome things. Motivated by the recrudescence of Meta’s moderation failings, a number of Mastodon servers have also chosen to list Threads as a blocked server.
However, if you take a look at Meta’s list of moderated servers, you are going to notice a pattern. Alongside the well-established set of known offenders, Meta is also blocking a number of well-known Mastodon servers that host LGBT people and marginalized communities. Here is just a handful of them:
- tech.lgbt (listed reason: “Violated our Community Guidelines or Terms of Use”)
- eldritch.cafe (listed reason: “Violated our Community Guidelines or Terms of Use”)
- octodon.social (listed reason: “No publicly accessible feed, violated our Community Guidelines or Terms of Use”)
- queer.party (listed reason: “Violated our Community Guidelines or Terms of Use”)
- disabled.social (listed reason: “Violated our Community Guidelines or Terms of Use”)
There are even more with less obvious domain names. While some of these servers owners don’t mind being blocked by Threads, having themselves already blocked Meta’s platform, this still raises several questions. Why were these servers blocked? Was it just out of reprisal for blocking Threads? Which community guidelines did they breach? Is it nudity, even when it’s only allowed behind content warnings? If they ever reach compliance with those guidelines, will the suspension be lifted? How long does that take? Meta has a form for appealing blocked server decisions, but how are those reviewed? Is it just as automated as the majority of the moderation decisions made on the platform?
Mastodon and the fediverse are often described as a web of interconnected servers that enforce their own moderation policies towards each other, sometimes at the cost of user experience and clarity when selecting a new server to join. From what I can tell, this not only applies to Threads now, but also adds another layer to the ongoing moderation issues that contribute to Threads and Meta’s other platforms being a dangerous and repulsive environment for marginalized people. The escape hatch that the fediverse seemed to represent can now also act as a banishment system. With Meta is already unilaterally blocking LGBT accounts and letting the authors of hate speech go unpunished, who’s to say they won’t arbitrarily block other LGBT servers on the fediverse in the future as well?
It adds up.
You may ask, “Why write this on MacStories now? Do you expect Meta to change anything?” I realize that I’ve asked a lot of unanswered questions here, but no, I don’t. I don’t expect Meta to ever really address the fact that brick by brick it has rebuilt the same sort of problematic foundation on which Twitter was built under Jack Dorsey’s leadership. I don’t expect it to move away from its dangerous automated moderation systems that silence activists trying to speak out for their lives and the lives of their peers. I don’t expect the company to acknowledge that it may have played a part in artificially boosting far-right discourses on its platforms by banning all links to their main opponent during the last stretch of the French legislative elections.
However, I do have some sincere expectations for you all who are reading this. I expect tech journalists to more systematically report on everything that fits into this pattern. I expect tech podcasters to acknowledge that Threads is only a great alternative to Twitter if you’re a straight, white male. I expect that we all start understanding why some marginalized communities are staying on Twitter despite all of its horrific flaws. I expect that awareness of Meta’s consistent pattern of silencing marginalized voices can help direct funds, donations, and efforts to Mastodon to make it a durable, more wide-reaching alternative.
More than anything, I just expect to be heard. And for Threads, that seems too much to ask for.
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Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week, Federico and I cover the developer features we’re excited to see come to third-party apps later this year.
This episode is sponsored by:* Vitally: A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting. * Notion: Start turning ideas into action. Try it free today.
This week, I tried fruit popcorn, Robb has an EchoFeed and Threads update, then we discuss some new tech that’s actually interesting.
AppStories, ‘A Feature-Packed Fall’ Show NotesFeatures for the Fall* Related Developer Sessions + App Intents - Bring Your App’s Core Features to Users with App Intents - What’s New in App Intents - Design App Intents for System Experiences + Core ML - Deploy Machine Learning and AI Models On-Device with Core ML + Translation API - Meet the Translation API + SwiftUI - What’s New in SwiftUI + AccessorySetupKit - Meet AccessorySetupKit + Journal API - Enhanced Suggestions for Your Journaling App + Embedded Swift - What’s New in Swift - A Swift Tour: Explore Swift’s Features and Design
Ruminate, ‘Crunchy Air’ Show Notes* LesserEvil Organic Popcorn * CMF Phone 1 * The CMF phone controller concept * Nothing Ear (a) wireless earbuds * Club MacStories * NPC: Next Portable Console Podcast
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Delta, the retro gaming emulator that took the App Store by storm when it was released earlier this spring and now has over 10 million users, has been updated in the EU via AltStore PAL and for Patreon members, who can sideload the app. An update to the App Store version has been submitted to the App Store for the rest of the world but has not been approved yet.
Playing the SNES version of Donkey Kong Country.
The update brings official iPadOS support to Delta for the first time. That means support for native iPad features like Split View, Stage Manager, multiwindowing, and even Handoff, which can be used to move a game from one device to another. The update also introduces a refinement of Delta’s new icon, which was changed because Adobe thought it looked too much like its own logo and demanded that Delta make changes to the icon. Delta’s built-in skins have been updated too to work with the iPad’s larger screen:
Multiwindow gaming.
I’ve had a chance to try the new Delta 1.6 iPad features and they’re great, so it was disappointing to see that the app has been rejected by App Review. According to the AltStore Mastodon account, the reason was that the app included a link to the developers’ Patreon page, even though that link appeared in prior versions of the app. The Patreon link has been removed and the app resubmitted, so hopefully the update will be available worldwide soon.
It’s a shame that Delta 1.6 is being held up in App Review, but barring any further objections from Apple, I expect we’ll see the update on the App Store soon.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Insta360 X4. Source: Insta360.
Insta360 has had a busy week. Earlier this spring, the company released the X4, an advanced 360º action camera, which became available at Apple.com for the first time last week. Then this week, the company released the Insta360 Flow Pro, an AI-powered gimbal for smartphones, including the iPhone. I haven’t had a chance to try either gadget yet, but both caught my eye for different reasons.
First, the Insta360 reminds me of the company’s One X2 that I reviewed a few years ago. As action cameras go, that was a great little device that took excellent video and photos for something so compact.
Source: Insta360.
Three years later, the Insta360 X4 goes much further. The candy bar-shaped camera is capable of 8K video at 30 fps and has a 2290mAh battery that Insta360 says lasts for 135 minutes, which is impressive if it bears out in real-world use. The bundle being sold on Apple.com, includes the camera, a lens cover, a carrying case, a 256GB microSD card, a USB-C cable, and the company’s Invisible Selfie Stick accessory. That last item is key because, through the magic of software, it can be removed from any scene you shoot, creating a third-person perspective without needing someone else to operate the camera.
The X4 also features a 2.5” screen that is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. Plus, it can take 360º photos, capture different cinematic styles of video like slow motion, and be controlled with voice and hand gestures, making it an intriguing choice for solo creators. The X4 is also available on Amazon.
The Insta360 Flow Pro. Source: Insta360.
Smartphone gimbals have come a long way too. I tried a DJI Osmo 2 gimbal years ago, but it was bulky and difficult to calibrate accurately. Insta360’s new Flow Pro looks like it solves a lot of those friction points. The gimbal, which will stabilize video taken with an iPhone or other smartphone using AI, folds up, saving room in your bag. It also doubles as a tripod with a flip-out base that allows you to set it up to film yourself or others nearby tracking you to keep you framed in the scene. For iPhone users, the Flow Pro uses DockKit, the API introduced by Apple in 2023, that coordinates shots with the gimbal stabilizing them and keeping you in the frame. The only other iPhone accessory that I’m aware of that does this is the Belkin Auto-Tracking Stand Pro with DockKit, which is a tabletop or desktop device, not a gimbal. The Flow Pro, which is available on Insta360s’ website, also offers a fast, integrated pairing process for iPhone users.
It’s summer, which means I and a lot of others will be traveling, and both of these devices strike me as compelling travel companions. The X4 offers high-resolution video, 360º images, and a plethora of cool software tricks for creating unique videos. Meanwhile, the Flow Pro is the kind of accessory that allows you to take the camera you always have with you and use it in new and creative ways, extending its utility. I’m hoping to get a chance to test one or both devices later this summer and will report back.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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All of MacStories’ podcasts are now available on our YouTube channel. Currently, Comfort Zone is the only show that includes video, but now you can also listen to our audio-only shows via YouTube. Here are links to each show:
- Video Podcasts
- Comfort Zone
- Audio-Only Podcasts
- AppStories
- NPC: Next Portable Console
- Ruminate
- Magic Rays of Light
- MacStories Unwind
Each podcast is available in YouTube’s app, YouTube Music, and the YouTube website. Audio-only shows include episode art in place of a video and access to show notes just like in a dedicated podcast app. Plus, you can add your favorite shows to the ‘Your Podcasts’ section of your YouTube Library so you never miss an episode.
Listen on the web, the YouTube app, or YouTube Music.
You may have heard Federico or me talk about our plans to expand MacStories’ presence on YouTube before. Adding the audio-only podcasts to MacStories’ YouTube channel is another step in that direction, but there’s still more to come. The channel has grown quickly since we launched it alongside Comfort Zone, and with the addition of our five other podcasts, it has become a one-stop destination for our entire lineup of shows and their back catalogs. Subscribe today to enjoy your favorite shows and to keep on top of everything to come.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Indie App Sales is back with excellent deals on apps from many of your favorite developers. With over 300 apps to choose from, the complete list is full of gems like:
- FitWoody
- Bills to Budget
- Plinky
- Bushel
- Denim
- Everlog
- Home Widget
- HomeCam
- HomeUI
- PowerPhotos
- Prizmo 5
- Sunlitt
- Text Workflow
- Muse
The sale periods vary by app, but most are offering discounts today and tomorrow, so check it out to grab a great deal on these excellent apps and support indie development.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Today, Tapbots released version 2.0 of Ivory, the company’s Mastodon client for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. The update brings a notable list of improvements, one exciting new feature that should make it easier to follow and curate specific topics on the fediverse, and a fully redesigned share sheet extension.
On Mastodon, it is possible to follow hashtags in addition to accounts. This feature is particularly useful for tracking discussions about a specific topic across the wider fediverse. However, following hashtags is currently limited. Followed hashtags appear in your main chronological timeline among your followed accounts, and it isn’t possible to curate together multiple hashtags into a separate, easily accessible view. Ivory 2.0 aims to solve this with Hashtag Lists. Now, in the app’s redesigned Hashtags tab, you can create a list that contains up to four hashtags, and you can even exclude specific hashtags if you’re looking to fine-tune the resulting timeline.
Creating a hashtag list for cat pics in Ivory 2.0.
Hashtag lists can be accessed from Ivory’s dedicated Hashtags tab, or directly from the Home tab by tapping on the title bar.
The other big improvement in Ivory 2.0 is its redesigned share sheet extension for creating posts. It is now fully-featured, with the ability to set the post’s visibility and language, as well as an option to add alternative text descriptions to shared images and videos. When sharing a URL, the share sheet will now show a preview of the link card that will appear as part of your post. To get started, tap the Share button from the Photos app, Safari, or any app that supports the native iOS and iPadOS share sheet, then choose the Ivory icon.
Sharing a link, a cat pic, and multiple images via Ivory’s redesigned share sheet extension.
Ivory’s new share sheet extension is also available on the Mac.
In addition, Ivory 2.0 comes with small visual refinements to the way images and videos are displayed in a post’s detail view and the ability to set a fixed order for context menu items throughout the app.
Tapbots continues to update and refine Ivory at a steady pace. As a result, it is still my favorite way to use Mastodon on a daily basis. With a new major version of Mastodon on the horizon, I’m excited to see Tapbots add support for new features in Ivory without necessarily waiting for improvements to the default Mastodon experience.
If you want to create your own cat hashtag list today, Ivory 2.0 is now available on the App Store for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. The app comes with a seven-day free trial for new users, after which a monthly or annual subscription is required to use most of its features.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Alvin Cabral, writing for The National, got a nice quote from Apple’s Billy Sorrentino on the redesigned Photos app in iOS 18:
“As our features, users and libraries have grown, so has the density of the [Photos] app. So rather than hunt and peck throughout, we’ve created a simple streamlined single view photos experience based on deep intelligence,” Billy Sorrentino, senior director at Apple’s human interface design unit, told The National.
“Ultimately, we wanted to remove friction” in how Photos is used, he added.
It’s been a few weeks since I installed iOS 18 on my primary iPhone, and I feel pretty confident in saying this: I was wrong about the new Photos app at first.
I’ll reserve more in-depth comments for the public beta and final release of iOS 18; of course, given the drastic redesign of the app, there’s also a chance Apple may scrap their plans and introduce a safer update with fewer structural changes. However, over the past few weeks, I noticed that not only do I find myself discovering more old photos in iOS 18, but the modular approach of the more customizable Photos app really works for me. I was able to fine-tune the top carousel to my liking, and I customized pinned collections with shortcuts to my favorite sections. Put simply, because of these changes, I use the Photos app a lot more and find navigating it faster than before.
Anecdotally, when I showed my girlfriend the new Photos app, she argued that the single-page design should be nicer than iOS 17 since she never used the other tabs in the app anyway. I don’t think she’s alone in that regard, which is why I believe Apple should stick with this major redesign this time around.
→ Source: thenationalnews.com
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week on Magic Rays of Light, Sigmund and Devon highlight Apple Original film Fancy Dance starring Lily Gladstone, discuss Sigmund’s experience with the new Beats Pill, share their thoughts on the third season of Acapulco, and recap thrilling sci-fi series Dark Matter.
This week, Matt goes Infinite, Chris embraces Nothing, and Niléane tries to make a Frame…work. Oh, and we discover 2 of the hosts have sane travel bags and the other is a maniac.
Our thanks once again to ListenLater.net for sponsoring Comfort Zone and MacStories! Let them know you heard about them from us to get 20% more credits with your first purchase.
This week, the Umarell return and a bay leaf mystery must be solved with technology. Plus, we have summertime movie and TV picks.
Magic Rays of Light, Episode 126 Show NotesHighlight* Fancy Dance
Apple TV News* Beats Pill * Juno for YouTube
Apple Original News* First Look at Slow Horses Season Four * First Look at La Maison * The Big Door Prize (Novel)
Releases* Outlanders 2 * Punch Kick Duck+ * Zen Koi Pro+ * Cityscapes: Sim Builder Spatial
Extras* AMA: Blake Crouch, Creator of Dark Matter * Fly Me To The Moon Lyric Video – Raye * WondLa — An Inside Look * Fancy Dance: A Love Letter to Indigineous Women — Lily Gladstone & Isabel Deroy-Olson * Frog and Toad — Cozy Cottagecore Ambiance * Apple Fitness+ Artist Spotlight: Bon Jovi
Recaps* Acapulco * Dark Matter
Up Next* The Spark * Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F * The Monk and the Gun * The Imaginary * Glastonbury Festival * UEFA EURO 2024 * Copa América * They Shot the Piano Player * Babes
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads
Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads
Comfort Zone: “I think it’s pretty safe, and here’s why” Show NotesWeekly Topics* DC Universe Infinite * Nothing Ear (a) * Framework laptops
Other stuff we discussed* Marvel Unlimited * Marvel Subscriptions * Blankets * Fairphone * Brevite Jumper backpack * A better Vision Pro carrying case * Peter McKinnon backpack * Camera cube pack * UGREEN wall charger * Zagg 3-in-1 charger * 10-foot USB-C cable * Apple’s Thunderbolt cable * Anker Power Bank * Hema backpack * Elago iPad accessories * iPad sleeve * Anker PowerCore charger
Follow the Hosts* Chris on YouTube * Matt on Birchtree * Niléane on Mastodon * Comfort Zone on Mastodon
MacStories Unwind, To Catch a Bay Leaf Thief, Show NotesLinks and Show NotesUnplugged Segment* The Umarell * Eufy Cameras + Home Base 3 + Eufy Cam 2C + Eufy Cam 2C Pro + Eufy Cam 2 Pro
Picks* John’s Pick: + Trigger Warning on Netflix - Trailer * Federico’s Pick: + The Bear, Season 3 on Hulu - Trailer
MacStories Unwind+We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.
To learn more about the benefits of a Club MacStories subscription, visit our Plans page.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week, Federico and I share tips on iPadOS, macOS, RSS, cross-platform file transfers, and more.
This episode is sponsored by:* Sofa – Be More Intentional with Your Downtime.
For episode 3 of NPC, we cover the latest news about the Ayn Odin2 Mini, ONEXPLAYER X1 Mini, Asus ROG Ally X, the Anbernic RG Cube, and more, John finally received his transparent blue Anbernic RG35XXSP, Brendon got a surprise in the mail, and Federico shares his first impressions of the Powkiddy RGB30.
AppStories, ‘The Tip Jar’ Show NotesTip Jar* The easiest way to manage multiple windows for the same app using iPadOS * Managing your Mac’s Downloads folder with DropOver * Managing headphone volume alerts on iOS * Simpler laptop backups + Samsung T9 4TB External SSD + Carbon Copy Cloner + Amphetamine * Using hyperlinks in Mail * Moving files cross-platform with Tailscale * Easier pasting on iOS * Managing RSS feeds by creating a Feedbin starred feed to use with Readwise Reader, Matter, or DEVONthink * Quick capture with Quick Note * Managing social media posts with EchoFeed and creating an RSS feed from bookmarked Mastodon posts
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, a video experiment, I have iPad Pro follow-up, and Federico has technical follow-up and a question for listeners about streaming videogames over Wi-Fi.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
NPC, ‘The Google Play Store Around Your Neck’ Show NotesThe Latest Portable Gaming News* Ayn Odin2 Mini + Some Thoughts on the Odin 2 Mini + Odin2 Mini Review: Looks like a PS Vita, performs like a champ + Also mentioned: - 🎙️ The Ayn Odin 2 with John Voorhees * ONEXPLAYER X1 Mini + The OneXPlayer X1 Mini is the most feature-packed handheld gaming PC yet * AUS ROG Ally X + ASUS ROG Ally X Hands-On impressions + ROG Ally X: 5 Upgrades, 2 Downgrades * Anbernic RG Cube + FUN + POWER = RG Cube Review * Nintendo Switch Lite Hyrule Edition + Where to Preorder Nintendo Switch Lite: Hyrule Edition
Anbernic RG35XXSP Follow-Up* The Anbernic RG35XXSP | A Review * Anbernic RG35XX SP: An Almost Beginner’s Guide * Another MuOS Install Guide * Anbernic RG28XX * A Capacitive Touch OLED Screen Replacement For The Game Boy Color! * SakuraRetroModding * An Anbernic RG35XXSP and Gamboy Advance SP meet in a bar in New York
Brendon’s First Impressions of the Lenovo Legion Go* Lenovo Legion Go * Lenovo Legion Glasses * XREAL Air * Viture Pro XR * Meta Ray-Bans Smart Glasses * XREAL Beam Pro
Federico’s Powkiddy RGB30 Purchase* Powkiddy RGB30 * Powkiddy RGB30 Starter Guide
Games Mentioned* The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II * The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom * Sonic the Hedgehog 2 * The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap * F-Zero * Kingdom Hearts III * Destiny 2 * Elden Ring * Dragon’s Quest 11 * Skies of Arcadia: Legends * Chrono Trigger
CreditsShow Art: Brendon Bigley
Music: Will LaPorte
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Eugen Rochko, writing on Mastodon’s blog today:
To reinforce and encourage Mastodon as the go-to place for journalism, we’re launching a new feature today. You will notice that underneath some links shared on Mastodon, the author byline can be clicked to open the author’s associated fediverse account, right in the app. This highlights writers and journalists that are active on the fediverse, and makes it easier than ever to follow them and keep up with their future work—potentially across different publications. Writers often work with different publishers over the span of their careers, but Mastodon is the perfect platform to amass a loyal audience that you, as the author, truly own, and can take with you across the fediverse.
When Eugen approached us about being one of the first publications to implement this new feature, we jumped at the chance. You may have noticed that we believe pretty strongly in writing and writers, so we’re pleased to be joining The Verge and MacRumors in implementing author bylines. Now, when you see a MacStories post on Mastodon, you can click on the author byline at the bottom of the post to jump to the author’s profile.
What’s more, the feature is incredibly easy to set up. It took Robb Knight about 15 minutes to add the creator OpenGraph tag to MacStories, and ever since, our posts have linked to our authors’ fediverse profiles:
Clicking the author link in a post takes you to that person’s Mastodon profile.
Currently, the authorship feature requires you to use the web version of Mastodon or its official app and have a mastodon.social account or be on a server running recent nightly releases. However, the new feature is part of the Mastodon API, so it shouldn’t be long before third-party apps begin supporting it, too.
Like a lot of people, we follow our favorite publications, but also our favorite writers. Mastodon’s author byline is an excellent way to shine a spotlight on both.
→ Source: blog.joinmastodon.org
CC0: No rights reserved.
Federico: Historically, technology has usually advanced in lockstep with opening up new creative opportunities for people. From word processors allowing writers to craft their next novel to digital cameras letting photographers express themselves in new ways or capture more moments, technological progress over the past few decades has sustained creators and, perhaps more importantly, spawned industries that couldn’t exist before.
Technology has enabled millions of people like myself to realize their life’s dreams and make a living out of “creating content” in a digital age.
This is all changing with the advent of Artificial Intelligence products based on large language models. If left unchecked without regulation, we believe the change may be for the worse.
Over the past two years, we’ve witnessed the arrival of AI tools and services that often use human input without consent with the goal of faster and cheaper results. The fascination with maximization of profits above anything else isn’t a surprise in a capitalist industry, but it’s highly concerning nonetheless – especially since, this time around, the majority of these AI tools have been built on a foundation of non-consensual appropriation, also known as – quite simply – digital theft.
As we’ve documented on MacStories and as other (and larger) publications also investigated, it’s become clear that foundation models of different LLMs have been trained on content sourced from the open web without requesting publishers’ permission upfront. These models can then power AI interfaces that can regurgitate similar content or provide answers with hidden citations that seldom prioritize driving traffic to publishers. As far as MacStories is concerned, this is limited to text scraped from our website, but we’re seeing this play out in other industries too, from design assets to photos, music, and more. And top it all off, publishers and creators whose content was appropriated for training or crawled for generative responses (or both) can’t even ask AI companies to be transparent about which parts of their content was used. It’s a black box where original content goes in and derivative slop comes out.
We think this is all wrong.
The practices followed by the majority of AI companies are ethically unfair to publishers and brazenly walk a perilous line of copyright infringement that must be regulated. Most worryingly, if ignored, we fear that these tools may lead to a gradual erosion of the open web as we know it, diminishing individuals’ creativity and consolidating “knowledge” in the hands of a few tech companies that built their AI services on the back of web publishers and creators without their explicit consent.
In other words, we’re concerned that, this time, technology won’t open up new opportunities for creative people on the web. We fear that it’ll destroy them.
We want to do something about this. And we’re starting with an open letter, embedded below, that we’re sending on behalf of MacStories, Inc. to U.S. Senators who have sponsored AI legislation as well as Italian members of the E.U. Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence in a Digital Age.
In the letter, which we encourage other publishers to copy if they so choose, we outline our stance on AI companies taking advantage of the open web for training purposes, not compensating publishers for the content they appropriated and used, and not being transparent regarding the composition of their models’ data sets. We’re sending this letter in English today, with an Italian translation to follow in the near future.
I know that MacStories is merely a drop in the bucket of the open web. We can’t afford to sue anybody. But I’d rather hold my opinion strongly and defend my intellectual property than sit silently and accept something that I believe is fundamentally unfair for creators and dangerous for the open web. And I’m grateful to have a business partner who shares these ideals and principles with me.
With that being said, here’s a copy of the letter we’re sending to U.S. and E.U. representatives.
Hello,
We are writing to you on behalf of MacStories, Inc. in support of legislation regulating:
- the non-consensual training of large language models by artificial intelligence companies using the intellectual property of third parties for commercial gain; and
- the generation of AI-based content designed to replace or diminish the source material from which it was created
MacStories is a small U.S. media company that was founded in Italy by Federico Viticci in 2009. Today, MacStories operates MacStories.net and produces several podcasts covering apps, technology, videogames, and the world of media, which draw a worldwide audience centered in the EU and US.
As business owners with a long history of operating on the web, we wanted to share our perspective on Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) large language model (“LLM”) training and some of the products created using them. What’s come into sharp focus for us in the past several weeks is that, as an industry, companies training AI models don’t respect the intellectual property rights of web-based content creators. Moreover, the cavalier attitude of these companies toward decades-old norms on the Internet makes it clear that AI model training and some of the products built with them threaten the very foundations of the web as an outlet for human creativity and communication.
The danger to the Internet as a cultural institution is real and evolving as rapidly as AI technology itself. However, while the threat to the web is new and novel, what these AI companies are doing is not. Quite simply, it’s theft, which is something as old as AI is new. The thieves may be well-funded, and their misdeeds wrapped in a cloak of clever technology, but it’s still theft and must be stopped.
The source of the Internet’s strength is hyperlinks, which create value by connecting people and ideas in a way that is more valuable than the sum of their parts. But as the web grew, discovery became a problem. Google and other companies built search engines that use web crawlers to index the web. Search engines like Google’s are imperfect, but by and large, they offer a fair trade. In exchange for crawling and indexing a publisher’s website, links to that content appear in search results, sending traffic to the publisher. And, if a publisher doesn’t want their site crawled, they can opt out thanks to the Robots Exclusion Protocol by adding a simple robots.txt file to their website. It’s a social contract among the participants of the web that worked for decades before the advent of AI.
However, it turns out that feeding more raw material into an LLM produces models that perform better. As a result, the companies making these models have an insatiable appetite for text, images, and video, which led them straight to the web and strip mining its landscape for fuel to feed their voracious models.
The trouble with the companies developing LLMs is that instead of offering a fair trade to publishers and other creators and respecting their wishes about whether their content is crawled, they just took it, and in some cases, brazenly lied to everyone along the way. The breadth of offenders is staggering. This isn’t just a startup problem. In fact, a wide swath of the tech industry, including behemoths like Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Meta, have joined OpenAI, Anthropic, and Perplexity, to ingest the intellectual property of publishers without their consent, and then used that property to build their own commercial products. None of them paid any regard to the Robots Exclusion Protocol. Instead, some offered a way for publishers to opt out of their crawling activities, but only after they’d already taken the entire corpus of the Internet like a thief offering a shopkeeper a lock after emptying their storefront.
Some companies have gone even further, devising products aimed at replacing the web as we know it by substituting AI-generated web pages for source material, which in many situations amounts to plagiarism. Perplexity Pages, The Browser Company’s Arc Search app, and the incorporation of AI answers in Google Search results are all designed to step between people and the creators of web content. All profess to drive traffic to the source material with obfuscated citations, but as Wired recently reported, which we’ve also seen, the traffic these products drive is negligible.
As technology writers and podcasters, we’ve built careers on our enthusiasm and excitement for new technology and how it can help people. AI is no different. There are roles it can play in fighting disease, climate change, and other challenges, big and small, that are faced by humanity. However, in the race to advance AI and satisfy investors, the tech industry has lost sight of the value of the Internet itself. Left unchecked, this devaluation of Internet culture will undermine the ability of today’s creators to earn a fair wage from their work and prevent the next generation of creators from ever hoping to do the same.
Consequently, on behalf of ourselves and similarly situated Internet publishers and creators, we request that you support legislation regulating the artificial intelligence industry to prevent further damage from being done and to compensate creators whose work has already been misappropriated without their consent. The existing tools for protecting what is published on the web are too limited and imperfect. What’s needed is a comprehensive regulatory regime that puts content creators on an even footing with the companies that want to use what they publish to feed their models. That starts by putting publishers in control of their content, requiring their consent before it can be used to train LLMs, and mandating transparency regarding the source material used to train those models.
Federico Viticci, Editor-in-Chief and Co-Owner of MacStories
John Voorhees, Managing Editor and Co-Owner of MacStories
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week on Magic Rays of Light, Sigmund and Devon highlight new Apple Original bilingual comedy series Land of Women, discuss latest with regards to Apple and the Digital Markets Acts, and recap The Big Cigar.
Niléane tests the gang on their French knowledge (it goes great…), Chris adds some goblins to this productivity system, and Matt tries to connect to the other side.
This episode is sponsored by:Our thanks once again to ListenLater.net for sponsoring Comfort Zone and MacStories! Let them know you heard about them from us to get 20% more credits with your first purchase.
This week, Federico and I look back at the first half of 2024 and pick our favorite TV shows, movies, videogames, music, and gadgets.
This episode is sponsored by:* Sofa – Be More Intentional with Your Downtime
Magic Rays of Light, ‘Land of Women and Interoperability’ Show NotesOpening Chat* Apple TV Go: How a USB-C Mod Spiraled into an iPad-Based tvOS Workstation
Highlight* Land of Women
Follow-Up* Apple TV app adds new ‘Catch Up’ feature for live streaming sports in MLS Season Pass | 9to5Mac * Apple Says It Won’t Ship Major New OS Features in the EU This Fall Due to DMA Uncertainty * European Commission Preliminarily Finds That Apple Has Violated the Digital Markets Act
Apple TV News* Pill Dude Returns * SwitchBot Universal Remote * Final Cut Pro 2 for iPad and Final Cut Camera Released * Final Cut Camera * Final Cut Pro for iPad * Final Cut Pro for Mac * App Store Collection: Amazing Mac Games—on Sale Now! * ALVR * Supercut 1.2
Trailer Talk* Fly Me to the Moon * Yo Gabba GabbaLand!
Releases* Warped Kart Racers Spatial * Play Together in New Ways on Arcade * WondLa * My Divo
Extras* Camp Snoopy — Snoopy’s Guide to Beagle Badges * Land of Women — An Inside Look * Treadmill with Emily featuring Olympic Medallist Meb Keflezighi
Recap* The Big Cigar
Up Next* We Grown Now * The Pop Out: Ken & Friends * Problemista * A Family Affair * Ezra * The Watchers * The Beekeeper * Out of Darkness * In a Violent Nature * The Bear * The First Slam Dunk * The League * Devon’s Appearance on iPad Pros Episode 200 * The Hunger Games
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads
Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads
Comfort Zone, ‘I’m Making It Cold’ Show NotesWeekly Topics* Bartender * Lenovo Legion Go * FotMob
Other stuff we discussed* iBar * Hidden Bar * Vanilla * Steam Deck * Goblin Tools * SpiritTalker * Naturalisation en France
Follow the Hosts* Chris on YouTube * Matt on Birchtree * Niléane on Mastodon * Comfort Zone on Mastodon
MacStories Unwind, ‘Mid-Year Top Picks’ Show NotesBest Mid-Year PicksOur Mid-Year 2024 Top Media Picks* TV
+ John
- Fallout Season 1 on Amazon Prime
- Dark Matter on Apple TV+
- The Gentlemen
- Criminal Record
+ Federico
- Young Sheldon, final season
* Games
+ Federico
- Dragon’s Dogma II
- Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
+ John
- Animal Well
- Hades II
- Balatro
- Pepper Grinder
* Movies
+ John
- Godzilla Minus One
* Music
+ Federico
- Howl Howl Gaff Gaff (Revisited) by Shout Out Louds
- POST HUMAN: NeX GEn by Bring Me the Horizon
* I Made You a Mixtape
+ John
- The Sweater Club by Jelani Aryeh
- No Shame No Fame by Kindsight
* Gadget
+ Federico
- Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses
+ John
- 11” iPad Pro
* MacStories Unwind+
We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.
To learn more about the benefits of a Club MacStories subscription, visit our Plans page.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Half-Life was a defining game of the late 90s, which is why Mac users were excited when a Mac OS port was announced in 1999. However, within months, the game was canceled. As Greg Gant writes on Inaudible Discussion:
The official reason why the port was axed was given by Gabe Newell, president of Valve, citing the lack of Team Fortress Classic and multiplayer with PC users and fear of releasing an inferior product.
However, according to a companion video version of the post on the Definitive Mac Upgrade Guide channel, the real reason was bad blood between Apple and Valve, Half-Life’s developer:
Drawing from an interview with developer Rebecca Heineman, who worked on the port, the video explains that Valve canceled the port after being misled by an Apple games evangelist about expected sales figures.
In addition to Heineman’s story about the cancellation of the Mac port of Half-Life, the video covers how Valve intended to bring the technology that powers the Steam Deck to the Mac and why it never did. Plus, for those who have always wanted to play Half-Life on the Mac, Gant explains the best ways to do so on a variety of Mac architectures.
Gant’s story of the failed Half-Life port is an interesting bit of Apple history from a time when most major videogames were ported to the Mac. That’s no longer the case, although Apple seems to be making efforts to turn that tide. Gant’s story shows that there’s a lot of history to overcome.
→ Source: youtu.be
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week, Federico and John attempt to clear up confusion about MacStories’ position on AI web crawlers before rethinking email apps in light of the update to Apple’s Mail app coming this fall.
On AppStories+, Federico and John preview their fall review research setups and consider the impact of Apple Intelligence on the Shortcuts app.
This episode is sponsored by:* ScreenCastsONLINE: Get The Most Out of Your Apple Devices. Save 20% on your plan.
On Ruminate, I tried a pork rind and then we get into the drama of the week: AI.
AppStories, Episode 392 Show NotesAI Follow-Up* How We’re Trying to Protect MacStories from AI Bots and Web Crawlers – And How You Can, Too * Wired Confirms Perplexity Is Bypassing Efforts by Websites to Block Its Web Crawler
Rethinking Email* Apps Discussed + MimeStream + Spark + Superhuman + Missive + Shortwave
Subscribe here.
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, John shares a long list of observations and tidbits from his week at Apple Park for WWDC.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
Ruminate, Episode 187 Show Notes* Perplexity.ai’s Wikipedia page starring Robb * Clyde Cooper’s Barbecue * Gochujang | Kettle Brand® * Perplexity AI Is Lying about Their User Agent * Perplexity AI is lying about their user agent on Hacker News * Perplexity Is a Bullshit Machine * On Robots and Text * There’s Something Deeply Wrong With Perplexity * How to stop Perplexity and save the web from bad AI * Perplexity Plagiarized Our Story About How Perplexity Is a Bullshit Machine
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
For years, Bartender has remained one of the best ways to manage the Mac’s menu bar, especially on newer MacBook models with a notch where menu bar real estate is even more valuable. I reviewed the great Bartender 5 last year and came away impressed. Unfortunately, though, my relationship with Bartender is not in a great place today.
Three months ago, the app was silently acquired by a company called Applause. Obviously, acquisitions happen, and often without any hiccups. In this case, however, users were caught off guard as the new owners had to renew all of Bartender’s certificates. This caused a permission reset for everyone who had the app installed on their Mac, prompting some understandable concern on Reddit, where the new owners finally started explaining what was happening. Up to that point, no one was even aware that the app had been acquired.
Apps like Bartender tend to require numerous sensitive system permissions to work. It makes sense: there are no native APIs provided by Apple to manage the menu bar, which is why Bartender has no choice but to rely on accessibility APIs and screen recording access to power its features. But this is exactly why a silent acquisition can be worrying. Even if both the original developer and the new owners have since clarified the situation, it’s hard to trust an unfamiliar company with all of these system permissions when they’ve already failed a necessary trust exercise on day one.
If your trust in Bartender has wavered as a result of this series of events, you may be looking for alternatives. I have been, too. So, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite menu bar management utilities available right now and even a couple of macOS tips to help manage the menu bar without having to install any third-party apps at all.
Let’s check them out.
Hidden BarHidden Bar has been around for a very long time. Like its name suggests, the app will let you hide icons in your menu bar. To set it up, all you have to do is drag its divider among your menu bar apps, and everything to the left of the divider will be hidden by default. To bring your hidden items back, simply click Hidden Bar’s arrow icon.
The app also has an optional ‘always hidden’ section. When enabled, this will add a second divider in your menu bar, and everything to the left of that divider will always be hidden, unless you right-click Hidden Bar’s arrow icon.
Hidden Bar in action in my menu bar.
Hidden Bar is simple and to the point, but perhaps the best thing about it is that it’s also completely free and open-source. You can download the app on GitHub or directly from the Mac App Store.
VanillaVanilla by Matthew Palmer, the developer behind the emoji utility Rocket, is another great alternative. Just like Hidden Bar, Vanilla is very straightforward. Move its divider among your icons, and everything to its left will be hidden. To bring them back, click the arrow.
The special touch that Vanilla brings to the table is its fluid animations. Instead of appearing and reappearing in a blink, the array of hidden icons smoothly animates into and out of view. The app also has an additional bonus feature: it lets you quickly hide your desktop icons as well.
Vanilla in action in my menu bar.
Vanilla is free, and you can unlock Vanilla Pro with a one-time purchase of $10. This enables you to keep some icons hidden permanently, start Vanilla at login, use keyboard shortcuts, and automatically re-hide icons after a short delay.
IceIce is relatively new to the menu bar scene, and so far, it is one of the most advanced Bartender alternatives out there. Not only does the app let you hide icons behind a drawer like Hidden Bar and Vanilla, but it also allows you to style the Mac’s menu bar. You can set rounded corners, add a border, and even tint the menu bar.
In its current form, Ice’s basic feature set works really well, and its settings panel is reminiscent of that of Bartender’s. But what is perhaps most exciting to me is the app’s roadmap. The developers behind Ice plan to implement the ability to search menu bar items, customize the spacing between items, configure multiple menu bar profiles or presets, show and hide items when specific conditions are met, and – last but not least – display hidden menu bar icons in a separate, floating bar. If Ice can live up to this promising list of upcoming features, it will become my go-to recommendation for anyone looking to customize and manage their overflowing menu bar.
Ice in action in my menu bar. Note: Hold Command (⌘) to be able to position Ice’s dividers.
Ice is completely free and open-source, and you can download it directly from the app’s website if you want to try it.
Two TipsWhile looking at these Bartender alternatives, I also wondered if I could simply get by without using any of them. I came up with two easy tips for optimizing your menu bar apps for the limited space available in the menu bar.
1. Hide your menu bar apps. This may sound obvious, but when you’re so used to having a utility hide all of your apps when you don’t need them, you may forget that most menu bar apps actually let you hide their icon without quitting the app.
This week, I took some time to go through all of my apps running in the menu bar and check their settings. I would say more than two-thirds of them had an option to completely hide the icon while they’re running. In most cases, the app’s settings can still be accessed if you launch it again via Spotlight or any of your favorite app launchers on the Mac, like Raycast.
In the end, I was able to get rid of over half of the icons in my menu bar without the need to stop using any of their corresponding apps. These include Pure Paste, NepTunes, Rectangle, BetterTouchTool, and MonitorControl, just to name a few. They’re all still running in the background, and I can still open them if necessary, but they’re no longer taking up space in the menu bar.
2. Reduce the spacing between your menu bar items. If you look at old Mac screenshots, you may notice that the menu bar used to be much more compact. When Apple added Control Center with macOS Big Sur, the company also increased the margins between menu titles and icons in the menu bar. Aesthetically speaking, this change looks nice. However, it has also contributed to our space-at-a-premium predicament in the menu bar.
Fortunately, in the latest public release of macOS, it is still possible to revert to a more compact menu bar with the help of a couple commands in Terminal. Here are the steps you can follow to try it out:
- Open Terminal.
- Enter this command to reduce the spacing between your menu bar icons:
defaults -currentHost write -globalDomain NSStatusItemSpacing -int 10
* Then, enter this second command to reduce the size of the overlay that appears when a menu bar item is active:
defaults -currentHost write -globalDomain NSStatusItemSelectionPadding -int 10
* Log out of your account or reboot your Mac for the changes to take effect.
In the above example, I’ve set the spacing and padding to 10, but you’re absolutely free to tweak this value. Set it to a smaller number if you want an even more compact menu bar. For comparison, here’s my menu bar with item spacing set (from top to bottom) to 7, 10, and macOS’ default value.
If you would like to reset the spacing of the menu bar to its default value, enter these two commands to revert your changes, then log out or reboot:
defaults -currentHost delete -globalDomain NSStatusItemSpacing
defaults -currentHost delete -globalDomain NSStatusItemSelectionPadding
Don’t get me wrong, Bartender 5 is still the best menu bar utility out there right now. It’s feature-rich and so far remains well-supported. But this induced period of introspection about my menu bar apps has led me to realize that there are some great alternatives out there.
At the time of writing, I am not using any apps to manage my menu bar, and I have settled on simply using the above commands to make it more compact. Still, I will keep an eye on newer, promising alternatives like Ice, while holding on to the hope that Apple addresses this cluttered menu bar conundrum in the not-too-distant future.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Your time is precious. So, instead of spinning your wheels as you look for the next thing to watch, read, play, or do, try Sofa for iPhone, iPad, and soon, the Vision Pro. It lets you be more intentional with your downtime by creating organized lists as you discover new things to try.
Most apps are designed for work. Sofa’s different. It’s built for play, with a focus on making the most of your free time. It’s more organized than a list in Notes, with just enough structure combined with extensive customization options to make it your own.
You can track anything you want in Sofa: apps, books, movies, TV shows, podcasts, YouTube videos, websites, travel ideas, restaurants, and more. The app includes over 100 themes, Shortcuts support, Smart Lists, user-defined ingredients, and more. It’s the sort of flexibility, from the lists you make to how the app looks, feels, and works, that you won’t find anywhere else.
Most of Sofa, including unlimited lists, syncing via iCloud, tracking your activity, and automating with Shortcuts is completely free. But, with a Super Sofa subscription, you can add custom ingredients, Smart Lists, item and list pinning, sticky notes, and more.
So, download Sofa today for free, and be sure to take advantage of a limited-time deal just for MacStories readers, who can get 40% off their first year of a Super Sofa subscription by going to sofahq.com/macstories.
Our thanks to Sofa for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Today, the European Commission informed Apple that based on its preliminary investigation it has determined that the company is in violation of the Digital Markets Act. The EC has also opened a separate non-compliance procedure against Apple over the Core Technology Fee and other changes instituted earlier this year as part of its response to the DMA.
In particular, the EC’s preliminary findings take issue with Apple’s response to the DMA’s anti-steering provisions:
Apple currently has three sets of business terms governing its relationship with app developers, including the App Store’s steering rules. The Commission preliminarily finds that:
- None of these business terms allow developers to freely steer their customers. For example, developers cannot provide pricing information within the app or communicate in any other way with their customers to promote offers available on alternative distribution channels.
- Under most of the business terms available to app developers, Apple allows steering only through “link-outs”, i.e., app developers can include a link in their app that redirects the customer to a web page where the customer can conclude a contract. The link-out process is subject to several restrictions imposed by Apple that prevent app developers from communicating, promoting offers and concluding contracts through the distribution channel of their choice.
- Whilst Apple can receive a fee for facilitating via the AppStore the initial acquisition of a new customer by developers, the fees charged by Apple go beyond what is strictly necessary for such remuneration. For example, Apple charges developers a fee for every purchase of digital goods or services a user makes within seven days after a link-out from the app.
Apple may respond to the EC’s preliminary findings in writing. A final decision regarding compliance with the law is due by March 25, 2025, the one year anniversary of the beginning of DMA proceedings against Apple.
The EC has also opened a separate investigation regarding Apple’s compliance with Section 6(4) of the DMA, which provides that:
The gatekeeper shall allow and technically enable the installation and effective use of third-party software applications or software application stores using, or interoperating with, its operating system and allow those software applications or software application stores to be accessed by means other than the relevant core platform services of that gatekeeper. The gatekeeper shall, where applicable, not prevent the downloaded third-party software applications or software application stores from prompting end users to decide whether they want to set that downloaded software application or software application store as their default. The gatekeeper shall technically enable end users who decide to set that downloaded software application or software application store as their default to carry out that change easily.
The gatekeeper shall not be prevented from taking, to the extent that they are strictly necessary and proportionate, measures to ensure that third-party software applications or software application stores do not endanger the integrity of the hardware or operating system provided by the gatekeeper, provided that such measures are duly justified by the gatekeeper.
Furthermore, the gatekeeper shall not be prevented from applying, to the extent that they are strictly necessary and proportionate, measures and settings other than default settings, enabling end users to effectively protect security in relation to third-party software applications or software application stores, provided that such measures and settings other than default settings are duly justified by the gatekeeper.
Specifically, the EC says it will investigate whether the Core Technology Fee, the multi-step process for downloading apps from alternative app marketplaces, and the eligibility requirements for running an alternative app marketplace are ‘necessary and proportionate’ under the DMA. The EC also notes that it is continuing to investigate Apple’s process for validating apps and alternative app marketplaces.
None of this is particularly surprising, given the complexities of the provisions Apple put into place in the wake of the DMA. The ‘necessity and proportionality’ of Apple’s changes are, by their nature, subjective determinations. That makes the DMA hard to comply with, but it also leaves ample room for the EC and Apple to negotiate a resolution of their dispute over the DMA. It’s time for the parties to put this dispute to rest.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Nice find by Kaleb Cadle in the first beta of iPadOS 18:
Now in the Files app on iPadOS 18, when we right click or hold press on an external drive and select “Erase”, new options appear for reformatting the drive. Currently, the format options here are APFS, ExFAT, and MS-DOS (FAT), the same format options available in Disc Utility. This is a major improvement for iPad power users and it will be interesting to keep an eye out for new improvements to this functionality and others within the Files app over the course of the iPadOS 18 beta cycle. It seems Apple may be taking a similar tact to the way they incorporated much of the functionality of the Preview app into the Files app via Quick Look, but now with functionality from Disc Utility.
Check out the blog post for a screenshot of what the feature looks like. Given the growing number of handhelds that store their games (or OS) on SD cards that I have to manage for NPC now, I’m very glad I no longer have to use my Mac to reformat those drives.
→ Source: kalebcadle.substack.com
A new round in the fight between the EU and Apple has been brewing for a while now. About a week ago, the Financial Times reported that unnamed sources said that the EU was poised to levy significant fines against the company over a probe of Apple’s compliance with the Digital Markets Act. Then, earlier this week, in an interview with CNBC, the EU’s competition chief, Margrethe Vestager telegraphed that Apple is facing enforcement measures:
[Apple] are very important because a lot of good business happens through the App Store, happens through payment mechanisms, so of course, even though you know I can say this is not what was expected of such a company, of course we will enforce exactly with the same top priority as with any other business.
Asked when enforcement might happen, Vestager told CNBC ‘hopefully soon.’
Apple made no comment to CNBC at the time, but today, that shoe has apparently dropped, with Apple telling the Financial Times that:
Due to the regulatory uncertainties brought about by the Digital Markets Act, we do not believe that we will be able to roll out three of these [new] features – iPhone Mirroring, SharePlay Screen Sharing enhancements, and Apple Intelligence – to our EU users this year.
Is it a coincidence that Apple made its statement to the same media outlet that reported that fines were about to be assessed? I doubt it. The more likely scenario is that Apple is using OS updates as a negotiating chip with EU regulators. Your guess is as good as mine whether the move will work. Personally, I think the tactic is just as likely to backfire. However, I’m quite confident that you’ll be hearing from me again about fines by the EU against Apple sooner rather than later.
→ Source: ft.com
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week on Magic Rays of Light, Sigmund and Devon share early hands-on impressions of the tvOS 18 developer beta, highlight Apple Original drama series Presumed Innocent, and recap the second season of The Big Door Prize.
Matt decides to stop being so grumpy, Chris may or may not have survived WWDC, and Niléane brings a strange robot to the party.
Our thanks to ListenLater.net for sponsoring Comfort Zone and MacStories. Let them know you heard about them from us to get 20% more credits with your first purchase.
This week, John and Federico explain how they unwind after WWDC and how they think about MacStories’ family of podcasts before recommending a comedy series, action movie, and album.
Magic Rays of Light, Episode 124 Show NotesOpening Chat: Apple Vision Pro and visionOS 2* Immersive Camera Details | Today Show Australia
Highlight* Presumed Innocent
tvOS 18 Impressions* tvOS 18 Tidbits
Apple TV News* Beats Solo Buds
Trailer Talk* Sunny * Me * Lady in the Lake * Women in Blue * The Instigators
Apple Original News* First Look at Omnivore * The Town with Matthew Belloni * Opting Out of AI Model Training * How We’re Trying to Protect MacStories from AI Bots and Web Crawlers – And How You Can, Too
Extras* Presumed Innocent — Jake Gyllenhaal & Nana Mensah Get Quizzed on Legal Terms * Dark Matter — Choices That Made Us * The Instigators — Best of Boston FaceTime * Palm Royale — Kristen Wiig, Kaia Gerber, and Josh Lucas Judge a Cat Fashion Show * Palm Royale — Kristen Wiig and Kaia Gerber Talk Iconic Looks * Maya Rudolph and Kirston Leigh Mann Help You Dress For The Job You Want | Loot * Theo Iyer (Cory’s Assistant Kyle on The Morning Show) Ask Me Anything
Recap* The Big Door Prize
Up Next* Pretty Little Liars: Summer School * House of the Dragon * MacStories Unwind: Trapped Inside Apple Park * Challengers * Monkey Man * IF * I Used to Be Funny * The Boy and the Heron * Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga * Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads
Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads
Comfort Zone, Episode 3 Show NotesWeekly Topics* Theater for Vision Pro * DJI Wireless mic system * SwitchBot Bot and SwitchBot Hub 2
Other stuff we discussed* John Gruber’s The Talk Show at WWDC * Matt’s original dock * Matt’s new dock * Chris’s original dock * Chris’s new dock * Chris’s utility folder * Niléane’s original dock * Niléane’s new dock
Follow the Hosts* Chris on YouTube * Matt on Birchtree * Niléane on Mastodon * Comfort Zone on Mastodon
MacStories Unwind, A Feature, Not a Product, Show NotesLinks and Show NotesUnplugged Segment* Unwinding after WWDC + Raleigh Retro Gamers Summer Expo 2024 + Limited Run Games - Limited Run Games is opening an ’80s-themed physical game store * A Feature Not a Product + MacStories’ family of podcasts + Sigmund Judge’s Apple TV Go story - Related episode of Magic Rays of Light
Picks* Federico’s Pick: + The Neighborhood, Season 1 - 6 - Streaming on Paramount+, Amazon Prime, and CBS * John’s Pick: + Fast X + The Sweater Club by Jelani Aryeh
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Apple announced that today it is releasing Final Cut Pro 2 for the iPad and Final Cut Camera for the iPhone on the App Store. Both apps were announced at the company’s Let Loose event in May. To recap, Final Cut Pro 2 for the iPad adds the following features:
- Live Multicam, which allows users to record multiple streams of iPhone video using the new Final Cut Camera app;
- support for creating and editing projects on external storage;
- camera setting controls like ISO and shutter speed; and
- new color grading presets, backgrounds, soundtracks, title styles, and more.
Final Cut Camera.
Final Cut Camera is available to download for free on the App Store and can be used standalone to record video or in conjunction with the iPad’s Live Multicam feature. Videos that you record are stored in the app itself but can be exported to Final Cut Pro or shared with other apps via the share sheet.
I received beta versions of both apps just before WWDC, so I only began testing them recently. Based on that early testing, working with a 25GB project stored on an external drive worked well, at least with my 2TB Samsung T9 SSD, which uses USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 for 20Gbps throughput. Final Cut Camera is straightforward to use, too, and I appreciate that it doesn’t dump the videos it records into Photos. However, I haven’t had a chance to test Live Multicam. I only have one iPhone (which is shocking, I know). Plus, I was unable to connect that sole iPhone to Final Cut Pro 2 for the iPad due to what appears to be a bug in either iOS or iPadOS 18.
That said, it’s good to see Apple iterating on the iPad version of Final Cut Pro and adding the iPhone into the mix for capture. My video editing needs are fairly simple, but for $49/year, Final Cut Pro 2 for the iPad strikes me as a good deal for a lot of video creators. As of publication, Final Cut Camera was not appearing on the App Store but should be available soon.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Last week, Federico and I asked Robb Knight to do what he could to block web crawlers deployed by artificial intelligence companies from scraping MacStories. Robb had already updated his own site’s robots.txt file months ago, so that’s the first thing he did for MacStories.
However, robots.txt only works if a company’s web crawler is set up to respect the file. As I wrote earlier this week, a better solution is to block them on your server, which Robb did on his personal site and wrote about late last week. The setup sends a 403 error if one of the bots listed in his server code requests information from his site.
Spoiler: Robb hit the nail on the head the first time.
After reading Robb’s post, Federico and I asked him to do the same for MacStories, which he did last Saturday. Once it was set up, Federico began testing the setup. OpenAI returned an error as expected, but Perplexity’s bot was still able to reach MacStories, which shouldn’t have been the case.1
Yes, I took a screenshot of Perplexity’s API documentation because I bet it changes based on what we discovered.
That began a deep dive to try to figure out what was going on. Robb’s code checked out, blocking the user agent specified in Perplexity’s own API documentation. What we discovered after more testing was that Perplexity was hitting MacStories’ server without using the user agent it said it used, effectively doing an end run around Robb’s server code.
Robb wrote up his findings on his website, which promptly shot to the top slot on Hacker News and caught the eye of Dhruv Mehrotra and Tim Marchman of Wired, who were in the midst of investigating how Perplexity works. As Mehrotra and Marchman describe it:
A WIRED analysis and one carried out by developer Robb Knight suggest that Perplexity is able to achieve this partly through apparently ignoring a widely accepted web standard known as the Robots Exclusion Protocol to surreptitiously scrape areas of websites that operators do not want accessed by bots, despite claiming that it won’t. WIRED observed a machine tied to Perplexity—more specifically, one on an Amazon server and almost certainly operated by Perplexity—doing this on wired.com and across other Condé Nast publications.
Until earlier this week, Perplexity published in its documentation a link to a list of the IP addresses its crawlers use—an apparent effort to be transparent. However, in some cases, as both WIRED and Knight were able to demonstrate, it appears to be accessing and scraping websites from which coders have attempted to block its crawler, called Perplexity Bot, using at least one unpublicized IP address. The company has since removed references to its public IP pool from its documentation.
That secret IP address—44.221.181.252—has hit properties at Condé Nast, the media company that owns WIRED, at least 822 times in the last three months. One senior engineer at Condé Nast, who asked not to be named because he wants to “stay out of it,” calls this a “massive undercount” because the company only retains a fraction of its network logs.
WIRED verified that the IP address in question is almost certainly linked to Perplexity by creating a new website and monitoring its server logs. Immediately after a WIRED reporter prompted the Perplexity chatbot to summarize the website’s content, the server logged that the IP address visited the site. This same IP address was first observed by Knight during a similar test.
This sort of unethical behavior is why we took the steps we did to block the use of MacStories’ websites as training data for Perplexity and other companies.2 Incidents like this and the lack of transparency about how AI companies train their models have led to a lot of mistrust in the entire industry among creators who publish on the web. I’m glad we’ve been able to play a small part in revealing Perplexity’s egregious behavior, but more needs to be done to rein in this sort of behavior, including closer scrutiny by regulators around the world.
As a footnote to this, it’s worth noting that Wired also puts to rest the argument that websites should be okay with Perplexity’s behavior because they include citations in their plagiarism. According to Wired’s story:
WIRED’s own records show that Perplexity sent 1,265 referrals to wired.com in May, an insignificant amount in the context of the site’s overall traffic. The article to which the most traffic was referred got 17 views.
That’s next to nothing for a site with Wired’s traffic, which Similarweb and other sites peg at over 20 million page views that same month. That’s a mere 0.006% of Wired’s May traffic. Let that sink in, and then ask yourself whether it seems like a fair trade.
- Meanwhile, I was digging through bins of old videogames and hardware at a Retro Gaming Festival doing ‘research’ for NPC. ↩︎
- Mehrotra and Marchman correctly question whether Perplexity is even an AI company because they piggyback on other company’s LLMs and use them in conjunction with scraped web data to provide summaries that effectively replace the source’s content. However, that doesn’t change the fact that Perplexity is surreptitiously scraping sites while simultaneously professing to respect sites’ robot.txt file. That’s the unethical bit. ↩︎
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week, Federico takes us on his journey to build the world’s best eGPU, and we take a first look at the Anbernic RG35XXSP, a foldable retro handheld that two out of the three of us have received.
This week, Federico and John recap WWDC week with more on their early testing of the iOS and iPadOS 18 betas and an in-depth conversation about why they are disappointed with Apple’s decision to train its large language models on the Open Web.
NPC, Episode 2 Show NotesBuilding the World’s Best eGPU* USB4 Specification * OCuLink * Lenovo Legion Go * ADT-UT3G USB4 board + The ADT-UT3G only board that uses the new ASM2464PD controller, but it doesn’t support power delivery. * EGPU Thunderbolt vs USB4 (ADT Link UT3G). Tutorial and Synthetic and Gaming Benchmarks in 8 Games Starfield Baldurs Gate * ROG Ally X * XONEGPU * GPD G1 * Aya Neo AG01 Graphics Starship * FiiO DK3S Cooling fan with Stand * JSAUX RGB Docking Station * Also: + I Turned the New 13” iPad Pro Into a MacPad and Portable Gaming Display + A Small Fire at 3 AM + TechDweeb
The Anbernic RG35XX SP: First Look* Anbernic RG35XX SP + Federico and Brendon have silver + John ordered transparent blue, and it’s stuck in New Jersey + Replacement OSes discussed - MuOs - GarlicOS Alpha for RG35XXSP - MinUI - KNULLI + Anbernic RG35XX SP: An Almost Beginner’s Guide + RG35XX SP Button Mod Makes A Huge Difference * Also: + Apple Pi Baker for Flashing SD Cards + Ayn Odin 2 + Miyoo Mini+ + Miyoo Mini Flip + Deep Dive Comparison: RG351M vs RG351P + Retroid Pocket Flip Review – The Start Of Clamshell Emulators
Games Mentioned* Dragons Dogma * Chrono Trigger * Pokémon Unbound * Pokémon FireRed
Odds and Ends* Clicks Keyboard * Save the Hero Builders open-source cartridge reader * GB Operator * Delta iOS emulator * PlayStation DualSense Edge
AppStories, Episode 391 Show NotesWWDC Recap* Related: + iOS and iPadOS 18: The MacStories Overview + NPC: Next Portable Console, We Are All Vita People
Apple’s Large Language Models* Opting Out of AI Model Training * Apple Details Its AI Foundation Models and Applebot Web Scraping * Apple Intelligence: The MacStories Overview * Also: + Perplexity AI Is Lying about Their User Agent + AI Is Strip Mining the Web + Ruminate, Episode 179, Full of Spicy Takes
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, John shares a long list of observations and tidbits from his week at Apple Park for WWDC.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
In the wake of the Digital Markets Act, Apple made a couple of worldwide changes to its App Review Guidelines, along with many EU-specific updates. One of the worldwide updates was to allow third-party game streaming services.
Today, Antstream became the first game streaming service to announce that it will launch an app on Apple’s App Store. Antstream is a retro game streaming service with a catalog of over 1,300 videogames. The service, which is available on multiple other platforms in the EU, US, and Brazil, will bring its licensed library of games to the iPhone and iPad next week on June 27th.
Antstream’s catalog covers a wide variety of retro systems, including the Atari 2600, Commodore 64, SNES, Megadrive, PlayStation One, and Arcade classics. Antstream Arcade normally costs $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year but will be available for $3.99 per month or $29.99 per year for a limited time when it launches on the App Store.
I haven’t used Antstream Arcade yet, but I’m looking forward to trying it to see what’s in the catalog and check out how it performs over Wi-Fi.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Today, Apple announced that this fall, the company will offer a new curriculum for its Developer Academy students focused on machine learning and artificial intelligence.
According to Apple:
Beginning this fall, every Apple Developer Academy student will benefit from custom-built curriculum that teaches them how to build, train, and deploy machine learning models across Apple devices. Courses will include the fundamentals of AI technologies and frameworks; Core ML and its ability to deliver fast performance on Apple devices; and guidance on how to build and train AI models from the ground up. Students will learn from guided curriculum and project-based assignments that include assistance from hundreds of mentors and more than 12,000 academy alumni worldwide.
The new curriculum will be offered at 18 academies in Brazil, Indonesia, Italy, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and the United States. With the company’s emphasis on Apple Intelligence at WWDC, it’s not surprising that the skills needed to implement those new features are being added to its educational efforts.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Over the past several days, we’ve made some changes at MacStories to address the ingestion of our work by web crawlers operated by artificial intelligence companies. We’ve learned a lot, so we thought we’d share what we’ve done in case anyone else would like to do something similar.
If you read MacStories regularly, or listen to our podcasts, you already know that Federico and I think that crawling the Open Web to train large language models is unethical. Industry-wide, AI companies have scraped the content of websites like ours, using it as the raw material for their chatbots and other commercial products without the consent or compensation of publishers and other creators.
Now that the horse is out of the barn, some of those companies are respecting publishers’ robots.txt files, while others seemingly aren’t. That doesn’t make up for the tens of thousands of articles and images that have already been scraped from MacStories. Nor is robots.txt a complete solution, so it’s just one of four approaches we’re taking to protect our work.
Preventing AI Crawlers Using Robots.txtThe first step, and one of the easiest to implement, is to request that the web crawlers of AI companies not crawl your site using robots.txt. The trouble with this approach is that it’s nothing more than the Internet equivalent of an “AI Bots Keep Out” sign hung on your website. It can be ignored and only works if crawlers identify themselves, which not all seem to do. That said, it’s a good first step and the first thing we did. I highly recommend Dan Moren’s article on Six Colors that I linked to last week for more information about robots.txt and details on implementing it on your site.
Blocking AI Bots at Your ServerWe don’t trust AI companies to respect our robots.txt file. After all, they already took our content without our consent. So, we went a step further and blocked known AI crawlers at the server level with the help of Robb Knight. Doing so requires that you know your way around a web server, but it’s more effective than simply editing your robots.txt file. If you want to learn more about configuring your site to block AI crawlers, Robb has written about the work he did for his personal site and MacStories here.
Update Your Terms of ServiceI also recommend having a Terms of Service for your website. The New York Times, which is currently litigating OpenAI’s LLM training practices updated their terms of service late last summer, which we’ve used as a guide to carefully define how MacStories content, whether it’s an article, image, or podcast, can be used in our own Terms of Service.
Rest assured, you have a lot of latitude for personal use of MacStories content. Nor do we have an issue with commercial uses that use reasonable portions of our content as long as they are properly attributed in line with the content that is used. However, we do not consent to the use of our content for AI model training.
Support Legislation Regulating AI TrainingNone of the above are complete solutions, which is why we support legislation regulating how AI companies train their LLMs. Last summer, media organizations from around the world signed an open letter asking lawmakers to regulate LLM training, stating:
We, the undersigned organizations, support the responsible advancement and deployment of generative AI technology, while believing that a legal framework must be developed to protect the content that powers AI applications as well as maintain public trust in the media that promotes facts and fuels our democracies.
The letter goes to the heart of something we believe, too. We’re not against artificial intelligence as a technology. Many of the tools being built are promising. However, we don’t believe that it’s right for tech companies worth billions and even trillions of dollars to be given a pass for building those tools on the backs of others’ work, especially in an economic environment where so many online media companies are struggling to survive. It’s just not right.
The solutions above aren’t perfect or foolproof, and as a result, some people have told us that we shouldn’t bother; we should just give in. In a sign of just how strapped media companies are for cash, others have cut deals with AI companies figuring that getting something is better than nothing.
But, here’s the thing. The web is a special place. Every day, it brings people from around the world together to share their thoughts and express their creativity. That’s something nobody should take for granted, and it’s worth protecting. AI is cool and all, but it’s not worth destroying the web.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Ari Saperstein, writing for The Guardian, interviewed Ben Cave, Apple’s global head of podcasts and Sarah Herrlinger, who manages accessibility policy for the company, about Apple Podcasts transcripts. The feature, which was introduced in March, automatically generates transcripts of podcast episodes in Apple’s catalog and has been a big accessibility win for podcast fans.
The origins of Apple’s transcription efforts began modestly:
Apple’s journey to podcast transcripts started with the expansion of a different feature: indexing. It’s a common origin story at a number of tech companies like Amazon and Yahoo – what begins as a search tool evolves into a full transcription initiative. Apple first deployed software that could identify specific words in a podcast back in 2018.
“What we did then is we offered a single line of the transcript to give users context on a result when they’re searching for something in particular,” Cave recalls. “There’s a few different things that we did in the intervening seven years, which all came together into this [transcript] feature.”
Drawing from technologies and designs used by Apple Music and Books, the feature has been lauded by the accessibility community:
“I was knocked out on how accurate it was,” says Larry Goldberg, a media and technology accessibility pioneer who created the first closed captioning system for movie theaters. The fidelity of auto-transcription is something that’s long been lacking, he adds. “It’s improved, it has gotten better … but there are times when it is so wrong.”
My experience with Podcasts’ transcripts tracks with the people interviewed for Saperstein’s story. Automatically generated transcription is hard. I’ve tried various services in the past, and I’ve never been happy enough with any of them to publish their output on MacStories. Apple’s solution isn’t perfect, but it’s easily the best I’ve seen, tipping into what I consider publishable territory. The feature makes it easy to search, select text, and generate time-stamped URLs for quoting snippets of an episode, which makes the app an excellent tool for researching and writing about podcasts, too.
→ Source: https:
Earlier today on Mastodon, I shared some concerns regarding the Books app in iPadOS 18 and how Apple implemented the new tab bar design in the app. Effectively, by eschewing a sidebar, the app has returned to feeling like a blown-up iPhone version – something I hoped we had left behind when Apple announced they wanted to make iPad apps more desktop-class two years ago.
Supported By1Password1Password Extended Access Management: Secure every sign-in for every app on every device
Unfortunately, it gets worse than Books. As documented by Nico Reese, the developer of Gamery, the new tab bars seem to fall short of matching the previous design’s visual affordances as well as flexibility for developers. For starters, the new tabs are just text labels, which may work well in English, but not necessarily other languages:
Since the inception of the iPhone, tabs in a tab bar have always included a glyph and a label. With the new tab style, the glyphs are gone. Glyphs play a crucial role in UX design, allowing users to quickly recognize parts of the app for fast interaction. Now, users need to read multiple text labels to find the content they want, which is slower to perceive and can cause issues in languages that generally use longer words, such as German. Additionally, because tab bars are now customizable, they can even scroll if too many tabs are added!
You’ll want to check out Nico’s examples here, but this point is spot-on: since tab bars now sit alongside toolbar items, the entire UI can get very condensed, with buttons often ending up hidden away in an overflow menu:
Although Apple’s goal was to save space on the iPad screen, in reality, it makes things even more condensed. Apps need to compress actions because they take up too much horizontal space in the navigation bar. This constant adjustment of button placement in the navigation bar as windows are resized prevents users from building muscle memory. The smaller the window gets, the more items collapse.
If the goal was to simplify the iPad’s UI, well, now iPad users will end up with three ways to navigate apps instead of two, with the default method (the top bar) now generally displaying fewer items than before, without glyphs to make them stand out:
For users, it can be confusing why the entire navigation scheme changes with window resizing, and now they must adjust to three different variations. Navigation controls can be located at the top, the bottom, or the left side (with the option to hide the sidebar!), which may not be very intuitive for users accustomed to consistent navigation patterns.
The best way I can describe this UI change is that it feels like something conceived by the same people who thought the compact tab bar in Safari for iPad was a good idea, down to how tabs hide other UI elements and make them less discoverable.
Nico’s post has more examples you should check out. I think Marcos Tanaka (who knows a thing or two about iPad apps) put it well:
It makes me quite sad that one of the three iPad-specific features we got this year seems to be missing the mark so far. I hope we’ll see some improvements and updates on this front over the next three months before this feature ships to iPad users.
→ Source: gamery.app
Devin Davies, the developer of Crouton.
To wrap up our week of WWDC coverage, we just published a special episode of AppStories that was recorded in the Apple Podcasts Studio at Apple Park. Federico and I interviewed three of this year’s Apple Design Award winners:
Devin Davies.
- Devin Davies, the creator of Crouton, which won an ADA in the Interaction category
Katarina Lotrič and Jasna Krmelj of Gentler Streak.
- Katarina Lotrič, CEO and co-founder, and Jasna Krmelj, CTO and co-founder, of Gentler Streak, which won an ADA in the Social Impact category
James Cuda, CEO, and Michael Shaw, CTO, of Procreate.
- James Cuda, CEO, and Michael Shaw, CTO of Procreate, which won an ADA for (Procreate Dreams) in the Innovation category
Supported By1Password1Password Extended Access Management: Secure every sign-in for every app on every device
We also interviewed two of the Swift Student Challenge Distinguished Winners:
- Dezmond Blair, a student at the Apple Developer Academy in Detroit. His app marries his passion for biking and the outdoors with technology, which creates an immersive experience.
- Adelaide Humez, a high school student from Lille, France. Her winning app, Egretta, allows users to create a journal of their dreams based on emotions.
In addition to being available as always in your favorite podcast app as an audio-only podcast, This special episode of AppStories is available on our new MacStories YouTube channel, which is also the home of Comfort Zone, one of the two podcasts we launched last week and other video projects.
Subscribe here.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
→ Source: appstories.net
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week on Magic Rays of Light, Sigmund and Devon recap the Apple TV and entertainment announcements at WWDC – including tvOS 18, visionOS 2, Immersive Video updates, and more – and score their event predictions.
We’re back! After surviving our first challenge together, the gang is back for more with new goodies, an unexpectedly heavy topic, and a new mysterious challenge we didn’t see coming.
This week, John is joined by Jonathan Reed and Sigmund Judge for an explanation of how John missed his first episode of AppStories in seven years this week, an update from Sigmund on what’s coming to tvOS and Apple TV+, plus a bunch of picks from everyone.
Magic Rays of Light, Episode 123 Show NotesOpening Chat* Apple TV Go: How a USB-C Mod Spiraled into an iPad-Based tvOS Workstation
WWDC* Coming to Apple TV+ * visionOS 2: The MacStories Overview * Apple Announces Vision Pro Launching in More Countries Later This Month * iOS and iPadOS 18: The MacStories Overview * tvOS 18: The MacStories Overview * Audio and Home: The MacStories Overview * watchOS 11: The MacStories Overview * macOS Sequoia: The MacStories Overview * A Look at Code Completion and Swift Assist Coming in Xcode 16 * Apple Intelligence: The MacStories Overview * Apple Announces New Features Coming to Its Services This Fall
News* Apple Design Award Winners Announced * Theater: The Future of Cinema
Releases* Presumed Innocent * Camp Snoopy
Extras* Apple Developer
Up Next* WWDC24
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads
Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads
Comfort Zone, Episode 2 Show NotesWeekly Topics* Perplexity * Kino - Pro Video Camera * Powerline
Our iPad Gaming Swag* NVIDIA GeForce NOW * Assassin’s Creed Mirage for iPad * Resident Evil Village for iPad * Dead Cells for iPad * Dead Cells (Apple Arcade) * Moonlight * Sony DualSense Controller * UTM * PojavLauncher * GameSir G8 * GameSir Extension Kit * Delta * PPSSPP * Xbox Cloud Streaming * Better Xcloud
Follow the Hosts* Chris on YouTube * Matt on YouTube * Niléane on Mastodon * Comfort Zone on Mastodon
MacStories Unwind, Trapped Inside Apple Park, Show NotesLinks and Show NotesUnplugged Segment* You can enter Apple Park, but you may never leave + WWDC 2024: Keynote First Impressions + WWDC 2024: Intelligence Briefings * tvOS and TV+ with Sigmund Judge + tvOS 18: The MacStories Overview
Picks* Jonathan’s Picks: + Eels Time! by The Eels + Hot Rod * Sigmund’s Pick + House of the Dragon, Season 1 * John’s Pick: + Anbernic RG35XXSP - Related: * Next week’s episode of NPC: Next Portable Console
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Dan Moren has an excellent guide on Six Colors that explains how to exclude your website from the web crawlers used by Apple, OpenAI, and others to train large language models for their AI products. For many sites, the process simply requires a few edits to the robots.txt file on your server:
If you’re not familiar with
robots.txt, it’s a text file placed at the root of a web server that can give instructions about how automated web crawlers are allowed to interact with your site. This system enables publishers to not only entirely block their sites from crawlers, but also specify just parts of the sites to allow or disallow.
The process is a little more complicated with something like a WordPress, which MacStories uses, and Dan covers that too.
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Unfortunately, as Dan explains, editing robots.txt isn’t a solution for companies that ignore the file. It’s simply a convention that doesn’t carry any legal or regulatory weight. Nor does it help with Google or Microsoft’s use of your website’s copyrighted content unless you’re also willing to remove your site from the biggest search engines.
Although I’m glad there is a way to block at least some AI web crawlers prospectively, it’s cold comfort. We and many sites have years of articles that have already been crawled to train these models, and you can’t unring that bell. That said, MacStories’ robot.txt file has been updated to ban Apple and OpenAI’s crawlers, and we’re investigating additional server-level protections.
If you listen to Ruminate or follow my writing on MacStories, you know that I think what these companies are doing is wrong both in the moral and legal sense of the word. However, nothing captures it quite as well as this Mastodon post by Federico today:
If you’ve ever read the principles that guide us at MacStories, I’m sure Federico’s post came as no surprise. We care deeply about the Open Web, but ‘open’ doesn’t give tech companies free rein to appropriate our work to build their products.
Yesterday, Federico linked to Apple’s Machine Learning Research website where it was disclosed that the company has indexed the web to train its model without the consent of publishers. I was as disappointed in Apple as Federico. I also immediately thought of this 2010 clip of Steve Jobs near the end of his life, reflecting on what ‘the intersection of Technology and the Liberal Arts’ meant to Apple:
I’ve always loved that clip. It speaks to me as someone who loves technology and creates things for the web. In hindsight, I also think that Jobs was explaining what he hoped his legacy would be. It’s ironic that he spoke about ‘technology married with Liberal Arts,’ which superficially sounds like what Apple and others have done to create their AI models but couldn’t be further from what he meant. It’s hard to watch that clip now and not wonder if Apple has lost sight of what guided it in 2010.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2024 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2024 RSS feed.
→ Source: sixcolors.com
Apple’s announcement of “dark mode” icons has me thinking about how I would approach adapting “light mode” icons for dark mode. I grabbed 12 icons we made at Parakeet for our clients to illustrate some ways of going about it.
Before that though, let’s take some inventory. Of the 28 icons in Apple’s preview image of this feature, only nine have white backgrounds in light mode. However, all icons in dark mode have black backgrounds.
Actually, it’s worth noting that five “light mode” icons have black backgrounds, which Apple slightly adjusted to have a consistent subtle black gradient found on all of their new dark mode icons. Four of these—Stocks, Wallet, TV, and Watch—all seem to be the same in both modes. However, no other (visible) icons are.
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Fantastic showcase by Louie Mantia of how designers should approach the creation of dark mode Home Screen icons in iOS 18. In all the examples, I prefer Mantia’s take to the standard black background version.
See also: Gavin Nelson’s suggestion, Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines on dark mode icons, and the updated Apple Design Resources for iOS 18.
→ Source: lmnt.me
From Apple’s Machine Learning Research1 blog:
Our foundation models are trained on Apple’s AXLearn framework, an open-source project we released in 2023. It builds on top of JAX and XLA, and allows us to train the models with high efficiency and scalability on various training hardware and cloud platforms, including TPUs and both cloud and on-premise GPUs. We used a combination of data parallelism, tensor parallelism, sequence parallelism, and Fully Sharded Data Parallel (FSDP) to scale training along multiple dimensions such as data, model, and sequence length.
We train our foundation models on licensed data, including data selected to enhance specific features, as well as publicly available data collected by our web-crawler, AppleBot. Web publishers have the option to opt out of the use of their web content for Apple Intelligence training with a data usage control.
We never use our users’ private personal data or user interactions when training our foundation models, and we apply filters to remove personally identifiable information like social security and credit card numbers that are publicly available on the Internet. We also filter profanity and other low-quality content to prevent its inclusion in the training corpus. In addition to filtering, we perform data extraction, deduplication, and the application of a model-based classifier to identify high quality documents.
It’s a very technical read, but it shows how Apple approached building AI features in their products and how their on-device and server models compare to others in the industry (on servers, Apple claims their model is essentially neck and neck with GPT-4-Turbo, OpenAI’s older model).
Supported By1Password1Password Extended Access Management: Secure every sign-in for every app on every device
This blog post, however, pretty much parallels my reaction to the WWDC keynote. Everything was fun and cool until they showed generative image creation that spits out slop “resembling” (strong word) other people; and in this post, everything was cool until they mentioned how – surprise! – Applebot had already indexed web content to train their model without publishers’ consent, who can only opt out now. (This was also confirmed by Apple executives elsewhere.)
As a creator and website owner, I guess that these things will never sit right with me. Why should we accept that certain data sets require a licensing fee but anything that is found “on the open web” can be mindlessly scraped, parsed, and regurgitated by an AI? Web publishers (and especially indie web publishers these days, who cannot afford lawsuits or hiring law firms to strike expensive deals) deserve better.
It’s disappointing to see Apple muddy an otherwise compelling set of features (some of which I really want to try) with practices that are no better than the rest of the industry.
- How long until this become the ‘Apple Intelligence Research’ website? ↩︎ → Source: machinelearning.apple.com
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
For the latest WWDC episode of AppStories, Federico is joined by Myke Hurley to talk about the Vision Pro and Apple Intelligence before John pops up with some AI tidbits and a WWDC vibe check from in and around Apple Park.
This episode is sponsored by:* 1Password Extended Access Management – Secure Every Sign-In for Every App on Every Device
For this special episode of AppStories, Federico is joined by Jonathan and Niléane live in the Club MacStories+ Discord community to share their first impressions of the WWDC 2024 Keynote.
This episode is sponsored by:* Kolide – It ensures that if a device isn’t secure it can’t access your apps. It’s Device Trust for Okta. Watch the demo now.
Recorded live in the Club MacStories Discord, Federico share their final preparations and plans for WWDC 2024 along with some last-minute predictions.
On AppStories+, Federico reveals his trio of iPad Pros and we take questions from Club members about WWDC.
This episode is sponsored by:CleanMyMac X: Your Mac. As good as new. Get 15% off today with code APPSTORIES15.
- Kolide – It ensures that if a device isn’t secure it can’t access your apps. It’s Device Trust for Okta. Watch the demo now.
This week, new MacStories podcasts, the Ruminate intro song is back, snack news, some keyboard accessories, and an alternative to the small web.
AppStories, Episode 389 Show NotesvisionOS 2 and Apple Intelligence* Related Coverage: + Apple Intelligence: The MacStories Overview + visionOS 2: The MacStories Overview * The Latest WWDC Coverage on MacStories + A Look at Code Completion and Swift Assist Coming in Xcode 16 + Apple Announces New Features Coming to Its Services This Fall + tvOS 18: The MacStories Overview * Thanks to Myke Hurley for joining AppStories today. + All Myke all the time - Relay.fm - Cortex Brand - Mastodon - Threads
AppStories, Episode 388 Show NotesMacStories’ Coverage So Far* iOS and iPadOS 18: The MacStories Overview * watchOS 11: The MacStories Overview * macOS Sequoia: The MacStories Overview * visionOS 2: The MacStories Overview * Audio and Home: The MacStories Overview * Apple Announces Vision Pro Launching in More Countries Later This Month
AppStories, Episode 387 Show NotesPreparations for WWDC* What’s in my WWDC 2024 Bag? * Review Preparation + Obsidian - Related Club MacStories articles: * My Obsidian Setup, Part 1: Sync, Core Plugins, Workspaces, and Other Settings * My Obsidian Setup, Part 2: Themes, Mobile Quick Action and Toolbar, and Third-Party Plugins * Context for our Predictions + Not an iPad Pro Review: Why iPadOS Still Doesn’t Get the Basics Right + iOS and iPadOS 17: The MacStories Review + macOS Sonoma: The MacStories Review
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, a video experiment, I have iPad Pro follow-up, and Federico has technical follow-up and a question for listeners about streaming videogames over Wi-Fi.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
Ruminate, Episode 186 Show Notes* NPC: Next Portable Console * Comfort Zone * MacStories’ Podcasts * 8BitDo Keyboard Extensions - Super Buttons, Super ABXY, Super Stick (S * 8BitDo Retro 18 Mechanical Numpad (Ships on July 15th, 2024) * The Converse Experiment: Report One • Robb Knight * A WeblogPoMo Retrospective • Robb Knight
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
In what has become a yearly WWDC tradition, Apple executives have been out talking about the big announcements from this year’s conference. Craig Federighi, Greg Joswiak, John Giannandrea, and Tim Cook have given interviews to YouTubers, news sites, and John Gruber on a special edition of The Talk Show streamed live in spatial video.
They gave fascinating answers to some questions, particularly about Apple Intelligence, so without further ado, here’s a roundup of interesting Apple executive interviews over the past few days.
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First up was an event that took place shortly after the keynote on Monday. In the Steve Jobs Theatre, YouTube star iJustine went onstage in front of the press (including our own John Voorhees) to interview Craig Federighi and John Giannandrea about everything that was announced.
While it wasn’t the most hard-hitting interview, there were a few intriguing tidbits. Federighi revealed that the models used in the new Image Playground app were trained on the ‘open web,’ as well as the fact that publishers can opt out if they so choose. There is the issue of those publishers not having the choice before Apple’s models were trained, but it was not addressed. The event was not recorded, but a live blog onThe Verge covered many of the main talking points.
Then, Federighi and Greg Joswiak appeared on a live edition of John Gruber’s podcast The Talk Show. You can watch the video below.
In the meantime, Tim Cook was doing the rounds with YouTube creators. He sat down with MKBHD, iJustine, and SuperSaf for short interviews. The MKBHD video is worth a watch to see Marques’ smile as he watches Tim Cook try to explain how fabulous the Magic Mouse is. Cook also, strangely, seems to think students didn’t attend WWDC before the iPhone’s release, which is incorrect.
All three videos are available to watch below.
However, the most noteworthy interviews I’ve come across were conducted by The Washington Post, interviewing Tim Cook, and Fast Company, interviewing Craig Federighi. The former interview, conducted by Josh Tyrangiel, was of particular interest for its straightforward questioning on the ethics of AI and Apple’s partnership with OpenAI.
On the chances of Apple Intelligence never hallucinating, Tim Cook had this to say:
I’d say in all honesty that’s short of 100 percent. I would never claim that it’s 100 percent.
On the reasons for partnering with OpenAI:
They’ve done some things on privacy that I like. They’re not tracking IP addresses… they’re first, and I think today it’s because they’re best.
On whether OpenAI is a trustworthy partner that shares Apple’s values:
We looked at everything and considered everything, and concluded that it was in the best interest of our users to select them.
The whole interview is worth a read, including Cook’s views on the Biden administration’s AI policies, AI and journalism, and a great Douglas Adams quote about technology advancements.
Federighi’s interview with Fast Company, conducted by Michael Grothaus, makes for interesting reading, too, including a comment about bringing Apple Intelligence to China despite privacy fears:
“We certainly want to find a way to bring all of our best product capabilities to all of our customers,” he said, while acknowledging that “in some regions of the world, there are regulations that need to be worked through.”
No doubt, there will be many more interviews to come from Apple executives over the coming months as we near the release of the company’s latest operating systems and Apple Intelligence. In the meantime, if you haven’t checked out the WWDC Keynote, you can do so on Apple’s Events site, on YouTube, or in the TV app.
Apple is also hosting the keynote presentation in higher quality on Apple Podcasts, where you can choose between video or audio versions.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2024 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2024 RSS feed.
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In a perfect world, end users would only work on managed devices with IT-approved apps. But every day, employees use personal devices and unapproved apps that aren’t protected by MDM, IAM, or any other security tool.
There’s a giant gap between the security tools we have and the way we actually work. 1Password calls it the Access-Trust Gap, and they’ve also created the first ever solution to fill it.
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1Password Extended Access Management cares about user experience and privacy, which means it can go places other tools can’t–like personal and contractor devices. It ensures that every device is known and healthy, and every login is protected. So stop trying to ban BYOD or Shadow IT, and start protecting them with 1Password Extended Access Management.
Check it out today.
Our thanks to 1Password for sponsoring our WWDC coverage this week.
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Yesterday, during its WWDC 2024 opening keynote, Apple officially revealed its latest software story for Apple TV. Coming this fall, tvOS 18 introduces new intelligence-based features such as InSight and on-device Siri, native 21:9 aspect ratio support, new screen savers, and a host of noteworthy additions to enhance the at-home TV viewing experience. Let’s jump into everything new coming to Apple TV.
InSightApple’s video player is somewhat of a hidden gem when it comes to playback and controls for audio and captions. A few years ago, the company expanded its functionality with a quick swipe down gesture revealing an Info panel with details of the currently-playing content and quick access to the user’s Up Next queue. Premiering this fall is a new feature nestled between those two elements called InSight.
A new addition to Apple TV+, InSight gives users real-time access to information about the actors and their characters onscreen, as well as the soundtrack in a given scene, allowing viewers to quickly add that song or musical performance to an Apple Music playlist to enjoy later. Much like Amazon Prime Video’s X-Ray feature that came before it, there’s lots of fine granular detail that could be added to InSight before its fall launch, but this is a great start.
In addition to accessing InSight on the big screen, users will also be able to view real-time actor, character, and music information through the Remote app found in Control Center on iOS and iPadOS, allowing access to the same information for a distraction-free experience when watching with friends and family.
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Audio Improvements, Captions, and SiriSticking with the theme of intelligence, Apple announced that this year’s additions include on-device Siri support for Apple TV, with some voice requests now processed locally without the need for communication with the cloud.
Enhance Dialogue, which first debuted last year on HomePod and HomePod mini, enhances speech by pushing vocals to the forefront of the audio mix and compressing other distracting noises in a film or show’s soundtrack. This year, Enhance Dialogue has been reworked and is now powered by machine learning, allowing Apple to democratize the feature by expanding it to AirPods, TV speakers, HDMI-connected speakers, receivers, and other Bluetooth speakers. Furthermore, this year Enhance Dialogue takes things up a notch with a new Boost mode, further leveraging machine learning and computational audio to boost the volume of a scene’s dialogue and overpower other competing frequencies.
Captions have also been given some intelligent playback enhancements. In tvOS 18, if you start watching a show or film with dialogue that doesn’t match the language set in your Apple TV’s settings, subtitles will activate thanks to a new Automatic Subtitles option. Captions will also appear automatically when muting a film or show, and for those who often wonder, “What did they just say?” captions will appear for a short duration when a user skips backwards during playback.
Support for 21:9 ProjectionEasily the most niche addition to the Apple TV software story this year is the inclusion of native support for the 21:9 aspect ratio, commonly used in projectors within a home theatre environment. 21:9 is also referred to as 2.37:1 or CinemaScope, and it offers a wider canvas than the standard 16:9 widescreen format.
While no additional details have been confirmed by Apple at this time, 21:9 support is more than likely enabled by the signal format sent from the display to Apple TV via the HDMI handshake process. So even though Apple explicitly mentions projection setups, owners of widescreen monitors or massive, modular LED video walls could also potentially feel the love.
FaceTime, Fitness, and Screen SaversWhen you’re not using Apple TV to watch movies or TV shows, you’re able to make FaceTime calls and enjoy shared experiences with your family and friends on the big screen thanks to last year’s introduction of Continuity Camera support. This year, FaceTime calls are further enhanced by the ability to have spoken conversations turned into text and displayed in real time with FaceTime Live Captions for English in the U.S. and Canada.
Apple Fitness+ has also been redesigned across Apple’s platforms, including tvOS 18. The service now features a personalized For You space with recommendations based on your workout history, an Explore area that can help you find new activities to push yourself further, and a Library space to track favorite workouts and trainers. Awards have also been enhanced alongside new search features.
Stunning new screen saver categories are being introduced with tvOS 18, including Portraits, which feature color-enhancing effects, image segmentation, and a display of the current time over photos from your library – much like the iPhone’s Lock Screen. Fans of Apple Original series and films will be pleased to see the addition of TV and Movie screen savers from the likes of Foundation, and even Snoopy and Woodstock get to join in on the fun with a new animated, context-aware screen saver featuring the classic Peanuts characters.
With so many categories to choose from, including Aerials, Photos and Slideshows, TV and Movies, and Portraits, users will be able to find the exact screen saver they want simply by swiping up for the new Screen Saver menu.
Apple TV For All of YouWhile the latest iteration of Apple’s big-screen entertainment experience may not offer the grand reinvention some might have hoped for, the ninth iteration of tvOS does introduce a handful of welcome enhancements. There’s fan service for Apple TV aficionados with the introduction of InSight and Apple Original-themed screen savers, and there’s even something for the often forgotten home theatre enthusiast. However, this year’s use of machine learning is the most positive addition, representing a pivot away from the idealistic all-Apple home theatre setup while democratizing Apple TV’s benefits, all in the search for a wider audience.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2024 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2024 RSS feed.
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Alongside updates to Apple’s platforms and Apple Intelligence, the company announced an assortment of new features coming to its line of services this fall. From the press release in Apple Newsroom:
“So many of our users rely on Apple services throughout their day, from navigating their commute with Apple Maps, to making easy and secure payments with Apple Pay, to curating playlists with Apple Music,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services. “We’re excited to give them even more to love about our services, like the ability to explore national parks with hikes in Apple Maps, redeem rewards or access installments with Apple Pay, and enjoy music with loved ones through SharePlay in Apple Music.”
I like that this services roundup is becoming an annual WWDC tradition. Some of these features were mentioned or shown on-screen during the keynote, but it’s easy for them to get overlooked in light of major operating system changes. While they might seem small in comparison, improvements to Apple’s services can have lasting day-to-day impacts on those who use them, myself included.
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A few of my favorite services updates this year:
- A new Places Library in Maps that allows you to save locations and write notes about them.
- Tap to Provision, an easier way to add credit and debits cards to Wallet by tapping them instead of entering card numbers.
- Redesigned event tickets in Wallet that can feature new types of data, including parking and weather information.
- The Library tab in Apple Fitness+ for quicker access to saved workouts, Custom Plans, and Stacks.
- Redesigned iCloud settings to better surface recommendations and features you’re using.
Check out the press release for all the updates coming to Apple’s services this fall. There’s a lot to look forward to there, and I’m happy to see the company continuing to push its services forward.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2024 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2024 RSS feed.
→ Source: apple.com
After months of anticipation and speculation about what Apple could be doing in the world of artificial intelligence, we now have our first glimpse at the company’s approach: Apple Intelligence. Based on generative models, Apple Intelligence uses a combination of on-device and cloud processing to offer intelligence features that are personalized, useful, and secure. In today’s WWDC keynote, Tim Cook went so far as to call it “the next big step for Apple.”
From the company’s press release on Apple Intelligence:
“We’re thrilled to introduce a new chapter in Apple innovation. Apple Intelligence will transform what users can do with our products — and what our products can do for our users,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Our unique approach combines generative AI with a user’s personal context to deliver truly helpful intelligence. And it can access that information in a completely private and secure way to help users do the things that matter most to them. This is AI as only Apple can deliver it, and we can’t wait for users to experience what it can do.”
It’s clear from today’s presentation that Apple is positioning itself as taking a different approach to AI than the rest of the industry. The company is putting generative models at the core of its devices while seeking to stay true to its principles. And that starts with privacy.
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Has privacy ever looked more beautiful?
Because Apple Intelligence is limited to the iPhone 15 Pro line and M-series iPads and Macs, a lot of its processing can be done on-device, which has been one of the company’s go-to methods for protecting user privacy for years. However, some intelligence features require models that cannot be run locally, forcing Apple to find a cloud-based solution. They call it Private Cloud Compute, and it involves drawing on the security foundation of Swift and running models on Apple-silicon powered servers that don’t retain user information and run code that can be inspected by independent parties. Basically, Apple is seeking to extend the privacy and protection users expect on their iPhones to the cloud.
But what can Apple Intelligence actually do? The features offered by the system are broken down into three categories: language, images, and Siri.
LanguageThe language capabilities of Apple Intelligence power a wide array of features for understanding, editing, and generating text. Systemwide Writing Tools are available anywhere text is editable, offering to analyze and rework text on the user’s behalf. The system can proofread your term paper, offering suggestions for improvement that you can evaluate one by one or accept all at once. It can also adjust the tone of the email you’re working on to make it sound more friendly, professional, or concise.
Summarization tools allow you to select text and quickly get the most important information out of it. Apple Intelligence can also create a list of key points based on the text passed to it. You can record a meeting in Notes or a call in the Phone app (after the person on other end is notified that they’re being recorded), and the system will automatically generate both a transcript and a summary of the recording when it’s ended. In the Mail app, summaries are available right in your inbox or at the top of the message you’re reading.
Another new Mail feature powered by Apple Intelligence is Smart Reply. When you create a Smart Reply, the system will analyze the message you’re responding to and quickly ask you a series of questions to help you generate a fitting response.
The system’s language tools aren’t limited to generating text, though. They also enable features like Priority Notifications, which brings alerts that matter to you to the top of your notification list while summarizing the rest. A new Focus mode called Reduce Interruptions will only show you the notifications deemed as in need of immediate attention, while Priority Messages in Mail surfaces time-sensitive emails to the top of your inbox.
ImagesWhen it comes to images, Apple Intelligence is equipped to enhance what you can do with your own pictures and allow you to create all-new images in some fun ways. The Clean Up tool in Photos uses generative models to remove unwanted elements from pictures, like a stranger in the background of a family portrait or a car that got in the way of your beautiful landmark photo. Simply draw a circle around what you want gone, and like magic, it disappears, with the system intelligently filling in the gap to create the impression that it was never there.
Photos also picks up some natural language features courtesy of Apple Intelligence. Search is no longer limited to predetermined categories of recognized images and OCR text. Simply describe the images you’re looking for – including the names of people in it, colors, and any other details you like – and the intelligence system will find them in your library. It works for video, too, even pointing you to the specific part of the video that you’re searching for.
You can create a memory movie from your photos with just a prompt. Tell the Photos app what you want a memory of, and it will compile photos into a movie matching your description. It will intelligently pick a soundtrack based on the prompt as well, or you can specify the type of song you’re looking for.
On the generative side, Image Playground is the name of Apple Intelligence’s image generation tool. It’s built into apps like Messages, Notes, and Freeform, has its own standalone app, and will be available to developers as an API. Image Playground works like image generation tools you might be familiar with, but it includes some clever touches, too.
The UI features a text box where you can enter what type of image you’d like to generate. Above that is a row of suggested concepts and elements that are based on the context in which you’re using Image Playground. For example, if you’re in a Messages conversation with someone, the system will suggest including them in the image. You can mix and match different terms, and you’ll be offered a preview of your generated image along with some alternative options.
Images can be generated in one of three styles: illustration, sketch, and animation. These images clearly aren’t photorealistic and couldn’t be passed off as real, likely by design. The purpose behind Image Playground is in the name: to have fun and be creative.
An extension of Image Playground in the Notes app is Image Wand. With this tool, you can circle a sketch you’ve drawn, and Apple Intelligence will analyze the sketch and its surrounding context to generate a beautiful, relevant image. Image Wand can be used without a sketch, too, to fill in blank space in a note based on the text around it.
The final piece of generative imagery in Apple Intelligence is Genmoji. Thanks to generative models, you never have to say, “How is there not an emoji for that?” again. Just tell the system what emoji you want, and it will create it for you, along with some backup options if the first attempt isn’t quite right. You can even turn your friends into emoji based on photos of them. Genmoji can be sent as stickers, tapbacks, or inline emoji in Messages.
SiriThirteen years into its existence, Siri is getting a major overhaul with the power of Apple Intelligence. Not only does Siri look different, now encompassing a glow that emanates around the edges of your display when in use, but it works in new ways that leverage what your devices know about you to make tasks easier. (It’s not an intelligence feature, but the redesigned Siri also allows you to quickly switch to typing input by double tapping the bottom of the screen.)
Siri is now more conversational, with the ability to retain context between requests so that you can speak to it more like a person rather than having to start over every time you make a request. It’s also able to better understand your speech if you slip up or backtrack while talking to it. And it’s been equipped with a great deal of product knowledge, so you can ask Siri how to do something on your phone, and it will be able to guide you through the process.
This is just scratching the surface of what an Apple Intelligence-enhanced Siri can do, and Apple has laid out plans for more capabilities coming over the next year. Because Siri has secure access to your personal on-device information, it will be able to use its knowledge about you and your data as context for fulfilling requests. You may not remember where you saved your flight information or whether your friend’s latest music recommendation came via text or email, but Siri will, and it will surface that data for you based on your requests.
It will also be able to perform actions in and across apps. Based on an improved App Intents API coming within the next year, Siri will be able to control apps and even move content between them without any input from you beyond your request. And with onscreen awareness, Siri will be able to take actions based on what you’re currently looking at, too.
The point where Apple Intelligence meets Siri is where it becomes truly personalized and adaptable to each user’s needs. If the system proves to be as capable in practice as it is in Apple’s demos, this new version of Siri could be a game-changer. We’ll find out as these new Apple Intelligence features roll out over the coming year.
ChatGPT IntegrationWhile Siri is great for interacting with your own data, users have needs and questions related to external information, too. Later this year, Apple Intelligence will integrate with ChatGPT to make its access to world knowledge and image- and document-understanding capabilities available to Siri users. ChatGPT will also power the Compose feature in Writing Tools, which will allow users to generate text and images based on prompts.
This integration uses the ChatGPT-4o model and is free of charge to users. There will be no need to download the ChatGPT app or create an account, though ChatGPT subscribers will be able to connect their accounts in order to access paid features.
It’s also set up in a privacy-centered way. Each time a request is sent to ChatGPT, the system will ask for the user’s permission beforehand. Users’ IP addresses will be hidden when making ChatGPT requests, and their data will not be stored.
Apple intends to integrate Apple Intelligence with other artificial intelligence tools in the future, but the ChatGPT integration was the only one announced today.
AI for the Rest of UsAnd that’s Apple Intelligence. The approach is very much in line with what we were expecting from Apple: practical, personalized, and private. The company pulled off what they needed to with this announcement, stepping boldly into the generative AI game while putting their own spin on it. Now we just have to wait to see these features in action once developer beta testers get their hands on them later this summer.
Apple Intelligence will launch in beta this fall as part of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, with some features rolling out over the coming year.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2024 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2024 RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Source: Apple.
Earlier today, I got the very first live demo of Swift Assist, one of the many developer tools introduced today by Apple. I also saw code completion in action. It was an impressive demo, and although the tools seem like magic and will undoubtedly be valuable to developers, they do have their limitations, which are worth exploring.
Code Completion in Action. Source: Apple.
First, from what I could tell, code completion works extremely well. The demo I saw was of a simple restaurant app that displayed a menu. As an Apple representative typed variables and other items into Xcode, code completion named things in ways that made sense for a restaurant menu, such as Name, Price, and Calories. The feature also filled in types like strings, integers, and bools, along with the appropriate surrounding syntax.
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In most cases, after typing just a handful of characters, the correct suggestion appeared and with a quick tap of the Tab key, the rest of the line of code was filled in. When the suggestion wasn’t what was wanted, a little additional typing steered the AI that backs code completion to the correct solution.
The model that drives code completion is trained specifically for the Swift programming language and Apple’s APIs. It runs locally on a developer’s Mac, enhancing privacy and ensuring that it’s available regardless of Internet connectivity. Although Apple was vague about the code on which the model was trained, it was clear from my briefing that it wasn’t on Apple’s own internal code, but Apple said it is code that it is authorized to use. I was also told that the model isn’t trained on the code of the developers that use the feature. Also worth noting is that Apple’s code completion model is continually updated independent of the update release cycle of Xcode itself.
Swift Assist in action. Source: Apple.
The code completion demo also included a live demo of Swift Assist. Unlike code completion, Swift Assist requires an Internet connection because requests are sent to the cloud. As a result, it takes several seconds for Swift Assist to return results. The delay was noticeable compared to the speed of code completion, but it wasn’t a painfully long wait either.
Swift Assist allows developers to type a natural language prompt to generate code and UIs. Code can even be created from the text of a developer’s inline comment. The model that powers Swift Assist has an awareness of the Human Interface Guidelines, Apple’s frameworks, and what Apple considers coding best practices.
The results of Swift Assist were impressive, but it’s worth keeping in mind that it’s designed to help developers explore new ideas, prototype apps, and learn new frameworks, not write a full, complex app. It reminded me of a more sophisticated version of Swift Playgrounds in that way, generating useable code but not full apps. That’s not a knock against Swift Assist any more than it is to say you can’t write a complex app in Swift Playgrounds. Instead, Swift Assist is a tool for getting over the hurdle of a blank Xcode project and transitioning from the spark of an idea to concrete code.
It was also noted during my briefing that Swift is now a decade old, which is wild. It’s had to believe it’s been that long since Chris Lattner took the stage at WWDC at the Moscone to drop the bombshell that Apple had developed a brand-new programming language. Swift has come a long way in the meantime, and with tools like code completion and Swift Assist, Apple is catching up with competitors like Microsoft that have used AI to enhance developer tools for a while, which is good to see.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2024 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2024 RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Image: Apple.
At its WWDC 2024 keynote held earlier today online and with an in-person event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, Apple officially announced the next versions of the operating systems for iPhone and iPad – iOS and iPadOS 18.
As widely speculated in the lead up to the event, Apple’s focus for both OSes largely revolves around artificial intelligence, or as the company likes to refer to the AI acronym now, “Apple Intelligence”. The new AI features in iOS and iPadOS promise to make both operating systems, well, more intelligent than before thanks to a completely revamped Siri and proactive functionalities that learn from users’ habits and apps. Presented as a fast, private, and personal set of features that draws from the user’s context and combines it with generative models, Apple Intelligence – which will debut in U.S. English-only later this year, with a beta expected later this summer – will power a variety of new system features and experiences, starting from a revamped Siri and text analysis features to image creation, performing actions inside apps, and more.
But AI-related improvements aren’t the only new features Apple announced today. From a renewed focus on Home Screen customization and redesigned Control Center to a new design for tab bars on iPad and expanded Tapbacks in Messages, Apple has showed that, while they can follow the rest of the tech industry in rethinking how AI can enhance how we use our devices, they can continue shipping other functionalities for iPhone and iPad, too. Or, at the very least, they certainly can for the iPhone and iOS.
We’ll have in-depth overviews for both iOS and iPadOS 18 when the public betas for each OS come out next month, and, of course, we’ll continue diving into the announcements later this week on MacStories via our WWDC 2024 hub as well as AppStories. We’ll also have a dedicated story about Apple Intelligence coming later on MacStories with the highlights of all the AI-infused features announced by Apple today.
In the meantime, here’s a recap of everything else that Apple showed today for iOS and iPadOS 18.
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iOS 18As you may expect, I want to highlight the non-AI features coming to iOS later this year, which I will then cover more in depth in my annual review on MacStories.
Customization on the Home Screen and Control CenterApple’s focus on user customization of the Home and Lock Screens is nothing new: starting with iOS 14 and widgets, the company always found ways to deliver on the customization front with every annual iOS release. This year’s changes in iOS 18, however, promise to be some of the most substantial the Home Screen has seen since the introduction of the original iPhone in 2007.
For the first time in 17 years, users will be able to rearrange icons on the Home Screen more freely by placing them wherever they want. The Home Screen in iOS 18 will support the ability to grab icons and say, drag them toward the bottom of the screen, creating empty rows between other icons, or even off to the side of the screen. Apple showcased this ability in the context of not letting icons hide parts of the user’s wallpaper anymore, and I’m sure people will come up with tons of creative strategies that take advantage of this. The ability to arrange content anywhere in an open space also applies to widgets.
Examples of dark mode icons (left), tinted icons (center), and custom icon layouts. Image: Apple.
However, the customization options on the Home Screen go beyond placement of icons and widgets. iOS 18 includes support for a special dark mode version of app icons, which can now take on a darker appearance to match the system’s interface. But that’s not all: through the use of a new ‘customization sheet’, users will be able to apply a specific tint to app icons and effectively recolor them. By default, iOS will suggest some color choices based on the installed wallpaper, but thanks to a built-in color picker, users can pick any color they want. There is also an option to make icons larger for those who prefer a denser layout; larger icons won’t display text labels underneath them at all. Right now, it appears that icon re-coloring is enforced system-wide and there’s no way for developers to opt out of it.
More tinted icons (left) and larger app icons without text labels. Image: Apple.
This year, customization has extended to Control Center too, which is undergoing its first redesign since iOS 11. In a move that is reminiscent of iOS 10, Control Center is going back to a multi-page design, with the important distinction that, unlike iOS 10, you don’t have to use multiple pages and the primary screen of Control Center is also fully customizable.
Control Center’s main page (left) and the HomeKit control group. Image: Apple.
By default, controls in the new Control Center look more rounded than before and there’s a new look for the Now Playing widget. There are two important differences in this screen compared to iOS 17, though: the plus button in the top left corner, and the scrollable list of pages on the right.
On the right side of the screen, you’ll be able to move across new groups of controls dedicated to music and audio, HomeKit, and wireless radios. Apple seems to have learned the lesson from iOS 10 and built in a fast method to instantly get to a specific page: keep swiping when invoking Control Center, and you’ll be able to directly land on a specific sub-page.
Music Controls (left) and the new Controls gallery. Image: Apple.
Furthermore, the aforementioned ‘+’ button points to another major addition to Control Center: customization. For the first time, you can customize controls in Control Center from Control Center itself by dragging them around, like icons on the Home Screen. You can even resize certain controls and make them bigger directly from Control Center. And there’s more: at long last, there’s a Controls API that will allow third-party apps to add their own controls to Control Center. Much like widgets, these controls will be available in a ‘Controls Gallery’, which will allow you to choose which controls you’d like to add from your favorite apps.
We know how Apple likes to reuse and extend its previous technologies, so it’s no surprise that, in developing the new Control Center and Controls API, they were able to tap into other areas of the OS. The same Controls API will allow you to finally swap the Camera and Flashlight toggles on the Lock Screen for something else, such as a button to launch another camera app. And, all the controls marked as available via the Controls API will also be assignable to the Action button in iOS 18.
As a big fan of user customization, I’m thrilled to see the expansion of Home Screen icon and widget modes, and the renewed capabilities of Control Center are long overdue but welcome nonetheless. From what I’ve seen so far, I’m liking the consistency between Home/Lock Screen widget gallery and the Controls gallery, and I’m pleased that Apple was able to integrate the same controls with the Lock Screen and Action button, too.
Privacy Enhancements: Lock and Hide Your AppsPrivacy enhancements are a staple of Apple’s annual OS cycle, and this year’s updates are no different.
First and foremost, iOS 18 now lets you lock any app you want with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode. This means that every time you want to open an app that you manually locked, you’ll have to authenticate. In addition, if an app is locked, its content won’t show up in places like Spotlight search or notifications.
The hidden folder in the App Library (left), the new prompt to hide apps (center), and the ability to lock apps. Image: Apple.
Besides locking apps, you can also hide them from view. If you have a certain type of app on your device that you’d rather not show, you can hide it from the Home Screen. Hidden apps go into a hidden, locked folder in the App Library, similar to how hidden photos go into a locked ‘Hidden’ album in the Photos app. I’m sure a lot of people will be taking advantage of this option for, well, you know what kind of apps.
The new accessory setup screen (left) and contacts picker. Image: Apple.
Lastly in the realm of privacy-related changes, Apple showed off a redesigned contact picker to grant apps access to specific contacts only, as well as a new privacy screen for apps requesting network access and a new prompt for setting up third-party accessories.
AppsTraditionally, the Apps chapter of my annual iOS reviews is always the largest one. This year will be no different thanks to various improvements to the plethora of system apps built by Apple and the arrival of Apple Intelligence-based features in many of them. Let’s take a look at what Apple announced today.
MailLater this year (read: maybe not in September?), the Mail app will receive support for Gmail-like categorization of your inbox into different sections. Using on-device intelligence, Mail will analyze your messages and automatically sort them into Transactions, Updates (social media and newsletters), and Promotions. Emails can be re-categorized and archived all at once; there will also be a ‘digest’ view that shows you all emails from a specific business, like all updates from an airline, for example.
Mail categories and the digest view (right). Image: Apple.
With Apple Intelligence (which we’ll cover in a standalone story), Mail will receive support for email summarization as well as generative features in the compose field to rewrite and shorten messages.
MessagesIn addition to the previously-announced (and briefly shown in slides) support for RCS, the Messages app is getting some notable additions in iOS 18.
For starters, Tapback reactions have been redesigned to be colorful and expand beyond the original set of six reactions. In iOS 18 you’ll be able to add any emoji Tapback you want – and those are real Tapbacks, not the odd sticker-based ones Apple rolled out last year. You’ll be able to choose any emoji you want from a picker and send it as a Tapback reaction. Finally.
Following in Mail’s footsteps, Messages will gain the ability to schedule texts to send later. This will be done through a specific ‘Send Later’ app in the iMessage app picker, which lets you choose a date and time when you want a message to be sent to somebody. While a message is scheduled, you can edit it, cancel it, or send it immediately.
Scheduled messages (left), redesigned Tapbacks (center), and text formatting. Image: Apple.
The Messages app will also support formatting for selected text with options for bold, italic, underline, and strikethrough. Additionally, a selection of eight text effects will let you add a little flair to words or even emoji with a different style than full-screen effects, which were available before. For example, you can make your text jitter, nod, or explode. Because why not.
Apple also announced that iOS’ Satellite capabilities will grow in iOS 18 to accommodate sending iMessages as well. So even if you’re off the grid, you’ll be able to send messages with the Messages app with end-to-end encryption, SMS fallback, and support for text, emoji, and Tapbacks.
PasswordsOur long national nightmare is over: Apple is launching a dedicated Passwords app later this year. I’ve long argued that passwords deserved to be moved out of Settings to blossom into a standalone, pre-installed app, and I know I wasn’t alone.
The new Passwords app. Image: Apple.
I’m glad Apple listened and decided to turn their excellent, built-in iCloud Keychain into a full-blown Passwords app that will be available across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Windows. The Passwords app will be able to store logins, passkeys, and even Wi-Fi credentials.
From a first look, it appears that Passwords now supports multiple website URLs for the same login, but not secure file attachments, which is one of the reasons some people still prefer using a third-party password manager like 1Password or Bitwarden.
PhotosThe Photos app is getting a big redesign in iOS 18 that is surely going to take some time getting used to. The new design revolves around a single-page UI that eschews a tab bar in favor of a split-screen approach with your grid of photos shown at the top, followed by a series of collections that encompass both traditional albums, previous categories such as ‘People and Pets’ and Memories, as well as new sections such as Trips and Recent Days.
The best way to think about this redesign – which I’m sure will be debated a lot this summer – is that everything can now be considered a “collection” that you can pin for quick access to the top of the Photos UI. The top of the interface is still taken up by the regular photo grid (which you can more easily filter for content now), but that part can also be scrolled horizontally to swipe between the grid and other collections. For example, you can swipe from the grid of recents to, say, featured photos, your favorites, or any other collections you want to pin there.
The redesigned Photos app. Image: Apple.
Below the grid, you’ll see a new ‘Recent Days’ section, which organizes photos by day with clutter such as receipts and scanned documents filtered out by default. There’s a new Trips view that collects all of your past trips, and everything can be reordered or pinned (in two separate sections?) for quick access.
It’s a lot to take in at once, and this new design can be quite daunting at first. I understand that Apple wants to try a unified design for the Photos app to put a stronger emphasis on rediscovering memories, but I wonder if maybe packing too much information all at once on-screen could be disorienting for less proficient users. The new Photos design almost feels like an exercise in showing off what Apple can build with SwiftUI just because they can; time will tell if users will also appreciate that.
RemindersApple’s task manager is getting some fascinating improvements in iOS 18.
For the first time, you’ll be able to integrate Reminders with the Calendar app and see your due tasks appear in the calendar too, where you can mark them as complete or even edit them with a Reminders UI embedded within the Calendar app. If you’re a hyper-scheduler, you’re going to love this feature.
According to Apple, you’ll also be able to see your subtasks for a reminder while in the Today and Scheduled views (and other smart lists); there will be some unspecified new Shortcuts actions for Reminders; more languages will be supported for automatic categorization in grocery lists; and you’ll have the option to order sections in the Today list.
And MoreHere’s a quick rundown of other changes coming to iOS 18. Obviously, we’ll cover even more changes when iOS 18 will launch in public beta next month.
Game ModePreviously seen on macOS, Game Mode will become available on iOS too. This mode minimizes background activity while playing videogames, which helps boost a game’s performance and frame rate. It also improves latency with connected AirPods and Bluetooth-based game controllers.
MapsThe Maps app will see the addition of topographic maps with the ability to create custom walking and hiking routes.
JournalWhile it’s still not coming to iPad (which is a bummer), the Journal app is being updated in iOS 18 with the ability to log your state of mind (previously seen in Health and watchOS) and a new stats view that shows you patterns and streaks based on your journaling habits. Logging your state of mind will be integrated directly into the keyboard with a specific mode for the Journal app, while stats – officially dubbed ‘Insights’ – will be available both as a summary at the top of the main Journal page as well as in a standalone section.
In addition, Journal will feature a new search mode to find past entries, audio transcription, and interactive widgets to start a new entry with prompt suggestions you can cycle through directly from the Home Screen.
iPadOS 18As I feared, iPadOS 18 is not a meaningful update for iPad users who hoped Apple would fill some of the longstanding platform gaps between the Mac and iPad. With no Stage Manager improvements, no changes to audio routing, and seemingly very little happening in Shortcuts in terms of new actions (for now), it’s hard to be excited about iPadOS 18. Sadly, everything I wrote last month in my article about iPadOS still stands today.
iPadOS 18 can be boiled down to four things:
- Feature parity with iOS’ Home Screen and Control Center customization features (at least we don’t have to wait until next year for these).
- A new look for tab bars.
- Calculator app for iPad.
- New Apple Pencil features.
Home Screen customization on iPad. Image: Apple.
I’ve already covered the customization features, so let’s focus on the iPad-specific stuff.
Apple showed off a redesigned look for tab bars on iPad, which instead of being docked at the bottom of the screen are now floating at the top. Supposedly, these tab bars should help apps’ content better extend from edge to edge and thus help them take advantage of the iPad’s form factor more. Tab bars can elegantly morph into vertical sidebars, and they also support customization of items displayed in them, which is a nice comeback for a feature that was last seen many years ago on iOS.
Then there’s the Calculator app. After several years of waiting, at the very least Apple found a way to “productize” Calculator for iPadOS and make it, well, more than a basic calculator. In addition to the iPhone-inspired design, Calculator supports a history view, unit conversions, and – the big feature – Math Notes. This is a feature that’s based on drawing and the Apple Pencil, and it’s best considered as Freeform meets AI meets Calculator. As you write your expressions, Math Notes will learn your handwriting style, and as soon as you write an equal sign, it’ll insert the result for you in a style that resembles your own handwriting. You can save Math Notes to revisit them later; Math Notes even support declaring variables inline and turning equations into inline graphs.
Even press assets for iPadOS 18 are too few compared to iOS 18. This is the only Math Notes image I could find. Source: Apple.
Math Notes are part of a larger effort to extend the Apple Pencil’s productivity features, which are, in my opinion, the most exciting part of iPadOS 18. When screen-sharing with someone over SharePlay, you can now remotely draw on-screen to show instructions (and even request remote access to control someone’s device and help them with something). In Notes, a new Smart Script feature uses an on-device model to recreate your handwriting style and refine it as you go; in theory, this will smooth out your handwriting, straighten it, and make it more legible. This even supports spell-checking and applying your handwriting style to text you paste from other apps.
And…yeah, that’s about it for the improvements in iPadOS 18. If this section is of any indication, the iPadOS 18 chapter of my review will be a very short one this year.
iOS and iPadOS 18It’s only been a few hours since Apple wrapped up its WWDC keynote, and I would sum up my thoughts and first impressions on iOS and iPadOS 18 thusly:
- Unsurprisingly, pro features for iPadOS users are nowhere to be seen, adding to my concerns regarding who’s in charge of this platform and what their vision for it actually is. It’s quite telling that the marquee additions to iPad this year are…a Calculator app and a redesigned tab bar.
- Customization features in iOS and iPadOS look fantastic, and they’re a clever way to get people to upgrade. Both the Home Screen and Control Center get an immediate thumbs up from me.
- It’s clear that Apple went from “Let’s make sure we can ship visionOS” at WWDC 2023 to “Let’s make sure we can ship AI” at WWDC 2024.
So many of the features shown by Apple today are predicated upon the arrival of Apple Intelligence, which will be available later this summer for U.S. English users only. The more intriguing parts of iOS and iPadOS are right there, with a rebuilt Siri, text analysis and summarization features, categorization for priority notifications and messages, and other generative capabilities for text, emoji, and images. But even then, other interesting abilities demonstrated today, such as Siri taking action on your behalf inside apps, won’t be available until next year.
On the surface, both iOS and iPadOS 18 look like relatively minor updates, mostly comprised of app-related features in search of an ~~author~~ AI model that is not available yet.
The vibe check for now? Disappointed about iPadOS, optimistic about Apple Intelligence and iOS 18, but mildly creeped out by generative image creation features.
Let’s circle back in July.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2024 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2024 RSS feed.
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During today’s WWDC keynote, Apple announced a number of updates to its watchOS software as well as some improvements to the Fitness and Workout apps. While there weren’t any groundbreaking features revealed, there were several interesting additions and a couple of long-requested changes. watchOS 11 is available now as a developer beta and will be available for regular users in the fall.
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Training LoadSource: Apple.
Training load is a new feature within the Activity app on watchOS and the Fitness app on iOS that measures the effect of workouts on the body over time. By comparing the intensity and duration of workouts over the last seven days to the previous 28 days, training load can assess the impact on your body and help you make informed decisions on how to train each day.
This uses a new algorithm to generate an estimated effort rating for each workout based on personal data like weight, height, and age, weighed against calorimetry data, such as heart rate and duration. If you wish, you can adjust this rating, and ratings for workouts that don’t automatically generate these figures, such as strength training, can also be added.
You can see this trend over time on watchOS and dive into more details about these ratings and their possible effects on the body in the Fitness app on their iPhone.
VitalsSource: Apple.
You can also view the training load alongside data from a new app called Vitals. This app measures important metrics gathered during sleep. You can view your heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, sleep duration, and blood oxygen levels from the night before and over time.
When two or more metrics are out of your normal range, your Apple Watch will send you a notification, alerting you of the changes and possible reasons for them. You can then use this advice to consider any adjustments in your lifestyle to help improve these metrics.
Apple touted the fact that these new features have been developed with help from clinical experts and the company’s own Heart and Movement Study.
New Fitness App CustomizationsTwo notable new features were introduced for the Fitness app. The first is layout customization, which enables you to edit the Summary tab to show more relevant information, such as training load, daily workout patterns, and more.
Source: Apple.
The second feature will be welcomed by a lot of users: activity ring customization. Now you can set different activity goals for different days and even pause your rings without affecting any streaks. Apps like Gentler Streak have been doing this for a long time, and it’s good to finally see Apple embrace a more manageable approach to activity rings.
Smart StackSource: Apple.
Apple announced the introduction of new widgets for the Smart Stack, including Shazam, Photos, Distance, and more. The company also introduced the ability for watchOS to automatically suggest widgets. Two examples shown were the precipitation widget appearing when rain is due and the Translate widget appearing when you visit another country.
Interactive widgets and Live Activities for apps such as Uber were also added, allowing you to track the progress of your rides straight from your wrist.
A Round-Up of Other New Features* The Photos face can now use machine learning to analyze photos in your library based on composition, aesthetics, and facial expressions and suggest the best ones to use as a watch face. You can then customize the face with adjustable font sizes, layouts, and color adjustments. * You can now show your gestational age during pregnancy and log any frequent symptoms that occur. You will also be prompted to review high heart rate thresholds, as heart rates usually increase during pregnancy. * Check In is now available on Apple Watch from within the Messages app. This will be great for going on runs at night. * A double-tap gesture API was also announced, allowing third-party developers to use the feature within their apps. * More workout types can track distance, including Soccer, American Football, Australian Football, Outdoor Hockey, Lacrosse, Downhill Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowboarding, Golf, and Outdoor Rowing. Custom workouts can also now be used for pool swims. * Apple Maps now features a long list of hiking routes, including ones for every U.S. national park. These routes can be saved and accessed offline with turn-by-turn directions. * Tickets in Apple Wallet now display more information, such as start times, and you can also use the new Tap to Cash feature to send and receive Apple Cash to nearby Apple Watches and iPhones.
A Gradual EvolutionWhile there is nothing major in this new release of watchOS, there are several welcome touches that will be notable to users. Suggesting widgets based on current conditions like the weather is a nice addition, as are Live Activities. However, the really interesting progress lies with fitness additions such as the Vitals app and training load, which are, in some ways, pro training features. Finally, the ability to pause your rings will be welcomed by all and reduce a lot of stress for those who like to keep their streaks going.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2024 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2024 RSS feed.
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At its WWDC 2024 keynote held earlier today, Apple officially announced the next version of macOS, macOS Sequoia. As per its naming tradition over the past decade, this new release is once again named after a location in California; the version number for macOS Sequoia will be macOS 15.
Apart from the substantial Apple Intelligence features that were announced today for all of its main platforms, Apple introduced some welcome improvements to its desktop operating system. The new features include enhancements across multiple native apps, an impressive new iPhone mirroring integration, and even some overdue window management features for the Mac.
Here’s a recap of everything that Apple showed off today for macOS Sequoia.
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iPhone MirroringThis one was both unexpected and impressive. macOS Sequoia will let you mirror your iPhone running iOS 18 directly on the Mac desktop – a feature reminiscent of the great app Bezel that we previously covered on MacStories. When iPhone Mirroring is launched, your iPhone will appear in its own window that can be minimized and moved around like any other on macOS. But iPhone Mirroring doesn’t stop at mirroring. Apple has also announced that you will be able to interact with your iPhone using your mouse, trackpad, and keyboard to enter text in any field. According to the company, the iPhone’s audio will also come through to the Mac, and you will also be able to drag files between Mac and iPhone apps.
In addition to mirroring the iPhone’s display and interacting with iPhone apps from the Mac, iPhone notifications will also be forwarded to the Mac’s Notification Center, and will carry a special badge indicating that they’re coming from an iPhone app. Clicking these iPhone notifications will directly open the corresponding apps on the Mac in iPhone Mirroring mode.
While the iPhone is being mirrored to a Mac, it will remain locked, and StandBy mode will remain active if that was the case.
iPhone Mirroring in macOS Sequoia. Source: Apple.
iPhone Mirroring is joining the ever-growing Continuity family of features on the Mac that also include Universal Clipboard, Sidecar, and more recently, Universal Control.
Window TilingI never thought this day would come, but here we are: macOS Sequoia is finally getting the ability to tile windows side by side. Today, Apple announced that you’ll be able to drag windows to the edges of the display to tile them on either half of the screen, or to any of the four corners to have them fill a quarter of the screen. Obviously, this is something that Windows has been able to do for a long time, but I can only be glad that it’s finally coming to the Mac.
Apple says that window tiling will also be accomplished with keyboard and menu shortcuts, but it remains unclear at the moment how advanced those will be, and whether they’ll be customizable or not.
Source: Apple.
New Passwords appIn macOS Sequoia, Apple’s native passwords manager will move out of System Settings and Safari and into a standalone app aptly named Passwords. However, this new app will not be limited to storing passwords and Passkeys. Just like its competitors, it will also let you store Wi-Fi passwords, and other security codes. It’s unclear if users will be able to store secure notes in the app as well.
In addition to macOS, the app will be released as part of iOS and iPadOS 18, and will ship on Windows as well.
The Passwords app, with dedicated sections for Passkeys, security codes, and Wi-Fi passwords. Source: Apple.
Updates to SafariThe Mac’s default web browser is getting a new intelligence feature called Highlights, a new button in the app’s address bar that will automatically detect and highlight information as you browse the web. According to material provided by Apple, this seems to include a variety of data points, ranging from locations and directions, to Apple Music and Apple TV links, and information about people mentioned on the page.
Safari in macOS Sequoia is also getting a redesigned Reader view, which will feature a table of contents on the side, as well as a summary of the page.
Lastly, ‘Viewer’ is a new feature in Safari that will detect videos on a webpage and let you obscure the rest of the page to focus on the player. Apple mentions that, in this mode, users will be able to access full system controls for video playback, and that videos will automatically enter Picture in Picture when clicking away from Safari.
Highlights in Safari’s address bar. Source: Apple.
Redesigned Reader in Safari. Source: Apple.
Video ConferencingApple unveiled two new system-wide features for video conferencing in macOS Sequoia.
- A new ‘presenter preview’ will display a live preview available from the menu bar to let know what is about to be shared when starting screen sharing in apps like Zoom.
- Still directly from the menu bar, you’ll be able to set a custom background image to use with your camera.
Just like last year’s Live Reactions, we expect the custom background image feature to be supported at the system level, and as such, that it will be available in any third-party app utilizing your camera.
Custom background images in macOS Sequoia. Source: Apple.
Game Porting Toolkit 2Today, Apple announced version 2 of the Game Porting Toolkit, which is Apple’s software translation layer that can help game developers easily port their Windows games to the Mac. The Game Porting Toolkit 2 is said to feature improved compatibility with Windows games and an easier process for developers to port games to iOS and iPadOS as well.
Apple Intelligence and Everything ElseApple Intelligence features in macOS Sequoia will include writing tools across the system. Source: Apple.
macOS Sequoia is also getting numerous new features in Apple’s built-in apps:
- Messages is getting new text effects, redesigned Tapbacks and emoji Tapbacks, and the ability to schedule a message to send later.
- Apple Maps is adding support for hiking routes.
- Photos on macOS is getting Collections, the new feature released as part of the app’s redesign on iOS and iPadOS 18, which organizes photos by themes, locations, events, and trips.
- Reminders are now integrated in the Calendar app.
Just like in iOS and iPadOS 18, Apple Intelligence will be sprinkled throughout macOS Sequoia, starting with a redesigned interface for Siri. During today’s keynote, Apple most notably demoed their new system-wide writing tools that rely on AI to perform operations on text. According to what we’ve seen so far, this includes summarization, rewriting prompts, tone correction, proofreading, and more. macOS Sequoia is also getting Apple’s new image generation and editing features in Photos and Messages, as well as audio transcription features in Notes. We’ll have more details in a dedicated overview of all that was announced today in relation to Apple Intelligence.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2024 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2024 RSS feed.
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Today, Apple revealed visionOS 2, the first major upgrade to the software powering Apple Vision Pro. The update, coming this fall, will include quality-of-life improvements, new ways to create and share spatial content, additional tools for developers, and more.
Interacting with the Home View and Control Center will be easier than before thanks to new system-wide gestures. Holding your hand up and tapping your fingers together will bring up the Home View, while flipping your hand over will bring up a time and battery status popover that also acts as a Control Center launcher. These gestures are simpler than the previous methods of accessing these views, which required pushing the Digital Crown for the Home View and looking upwards to reveal the Control Center launcher. Apps in the Home View can now be rearranged, and compatible iPad and iPhone apps are no longer constrained to a single folder.
The new gestures for accessing the Home View and Control Center in visionOS 2.
Mac Virtual Display is expanding later this year to support a higher resolution and larger size, resulting in a display roughly equivalent to two 4K monitors side by side. The experience of using peripherals with Apple Vision Pro will be improved with Magic Keyboard passthrough in immersive environments and support for mice. Guest User information will be saved for 30 days so users’ friends and family can use Apple Vision Pro without going through the setup process repeatedly, and Travel Mode will be supported on trains in addition to airplanes.
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The company is taking several steps to make spatial content more accessible and easy to create. The Photos app will use machine learning to convert users’ 2D photos into spatial photos. Meanwhile, SharePlay support is coming to the Photos app so that users can enjoy spatial photos and videos with others.
Converting a 2D photo to a spatial one.
For spatial video, Apple announced that Canon will release a new lens later this year that will enable spatial video capture with the EOS R7 camera. Spatial video editing is coming to Final Cut Pro in an upcoming update, and the Vimeo app for Apple Vision Pro will offer the ability to upload spatial videos and view spatial videos shared by others.
Apple Immersive Video – the company’s format for 3D, 8K, 180-degree videos like the recent Parkour episode of the Adventure series – is also becoming more accessible to filmmakers. Blackmagic Design plans to release a commercially-available camera system and an update to DaVinci Resolve Studio that support Apple Immersive Video, opening up the format beyond the videos we’ve seen from Apple thus far. There are new immersive video titles in the works from Apple, too, including an extreme sports series in conjunction with Red Bull, a music experience from The Weeknd, and a scripted short film called Submerged from director Edward Berger.
New tools for developers aim to make it easier to create 3D and shared experiences. They include advanced volumetric APIs for running 3D apps side by side, TabletopKit for shared and collaborative table-based experiences, and enterprise APIs. HealthKit will be available in visionOS 2 as well. Apple says that there are currently over 2,000 native Vision Pro apps and 1.5 million compatible iPad and iPhone apps.
With visionOS 2, the Apple Vision Pro will become an AirPlay receiver for content from a user’s iPhone, iPad, or Mac. The Mindfulness app is adding a new feature called Follow Your Breathing that adjusts the app’s animations and sounds to your breathing patterns. Multiview is coming to the Apple TV app, and videos from Safari will be viewable in Environments, including the new Bora Bora Environment. Finally, Live Captions will be available systemwide for live conversations and audio from apps.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2024 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2024 RSS feed.
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During the WWDC keynote earlier today, Apple devoted an entire section to home and audio updates coming this fall. These updates include features for tvOS, AirPods, and the Home app. We’ll have a full tvOS overview later, but first, let’s dive into what’s coming for AirPods and Home.
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AirPodsSiri Interactions offer a new, hands-free way of responding to Siri announcements for AirPods Pro users. With a simple nod or shake of the head, users can answer phone calls, dismiss messages, and more. This new interaction method is helpful in scenarios where speaking aloud or pulling out your phone isn’t an option.
Voice Isolation, a feature previously available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, is coming to AirPods Pro themselves. When you’re on a call, the H2 chip will use machine learning to automatically filter out background noise and wind to make it easy for the person on the other end to hear what you’re saying.
Apple is also improving the experience of gaming with AirPods. Personalized Spatial Audio is expanding to games, using head tracking and the device’s understanding of your ear shape to deliver an immersive audio experience. AirPods Pro will offer lower audio latency when gaming on iPhone in Game Mode and higher voice quality for audio chats with 16-bit, 48kHz audio. Finally, an API for immersive gaming audio will be available to developers.
HomeGuest access is coming to the Home app, enabling residents to grant guests the ability to control locks, garage doors, and security systems for a limited amount of time instead of giving them full home access. Users can also view guests’ Activity History to see what home devices were accessed and when.
Smart locks that support home keys can be unlocked hands-free when a resident is within six feet of the door. The Home app is adding support for robot vacuum cleaners. And Apple is partnering with utility providers, starting with Pacific Gas & Electric Company in California, to allow users to connect their utility accounts to the Home app, track electricity usage, and make more informed decisions about their energy use.
SharePlay is coming to Apple Music on the HomePod and HomePod mini. Users can control playback and add songs to the music queue by bringing their iPhone close to the iPhone connected to the HomePod or by scanning a QR code on the other iPhone’s screen, and even users who aren’t subscribed to Apple Music can take part in SharePlay sessions. Spatial Audio is also coming to AirPlay, allowing immersive audio to be beamed from an iPhone to a HomePod or other compatible AirPlay speaker.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2024 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2024 RSS feed.
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During its WWDC 2024 keynote earlier today, Apple announced that the Vision Pro will be launching in more countries and regions later this month.
Specifically, the Vision Pro will become available for pre-order in China mainland, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore on June 13, with availability starting on Friday, June 28. On the same day, pre-orders will go live for customers in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, with availability starting on Friday, July 12.
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From Apple’s announcement:
“The enthusiasm for Apple Vision Pro has been extraordinary, and we are thrilled to introduce the magic of spatial computing to more customers around the world,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We can’t wait for more people to see the impossible become possible, whether working and collaborating with an infinite canvas for apps, reliving treasured memories in three dimensions, watching TV shows and movies in a one-of-a-kind personal cinema, or enjoying brand-new spatial experiences that defy imagination.”
In addition to announcing availability in more countries and regions, Apple also showcased visionOS 2, the next major update to the Vision Pro’s operating system. Highlights from visionOS 2 include new gestures to invoke the Home Screen and Control Center, train Travel Mode, mouse support, and more. We’ll cover all the changes in visionOS 2 in a more detailed overview later today.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2024 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2024 RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Raycast makes your Mac better because it’s fast, ergonomic, and reliable. Best of all, though, Raycast comes with powerful tools your Mac should have but didn’t. Plus, it’s extensible, with a rich catalog of extensions built by developers around the world that solve every productivity need you can imagine.
With Raycast, everything is at your fingertips. The app’s searchable clipboard means always having what you need a few keystrokes away. With emoji and gif search tools, Raycast makes it easy to express yourself. Plus, there are tools to perform quick calculations, currency and unit conversions, and a lot more.
And with broad developer support, there are extensions available to:
- Track your flights
- Take notes
- Save tasks
- Search for your files
- Run scripts
- Kick off shortcuts
- Translate text
- and even manage your windows
With Raycast, all of this and more can be accomplished quickly and easily without switching contexts, reducing distractions and speeding up every interaction with your Mac.
Raycast is also the best way to interact with AI. It’s an always-on window into ChatGPT that helps you code, write email messages, automate repetitive tasks, and more.
Raycast is free to download and use, but with annual plans that start at what works out to just $8/month, you can go pro with its AI features, theming, and setup sync across multiple Macs.
Visit Raycast’s website today to learn more, download Raycast for free, and see how its Pro accounts can take your Raycast experience to the next level.
Our thanks to Raycast for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
In this debut episode, the Comfort Zone crew talks about what Apple should steal from the Meta Quest 3, how an iPad enthusiast takes advantage of a new Mac, and how precious family photos were saved from being lost to time.
Then there’s the challenge! We all spent a few weeks using Apple Reminders for task management, and our challenge for week 2 is something none of us saw coming…
This week on Magic Rays of Light, Sigmund and Devon reveal an Apple TV project Sigmund’s been working on, share their WWDC predictions, and recap Loot.
This week, I’m off to WWDC, our MacStories Unwind playlist gets updated, two new podcasts join the MacStories podcast family, and a sad story about the USPS and Anbernic’s RG35XXSP. Plus an immersive video pick for the Vision Pro and a music pick.
This episode is sponsored by:* Listen Later – Listen to the Articles as Podcasts
Comfort Zone, Episode 1 Show NotesLinks and Show Notes* Zuck’s Vision Pro review * MacPad story * How to get a YouTube channel’s RSS feed * Google PhotoScan * Things 3 * Fantastical * Jump Desktop * Screens
Follow the Hosts and Comfort Zone* Chris on YouTube * Matt on YouTube * Niléane on Mastodon * Comfort Zone on Mastodon
Magic Rays of Light, Episode 122 Show NotesOpening Chat* What If…? An Immersive Story
Apple TV News* YouTube Stops Screen Stealing On Apple TV | Joe Rosensteel * Job Simulator * Vacation Simulator * Folium * Kino First Impressions: An iPhone Video Camera App from the Makers of Halide * Sequel * Watch History Journal 2 * Controller for HomeKit
Trailer Talk* Camp Snoopy * Land of Women * WondLa * Wolfs
Apple Original News* First Look at Pachinko Season Two * 2024 ADA Finalists Announced
Releases* Frog and Toad * Great Movies on Apple TV+ * Assassin’s Creed Mirage * Rabbids: Legends of the Multiverse * Return to Monkey Island+ * Tomb of the Mask+ * Fabulous - Wedding Disaster+ * Friday Night Baseball: Twins vs. Pirates * Friday Night Baseball: Dodgers vs. Yankees * WWDC 2024
Extras* Apple Music Playlist: WWDC24 Hello * Reese’s Book Club * Michaela Jaé Rodriguez’s Loot BTS Vlog * Vico on the Street * Frog and Toad Theme Song Singalong * AppStories: Our 2024 watchOS and tvOS WWDC Wishes, Plus Two New Podcasts * Introducing the Latest MacStories Podcasts: Next Portable Console and Comfort Zone
Recap* Loot
Up Next* The Acolyte * Godzilla Minus One * Godzilla Minus One Minus Color * Balls on Film * Am I OK?
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads
Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads
MacStories Unwind, A USPS RG35XXSP Tale Show NotesLinks and Show NotesUnplugged* Updates to the MacStories Unwind 2024 playlist on Apple Music * Two New MacStories Podcasts + https://www.macstories.net/npc/ + Comfort Zone * A sad delivery story about the Anbernic RG35XXSP
Picks* John’s Pick: + Parkour on Apple TV * Federico’s Pick: + Post Human NeX Gen by Bring Me the Horizon + Federico’s New Automated Music Discovery System: - Automation Academy: How I Reimagined Apple Music Discovery and Recommendations with Marvis Pro’s Custom Sections - Marvis Pro
Follow us on Mastodon* MacStories + Federico Viticci * John Voorhees
Follow us on Threads* MacStories * Federico Viticci * John Voorhees
Follow us on Instagram* MacStories * Federico Viticci * John Voorhees
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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My Tom Bihn Synapse 25 backpack.
It’s time to get packed for WWDC, and like most years, my carry-on bag will be stuffed with everything I need to cover the event for MacStories. This year, I’ve focused on streamlining my podcast recording setup after some problems that slowed me down last year. Built around my everyday ‘away from home’ setup that I’ve been using for several months, I think I finally have a simple yet powerful writing and podcasting travel setup that should serve me well on the trip.
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11” M4 iPad Pro and MacBook Pro.
The center of my setup will be a 14” M3 Max MacBook Pro that Apple sent me for testing. It’s a fantastic computer that’s more than capable of handling the research, writing, and audio production work I’ll be doing, along with any video taken during the week.
I’ll also take my new 11” iPad Pro, which should help lighten my bag when I’m traveling back and forth from my hotel to Apple Park. Swapping my old 12.9” iPad Pro for the new 11” model will be perfect for this sort of trip. I plan to use it for getting some work done on the flight to California and for taking notes at the WWDC keynote. It’s hard to jot much down during the event while you’re sitting outside in the sun, so anything more than my iPad would be overkill.
GL.iNet GL-MT3000 portable Wi-Fi router and Sound Devices MixPre-3 II.
The part of my setup that is changing the most is the equipment I’ll take for podcasting. Last year, I took my Sound Devices MixPre-3 II to WWDC to use as an audio interface. The trouble was that, at the time, I hadn’t used it as my primary interface in months, and as a result, its complexity slowed me down. So, this year, I simplified and added redundancy.
The core of my new mobile podcasting setup.
My new travel microphone is a Shure MV7+ that can be used with USB-C or XLR cables. In the past, I used an Audio-Technica ATR2100x USB/XLR mic, but the model I have uses mini USB, which is a pain. Fortunately, the new version uses USB-C, but I went with the Shure MV7+ because it’s a better-sounding mic overall, even if it isn’t quite as good as the Earthworks ETHOS mic in my home office.
The new Shure mic, which will sit on a lightweight Mictop Desktop Mic Stand, will allow me to record directly to the MacBook Pro via USB-C. For backup, I’ll also bring along the MixPre-3 II, but not for its audio interface capabilities. The MixPre-3 II can also serve as a field recorder, so I’ll connect it to the Shure MV7+ using an XLR cable and simultaneously record directly to an SD card as a backup in case something goes wrong on the Mac.
Multipurpose headphones.
I’ll also take a couple sets of headphones. My Audio-Technica ATH-M70X are excellent multi-use headphones that work well for recording and editing podcasts, as well as listening to music or playing videogames. They’ll be joined by a set of the Shure SE215 PRO Wired Earbuds, which work well for monitoring my mic when I’m recording video.
Storage and batteries.
Over the past year, I’ve fallen in love with Samsung T9 SSDs for creating fast, quiet backups. The T9 uses a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 cable for fast transfers, which is perfect for managing large files. I’ll have one for backups of the MacBook Pro in my bag, along with a 2TB model that I just purchased for extra outboard storage that should make it easier to move large files between my Mac and iPad.
The Belikin BoostCharge Pro and my trusty AI-free sunglasses.
Of course, I will also take battery packs. I have a 10,000 mAh Belkin BoostCharge Pro battery that has a built-in fast charger for the Apple Watch, eliminating the need for a separate cable. I’ll also pack my big 27,650mAh 250W Anker Prime Power Bank. It takes no time to top off any device using the Anker battery and a Thunderbolt cable. I will probably bring Apple’s discontinued MagSafe battery pack for the iPhone, too. It doesn’t charge quickly or have the highest capacity, but it does a nice job of extending the iPhone’s life when I’m out for many hours at a time and taking lots of photos and videos.
For Internet connectivity, I’ll bring along my GL.iNet GL-MT3000 portable Wi-Fi 6 router. It’s perfect for boosting the Wi-Fi signal in hotel rooms or connecting directly to any Ethernet port and creating its own local network. Because it can run on a power bank, the router works equally well at a coffee shop, or anywhere else I find myself struggling with a bad Wi-Fi connection.
The MacStories Unwind 2024 playlist.
Although I know from experience that I won’t have a lot of downtime during WWDC, I’ve packed some fun, too. I’ll be listening to the MacStories Unwind 2024 playlist that Federico and I are collaborating on, along with other recent favorites, using my AirPods Pro (3rd generation).
The GameSir X2s iPhone controller and my Anbernic RG35XXSP.
One more shot of the RG35XXSP because transparent gadgets are my thing.
Of course, I’ll bring a device for games, too. For this trip, I’m bringing my brand new Anbernic RG35XXSP, which just arrived a couple of days ago. The RG35XXSP, one of our topics on the next episode of NPC: Next Portable Console, is designed to look like a Game Boy Advance SP and has received excellent reviews so far. I’ll also take my GameSir X2S iPhone controller because I have a lot of iOS games in my backlog that I want to check out.
Well, that’s about it. Now all that’s left to do is to run some final equipment tests to make sure everything is working correctly and pack it all up. I’m excited as always to get to see so many of the developers we write about all year, and although some of my friends aren’t able to make it this year, it will be great to see those who will be there, hang out, and get some writing and podcasting done for MacStories readers and listeners.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2024 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2024 RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Apple TV Go.
This time of year is one that’s always filled with anticipation for what’s upcoming for both developers and users of Apple’s platforms. And while many traveling to Cupertino will be focused on the iPhone in their pocket or the iPad or MacBook that regularly travels with them, for an Apple TV aficionado, it’s a different story.
As I packed for my first WWDC last year, I had a moment of self-reflection. Did I really need to pack an external display, ATEM switcher, HDMI splitters, HomePod minis, controllers, multiple Apple TVs, and an eight-gang multi-plug extension lead into my carry-on in anticipation of a noteworthy software story for Apple TV?1 After all, the year prior had developers and fans giving their best impersonations of confused John Travolta following a largely absent year for tvOS.
Listen for More About Sigmund’s Apple TV Go onMagic Rays of LightJoin Sigmund Judge and Devon Dundee for a special episode of Magic Rays of Light, featuring a conversation about Sigmund’s Apple TV Go, WWDC predictions, and more. Learn more about Magic Rays of Light and MacStories’ other podcasts on the MacStories Podcasts page.
Thankfully, WWDC23 was a different story, with a surprisingly ambitious tvOS 17 release full of improvements and features I couldn’t wait to try. But while other attendees could go hands-on with the first developer betas of their favorite platforms with relative ease, given the nature of Apple TV hardware, I had to head back to the apartment I was staying at whenever I wanted to get hands-on time with tvOS.
Somewhere in the Apple TV multiverse, there was a USB-C powered device that I could carry with me for quick reference, whether at Apple Park or a south London coffee shop during my writing process for last year’s tvOS review. Somewhere, there was an iPad-like device that could run tvOS, offering a superior software alternative to the plentiful supply of affordable, battery-powered Android portable projectors.
Although neither of those products have yet to enter our own Apple TV universe, the introduction of iPadOS 17 and its support for UVC (USB Video Class) devices had my imagination running wild at the possibilities for this year. I needed to become the hero of my own story and create the on-the-go tvOS workstation I envisioned by braving the world of hardware modification and building my very own Apple TV Go.
Modifying Apple TV 4K for USB-C PowerFirst, a disclaimer: with great power comes great responsibility. I’m sharing my personal experience resulting from a readily-available third-party modification, and your own experience may vary. I’m not suggesting that you do the same to your own Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) hardware. Instead, this story is meant only to serve as inspiration to MacStories readers, and I take no responsibility for any issues that may result from attempted modifications. Please take modification seriously and be extremely careful.
My Apple TV Go journey begins with some hardware modification. As I searched for an alternative to Mission Accessories’ short-lived plug-and-play USB-Power Cable for Apple TV, a YouTube rabbit hole eventually led me to discovering Chloe Madison’s Voidbox Industries and their USB-C Modkit for Apple TV 4K (3rd generation).
Admittedly, I had never opened up a working Apple product before, and while I have no intention of decapitating a MacBook anytime soon, Federico’s inspiring MacPad story served as the espresso shot of courage I needed before following Voidbox’s succinct and easy step-by-step illustrated instructions.
Upon opening the USB-C Modkit, I was introduced to everything needed to retrofit my Apple TV 4K for USB-C power. As detailed on the kit’s store listing, the following parts and tools are included:
- the Modkit printed circuit board with linear voltage regulator
- three guitar picks to open the Apple TV case
- a T6 Allen key to remove the power supply and power connector
- a 3D-printed shroud for the power connector opening
- a 3D-printed spacer/insulator
- two M2 5x8mm screws
The three-step process began with opening the Apple TV by inserting the included guitar picks into the seam near the bottom edge. The goal was to release clips from all three sides, which gave a satisfying audible ‘pop’ when released. These clips are well hidden – about 5mm in from the corner radius – and strong, to the point that I replaced the included guitar picks with opening picks from my iFixit toolkit, as they offered a little more give.
Once the base was removed, my first reaction looking at the internals of my Apple TV was one of surprise at how much space was taken up by the power supply unit. From the perspective of someone with no engineering experience at all, the possibility of future Apple TV hardware in smaller form factors seemed more plausible than ever.
The latest Apple TV 4K generation has no internal fan, opening up the possibility for future changes to the form factor by Apple.
Next, it was time to remove the PSU and power connector. There are five T7 screws around the Apple TV’s PSU and two T5 screws located inside the power connector. I had no issues using the supplied T6 Allen key to remove the T7 screws holding the power supply, but I will note that I had to be gentle and definitive in my Allen key placement when removing the T5 screws in the power connector in order to prevent accidentally damaging or stripping them in the process.
The final step involved installing the Modkit by first affixing the plastic shroud in the opening where the original power connector once was. I was nimble-handed enough to keep it in place as I placed the plastic strip with two holes below the Modkit PCB and inserted the two M2 5x8mm screws. I then aligned the USB-C port inside the opening of the shroud and lowered the opposite side towards the screw holes left over from removing the PSU.
I had to tighten the final two screw holes well so that the PCB didn’t come loose.
After completing the installation, all that was left to do was reattach the base of the Apple TV by pushing the seams back into the clips, connect HDMI to my TV, and find virtually any USB-C power supply to deliver the measly 7 watts of power needed to boot up my newly-modded Apple TV 4K.
“It’s alive!”
Video Components, Powered by iPad ProIt was then time to turn my attentition to my new 11” iPad Pro (Silver, 256GB, Wi-Fi) and Magic Keyboard – the central components to making tvOS portable. The M4 chip and Tandem OLED were both headline additions to Apple’s most recent iPad hardware releases, but thanks to improvements in both power delivery and power passthrough, the new iPad Pro greatly improved my ability to power all three components in the video chain directly from its battery, thanks to a tiny but capable USB-C hub.
Getting the Apple TV’s HDMI signal into the iPad required a USB video capture device. The one I bought for this experiment is the HDMI 2.1-compliant 4KX from Elgato. Although it’s not the smallest capture device on the market, its capture capabilities are unmatched, allowing for iPad capture at up to 4K 60fps SDR,2 while also sporting both HDMI out and a two-way 3.5mm audio jack.3
The raw materials that would soon come together to form Apple TV Go.
Under normal circumstances, that would be the end of my UVC-based video chain, but my coverage of tvOS also includes changes and integrations of Apple’s tools within third-party apps. While menu systems can be captured without issue, video players and the content within them cannot, thanks to High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP). In order to view content from third-party apps in my setup, I had to introduce an HDMI splitter to the video chain.
Fun With Velcro: A Modular iPad StoryWith my chosen components now connected, I had to figure out how to physically affix them to the back of the Magic Keyboard housing my iPad Pro. What I envisioned was a truly portable, modular setup that I could unplug and tear off with little fuss, but how would I attach it? Given that there was added weight to account for and cable management to contend with, magnets were out, and Velcro was in.
I’ve often theorized that Apple’s MagSafe ecosystem has the potential to go further if only their Smart Folio cases had magnets on the outside to easily attach or remove additional modular pieces housing components tailored to a particular function or workflow. This project’s needs gave me the perfect opportunity to test out my theory using sheets of Velcro-like material and a MacStories favourite, the ESR Smart Cover for iPad Pro.
I began by attaching the soft Velcro adhesive sheets to the bottom of the Magic Keyboard’s outer casing, cutting around the outer perimeter and away from the hinge so as not to have any of the adhesive side overlap. I then repeated the same process for the top casing, making sure to pre-cut a hole to make way for the iPad Pro’s camera.
Next, I cut the ESR cover in half before cutting the bottom section from its foldable side and then covering the front-facing side with the same smooth Velcro material I’d just applied to the Magic Keyboard. With two strips of the Velcro hook material placed on the underside, I had made a ‘Magic Island’ to house my video equipment securely, with the ability to quickly tear it away when not in use.
My fun with Velcro had only just begun. Next came the mounting process, which consisted of sticking the Velcro hook material to the bottom side of my video components and the softer material to the top and sides to help with cable management. I used short and flexible angled HDMI cables along with the shortest high-capacity USB-C cables I could find, and I formed little loops with the hook material to keep everything in place, resulting in a setup that ended up looking pretty clean, all things considered.
My work-in-progress Magic Island before I cleaned up the cabling.
The finished product, with the Magic Island and Siri Remote attached to the back of my iPad Pro’s Magic Keyboard.
The Magic Island could then attach to the back of my Magic Keyboard, either placed flat or secured by its edge to act as an additional leg to support heavier setups when placed on a flat surface. Over the summer months I’ll be further exploring the Magic Island concept with 3D printing, but for now, I’m pretty happy with how it all turned out.
Now that’s what I call a kickstand.
The Magic Island easily detaches from the Magic Keyboard when not in use.
Side Quest: Customizing the Magic Keyboard to Match the Siri RemoteWhile we’re on the subject of the Magic Keyboard, I wanted to share a few words on replacing the keys of my silver Magic Keyboard with the black keys from the space black variant. The process was as stressful as it was costly, but I think you’ll agree that the end result was worth it, and it looks even better when paired with my Siri Remote.
I began the process by drinking three cups of coffee and taking meticulous notes on Nikolai Christ’s excellent YouTube videos detailing the process of removing the clips from each key type, as well as the metal mechanisms present in the oversized keys and space bar. Over the course of the next five hours, I successfully replaced each key on my Magic Keyboard, with all keys retaining the functionality and travel expected out of the box – bar three of the smaller keys that were damaged, as well as two scissor switches which are especially delicate on the Magic Keyboard’s 11” variant.
What the Magic Keyboard looked like in the middle of my five-hour key replacement process.
Luckily for me, none of the damaged keys were from the new function row, and the mechanisms for the new Magic Keyboard are the same as the previous generation, meaning that if you do damage keys trying to replicate my modification, you have a good chance of sourcing replacements by looking at the used Magic Keyboard market like I did. Dear readers, the best advice I can give is to follow the videos closely, take your time, and be gentle.
Apple TV Go as a Mobile tvOS WorkstationSo now that the build is complete, what can Apple TV Go actually do? While I predominantly mean to use it as a capture device, there are a couple of happy accident use cases I have already stumbled upon while using it.
A feature previously available on macOS that I’ve missed ever since its 2011 discontinuation is remote playback controls via Front Row. Front Row made the Mac feel like less of a work device and more like an entertainment device when it was time to unwind at the end of the day. If you’re like me and still miss the functionality of using a remote to control media playback through your Apple computing platform of choice, you’ll appreciate the benefits and nostalgia of seemingly controlling your iPad with the Siri Remote – even though you’re actually controlling the Apple TV connected to it.
This is the future I want to live in.
Whether through the physical Siri Remote or the Remote found in Control Center, remote control functionality should, in my opinion, be treated as not only a comfort feature for any computing platform capable of playing back media, but one that could greatly improve the portable media consumption experience for those with limited mobility.4 It’s a feature I’d welcome with open arms if it were to ever be reintroduced to a continually growing list of accessibility options on Apple’s platforms.
One other benefit of my Apple TV Go setup is the ability to send Apple TV video to external devices by using the NDI HX Capture app to turn my iPad Pro into an NDI encoder. Although this functionality wouldn’t be high-end enough for gaming, for video, its proved stupendous.
I’ve been using this method to send video from Apple TV to Apple Vision Pro in order to play content from apps not yet available as native visionOS apps or in iPad compatibility mode. As some international-based early Apple Vision Pro adopters will attest to, the wait for an international rollout has been tedious, but this integration means I’m still able to watch local content on the biggest screen I own without the need for clumsy browser-based interactions.
The ability to share Apple TV video as an NDI source from the iPad to visionOS also opened up some interesting possibilities for sharing video. I’ve long been an advocate of SharePlay – and use it multiple times per week with family and friends – but very few services have integrated with the feature. In visionOS, you’re able to share screens with other participants in the call, and despite the odd jumped frame, Devon and I were able to watch a show together, with one caveat: he couldn’t hear the audio I was hearing.
To overcome this limitation, I connected Apple TV Go to an iPad signed into a different Apple ID account and added it as an additional FaceTime participant to our call. Suddenly, we were able to watch any video together with Apple TV as the source, whether in visionOS or through any other FaceTime-compatible device.
That’s the extent of my experimentation thus far. Going back to my original intention of viewing and capturing a UVC device, there are a plethora of great, free iPad apps for doing this on the App Store, and I use three of them for different use cases with Apple TV Go.
Elgato’s own Capture app is my go-to for quick video and screenshot captures, as well as access to quick settings for my permanent capture card in this setup. I found the app’s screenshot captures, which make up most of the chapter artwork for Magic Rays of Light, to be the fastest and most consistent in quality of all of the apps I have used so far. Across my testing of various apps, the Capture app is the only app that currently records in 4K 60fps.
Elgato’s Capture app.
However, while the Capture app only offers HEVC captures, Genki Studio allows for far more granular user control. Further options include encoding in the more universally recognised H.264 codec and bitrate control that can be adjusted with a handy slider, allowing me to set the Mbit/s output of a given capture depending on my particular scenario.
Genki Studio.
The third app in my rotation is mainly used for times when I’m at my desk comparing tvOS versions side-by-side, adding an externally-powered Apple TV and capture card into the mix. Camo Studio, predominantly aimed at streamers, allows users to bring in two video sources at once, thus overcoming the iPadOS limitation that doesn’t allow me to use two separate capture apps simultaniously in Split View.
Camo Studio for iPad.
The combination of Camo Studio and my Apple TV Go setup also opens up possibilities for on-the-go content creation, mixing and matching between the iPad’s onboard cameras, connected video capture devices, and custom overlays. The app also offers the ability to record on-device for later distribution, or to go live on YouTube, Twitch, Trovo, or any streaming service that supports RTMP.
My one limitation when capturing multiple video sources is due to the lack of support for multiple audio sources on iPadOS. This means I have to choose a single audio source, scuppering any plans for Apple Music Sing karaoke captures, Apple Arcade game streams, and Apple TV+ commentaries – at least for now.
While the idea of a portable tvOS workstation is incredibly niche, it further exhibits what a joy the iPad is as a modular computing platform. Yes, Apple TV Go is yet another strange experiment, but it’s one that solves a problem and pushes the iPad’s modularity to its conceivable limits.
From a tvOS perspective, Apple TV Go asks more questions than it duly answers. The main one is, why has Apple been so reluctant to expand the range of devices running tvOS in an age where it sells four different Apple Pencils? Despite my love for the Apple TV hockey puck introduced all the way back in 2010, it would be beneficial for tvOS to be made available on a wider range of Apple devices as an alternative to more buggy experiences developed by third parties.
Will Apple ever release an Apple TV Go of their own? It’s doubtful, at least in our branch of the Apple TV multiverse. But as I fly across the Atlantic for my first glimpse at what’s next for Apple TV and tvOS 18 from both a user experience and developer perspective with my tvOS workstation in hand, I’m buoyed by the possibilities.
- I brought it all with me regardless. ↩︎
- At the time of writing, iPadOS video capture cannot capture in 4K HDR. ↩︎
- I have future plans for the audio jack that I’ll be eager to share should iPadOS introduce the ability to manage multiple audio sources in the future. ↩︎
- It would also complement well the ability to navigate iPadOS with a game controller, which is already available. ↩︎
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Controller for HomeKit is an alternative way of controlling and setting up your HomeKit accessories, scenes, and automations from your iPhone. While the app has been around for some time, this month it received a major upgrade with a new feature that turns the app into a fun and powerful control center for your home.
Now, in Controller for HomeKit, you can leverage the iPhone’s LiDAR sensor to scan your entire home and create a 3D floor plan, on top of which you can overlay your lights, scenes, and other HomeKit accessories. The result is a fun, customizable, and interactive UI that works so well and is so intuitive that it almost feels like it belongs in Apple’s own Home app for the iPhone.
Let’s check it out.
The first thing to note about Controller for HomeKit is that the app’s entire interface has been refreshed. The main screen now features a fairly simple layout, from which you can easily jump into a room or a list of your HomeKit categories filtered by type. This is also where you can get into the app’s more advanced sections, where you can create workflows, build scenes, or even set up automations around custom NFC tags. Since a home full of smart devices can quickly become overwhelming, the simplicity of Controller’s main screen is a welcome departure in this app category, so it gets a big thumbs up from me.
Among the app’s more advanced sections, my favorite one is probably ‘Maintenance’. This is where Controller for HomeKit lists all of your potential setup issues, such as devices that are low on battery, have duplicate names, or are currently unreachable. This section may finally give me the motivation necessary to work through all of my HomeKit issues over the next few weeks.
Controller’s main screen lets you easily jump into your rooms, automations, and the app’s advanced sections, including a ‘Maintenance’ overview.
But the star of this update by a long mile is Controller’s new ‘Floor Plan’ feature. Right from the main screen of the app, you can start the process of scanning your home with the iPhone’s camera and LiDAR sensors. Although the process can take some time depending on the size of your home, it is fairly easy and intuitive. All I had to do was follow the app’s instructions and hold the phone in front of me as I started walking through every room in our apartment.
Honestly, this was a lot of fun. The quality of the scan underlines how powerful the iPhone’s LiDAR sensor and AR capabilities can be. All of our main pieces of furniture showed up exactly where they were meant to be, and some specific types of furniture (couches, chairs, beds, kitchen appliances, and tables) even had their own 3D models.
To start creating a floor plan, tap ‘Discover’ on the app’s main screen, follow the instructions, then walk around your home to scan it room by room.
Once you’re done scanning, the app brings you to an edit screen where you can start dropping your HomeKit accessories and scenes directly on top of the floor plan. This is where your floor plan becomes interactive. You can place room labels that you can tap to quickly jump into a room view, lights that can be turned on and off, and even sensors that can display their readings right on the map.
When you’re done scanning your home in Controller, you can start manually placing your HomeKit accessories and room labels on the floor map. All of the icons are customizable.
Controller for HomeKit’s floor plan is interactive. Tapping an accessory icon on the map lets you toggle its state, and tapping a room label lets you jump into a room overview where you can control and edit accessories.
Again, this may take a while depending on the number of accessories you want to add, but the result of this whole process is incredibly satisfying. And on the iPad and the Mac, the experience is even more glorious. The app takes full advantage of the devices’ widescreen layout.
Our home in Controller for HomeKit on macOS.
In addition to being able to view your floor plan from inside the app, Controller for HomeKit comes with two new widgets that display your floor plan on the Home Screen. Sadly, these widgets essentially act as simple buttons to open the app. Your accessories and room labels are not displayed in the widget, and you can’t interact with them without having to open the app. This means that Controller’s Home Screen widgets are merely decorative for now. This is too bad; there’s great potential for a fully interactive widget here, and I really hope this is coming.
Currently, Controller’s Floor Plan Home Screen widgets are not interactive and only serve as a shortcut to open the app.
Still, Controller’s interactive floor plan is now a must-have on my iPhone. Even if, at its core, the feature is not revolutionary by any means, the UI paradigm that it creates for controlling your HomeKit devices is one of the most intuitive that I’ve ever seen on iOS. I find it hard to think of a more natural interaction to turn on a specific light in the apartment than to glance at the room on the map and simply tap the light exactly where it is in the room’s physical space. If Apple ever decides to go this route, it could be the best upgrade to the UI of the native Home app in years. As a result, I have now officially added an interactive floor plan to my wishlist for iOS 18.
If you would like to give it a try, Controller for HomeKit is available for free on the App Store for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS. Its floor plan feature can be unlocked with a $29.99 yearly subscription or a $99.99 lifetime one-time purchase.
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Every year, Apple recaps the programs and other services it has launched for developers. Ever since I started covering Apple, there’s been a certain amount of tension between it and its developers. This year, that strain is running higher than I’ve ever seen, at least among the solo and small developer teams we typically cover.
However, it can simultaneously be true that Apple provides valuable resources for developers that are constantly changing. In a press release today, Apple highlights the following developer programs from 2023:
- The Meet with Apple Experts program that connects developers with engineers, app reviewers, and others to get advice and input on their apps
- The Apple Vision Pro labs held in major cities worldwide
- The Apple Developer Academies that trained more than 1,900 students in 2023
- The Entrepreneur Camps that will celebrate their fifth anniversary this year
This year, Apple has also updated the Apple Developer Forums in advance of WWDC and rolled out Pathways, a collection of videos, documentation, and other resources focused on core topics like Design, Swift, SwiftUI, Games, visionOS, and App Store distribution.
There are a lot of great resources here. Far more than when I was learning to code around 2015. I’m particularly intrigued by Pathways, which looks as though it does an excellent job of pulling together materials that would otherwise require developers to consult multiple sources.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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WWDC begins next week, and it’s one of the best times of the year for Club MacStories members. To celebrate, we’re offering 20% off all annual Club MacStories plans from today though Friday, June 14, so as many people as possible can get in on the special things we do during Apple’s annual developer event.
To take advantage of the discounted plans, please use the coupon code WWDC2024 at checkout or click on one of the buttons below.
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This year, for WWDC, we are kicking things off today with a live recording of AppStories in the Club MacStories Discord community. The community is a feature of Club MacStories+ and Premier memberships and has grown into a vibrant, respectful place to hang out with app and automation fans who help each other get the most out of their technology. The live episode of AppStories will cover final predictions for Apple’s WWDC keynote and a behind-the-scenes look at our preparations and plans for the week. The episode will be released later on the usual schedule, but Discord members will have the chance to participate live and ask questions for the AppStories+ segment.
Then, during WWDC itself, we’ll record three extra episodes of AppStories live in Discord during the conference, covering the keynote, State of the Union, and other announcements. We’ll also publish a special issue of our MacStories Weekly newsletter for Club members packed with more WWDC coverage and details.
The support of Club MacStories members is the foundation of MacStories. Without it, projects like the new podcasts we introduced this week wouldn’t be possible. The Club has given us the freedom to work with a growing group of writers, focus on our in-depth stories and reviews, and build a closer relationship with readers, too. With Club members’ support, we’re not slowing down, either. We have even more projects in the pipeline for later this year.
We know that folks are inundated with subscriptions these days, which is why we work hard to offer what we think is a great value at every tier of the Club. Our eight-year track record of consistency and content, including more than 500 issues of our newsletters, speaks for itself, but we also realize that committing to an annual plan is still a lot, which is why we’re offering this discount.
Here’s a breakdown of each tier and the discounts we’re offering through June 14, 2024:
| Normally | Through June 14 | | --- | --- | | Club MacStories | $50/year | $40 | | Club MacStories+ | $100/year | $80 | | Club Premier | $120/year | $96 |
If you’re not familiar with the Club, you can learn more and compare plans side-by-side here and read our FAQ page.
These discounts are available to anyone signing up for one annual Club membership for the first time, reactivating an expired plan, or upgrading a current plan.
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Now Just$96Thanks as always to our many loyal Club MacStories members, and welcome to everyone joining for the first time. You’ve all helped us grow, launch new projects, and build MacStories on a strong foundation while staying independent and true to our editorial values. We look forward to bringing you even more of what makes MacStories special for a long time to come.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Crouton (left) and Gentler Streak (right). Source: Apple.
Apple has announced the winners of the 2024 Apple Design Award. Just over one week ago, Apple revealed six finalists in each of seven categories.
This year’s winners include an app and game in each category for a total of 14 winners, including MacStories favorites like Crouton, Gentler Streak, and Blackbox:
Delight and Fun* App: Bears Gratitude by Isuru Wanasinghe (Australia) * Game: NYT Games by The New York Times Company (United States)
Inclusivity* App: oko by AYES (Belgium) * Game: Crayola Adventures by Red Games Co. (United States)
Innovation* App: Procreate Dreams by Procreate (Australia) * Game: Lost in Play by Happy Juice Games (Israel)
Interaction* App: Crouton by Devin Davies (New Zealand) * Game: Rytmos by Floppy Club (Denmark)
Social Impact* App: Gentler Streak Fitness Tracker by Gentler Stories (Slovenia) * Game: The Wreck by The Pixel Hunt (France)
Visuals and Graphics* App: Rooms by Things, Inc. (United States) * Game: Lies of P by NEOWIZ (South Korea)
Spatial Computing* App: djay pro - DJ App & AI Mixer by algoriddim GmbH (Germany) * Game: Blackbox by Shapes and Stories (United States)
This year’s ADAs represent a wide cross-section of apps, from solo developers to large corporations. Of course, I’m partial to the indies on the list, but overall, I think Apple’s choices this year are excellent.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Comfort Zone is a weekly podcast about trying new things. Every Thursday, co-hosts Matt Birchler, Niléane Dorffer, and Christopher Lawley challenge themselves and each other to try something new in their tech lives whether it’s hardware, an app, a workflow, an automation, or something else. It’s a fun way to explore the tech world with the show’s hosts.
But Comfort Zone isn’t just a new podcast at MacStories. It’s also our first podcast on our new YouTube channel. The first episode, which has its own playlist on the channel and is embedded below, is out today.
Of course, you can also subscribe to the audio-only version of the show too. Links to subscribe to the audio version in Apple Podcasts, popular podcast players, and the show’s RSS feed are all available on MacStories.
It’s great to have Comfort Zone on the MacStories YouTube channel. This is a new experiment for us, but with the early enthusiasm for the video version of the show, I expect Comfort Zone is just the start of more to come from MacStories. So, be sure to check out episode 1 of the Comfort Zone on YouTube, subscribe to our channel, and let us know what you think.
→ Source: youtu.be
I love this story that I first saw mentioned on Brendon’s blog a few weeks ago about a Redditor who designed the iPhone game controller of my (our?) dreams.
Picture this: it’s a PSP Go/Xperia Play-styled, slide-out controller that attaches via MagSafe to any iPhone, has Bluetooth, a USB-C port for charging, and therefore works with any modern iOS game or emulator regardless of whether the iPhone is mounted on it or not. The controller has a built-in kickstand that supports landscape and portrait gaming (the latter is essential for DS emulation in Delta) and is much more portable than other snap-on solutions available for iOS devices.
The best part: the creator of this controller, called the M-Con, has announced plans to make this a real product that you can buy in the future. You can watch the announcement video below:
As Jonathan’s story in last Saturday’s issue of MacStories Weekly showed, the dream for many of us right now is a compact, MagSafe-enabled game controller for iPhone that doesn’t use USB-C and allows the iPhone to be rotated. No official product that is not a 3D-printed adapter or DIY hack that does all that exists right now.
I wish Josh all the best in this adventure, and I hope to be able to purchase an M-Con game controller in the near future.
→ Source: youtube.com
If you haven’t tried Sequel to track your media queues, you’re missing out and have some catching up to do. There’s a reason we gave Sequel 2.0 the MacStories Selects Best App Update award last year. The app, which is available on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro, is one of the very best media trackers in a very crowded field.
One way to get up to speed with Sequel’s core features is my review of version 2.0, which I won’t repeat here. Since that review, developer Romain Lefebvre has released updates that continue to improve the app in meaningful ways. However, today’s version 2.3 release is special because it’s one of the first apps I’ve tried that uses AI in a truly useful, non-gimmicky way. Plus, the update adds Shortcuts integration, allowing users to automate the app in new ways, as well as a Markdown-compatible note-taking feature and new layout and search options.
Adding a game to Sequel from an article on The Verge.
At the heart of Sequel’s latest update is the app’s aptly named Magic Lookup feature. If you use a media-tracking app, you can probably relate to the fact that adding new media to the app can be tedious. For example, maybe you’re reading an article about a new movie that you want to save in your media tracker. Most apps would require you to copy the movie’s title from the article, head over to the media app, run a search, and save the results.
Sequel’s Magic Lookup reduces that process to a few quick taps. The feature starts with Sequel’s share extension, which is available on the iPhone, iPad, and Vision Pro versions of the app. Tap it, and the app grabs the URL and runs the content through an AI model. A second or two later, Magic Lookup suggests media to add to Sequel. That’s all there is to it.
Best of all, Magic Lookup is reliable. It isn’t perfect, but it’s surprisingly good at pulling media from all sorts of sources. The feature will even offer multiple suggestions when an article mentions several different things, which I thought might stump it. Throw a Top 10 Movies of 2024 article at Magic Lookup, and more likely than not, the app will find all ten, which you can quickly add to the app by tapping the plus buttons from the search results.
The AI sometimes has trouble with TV series numbers, but overall is remarkably accurate.
If Magic Lookup finds something that looks like media but can’t find a perfect match in the media databases Sequel uses, you’ll get a search button instead, which will kick off a search in Sequel for the suggested text. If that doesn’t return the results you want, editing the search a little can help.
One example where Magic Lookup has a little trouble finding content is with TV shows where the name is described along with a season number. So, for example, when I found a Polygon article about TV shows debuting this summer that included ‘The Bear, season 3,’ Magic Lookup offered to search for ‘The Bear season 3’ instead of finding the show. I then ran a search for ‘The Bear, season 3’ and removed the reference to season 3, which worked. Later, I tried running the article through Magic Lookup again, and the AI found the series. Perhaps Sequel can be fine-tuned to deal with the app becoming confused about seasons, but that’s about the only wrinkle I’ve been able to find so far. Most of the time, I’m reading about a particular videogame, movie, book, or whatever, and the app finds it immediately, making it quick to add to my queue.
Adding Markdown notes to an item in Sequel.
Personal Notes is another excellent addition to Sequel. I often save media in the app that I want to talk about later on MacStories Unwind. With the app’s new notes feature and dedicated formatting bar, it’s simple to add headings, formatting, checklists, horizontal rules, block quotes, and links. Plus, because the notes are formatted as Markdown, it’s easy to then export them with the share sheet to another app, if you’d like.
A selection of Sequel’s Shortcuts actions.
Sequel 2.3 brings Shortcuts automation to the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro versions of the app for the first time, too. The app includes App Shortcuts to add items and open specific sections like ‘Movies,’ ‘Series,’ and ‘Games.’ However, for more complex automations, Sequel includes actions to edit items; get, add, and remove collections; open collections, items, libraries by type, and the search view; and find books, audiobooks, TV series and episodes, games, movies, and specific items, all with filtering options.
I haven’t spent a lot of time building shortcuts for my Sequel media collections yet, but there’s plenty here to explore and use to create some handy automations. For instance, I plan to create a shortcut that finds items with notes that contain ‘Unwind’ to make it easy to find media I want to recommend on the show.
Finally, Sequel 2.3 adds a layout option for larger media artwork and the ability to search for items within individual Library categories like Movies, Series, and Games.
Sequel has helped me fill out my movie queue effortlessly as I read my RSS feeds.
Sequel 2.3 is a big step forward for the app and one of my favorite app updates so far this year. Quickly saving things for later and then finding them again makes a big difference. Even the smallest amount of friction can convince someone that it’s not worth the time to save an item to the app in the first place. Magic Lookup reduces that friction in a meaningful way that makes it much easier to use.
Magic Lookup is also a shining example of AI implemented in a useful, positive way. It doesn’t try to make the reviews of media you find on the web obsolete. Instead, Sequel’s use of AI is additive, making it easier to continue enjoying what you’re reading and save recommendations for later. This is exactly the sort of AI integration I hope we see from Apple at WWDC next week.
Sequel 2.3 is available as a free download on the App Store. Certain features require a subscription.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week on NPC: Next Portable Console, Federico, Brendon and I introduce NPC, compare handheld gaming origin stories, and share our current setups before Federico springs a surprise on us.
This week on AppStories, Federico and I introduce Comfort Zone and NPC: Next Portable Console, two new MacStories podcasts, and share our wishes for watchOS and tvOS updates.
NPC, Episode 1 Show NotesLinks and Show NotesAbout the HostsFederico Viticci* MacStories * Other Podcasts + AppStories + MacStories Unwind + Connected + Remaster
John Voorhees* MacStories * Other Podcasts + AppStories + MacStories Unwind + Ruminate
Brendon Bigley* Wavelengths * Into the Aether
Our Portable Gaming HistoriesBrendon* Game Boy Pocket * Game Boy Color * Game Boy Advance * Game Boy SP * Nintendo DS * Nintendo 3DS * Playstation Vita * Ambernic RG351P
John* Game Boy Color in Kiwi Lime * Game Boy SP * Sega Game Gear * Nintendo DSi * Nintendo 3DS * Playstation Vita * Ambernic RG351M
Federico* Game Boy * Game Boy Color * Game Boy Advance * PSP + 8 Mile * Nintendo 3DS * Playstation Vita * Ambernic RG351M
Current SetupsJohn* Ayn Odin 2 Pro * OLED Switch * Legion Go + ONEXGPU * Miyoo Mini+ * iPhone and iPad Pro
Brendon* Ayn Odin 2 Pro * Retroid Pocket Flip * Miyoo Mini+ * Steam Deck * OLED Switch * iPhone and Backbone One * iPad Pro * Playdate
Federico* 13” iPad Pro + GameSir G8 * Legion Go * Playdate * USB 4 eGPU with an NVIDIA 4090 GPU + MacStories Unwind: A Small Fire at 3AM
Games Mentioned* Kirby Dream Land 2 * Kingdom Hearts * Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II * GTA Liberty City Stories * Hot Line Miami * Super Crate Box * Persona 4 * Binding of Isaac * Rogue Legacy * Nuclear Throne * Spelunky * Dragon’s Dogma
Other Links* John joins Brendon on Wavelengths to talk about the Ayn Odin 2
AppStories, Episode 386 Show NotesTwo New MacStories Podcasts* Comfort Zone + Hosts: - Christopher Lawley - Niléane Dorffer - Matt Birchler * Birchtree * A Better Computer + Art: Scout Wilkinson + Music: Will LaPorte + Subscribe: - Apple Podcasts - Overcast - Pocket Casts - RSS * NPC: Next Portable Console + Hosts: - Brendon Bigley * Wavelengths * Into the Aether - Federico Viticci - John Voorhees + Art: Brendon Bigley + Music: Will LaPorte + Subscribe: - Apple Podcasts - Overcast - Pocket Casts - RSS
watchOS Wishes* Related coverage: + watchOS 10: The MacStories Review
tvOS Wishes* Related Coverage: + Magic Rays of Light: tvOS Wishes 2024 and Franklin + tvOS 17: The MacStories Review
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On AppStories+, a video experiment, I have iPad Pro follow-up, and Federico has technical follow-up and a question for listeners about streaming videogames over Wi-Fi.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of weekly shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light, Ruminate, Comfort Zone, and NPC: Next Portable Console that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogame hardware to apps for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
NPC and Comfort Zone join the MacStories family of podcasts.
I’m incredibly excited to introduce two brand new shows joining the MacStories family of podcasts today: Next Portable Console (or NPC), hosted by me, Brendon Bigley, and John Voorhees, and Comfort Zone, hosted by Niléane Dorffer, Chris Lawley, and Matt Birchler. You can find both shows, along with links to subscribe, on MacStories’ Podcasts hub.
Before I hand it over to Brendon and Niléane to provide more context around NPC and Comfort Zone, allow me to say a few words since this launch marks an important milestone in MacStories’ growth for the next 15 years of the website.
NPC is a fortnightly show (new episodes every two weeks) all about portable gaming and the handheld revolution we’re witnessing. John and I have been thinking about this kind of show for years now (really, since the Steam Deck came out), and we’ve always put it off. We knew we wanted to do it, but we had to find a third person to join us – someone even more plugged into the gaming scene and portable consoles than we are. We couldn’t think of a better co-host than Brendon.
We’ve been fans of Brendon’s work at Into the Aether and Wavelengths for a long time now, and I’m thrilled to have him make a podcast with us about, as we say at the beginning of each episode, the games we take with us. If you’re a fan of portable gaming, it’s hard to deny that we’re living in extraordinary times: the Nintendo Switch kickstarted a renaissance of the scene that has expanded to encompass PC handhelds, dedicated retrogaming handhelds, and fascinating hybrids in between. And that’s not even to mention the arrival of emulators on the App Store.
With NPC, we’re going to explore every corner of portable gaming, and we’re going to have fun in the process. You can subscribe here and listen to the trailer that is already in the feed. The first episode of NPC will be out tomorrow, June 4th.
Subscribe to NPC in your favorite podcast player using the buttons below.
As for Comfort Zone, this is a project that I immediately said “yes” to as soon as I was approached about it. A couple of months back, Niléane sent me a message describing the idea for a show in which the hosts would try each week to get out of their comfort zones and try a new piece of technology, whether it be an app, a device, an automation, or something else. And at the end of each episode, they would also challenge one another with something different for the next one.
You know me: I’m always up for trying new things, pushing the boundaries, and getting out of my comfort zone with workflows and products I’ve never tried before. So, obviously, I was thrilled that Niléane, Chris, and Matt thought of launching this show on MacStories since I believe it’s the perfect home for what they sought to produce. It’s in the very ethos of MacStories to always be curious about technology and never take “no” for an answer when it comes to a challenge. As a fan of Niléane’s work on MacStories and Chris’ and Matt’s YouTube channels, I can’t wait to see what they come up with. Plus – and I’m biased here – I have to say that I’m very happy to hear another European accent on MacStories.
You can subscribe to Comfort Zone here and listen to the trailer. New episodes will be released weekly starting this Thursday, June 6th. And there’s more: Comfort Zone will be the first MacStories podcast to also release video versions of each episode on our brand new YouTube channel. YouTube integration is something we’re also excited about, and you should expect more news on this front very soon.
Subscribe to Comfort Zone in your favorite podcast player using the buttons below.
You can watch the Comfort Zone trailer on our brand new YouTube channel:
Also, check out the announcement videos from Matt and Chris on YouTube:
Lastly, before I leave it to Brendon and Niléane to say a few words, I also wanted to credit Brendon for his amazing artwork for NPC and Scout Wilkinson and Will LaPorte, two other incredibly talented artists we also worked with for both NPC and Comfort Zone. Scout created the illustration for Comfort Zone, which I absolutely love; Will composed the music for both shows, and I can’t get over how awesome both tracks sound. I can’t recommend working with them enough if you’re looking for actual humans creating art instead of kleptomaniac large language models.
That being said, let me pass the mic to Brendon and Niléane for more details about NPC and Comfort Zone.
NPCBrendon: Increasingly, portable gaming encompasses many things. Back in the days of the Game Boy, it simply meant the ability to bring video games outside of the home or arcade. Mario in green monochrome didn’t look as high-fidelity as his console counterpart, but he could still jump on a Goomba – and that was a miracle at the time. Fast forward to the introduction of the Nintendo Switch in 2017, and the collective dream of removing the blurred line between handheld and console games finally became a reality. Nintendo merged its internal console and handheld game development teams, meaning every first-party Switch game could be played anywhere, and on any screen.
The success of the Switch and the rapid development of smaller chipsets set the industry alight, pushing the handheld PC market – led by the Steam Deck – to shift player expectation towards the ability to experience any game on the go. Add to this the steady corporate investments in game streaming technologies via services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce NOW, as well as the swift and iterative nature of retro consoles across a spectrum of price points and manufacturers, and you have a cocktail that marks an unbelievable shift in how we think about games as a medium.
As we’ll say at the top of every episode of NPC, it’s “a podcast about the games we take with us.” They could be old games from our youth played on cheap plastic handhelds discovered in the depths of eBay or AliExpress listings, they could be games only playable because they’ve been localized for the first time by fan communities and emulated on our smartphones, or they could be the latest PC games running at max settings on experimental portable hardware we’ve cobbled together through the help of forum users worldwide. We’re in an era where the definition of portable gaming is evolving before our eyes, and it’s headed in a direction where it’s very possible that all gaming becomes portable gaming in time.
Our plan is to follow that definition’s path of change, push at its edges, and explore how others are reinterpreting it for a new age.
Come along for the ride.
Comfort ZoneNiléane: I am so excited to be launching Comfort Zone on MacStories this week with Matt Birchler and Christopher Lawley. Comfort Zone is a podcast all about pushing ourselves out of our, well, comfort zones. Each week, Matt, Chris and I will talk about a new piece of technology that we’ve been using. This can be anything from an app, to a piece of hardware, to a new automation that we’ve been working on, to whatever else we can think of. Not only that, but each episode, one of us will also surprise the other two hosts with a new challenge to mix things up in our technology stacks.
Matt Birchler and Christopher Lawley have been an incredible source of inspiration for me over the past few years. I always look forward to Matt’s writing on Birchtree and Chris’ videos on YouTube, so finally being able to work with them today on this show is exciting to say the least. Since we each have our unique approach to tech, and we already like to change things up in our own ways on a regular basis, it’s not surprising that throughout our preparation for Comfort Zone, we realized how well we complement each other. As episodes of Comfort Zone unfold, you will undoubtedly learn about what sets us apart as well as what brings us together, even if we have to give ourselves a little nudge in the process.
And this, right here, is why MacStories is such a perfect home for this show. MacStories isn’t just about covering the news or the bleeding edge; it’s also a place where tinkerers can source their inspiration from, and where readers can always find new things to try out.
I hope you enjoy Comfort Zone. Even better, I hope you will get on this ride with us and join in on our challenges every week. Who knows? Maybe you can nudge yourself outside of your comfort zone, too!
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Raycast makes your Mac better because it’s fast, ergonomic, and reliable. Best of all, though, Raycast comes with powerful tools your Mac should have but didn’t. Plus, it’s extensible, with a rich catalog of extensions built by developers around the world that solve every productivity need you can imagine.
With Raycast, everything is at your fingertips. The app’s searchable clipboard means always having what you need a few keystrokes away. With emoji and gif search tools, Raycast makes it easy to express yourself. Plus, there are tools to perform quick calculations, currency and unit conversions, and a lot more.
And with broad developer support, there are extensions available to:
- Track your flights
- Take notes
- Save tasks
- Search for your files
- Run scripts
- Kick off shortcuts
- Translate text
- and even manage your windows
With Raycast, all of this and more can be accomplished quickly and easily without switching contexts, reducing distractions and speeding up every interaction with your Mac.
Raycast is also the best way to interact with AI. It’s an always-on window into ChatGPT that helps you code, write email messages, automate repetitive tasks, and more.
Raycast is free to download and use, but with annual plans that start at what works out to just $8/month, you can go pro with its AI features, theming, and setup sync across multiple Macs.
Visit Raycast’s website today to learn more, download Raycast for free, and see how its Pro accounts can take your Raycast experience to the next level.
Our thanks to Raycast for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico and John take the wraps off the official MacStories Unwind 2024 Apple Music Playlist, tease upcoming projects, and recommend a recent Apple TV+ show and a cozy videogame.
This episode is sponsored by:* Kolide – It ensures that if a device isn’t secure it can’t access your apps. It’s Device Trust for Okta. Watch the demo now.
Links and Show NotesUnplugged Segment* John and Federico tease new projects coming to MacStories soon
If you feel safe in the area you’re working in, you’re not working in the right area. Always go a little further into the water than you feel you’re capable of being in. Go a little bit out of your depth. And when you don’t feel that your feet are quite touching the bottom, you’re just about in the right place to do something exciting.
– David Bowie * The Official MacStories Unwind 2024 Apple Music Playlist
Picks* John’s Pick: + Dark Matter on Apple TV+ * Federico’s Pick: + Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age
MacStories Unwind+We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.
To learn more about the benefits of a Club MacStories subscription, visit our Plans page.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
This week on Magic Rays of Light, Sigmund and Devon share the updates and enhancements they hope to see come to Apple TV at WWDC next month and recap Apple Original series Franklin.
Show Notes* Trailer Talk + Presumed Innocent * News + Seasons + Link Canal+ to Your Apple ID * Releases + Experience Immersive + Adventure: Parkour + Squad Busters + Where Cards Fall Spatial + Friday Night Baseball: Tigers vs. Red Sox + Friday Night Baseball: Angels vs. Mariners * Extras + Dark Matter: What’s Coming This Season + A day in the life of Apple TV+ graphic designer Gina Alessi | Creative Bloq * Recap + Franklin * Up Next + Madame Web + Jim Henson Idea Man + Morgan Spurlock
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads
Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
→ Source: podcasts.apple.com
I’ve been playing around with Kino, a video camera app by Lux, on and off for the past day. That’s not long enough to do a full review, so instead, I got up this morning and headed out for a walk with Kino in tow to see what the default experience is like. The short answer is it’s excellent. Kino is designed to work well out of the box for a novice like me but offers manual controls for someone who needs less hand-holding. It’s similar to Lux’s approach to Halide, the company’s pro camera app, and my early experience with Kino has been just as good as it’s been with Halide.
Kino and Halide share a similar design aesthetic, so if you’ve ever tried Halide, you’ll have no trouble finding your way around Kino’s UI. There’s a record button at the bottom of the screen flanked by a button to access the video you’ve taken, which can be stored in your photo library or in the Files app, and a button for the app’s Instant Grade feature. At the top of the screen are controls for resolution, frame rate, and format presets, as well as a ‘Custom’ option. The top of the screen is where you’ll also see your audio levels and a button for switching between automatic and manual exposure. Just beneath the viewfinder are controls for toggling auto and manual focus, picking your camera lens, and a button for accessing additional controls and the app’s settings.
Like Halide, Kino also comes with a set of guides to get you started, which I haven’t tried yet because they weren’t available in the beta version of the app. However, if they’re anything like Halide’s guides, I expect they’ll be worth checking out if you’re new to shooting video and want to get the most out of Kino.
Some of Kino’s built-in color presets.
The app shoots beautiful video by default. Here’s an example of a short walk through Davidson College’s campus using all default settings, the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s Ultra Wide lens, and no post-processing.
The marquee feature of Kino is its Instant Grade. The app also comes with a collection of built-in color presets that you can preview in the viewfinder, making it easy to find one that fits your needs. The collection that comes with Kino has been created by video experts, including Stu Maschwitz, Sandwich Video, Evan Schneider, Tyler Stalman, and Kevin Ong. But you’re not limited to the presets that come with Kino. You can also import any LUT using the app’s integration with the Files app.
I visited a nearby lake and shot some video with Kino’s default settings enabled, and then tried each of its color presets:
The app also implements something Lux calls AutoMotion, which applies an exposure logic that gives video a cinematic feel. It’s another feature that just works out of the box for novices who don’t want to dig deeper. However, you always have the option to vary from the defaults, adjusting settings manually.
My first-run experience with Kino was great. I didn’t explore the app before heading out the door this morning, yet I had no trouble figuring out the basics and shooting video that looks good with no processing whatsoever. With more practice and some post-processing, I’m sure the results would look even better, but I love how well my video turned out with minimal effort. I’m planning to spend more time with Kino over the summer and look forward to checking out Lux’s guides to improve my video skills.
Kino is available on the App Store for a one-time price of $9.99, which is a short-term launch price. In a few days, the app will be $19.99.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
This week on Ruminate, I go to Applebee’s and a new game store, we both check out the new Legend of Zelda Lego, Robb launched a new project, then we head into AI corner.
Links and Show Notes* Hey, it’s Jason! // OfficeSpace.gif * Matrix Bot * Office Space Bot * Applebee’s Dollaritas - $1 Margaritas Are Back for a Limited Time Only! * Miyoo Mini Plus * Gamers Alley * Robb’s Lego Collection * LEGO The Legend of Zelda set revealed! * slash pages * AI Corner: + Scarlett Johansson told OpenAI not to use her voice — and she’s not happy they might have anyway + Google now offers ‘web’ search — and an AI opt-out button + How Google’s AI could accelerate the Web’s decline + As Google AI search rolls out to more people, websites brace for carnage + Opinion: AI Is Not Ready For The World
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
→ Source: podcasts.apple.com
As WWDC approaches, Apple has announced the finalists in the running for its annual Apple Design Awards. The awards ceremony revealing the winners will be held during WWDC.
This year, there are seven categories, and each category has six finalists. That’s one more than last year, with Spatial Computing joining the categories for the first time. The 2024 ADA finalists are:
Delight and Fun* Apps + Dudel Draw + Bears Gratitude + Rooms * Games + WHAT THE CAR? + NYT Games + Hello Kitty Island Adventure
Inclusivity* Apps + oko + Complete Anatomy 2024 + Tiimo * Games + Unpacking + Quadline + Crayola Adventures
Innovation* Apps + Copilot Money + SmartGym + Procreate Dreams * Games + Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile + Lost in Play + Wavelength
Interaction* Apps + Procreate Dreams + Arc Search + Crouton * Games + Little Nightmares + Rytmos + finity.
Social Impact* Apps
+ How We Feel
+ Ahead: Emotions Coach
- Gentler Streak Fitness Tracker
* Games
+ The Wreck
+ Cityscapes: Sim Builder
+ The Bear
Visuals and Graphics* Apps + Sunlitt + Meditate + Rooms * Games + Death Stranding: Director’s Cut + Lies of P + Honkai: Star Rail
Spatial Computing* Apps + Sky Guide + NBA + djay * Games + Synth Riders + Blackbox + Loóna: Cozy Puzzle Games
The selections include a broad range of games and apps, including some apps from smaller developers like Devin Davies, the maker of the wonderful recipe app Crouton, the team behind Gentler Streaks, one of my favorite fitness apps, and SmartGym by Mateus Abras, as well as titles from bigger publishers.
I’m glad that Apple announces the finalists in advance. Winning an ADA is a big achievement for any developer, but it’s also nice to know who the finalists are because it’s quite an honor among the many apps that could have been chosen too. Plus as a fan of apps, Apple’s list of finalists always reminds me of an app or two that I haven’t tried yet.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Today, Apple announced that WWDC 2024 will run from June 10th through the 14th. As has been the case for the past several years, the event will be predominantly online, with over 100 sessions for developers, opportunities for developers to consult with Apple’s engineers, and more.
WWDC will begin on June 10th at 10 AM Pacific time, with the annual keynote and the Platforms State of the Union to follow at 1:00 PM Pacific. Throughout WWDC, Apple will also offer online labs and consultation sessions with the company’s engineers and designers, who will be available to provide guidance on developers’ apps and games.
The over 100 sessions Apple is producing will be available in the Developer app, apple.com, and YouTube. Apple says developers will also have access to curated guides:
…to walk them through the conference’s biggest announcements, from new documentation to sessions and more.
In addition to the learning experiences available at WWDC, Apple has invited 50 Distinguished Winners of the Swift Student Challenge who will visit Apple Park for the event. As always, Apple will also celebrate the Apple Design Award winners.
I love attending WWDC. Getting to see the developers we cover at MacStories is a treat, and Apple’s announcements will be the fuel that takes the MacStories team into the fall and beyond. If you see me around, be sure to stop me and say ‘hi.’
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
This week on AppStories, we continue our annual wishlists with a look at macOS and visionOS.
Sponsored by:
- Raycast – A collection of powerful productivity tools all within an extendable launcher. Fast, ergonomic and reliable.
- Notion – Start turning ideas into action. Try it free today.
- CleanMyMac X – Your Mac. As good as new. Get 5% off today.
Our 2024 macOS and visionOS WWDC Wishes* Our macOS Wishes + Notifications + Alerts + Finder + Stage Manager + System Settings + Music + TestFlight + Shortcuts * Our visionOS Wishes + The Developer Strap + Multitasking + Better Voice Control + iPad Virtualization + Environments + Apple Pencil Pro + More Native Apps + Software OPtimizations + Home Screen Changes + Wi-Fi Performance + Support for Mice + Multiple Desktops * Related: + macOS Sonoma: The MacStories Review + The Best Small Feature of visionOS 1.1
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, a video experiment, i have iPad Pro follow-up, and Federico has technical follow-up and a question for listeners about streaming videogames over Wi-Fi.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
→ Source: appstories.net
When MGM Resorts suffered a $100 million hack in September, CEO Bill Hornbuckle wasn’t too worried about the lost revenue, because cyber insurance would cover the tab. “I can only imagine what next year’s bill will be,” he joked.
Weeks later, on a call with analysts, Hornbuckle complained about the “staggering” rise of insurance costs in the past few years.
This story neatly illustrates the crisis in cyber liability coverage. For years, companies have invested more in security insurance than in actual security. The result has been a tidal wave of data breaches that have driven up the cost of premiums to the point that they are rapidly becoming unaffordable.
Some large enterprises are responding to the increased costs by creating their own “captive carriers,” insurance providers that exist only to serve them. But that’s clearly not an option for small businesses, which are more likely to go without insurance altogether.
According to Andrew Bucci, VP of Sales at Amplified Insurance Partners, “It’s going to come to a point where some people may have to self-insure, which means that they don’t take a cyber policy out and they just cross their fingers they don’t have some sort of breach.” That’s a huge gamble for SMBs, since they could be driven to bankruptcy by a single security incident.
At Kolide, we’ve seen our cyber insurance premiums go up by 40% in just the last two years, and we got curious about:
- What’s driving the increases?
- Who really needs cybersecurity insurance?
- How can the average company reduce their premiums?
What we found was that insurance companies themselves can help get us out of this crisis, by mandating some (pretty basic) security requirements for their customers–things like MFA, endpoint security, and retiring end-of-life software.
Read the full blog to learn more about our findings.
Our thanks to Kolide for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
This week on MacStories Unwind, I update listeners on my new 11” iPad Pro and Federico lights a fire, plus YouTube, app, and TV recommendations.
Show Notes* The 11” iPad Pro * Blowing fuses in power supplies
Picks* John’s Pick: + Retro Game Corps - Videos mentioned: * I’m Starting to Love the Legion Go * Emulation on the Lenovo Legion Go * Who is “Russ from Retro Game Corps”? * Federico’s Picks: + Moonlight + [Young Sheldon - CBS - Apple TV app * Up Next: + Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
MacStories Unwind+We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.
To learn more about the benefits of a Club MacStories subscription, visit our Plans page.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
→ Source: podcasts.apple.com
Source: Disney+.
Earlier this month, I linked to What If…? – An Immersive Story, which Marvel Studios and ILM Immersive developed for Disney+. The project is an Apple Vision Pro exclusive for which there were few details originally. Now, however, we have a trailer and a launch date. What If…? – An Immersive Story will be available to Disney+ subscribers in just over one week on May 30th:
The trailer’s description explains the project’s premise:
The Multiverse is in danger and The Watcher needs your help. Dangerous variants are hunting Infinity Stones and altering the fate of not only their realities, but yours as well. To save the fate of the Multiverse, you’ll need to use your own hands to learn mystic spells, defend your allies in epic battles, and more. But, be careful… everything might not be all that it seems.
Source: Disney+.
I can’t wait to try What If…? – An Immersive Story. There hasn’t been a lot of new immersive content since the Vision Pro’s launch. However, along with the appearance of Parkour in the TV app, which is set for release in a couple of days, the pace seems to be picking up.
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This week on Magic Rays of Light, Sigmund and Devon highlight the return of Trying, recap the first season of Sugar, and revisit their 2023 WWDC hopes to see what came true and what remains on the wishlist.
Show Notes* Opening Chat + Sigmund’s Modded Magic Keyboard * Highlight + Trying + Trying Seasons 1–3 Recap * Global Accessibility Awareness Day + Apple Marks Global Accessibility Awareness Day with a Preview of OS Features Coming Later This Year + Remaking the World: Global Accessibility Awareness Day * News + Sonos Ace + PPSSPP + RetroArch + Assassin’s Creed Shadows + First Look at Bad Monkey * Releases + Apple Immersive: Parkour + Friday Night Baseball: Orioles vs. White Sox + Friday Night Baseball: Brewers vs. Red Sox + MLS Season Pass: Colorado Rapids vs. Minnesota United * Recap + Sugar + ‘Sugar’ Is Not How American TV Usually Gets Made | IndieWire * Up Next + Silicon Valley + The Emirates FA Cup + Dune: Part Two + The Fall Guy + Civil War + Stress Positions + Monsters at Work
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads
Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
→ Source: podcasts.apple.com
Tadoº, the European-based smart heating company, has announced a new line of products called tadoº X. These products feature upgrades from the company’s previous V3+ range, support the new Matter smart home standard, and are built on the Thread protocol for a more reliable connection.
Tadoº also announced a new product, the Heat Pump Optimizer X. This device controls heat pumps, an increasingly popular way to heat homes that is more efficient and not dependent on fossil fuels. Tadoº says the new tadoº X range “has been designed to make Smart Thermostats and the new Heat Pump Optimizer X more accessible for millions more households across Europe to cut both their energy bills and impact on the climate.”
The tadoº X line includes the following products:
- Smart Thermostat X
- Smart Radiator Thermostat X
- Wireless Temperature Sensor X
- Heat Pump Optimizer X
- Bridge X (which serves as a Thread border router)
Amongst the notable upgrades, the Smart Radiator Thermostat X now features a USB-C rechargeable battery that can be detached without removing the whole device from the radiator. The Heat Pump Optimizer X can be used with tadoº’s smart energy tariffs to shift operation times to periods of the day when energy prices are cheaper. Finally, the tadoº Bridge X that serves as a Thread border router, allowing your devices to connect to each other and the Internet, is not necessary if you already have a HomePod mini or the Wi-Fi + Ethernet version of the latest-generation Apple TV 4K, as these also serve as Thread border routers.
The smart radiator thermostat now has a removable, rechargeable battery.
As before, the tadoº range is compatible with the Apple Home app, but most features – such as advanced scheduling and checking battery levels – are only available in the tadoº app. The devices also integrate with an optional subscription called ‘Auto-Assist’ that gives access to additional features including Energy IQ, Care & Protect, Geofencing, and Open Window Detection. This service costs €3.99 per month or €29.99 per year, but each tadoº X product comes with 12 months free.
The tadoº app. Image: tadoº
I have personally used tadoº products for over three years now (and covered them recently in our home accessories roundup), and I’ve seen genuine savings in my usage. (tadoº claims an average of 22% savings based on internal usage data.) One flaw I’ve sometimes encountered is dropped connections, as the previous V3+ range could only connect to a single bridge that had to also connect via ethernet to my router. The move to Thread should hopefully alleviate these issues.
I will have to wait for the new tadoº range, however, as it is not launching in the UK yet. In response to an inquiry about this, tadoº told me the company has a September target release date in the UK and other European countries. They also confirmed an additional product, the Wireless Smart Thermostat X, which connects to traditional gas boilers like the one I have, will be released at that time. This will enable efficient usage through the ability to remotely turn the boiler off if no radiator thermostats are on.
Another detail provided to me is that the Auto-Assist feature, which was previously complimentary to Apple users, was a limited offer through Apple. As such, after the 12-month trial, the service will now cost the standard €3.99 per month or €29.99 per year, even if you are an Apple Home user.
The new tadoº X range is now available in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Sweden, and Denmark.
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I’m not usually nostalgic about apps. I appreciate classic designs from the past, but I find ‘new’ more exciting. However, for every rule, there’s an exception, and for me, it’s Mario Guzmán’s beautiful, pixel-perfect reimagining of classic Apple music apps.
Guzmán’s latest app is QuickTune, a remote control utility for Apple Music. The app is the spitting image of QuickTime 71 running on Mac OS X Tiger, with a sprinkling of modern features and fun interactions that make it a pleasure to use.
Mario Guzmán’s Music MiniPlayer.
Music Widget.
QuickTune isn’t Guzmán’s first Music remote app. I’ve covered both Music MiniPlayer and Music Remote, and we interviewed him for MacStories Weekly about Music Widget, which recreated the iTunes Dashboard widget. If you’re familiar with those earlier apps, you’ll know what to expect from QuickTune.
The native AppKit app uses Scripting Bridge and Distributed Notification Center to communicate with and control Apple’s Music app, whether you’re playing music you own, streaming from the Apple Music catalog, or listening to an Apple Music radio station. Guzmán also explains that the app uses Core Graphics and Core Animation to look great whether your Mac has a Retina display or not.
In a morning spent listening to my Apple Music Favorites Mix, QuickTune has worked flawlessly. The app features a central play/pause button, as well as buttons to skip forward and back through tracks, shuffle songs, and toggle between repeat modes. There’s also a volume slider and playback progress bar that you can drag around with your Mac’s pointer or click to jump to a particular point in a track. If Music isn’t open when you click play, QuickTune will launch it, which is handy.
QuickTunes’ inspector.
The current track, album, and artist information cycle in the title bar of the app’s window, but if you want more information, you can open an inspector, which adds the source, duration, genre, release year, album artist, composer, and play count information. You can also access and play your playlists from a separate QuickTune window using the app’s Window menu or with the shortcut ⌥ + ⌘ + L and jump to the Music app at any time using ⌥ + ⌘ + S.
Playlist support.
QuickTune includes a bunch of great animations, too. There are two default window sizes that you can toggle between by double-clicking the app’s title bar, which kicks off a satisfying resizing animation. If you don’t want to display album art, just drag the bottom edge of QuickTune’s window up and let go somewhere beyond about half the window’s height. QuickTune takes care of the rest, snapping to the perfect size to hide the artwork. The same thing works in reverse as you expand the window, eliminating the need to precisely size it yourself. However, you also have the option to pick a size between the smallest window and largest version by dragging from the corner, which helpfully snaps to a size that won’t letter or pillar-box your album art. It’s a small thing, but it’s the sort of detail I love.
QuickTune’s three default sizes.
The app also includes options to float its window above all other windows, display the duration or remaining time of tracks in the scrubber, and check for and install updates automatically. Every feature includes keyboard shortcuts, too.
There are two features that I’d love to see added to QuickTune. The first is a button to toggle infinite playback on and off. It’s a Music feature that I like to use, but not all the time, so having a button that indicates whether it is on and allows me to toggle it would be a welcome addition. Second, I’d like a setting to designate a default playlist or album that would start playing if there isn’t a track selected in Music, allowing me to get up and running with a favorite playlist or album more quickly.
QuickTune (left) and Music’s MiniPlayer (right).
So why use QuickTune instead of Music’s own MiniPlayer? It’s a fair question. The MiniPlayer can do more and fits in better with macOS Sonoma, and ultimately, that’s why I usually prefer modern app design.
However, there’s something about music that makes an app like QuickTune and Mario Guzmán’s other nostalgia-soaked Music utilities work for me when other retro-style apps don’t. The difference is the music itself. You probably remember where you were when you first heard one of your favorite albums; I know I do. In the same way, I also associate certain music with versions of OS X and macOS, and QuickTune is a fun trip back to that time and place. So yes, I will still use Apple’s MiniPlayer, but for a change of pace and a trip back in time, I highly recommend QuickTune, which is free to download from Mario Guzmán’s website.
- Fun Fact: You can still download QuickTime 7 for Windows, which was last updated in 2016. The app is still available for the Mac, too, but only if you’re running macOS Mojave or earlier. ↩︎
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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The updated MacPad.
As I hinted in my story on the issues of iPadOS last week, I upgraded from an 11” iPad Pro to a 13” iPad Pro (1 TB, Wi-Fi-only model). While I was very happy with the 11” form factor, I decided to return to the larger model for two reasons:
- I wanted to have maximum thinness with the ultimate iPad Pro model Apple makes.
- I sacrificed the physical comfort of the 11” iPad Pro to get a larger display for my MacPad as well as portable gaming.
Today, I will explain how I was able to immediately turn the brand-new 13” iPad Pro into a convertible MacPad using a combination of accessories and some new techniques I’ve been exploring. I’ll also share my experience with using the iPad’s glorious Tandem OLED display in a variety of gaming setups ranging from streaming to emulators.
Let’s dive in.
The 13” iPad Pro as a MacPadFor those who may have missed my story a couple of months ago, the MacPad is a convertible Apple computer I created by combining a headless MacBook Air with an iPad Pro. In terms of hardware, the two computers are joined via a modded iPad cover and magnets; from a software perspective, I’m simply relying on Apple’s own Sidecar technology to turn the iPad into a display for the Mac. As I showcased in the story, the MacPad lets me use both iPadOS and macOS at the same time, allowing me to decide which operating system is required for the task at hand. Best of all, when I’m done working with the laptop, I can rip its display off, and it’s a tablet.
A few people have asked me if the MacPad was a joke that I published “for clicks”. Perhaps I wasn’t clear enough months ago: I’ve been using the MacPad as my main computer ever since. I modded my one and only MacBook Air and have been living with the MacPad for the past two months. It’s been a dream so far. So, as you can imagine, I was pretty excited at the prospect of having an OLED MacBook years before Apple releases official OLED laptops thanks to the MacPad.
Probably surprisingly no one, I was ready with accessories to turn the new iPad Pro into a MacPad before my iPad Pro even arrived. A few weeks ago, I noticed that ESR (a brand I knew from early MacPad experiments) had already released smart covers for the 2024 iPad Pro based on leaked schematics. Knowing that I’d want to immediately turn the iPad Pro into a MacPad, I placed an order for the 13” version and hoped ESR had gotten their measurements right. When the iPad Pro arrived, I was glad to confirm that the cover fit perfectly, so I got to work.
I followed the same process as the first MacPad mod. I took the cover, grabbed a knife, and cut it to separate the front cover (which I didn’t need) from the back cover. I also cut off the Apple Pencil protective flap at the top of the back cover.
Cutting the ESR cover.
Half of the cover.
Next, I took the circular magnets that come with the Rolling Square Edge Pro Core mounting system, lined them up with the magnets on the base of the MacPad, and attached them to the back cover, like so:
The magnets on the back cover.
And that was it! With the back cover ready to go, all I had to do was attach the new iPad Pro, initiate Sidecar via my shortcut, and there it was: an OLED Apple convertible running both iPadOS and macOS. I had this ready to go in 10 minutes after I received my iPad Pro last week.
Hello, OLED MacPad.
As you can see from the pictures, the 13” iPad Pro is vastly more visually balanced than the original 11” version of the MacPad. Although this unit is still heavier than a standard MacBook Air, the weight reduction of the 13” iPad Pro compared to the old 12.9” model has made the trade-off more acceptable than it used to be. I can work with this flavor of the MacPad now, despite the heavier form factor.
Using macOS on a 13” OLED display is glorious. In fact, if you think about it, excluding Hackintoshes, the updated MacPad has to be one of the first OLED MacBooks out in the wild. The macOS interface looks fantastic on the iPad Pro’s new display; as Jason Snell pointed out in his review, even black text against white backgrounds (like file names in a Finder window or text in Obsidian) looks crisper and more legible than before. Wallpapers look amazing on OLED, as does – obviously – dark mode with true black interfaces.
As always with the MacPad, at any point I can grab my “display”, close Sidecar, and be back on iPadOS. Or if I don’t want to use macOS at all but still have a nice keyboard, I can rely on Universal Control to work on iPadOS with the MacBook Air’s keyboard and trackpad, which is still bigger than the new Magic Keyboard’s trackpad. I just love this computer so much.
macOS as an app.
I want to share something else I’m working on, though. This is a bit of a work-in-progress experiment, so don’t consider it a finished idea since it’s going to require more testing. I’m playing around with ways to turn Apple’s official Smart Folio into a MacPad mounting system that doesn’t require cutting anything.
What annoys me about my MacPad setup is that I had to cut a back cover and, when I detach the iPad, I don’t have a full Smart Folio to carry it around in or prop it up on my lap with anymore. So last week, when I started using Apple’s new Smart Folio and realized I liked it a lot, I had an idea. I had to find a way to make it work with the MacPad without cutting it, thus retaining all of its features.
I’m pleased to say that I have a working prototype of this. It works, but it’s ugly, and I’m already working on a revision that I should have ready soon. The idea: I attached three magnets to the front of the Smart Folio, which is then folded to be attached to the MacPad. Here’s how I fold the Smart Folio:
Like I said: it’s ugly.
However, when folded like this, the Smart Folio effectively becomes a lever, causing the iPad to tilt backwards. To fix the issue, I applied two strips of Velcro that hold the folded folio together.
The strips of velcro help the folded part not to tilt over when attached to the MacPad.
It’s not nice to see, but it works. With this method, I didn’t have to cut anything, and when I detach the iPad, I can still use the Smart Folio for its intended use case to prop up the device on my desk or lap.
The working prototype.
I didn’t have to cut anything, and the Smart Folio still works as intended.
However, since I’m not happy with this first take, I’m already working on a second version, which will feature the following changes:
- Slimmer magnets on the front. I ran out of Rolling Square magnets, and the next version will have smaller and slimmer ones.
- Microsuction tape instead of Velcro. The Velcro method works, but since the soft side of Velcro is facing the iPad’s display when the Smart Folio cover is closed, it’s thicker than I’d like, causing the cover not to close completely. I’m going to try Sewell’s AirStick microsuction tape next, which leaves no residue and is reusable. My only concern is whether microsuction will be able to latch onto the inner side of the Smart Folio when mounted on the MacPad. If this doesn’t work out, I guess I’ll have to use Velcro again, but maybe less of it. In hindsight, I was afraid Velcro wouldn’t hold and used too much.
I’ll keep you posted on how this goes. In the meantime, I’m loving my 13” MacPad, and I’m also exploring the possibilities when it comes to the M4 iPad Pro and gaming.
The 13” iPad Pro as a Portable Gaming DisplayA 13”, 5.1mm thin, 120Hz portable Tandem OLED display is too good an opportunity for portable gaming to pass up. So I leaned into it with the new iPad Pro.
Portable OLED gaming monitors do exist – and I’ve tried some over the years – but the problem is, they’re bulky, not all of them support USB-C video input (sometimes they even come with the terrible micro HDMI connector), they still cost quite a bit of money, and they’re another thing you’re supposed to carry around. An iPad Pro, besides being an incredible display for gaming (at this point, the only missing feature I can think of is support for G-Sync/FreeSync), also happens to be a full-on computer. Is it expensive? Yes. But when you consider that the most portable OLED monitor might be ASUS’ foldable one that is expected to retail around $3,000, now an iPad Pro as a dedicated gaming display doesn’t sound so bad.
As I explained on Club MacStories a few months ago, I modded a GameSir G8 controller to fit large tablets and used it with the 11” iPad Pro at the time.1 The modded G8 fits around the 13” iPad Pro in landscape just fine, too. Even though extending the exposed spring may feel a little…strange at first, it doesn’t cause any issues.
A giant handheld.
The view from the back.
With the iPad Pro in this configuration, it basically turns into a giant PlayStation Portal: a lightweight, 13” OLED display I can use to stream games from around the house or via cloud gaming. Unlike the PlayStation Portal, however, this is an actual computer, which means I can also enjoy native iPad games and, more importantly these days, emulators for retro consoles.
In my tests with the iPad Pro as a portable gaming display, I used NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW game streaming service with the Ultimate tier to continue playing my Steam save for the excellent Dragon’s Dogma 2. The iPad Pro’s Wi-Fi 6E radio handled the streaming session beautifully with my 6E ASUS setup at home, and I was able to play the game at maximum settings with ray-tracing turned on thanks to GeForce NOW’s powerful 4080s in the cloud.
The big issue, obviously, was the lack of a native GeForce NOW app for iPad. Apple only recently relaxed its stance on game streaming apps on the App Store, and GeForce NOW is still a PWA that you have to install from Safari. I don’t know whether NVIDIA or Apple is to blame here, but as a customer, the reality is that I can’t stream my games in 4K, nor can I enable HDR within the GeForce NOW web app. I hope this improves in the near future, but regardless, the current PWA is still a good showcase of the iPad Pro’s large display and Wi-Fi 6E.
This window size matches the maximum resolution supported by the GeForce NOW web app on iPadOS. Not ideal.
And if you fill the screen instead, you can see the loss in image quality due to the low resolution.
For context, this is what streaming the same game at 4K from my gaming PC looks like on an iPad Pro.
I had an even better experience with Moonlight, the iPad app to stream games from a PC on my local network running the Sunshine streaming service. On a solid 6E network, the combination of Sunshine and Moonlight is incredible: I’ve been able to stream Hades II and Dragon’s Dogma 2 at 4K HDR, 120fps, with a 150 Mbits bandwidth seeing < 5ms latency and 0% dropped frames. With the iPad Pro securely held in the two halves of the controller, it felt like I was playing with PC games “natively” on the device even though I was actually streaming them. Plus, they looked amazing thanks to OLED. Even Hades, which is a fast-paced action game that requires good reflexes and timely button presses, felt great to play. In this configuration, the iPad Pro felt like a larger, lighter, OLED version of the Legion Go – except that my eGPU can stay in the other room and there are no wires involved.
Streaming in 4K on my local network is a dream.
The iPad Pro’s Wi-Fi performance and OLED display are the absolute stars here, but I want to highlight the Wi-Fi radio in particular. In researching this story, I thought it’d be interesting to compare the wireless performance of the latest iPad Pro to my Legion Go and the Logitech G Cloud, a handheld built specifically for streaming purposes that I purchased for this article.
Comparing handhelds. For streaming, the iPad Pro beat them all.
Long story short, the iPad Pro absolutely crushed the two consoles both in terms of image quality and performance. I was mostly disappointed with the G Cloud: while I find it one of the most comfortable handhelds I’ve ever used (I wish more companies would copy its design), its low-power specs meant that Wi-Fi reception wasn’t solid enough and its SoC was lagging behind in terms of video decoding latency. For a handheld that is primarily advertised for streaming, I find its lack of Wi-Fi 6 perplexing to say the least. The G Cloud is stuck on Wi-Fi 5; as a result, in my tests I saw frequent fluctuations in network latency as the device couldn’t keep a stable connection when streaming 1080p content.
I had a better experience with the Legion Go, which was able to stream 1440p content, decode the video signal more quickly than the G Cloud, and keep a more stable connection as well thanks to its support for Wi-Fi 6E. However, I experienced the occasional dip in streaming quality, stuttering, or latency in fast-paced action sequences. My overall experience was much better than with the G Cloud, but I wouldn’t call it flawless.
The iPad Pro, on the other hand, was close to perfection. Of all the devices I tested for Moonlight streaming, the M4 iPad Pro had, by far, the strongest and most reliable Wi-Fi 6E connection combined with excellent video decoding performance – all of this, mind you, while streaming games at a higher resolution than the other handhelds (4K) with a higher bandwidth cap (150 Mbits) and while displaying content on a gorgeous OLED display. In fact, playing games via Moonlight streaming on the iPad Pro with a USB-C controller was so smooth and consistent, it often gave me the illusion I was playing the game right on my iPad rather than on a different computer in another room. I don’t know how Apple achieved this kind of Wi-Fi performance in a thin tablet, but the mix of solid Wi-Fi, excellent decoding times, and image quality have made the iPad Pro the best device I’ve ever tested for local PC game streaming. (Yes, even better than a Steam Deck OLED because of the lighter form factor.)
Hello, Arisen.
As for non-streaming games, I’m not particularly interested in the catalog of Apple Arcade content, nor do I want to play AAA games available on iPad that I already played years ago elsewhere (the day-one release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows later this year may be my first exception), but I’m very much intrigued by the newfound potential of emulators. I primarily tested Delta, for Nintendo games, and PPSSPP, for Sony PSP games.
I’ve been building my personal collection of retro Nintendo games in Delta using a cartridge reader that lets me rip my own SNES and GBA cartridges, which I will cover in the future. I’ve also been using a pre-release version of Delta for iPad, which cleverly relies on a custom keyboard to show you a virtual Nintendo controller in the lower half of the screen. Given that Delta doesn’t offer any upscaling features and that old Nintendo games are relatively easy to emulate, I didn’t encounter any performance issues, and all games looked great on OLED. I recently started a new playthrough of the original Chrono Trigger on cartridge, and it’s fun to be able to transfer my save back and forth between Delta and the physical SNES cartridge using only my iPad and a USB-C cable.
Ripping SNES cartridges to transfer to my iPad. What a time to be alive.
I love this little thing so much.
Transferring the ROM and save file to my iPad…
…which I can continue playing in Delta.
PPSSPP also worked well, but this is where – even with the sheer horsepower of the M4 – I started seeing the issues inherent to the absence of JIT compilation on iPadOS.
On my gaming PC and Android gaming phone, I can upscale PSP games with PPSSPP to 4K (8x resolution) and play them at 60fps with no lag thanks to JIT support in the emulator’s CPU core. On an M4 iPad Pro with 16 GB of RAM, I cannot go above 1080p upscaling without seeing dropped frames, choppy audio, and other slowdowns. All the advances in the M-series chips and higher memory can’t do anything against the simple fact that 3D emulators are CPU-heavy and require just-in-time compilation of a game’s code if they want to run well and go beyond the limitations of original hardware. For certain types of console architectures, there’s no away around it: they need JIT to run well.
A PSP game emulated on my iPad Pro and displayed on an external monitor.
The limitations of iPadOS notwithstanding, I’ve had a great time with PPSSPP playing classics such as God of War: Chains of Olympus and the evergreen masterpiece that is Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions. I plan on spending some time over the next few weeks digitizing my entire collection of UMDs to ISO files that I can use in PPSSPP. Now that emulators are proving to be a popular category on the App Store, I hope Apple will figure out a way to open up the JIT entitlement to more apps beyond web browsers in the EU.
As this story shows, the problems of iPadOS I’ve documented do not change the fact that the iPad hardware remains my all-time favorite Apple computer. The flexibility and modularity made possible by the iPad have no equal. The M4 iPad Pro’s OLED display and lighter form factor make these setups even better since the device is easier to hold and software running on it looks better than ever.
Sure, the MacPad continues to be a strange experiment that I do not recommend others follow. But given the state of iPadOS at the moment, isn’t the whole point of the iPad experience to push the limits of its hardware and see what happens?
Well, at least that’s my approach. Expect more of it soon.
- My dream: an extensible controller for tablets that is like a GameCube WaveBird controller split in half. ↩︎
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Today, Apple rolled out support for Paris’ Navigo transit passes in the Wallet app, just in time for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. Travelers are now able to acquire a Navigo pass directly from Apple’s Wallet app and load it with transit tickets. Not only that, but this now also makes it possible to use your iPhone to get through any gates on the Paris transit network, simply by holding the iPhone near the stations’ contactless readers.
Navigo in Wallet also supports Apple’s Express Mode feature, which means the pass is automatically activated when holding the iPhone near a gate, without having to authenticate with Face ID. Additionally, this features lets you use the pass for up to five hours after your iPhone runs out of battery.
As French publication Numerama notes, this full integration with Apple’s transit pass system is a first of its kind in continental Europe. In my testing, you can add a Navigo pass in Wallet and pay for a new batch of tickets without even having to install Paris’ official transit app at any step of the process. However, this only applies to occasional travelers since the official app is still required to purchase weekly, monthly, and annual tickets before you can load them onto the pass in Apple Wallet.
Loading tickets onto the Navigo Pass in Applet Wallet, and enabling Express Mode.
This integration with Apple Wallet has been a long time in the making. Android smartphone owners have already been able to replace their physical Navigo pass with their device since 2022. At the time, Île-de-France Mobilités (Paris’ transit authority) announced they were actively working with Apple to bring the feature to the iPhone in 2023. Today, one year later than originally expected, it has finally arrived.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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I’ve published my fair share of criticism regarding the iPadOS version of Stage Manager over the years. I wrote about it again last week, but most of its underlying issues date back to the original release in late 2022, which I documented here.
But let’s say you don’t want to read my articles and would prefer to have a more practical example of the issues I described. In that case, go check out this three-minute video by Quinn Nelson, in which he tries to have a Freeform window on the iPad and another Freeform window on an external display:
Post by @snazzyq View on Threads
This video has everything:
- It shows the confusing lack of Mission Control/Exposé to see all active windows for an app in Stage Manager.
- It highlights the lack of a window picker in Stage Manager. Quinn points out that he can see a window picker on the iPad’s display, but that’s because the iPad is running in traditional Split View mode, which does come with the shelf.
- Quinn is (rightfully) perplexed by what ‘Add Another Window’ means.
- The video shows the inconsistencies of Spotlight as an app launcher.
- It also showcases the inconsistent implementation of keyboard shortcuts for multitasking.
- The video shows how downright unintuitive the solution is. An alternative solution mentioned in Quinn’s replies is equally non-discoverable.
I’m sure someone at Apple may argue that this is the kind of feature people buy another computer for. But it’s always the same story: if Stage Manager for iPad exists, what’s the point of leaving it in this state for two years?
→ Source: threads.net
Just over a year ago, I wrote about the poor performance of TestFlight, the app that App Store developers rely on for beta testing their own apps. Today, thanks to a couple rounds of Feedback submissions, TestFlight is working better than before, but it’s not fixed. With WWDC around the corner, I thought I’d provide a quick update and share a few suggestions for fixes and features I’d like to see Apple implement.
One of the benefits of writing about TestFlight last year was that it became clear to me that, although my use of the app was unique, I wasn’t alone. Other writers who test a lot of apps and super fans who love trying the latest versions of their favorite apps got in touch sharing similar experiences, which convinced me that the issue was related to the number of betas I had in TestFlight. My experience was one of the worst, but with others in a similar boat, I took the time to file a Feedback report to see if there was anything that could be done to improve TestFlight.
An example of a beta app set to automatically update. But at least on my iPhone, none do.
That initial Feedback attempt ultimately went nowhere. Then, I got busy and resigned myself to getting by as best I could. However, getting by was no longer an option as the Vision Pro’s release date approached. That added a significant number of new betas to my TestFlight collection. By March, the Mac version of TestFlight had stopped working entirely. With apps lined up in my review queue, that posed a problem I couldn’t work around.
I removed inactive betas using my iPhone and removed myself from testing as many active betas as I could bear. However, nothing worked, so I filed another report with the black box known as Feedback. Fortunately, this time, it worked. After some back-and-forth sharing logs and screen recordings of TestFlight failing to load any content, I received a message that something had been adjusted on Apple’s end to shake things loose. Just like that, TestFlight was working again, although sluggishly.
TestFlight once again loads betas on my Mac, but not always with icons.
My immediate problem is fixed, and I’ve been managing old betas more carefully to avoid a repeat of what happened on the Mac before. However, it’s clear that TestFlight needs more than just the quick fix that solved the worst of my problems. First of all, although TestFlight works again on my Mac, it’s slow to load on all OSes and clearly in need of work to allow it to handle larger beta collections more gracefully. And there’s a lot of other low-hanging fruit that would make managing large beta collections better on every OS, including:
- the addition of a search field to make it easier to quickly locate a particular app
- sorting by multiple criteria like developer, app name, and app category
- filtering to allow users to only display installed or uninstalled betas
- a single toggle in the Settings app to turn off all existing and future email notifications of new beta releases
- attention to the automatic installation of beta updates, which has never worked consistently for me
- a versioning system that allows users to see whether the App Store version of an app has caught up to its beta releases
- automatic installation of betas after an OS update or ‘factory restore’ because currently, those apps’ icons are installed, but they are not useable until they’re manually re-installed from TestFlight one-by-one
It’s time for Apple to spend some time updating TestFlight beyond the band-aid fix that got it working again for me. It’s been a full decade since Apple acquired TestFlight. Today, the app is crucial to iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and visionOS development, and while it’s not as critical to macOS development, it’s used more often than not by Mac developers, too. Apple has gone to great lengths to explain the benefits of its developer program to justify its App Store commissions generally and the Core Technology Fee in the EU specifically. TestFlight is just one piece of that program, but it’s an important one that has been neglected for too long and no longer squares with the company’s professed commitment to developers.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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This week on AppStories, we kick off our annual WWDC wishes episodes with a conversation about the changes they’d like to see made to iOS and iPadOS 18.
Sponsored by:
- Things: a beautiful native app for Apple Vision Pro.
Our iOS and iPadOS 18 Wishes for WWDC* Context: + Our iOS 17 Wishes + Our iPadOS 17 Wishes + iOS and iPadOS 17: The MacStories Review * Also mentioned: + Wallpaper Frenzy: A Roundup of My Favorite Wallpaper Apps, Tools, and Artists in 2024 + Shortcuts Wish List, 2022 Edition + Shortcuts Wish List, 2021 Edition + Terminology + The iPad Pro 2024 Manifesto
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, I explain the three features that made me apprehensive about my iPad Pro purchase.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
→ Source: appstories.net
This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico proposes an iPad Pro experiment and he and I both recommend Steam Early Access games, one of which is also on iOS.
This episode is sponsored by:* Kolide – It ensures that if a device isn’t secure it can’t access your apps. It’s Device Trust for Okta. Watch the demo now.
Unplugged Segment* Taking Another Run at Podcasting on the iPad Pro + Revisiting this story from three years ago… - Podcasting on iPad Pro and Mac: A Streamlined Approach with the Sound Devices MixPre-3 II + …and adding some Zoom magic based on Federico and Jason Snell’s conversation this week on Upgrade - Upgrade 512, Pros Are the Little Boats
Picks* John’s Pick: + Peglin - On iOS - On Steam + Also mentioned: - Razer Kishi Ultra * Federico’s Pick: + Hades II
MacStories Unwind+We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.
To learn more about the benefits of a Club MacStories subscription, visit our Plans page.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
→ Source: podcasts.apple.com
This week on Magic Rays of Light, Sigmund and Devon discuss Apple’s evolving theatrical film strategy, highlight the debut of The Big Cigar, and recap Palm Royale.
Show Notes* iPad Pro Reviews and Not-Reviews + Not an iPad Pro Review: Why iPadOS Still Doesn’t Get the Basics Right + AppStories: The Trouble with iPadOS + Upgrade: Pros Are the Little Boats + M4 iPad Pro Review: Here we go again | Jason Snell + M4 iPad Pro: A glimpse into Apple’s future | Tyler Stalman + 2024 iPad Pro Review: My Computer | Christopher Lawley * Highlight + The Big Cigar * Apple’s Film Strategy + Apple’s Come-to-Jesus Moment for Movies | Puck News + Apple, Netflix Amazon Want to Change How They Pay Hollywood Stars | Bloomberg * Trailer Talk + Frog and Toad Season 2 + Fancy Dance * Apple TV News + Gamma + Shazam on Apple Music + Apple Music 100 Best Albums * Sigmund’s Favorite Albums + Stay What You Are – Saves the Day + The Artist in the Ambulance – Thrice + Under the Blacklight – Rilo Kiley + Black Sails In the Sunset – AFI + 2001 – Dr. Dre + The Fragile – Nine Inch Nails + In Utero – Nirvana + California Nights – Best Coast + Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers – Kendrick Lamar + The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses + White Pony – Deftones * Devon’s Favorite Albums + Ocean Eyes – Owl City + Five Score and Seven Years Ago – Relient K + Look Cat Meow – Secret Secret Dino Club + Underdog Alma Mater – Forever the Sickest Kids + 1989 – Taylor Swift * Apple Original News + First Look at Lady in the Lake + First Look at Women in Blue * Releases + Apple Music Live: Kacey Musgraves * Extras + Dark Matter: An Inside Look + The Big Cigar: An Inside Look + Greetings From the Set of Acapulco + Maya Rudolph: The Zane Lowe Interview + Sugar: Season 1 (Apple TV+ Original Series Soundtrack) + Music From Sugar * Recap + Palm Royale * Up Next + Turtles All the Way Down + Sasquatch Sunset + Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire + Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us + Challengers
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads
Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads
Join Club MacStories.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
→ Source: podcasts.apple.com
Source: Ubisoft.
Today, Ubisoft announced that the next major release in the Assasin’s Creed franchise, Shadows, will be released on November 15th on its Ubisoft+ service, PlayStation 5, Xbox X|S, Amazon Luna, and Apple silicon Macs via the Mac App Store. According to Ubisoft:
Assassin’s Creed Shadows will immerse players in 16th century Japan. The country is heading towards a brutal path to unification, where unrest grows as new coalitions appear and corruptive foreign influences infiltrate the land.
The standard version of the game will cost $69.99 and can be pre-ordered on the Mac App Store now. Ubisoft also offers Collector’s and Ultimate editions of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, but neither variant will be sold through the App Store.
Still, the release of a major studio game for a popular franchise on the Mac App Store simultaneously with consoles and other services is notable. Many of the AAA titles that have found their way to the Mac App Store, like Death Stranding and the Resident Evil 4 remake were released on other platforms months before the Mac App Store. Perhaps the growing install base of Apple silicon Macs has begun to change the economics of big studio game releases in favor of the Mac.
Regardless of the reason, it’s good to see Assassin’s Creed Shadows coming to the Mac this fall. The release is still months away, but in the meantime, if you need an Assassin’s Creed fix on Apple platforms, Assassin’s Creed Mirage is set to launch on the iPhone and iPad on June 6th and can be pre-ordered on the App Store now.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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PPSSPP.
It’s been a big week for for emulators on iOS and iPadOS. It seems like yesterday when I was writing about Delta and being told ‘authoritatively’ online that it wouldn’t last. Yet here we are.
Last weekend, Gamma, a Sony PS1 emulator, was released. The emulator quickly appeared in the top free charts on the App Store, where Delta continues to hold steady in the top 25.
Then today, at roughly the exact same time two more well-known emulators made their debut on the App Store: PPSSPP and RetroArch. PPSSPP is a Sony PSP emulator, while RetroArch supports emulator cores for a wide variety of classic consoles.
I was out picking up my new iPad Pro when I got a heads up that both emulators were out from Brendon Bigley, who has covered both emulators on Wavelengths.
The PPSSPP release was announced by Henrik Rydgård on the emulator’s blog:
After nearly 12 years, PPSSPP has finally been approved for the iOS App Store! Thanks to Apple for relaxing their policies, allowing retro games console emulators on the store.
There are a few limitations to PPSSPP’s first App Store release compared to previous non-App Store versions:
- Vulkan support through MoltenVK is not yet enabled
- Magic Keyboard (iPad Keyboard) is not supported
- The JIT recompiler is not supported
- RetroAchievements is temporarily disabled
However, Rydgård says MoltenVK, Magic Keyboard Support, and RetoAchievements will all return to the app. JIT can’t be implemented unless Apple changes its stance on the recompiler, but Rydgård says most PSP games should run smoothly on modern hardware.
RetroArch
RetroArch is an even bigger deal in the sense that it contains cores for emulating a long list of classic videogame systems, including PPSSPP itself, along with Nintendo, Sega, Atari, other Sony systems, and more. One downside to RetroArch is that it’s about as non-native as an app like Delta is native, and I greatly prefer Delta’s iOS-centric approach. Still, it’s great to see RetroArch open up so many additional consoles on iOS and iPadOS.
I expect we’ll see even more game emulators on the iPhone and iPad before long, including Provenance, which is currently being beta-tested. I haven’t had a chance to spend time with these latest emulators yet, but I’m looking forward to seeing how they look on my new iPad Pro’s OLED display.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Source: Apple.
Thursday is Global Accessibility Awareness Day, and to mark the occasion, Apple has previewed several new accessibility features coming to its OSes later this year. Although this accessibility preview has become an annual affair, this year’s preview is more packed than most years, with a wide variety of features for navigating UIs, automating tasks, interacting with Siri and CarPlay, enabling live captions in visionOS, and more. Apple hasn’t announced when these features will debut, but if past years are any indication, most should be released in the fall as part of the annual OS release cycle.
Eye TrackingOften, Apple’s work in one area lends itself to new accessibility features in another. With Eye Tracking in iOS and iPadOS, the connection to the company’s work on visionOS is clear. The feature will allow users to look at UI elements on the iPhone and iPad, and the front-facing camera – combined with a machine learning model – will follow their gaze, moving the selection as what they look at changes. No additional hardware is necessary.
Eye Tracking also works with Dwell, meaning that when a user pauses their gaze on an interface element, it will be clicked. The feature, which requires a one-time calibration setup process, will work with Apple’s apps, as well as third-party apps, on iPhones and iPads with an A12 Bionic chip or newer.
Vocal ShortcutsSource: Apple.
Vocal Shortcuts provide a way to define custom utterances that launch shortcuts and other tasks. The phrases are defined on-device for maximum privacy using a process similar to Personal Voice. The feature is like triggering shortcuts with Siri, but it doesn’t require an assistant trigger word or phrase.
Music HapticsFor deaf and hard-of-hearing iPhone customers, Apple has implemented Music Haptics, which use haptic feedback to allow users to feel songs streamed via Apple Music without any additional devices. Apple has also created an API for third-party developers who want to incorporate Music Haptics into their streaming services or other music apps.
CarPlay and Vehicle Motion CuesSource: Apple.
CarPlay is getting a complete accessibility makeover later this year with several new features. The system will gain sound recognition for things like car horns and sirens. Users will be able to control the UI of CarPlay with their voice. There will be a color filter setting, allowing color-blind users to see the CarPlay interface better. Plus, options to make text bold and larger will be added.
Apple is also introducing a solution for passengers who experience motion sickness when using a device in the car. Vehicle Motion Cues are a series of dots that sit on the edge of your device and animate as the vehicle you’re in moves. The dots shift left and right as the car turns and up and down as it accelerates and brakes, providing your brain with contextual cues that counteract the conflict between what you see and feel, which causes motion sickness. The feature can be set to turn on automatically when your device senses that you’re in a car or activated via Control Center.
Vision Pro Live CaptioningSource: Apple.
The Vision Pro is gaining Live Captions throughout visionOS. You’ll have the option to see captions onscreen in various contexts including when someone speaks to you and while enjoying immersive video. The Vision Pro will also add support for additional Made for iPhone hearing devices and cochlear hearing processors. And other accessibility options are coming to visionOS as well:
Updates for vision accessibility will include the addition of Reduce Transparency, Smart Invert, and Dim Flashing Lights for users who have low vision, or those who want to avoid bright lights and frequent flashing.
Everything ElseSource: Apple.
Apple’s press release previews several other accesibilty-related updates as well:
- For users who are blind or have low vision, VoiceOver will include new voices, a flexible Voice Rotor, custom volume control, and the ability to customize VoiceOver keyboard shortcuts on Mac.
- Magnifier will offer a new Reader Mode and the option to easily launch Detection Mode with the Action button.
- Braille users will get a new way to start and stay in Braille Screen Input for faster control and text editing; Japanese language availability for Braille Screen Input; support for multi-line braille with Dot Pad; and the option to choose different input and output tables.
- For users with low vision, Hover Typing shows larger text when typing in a text field, and in a user’s preferred font and color.
- For users at risk of losing their ability to speak, Personal Voice will be available in Mandarin Chinese. Users who have difficulty pronouncing or reading full sentences will be able to create a Personal Voice using shortened phrases.
- For users who are nonspeaking, Live Speech will include categories and simultaneous compatibility with Live Captions.
- For users with physical disabilities, Virtual Trackpad for AssistiveTouch allows users to control their device using a small region of the screen as a resizable trackpad.
- Switch Control will include the option to use the cameras in iPhone and iPad to recognize finger-tap gestures as switches.
- Voice Control will offer support for custom vocabularies and complex words.
In addition, throughout the month of May, Apple Stores are offering free classes to help customers learn about accessibility features. Apple has added a ‘Calming Sounds’ shortcut to its Shortcuts Gallery that plays soothing soundscapes. Plus, the App Store, Apple TV app, Books, Fitness+, and Apple Support are joining in with content that focuses on accessibility.
The week of Global Accessibility Awareness Day is the perfect time to spotlight these upcoming OS features. It raises awareness of GAAD and spotlights Apple’s efforts to use technology to make its products available to as many people as possible. I’m looking forward to testing everything announced today as the summer beta cycle begins.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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This week on AppStories, we examine iPadOS and the ways it has failed to get the basics right.
Sponsored by:
- Concepts – Sketch, Note, Draw.
- Celtreos – The shoot-em-up game with tiny ships, big weapons, waves of foes, power-ups and obstacles.
AppStories+ Pre-Show* MacStories’ ‘Let Loose’ event coverage * MacStories Unwind: Federico Visits Medium Ben
The Trouble with iPadOS* Not an iPad Pro Review: Why iPadOS Still Doesn’t Get the Basics Right
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, behind the scenes of a roller coaster week at MacStories.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
→ Source: appstories.net
This week on Ruminate, snack follow up, a WeblogPoMo progress update, the 100 best albums, and AI on iOS.
Links and Show Notes* Snacks + Herr’s Carolina Reaper Flavoured Cheese Curls - 1oz (28.4g) - American Fizz + The rack of KitKats * WeblogPoMo + #WeblogPoMo + Why I spell my name with two Bs * Apple’s 100 Best Albums list + Apple Music celebrates the launch of inaugural 100 Best Albums list + 100 Best Albums (Robb’s Version) + Apple Music Debuts a 10-Day Countdown of the 100 Best Albums * App Store + App Store stopped over $7 billion in potentially fraudulent transactions
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
→ Source: podcasts.apple.com
There are so many parts of Steve’s iPad Pro manifesto I would quote here on MacStories, but I’m going to limit myself to just a couple of excerpts.
What I like about this story is that it’s a balanced take on the limitations of iPadOS from the perspective of a developer, laid out in a comprehensive roundup. It serves as a great companion piece to my story, but from a more technical angle.
Here, for instance, is a well-reasoned assessment of why Stage Manager isn’t ideal for developers of iPad apps:
Stage Manager was such a missed opportunity: it tried to bolt-on a windowing model onto iPadOS without providing developers any way to optimize for it, and has had virtually no meaningful improvements in two years. What I really want to see are APIs. APIs to know when an app is running in Stage Manager and give it an opportunity to enable extra functionality to accommodate that — like having an ‘open in New Window’ context menu option that it would otherwise hide. APIs to set window size/shape, minimum and maximum size. APIs to open a window in split view if possible, with a preferred screen side. APIs to drag a window on mouse-down. Auxiliary views or inspector panels that can be floated on/near a primary window, like visionOS’ ornaments.
Many of these features are available as APIs to apps using the iOS SDK… on macOS and visionOS. Which is why it boggles the mind that iPad’s own Stage Manager spec completely shunned them, and ignored the explicit intent provided by developers as to how they want their apps to work. Stage Manager wasn’t provided as an opportunity to make our apps better, it was inflicted on developers in a way that harmed the developer, and user, experience. Which is why today you can very quickly stumble upon apps that don’t quite resize correctly, or have important parts of the UI covered by the virtual keyboard, or toolbars floating in strange places.
To this day, developers have no way to fine-tune their apps so that they behave differently (and better!) when Stage Manager is active. This part about JIT is also worth calling out:
Just-in-time compilation is essential to power things like web browsers, console and PC emulators, and language-based virtual machines. It is used by Apple’s own apps, like Playgrounds, to empower key functionality that no third party app can match. And it is provided in a very limited way (with a ton of asterisks) to Alternative Web Browsers in the EU under the DMA, so they can implement their own JavaScript engines. The DolphiniOS project, which emulates Nintendo’s GameCube, recently posted a video that perfectly encapsulates the problem and demonstrates why emulators for newer consoles just can’t come to iPadOS. Other app stores, like Microsoft’s Windows Store, offer a JIT entitlement as standard, and I think Apple should, too.
It’s not like JIT cannot exist on iPadOS; it’s that Apple has chosen not to offer it as an entitlement for third-party developers.
I also want to point out two more aspects of Steve’s manifesto. It’s almost a 1:1 match of a story he wrote for us in 2019, which is quite sad as it tells you a lot about iPadOS’ state of affairs. Five years later, and we’re still asking for the same changes. Additionally, it should be noted that Steve is not asking for Apple to call it a day and put macOS on iPad. Claiming that someone who criticizes iPadOS does so because “they just want the iPad to turn into a Mac” has become the de rigueur dismissal for some reply guys these days, and it completely misses the point.
I highly recommend reading Steve’s full story here.
→ Source: highcaffeinecontent.com
Source: Apple.
Late yesterday, iPad Air and Pro reviews were published, and I spent the evening reading and watching many of them, so I thought I’d share some highlights.
At Six Colors, Jason Snell, who has used and reviewed iPads for years, brings an excellent perspective to Apple’s latest iPad Pro. Like Federico, Jason is impressed with the iPad Pro’s hardware but frustrated by iPadOS:
This all leaves 2024’s modern iPad Pro in a very familiar place: It is a remarkable piece of hardware that can handle pretty much any task it’s capable of executing without breaking a sweat, and thanks to its new display, it’ll look great doing it. But it’s let down by iPadOS limitations (and more than a decade of slow-paced iPad development) that preclude it from being the shining star of Apple’s productivity line-up that it should probably be.
Also, like other reviewers, the iPad Pro’s new OLED screen was a highlight for Jason:
As a longtime user of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, I’ve been spoiled the last few years by its Liquid Retina XDR display. It was good, but it added weight and thickness, and even its 2500 individual dimming zones couldn’t match the precision that an OLED display can bring. Apple has outdone itself with the new Ultra Retina XDR display, powered by a tandem OLED panel that offers dramatic contrasts and bright colors.
David Pierce strikes a similar note at The Verge:
This new iPad Pro feels, in many ways, like the finale of the 14-year history of the iPad, all the pieces finally in place. It also feels, as ever, like a futuristic device plagued by software stuck firmly in the past, one I’m not sure I’d recommend to most people.
I do love it, though.
Source: Apple.
Another great perspective comes from Jaron Schneider at PetaPixel:
iPadOS is difficult to use for anything beyond typing because of the way files are managed. Beyond the Files app, which is pretty universally disliked by creative professionals, the ecosystem of apps really doesn’t feel like it is meant to facilitate working on anything other than an iPad. If you never plan to leave the iPad, that’s great. But that’s not how I work — and I don’t think it’s how many of you work either.
Apple is therefore riding line of continuing to make its iPads usable and approachable for content consumption while on the other side trying to make them more powerful and usable for content creation. For many types of content creation, it works great right now. For others, there is work to do.
Can you work on an iPad? Absolutely. There are tons of drawing apps, note apps, and even photo and video editing apps — Final Cut for iPad 2, DaVinci Resolve, and Luma Fusion are all excellent. But what if you don’t want to do everything on iPad? What if you use both an iPad and a computer? There, it gets tricky.
This is a topic Federico and I covered on this week’s AppStories episode. More than any other Apple device except perhaps the Vision Pro, the iPad is a workflow silo, which is frustrating.
Turning to the many video reviews released yesterday, you can’t go wrong, starting with Chris Lawley’s video. Chris, who has spent a lot of time working with photos and video on the iPad, has an excellent, in-depth look at iPad Pro’s new features:
It seems as though very few reviewers were given iPad Pros with the nano-textured display. However, Tyler Stalman got one and has an excellent video showing the difference between it and the glossy version:
I recently switched my iPad Pro order to the glossy version because the nano-textured model wouldn’t have arrived until late June, and Tyler’s video has me second-guessing that decision. It looks like a great option if you find reflections distracting.
Another video I enjoyed was Brad Colbow’s because it’s from the perspective of an artist and does an excellent job explaining what the device will mean for illustrators and other artists:
Federico and Jason Snell recorded an episode of Upgrade about the iPad Pro, too, which you can watch here:
Source: Apple.
New iPad Airs were released yesterday, too, but there’s far less to say about them. In summary, there’s a 13” model now, the FaceTime camera has moved to the long side of the device, and it supports the Apple Pencil Pro. However, if you’re looking for more detail than that, I’d suggest reading David Pierce’s review on The Verge.
As Federico and I discussed on AppStories, frustrations with iPadOS aren’t new. However, they’ve been compounded by the iPad Pro’s amazing hardware. There’s no other device quite like the new iPad Pros. I can’t wait for mine to arrive tomorrow, but at the same time, I can’t shake a nagging apprehension that I may never fully realize the promise of its hardware. There’s always a chance that next month, WWDC will begin turning the iPad Pro narrative around, but we’ve been down that road before too.
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Let me cut to the chase: sadly, I don’t have a new iPad Pro to review today on MacStories.
I was able to try one in London last week, and, as I wrote, I came away impressed with the hardware. However, I didn’t get a chance to use a new iPad Pro over the past six days ahead of today’s review embargo.
I know that many of you were expecting a deeper look at the iPad Pro on MacStories this week, but that will have to come later. I still plan on upgrading to a 13” iPad Pro myself; I’ve decided I want to return to the larger size after a few months with the 11” iPad Pro. If you’re interested in checking out reviews of the new iPad Pros from heavy iPad users like yours truly right now, I highly recommend reading and watching what my friends Jason Snell and Chris Lawley have prepared.
After the London event, Apple eventually offered me a review unit on Friday, but it would have arrived today, just a few hours ago, making it an impossible deadline for me. So I respectfully declined. I’d rather take my time to produce a better-researched (and hopefully more useful) story for my readers, who are my priority.
Still, as I was thinking about my usage of the iPad and why I enjoy using the device so much despite its limitations, I realized that I have never actually written about all of those “limitations” in a single, comprehensive article. In our community, we often hear about the issues of iPadOS and the obstacles people like me run into when working on the platform, but I’ve been guilty in the past of taking context for granted and assuming that you, dear reader, also know precisely what I’m talking about.
Today, I will rectify that. Instead of reviewing the new iPad Pro, I took the time to put together a list of all the common problems I’ve run into over the past…checks notes…12 years of working on the iPad, before its operating system was even called iPadOS.
My goal with this story was threefold. First, as I’ve said multiple times, I love my iPad and want the platform to get better. If you care about something or someone, sometimes you have to tell them what’s wrong in order to improve and find a new path forward. I hope this story can serve as a reference for those with the power to steer iPadOS in a different direction in the future.
Second, lately I’ve seen some people argue on Mastodon and Threads that folks who criticize iPadOS do so because their ultimate goal is to have macOS on iPads, and I wanted to clarify this misunderstanding. While I’m on the record as thinking that a hybrid macOS/iPadOS environment would be terrific (I know, because I use it), that is not the point. The reality is that, regardless of whether macOS runs on iPads or not, iPadOS is the ideal OS for touch interactions. But it still gets many basic computing features wrong, and there is plenty of low-hanging fruit for Apple to pick. We don’t need to talk about macOS to cover these issues.
Lastly, I wanted to provide readers with the necessary context to understand what I mean when I mention the limitations of iPadOS. My iPad setup and workflow have changed enough times over the years that I think some of you may have lost track of the issues I (and others) have been experiencing. This article is a chance to collect them all in one place.
Let’s dive in.
Supported ByConceptsConcepts: Sketch, Note, Draw.
[table_of_contents]
Missing AppsOf all the issues I have with iPadOS, I want to start with a relatively simple one: some apps from macOS and iOS just aren’t available on the platform.
This was fine when the iPad was a new product and Apple was busy launching new OSes and rethinking their approach to the Mac. However, after 14 years, it’s hard to imagine that the company couldn’t have filled these gaps if they really wanted to.
Here are the apps from iOS and macOS I find myself missing the most on the iPad:
- Calculator. I honestly think it’s wild that after 14 years, the iPad still doesn’t come with a built-in calculator app and that you have to use Google or a third-party calculator for basic operations. Fortunately, it sounds like Apple is going to address this issue in the upcoming iPadOS 18 release.
- TextEdit. I can’t tell you how many times I use TextEdit on my Mac as a simple scratchpad for bits of text I copy from different apps and need to keep around in a temporary holding spot. TextEdit is also a capable, minimal, and reliable text editor for plain and rich text files. Any modern computing platform should have a built-in text editor, but iPadOS doesn’t. Given how Microsoft was even able to productize Notepad on Windows with modern features, this feels like a missed opportunity for Apple.
- Preview. Another unsung hero of Apple’s desktop apps is Preview. Whether you have an image or PDF document that you want to check out in more detail, or perhaps even edit, you can rest assured that Preview for macOS has your back. The iPad feels like the ideal platform for Preview: the device is great for viewing photos or reading PDF documents, and the Apple Pencil would take Preview’s annotation capabilities to the next level. Apple probably wants you to believe that Quick Look’s interactive system-wide previews on iOS and iPadOS are a substitute for the Preview app, but that’s not the case. There’s something about Preview’s clarity and ease of use that can’t be replaced by a simple Quick Look preview, and that’s not to mention the features that iPadOS’ Quick Look lacks compared to Preview for macOS.
- Journal. This is a recent addition, but I was very surprised when the Journal app was launched on iPhone without an iPad counterpart. Just like with Preview, the iPad feels like the optimal platform for Journal: it’s a device you can grab at the end of the day, while reflecting on the things you’ve done and the places you’ve been, as you unwind and get ready for what’s coming up tomorrow. An iPadOS version of Journal would be a fantastic way to select photos you want to remember, jot down a few thoughts, and quickly interact with Apple’s journaling suggestions. As apps like Day One and Everlog have shown, an iPad can be a fantastic device for journaling.
Preview and TextEdit for Mac.
The list could go on, especially if we consider that Apple sells “Pro” versions of the iPad that cost thousands of dollars, which would benefit from apps that a lot of professionals typically use on macOS. Where’s Terminal for iPadOS? Why do we have to manage fonts with an obscure method in Settings instead of the excellent Font Book app? Dare I even say it…where’s Xcode for iPadOS?
Not-So-Desktop-Class AppsWhile I’m on the topic of apps, it’s worth pointing out that the apps that did find their way to iPadOS still pale in comparison to their Mac versions in terms of feature set. Despite Apple’s promise of desktop-class apps a couple of years ago, the company’s actual implementation has been erratic at best, with an inconsistent delivery of Mac-like features that haven’t done much to raise the status of iPad apps.
The simplest way to look at this is that most built-in iPad apps don’t match the functionalities offered by their macOS counterparts despite iPadOS having all the prerequisites for them to offer said features. For instance, while Apple shipped smart folders and smart lists in Notes and Reminders, respectively, Mail for iPadOS still doesn’t let you create smart mailboxes like it does on the Mac; nor does Music for iPadOS support the Mac version’s smart playlists. The same is also true for the Files app and its lack of Finder’s smart folder functionality.
Creating a smart folder in Finder.
The issue extends beyond these power-user features and touches all sorts of aspects of other Apple apps for iPadOS. Shortcuts is one of the worst offenders with a complete disregard for the iPad’s multitasking capabilities: Shortcuts for Mac offers powerful actions to find and control windows on-screen; the iPad version does not. Safari for Mac lets you adjust the browser’s toolbar to your liking with the ability to drag buttons around and pin specific extensions; Apple rolled out customizable toolbars for iPadOS two years ago, but they never added support for them in Safari for iPad. On the Mac, there is an excellent Dictionary app that you can open to search for words, look up their definitions, and more; on the iPad, the “dictionary” is limited to the ‘Look Up’ option of the edit menu, which forces you to always select some text first.1
What is this, a dictionary for ants?
I hear what some of you might say: “The iPad is supposed to be a lighter platform than the Mac!” But the thing is, you can’t have it both ways. You can’t make a big deal of bringing desktop-class experiences to the iPad (rightfully so, given the price of iPad Pro models) and then do so inconsistently and sporadically. If iPadOS is meant to support desktop-class apps, the job can’t be done halfway.
Files: A Slow, Unreliable File ManagerOut of all the apps I’ve mentioned so far, I want to shine a spotlight on Files. It’s a bad product that needs a fundamental rethink from a design and performance perspective.
Files has only marginally improved since its debut in iOS 11 (!), and we’re well past the point of arguing that, well, iPads aren’t meant to have a file manager. Apple has offered a native iPad file manager for exactly half the iPad’s lifetime; that ship has sailed. It’s time for Apple to take the Files app seriously, because this version just doesn’t cut it.
Files is a bad product that needs a fundamental rethink.
It starts from the very basics. Files is not a reliable app, and it’s certainly not as reliable as Finder on macOS. More often than not, I try to select some files in a location to copy or move them to another, and the operation either gets stuck or canceled. This frequently happens with large files located on external drives, forcing me to fall back to my Mac if I want to quickly and reliably copy something from an SSD and save it on my computer. Basic copy, cut, and move operations should be the cornerstone of a file manager, and the fact that Files still fails at those is inexcusable.
Compared to Finder, the Files app also feels sluggish, and it often gets stuck in an unresponsive state that requires me to force quit it. This tends to occur with folders stored in iCloud Drive, which never open instantly, the way they do on my Mac. Furthermore, Files’ integration with iCloud Drive is much more aggressive than Finder about purging downloaded copies from my iPad’s local storage, causing me to realize – at random times – that a file I need is no longer available offline.
Sadly, the list of problems goes on:
- Unlike Finder, the Files app doesn’t display transfer speeds when moving or copying something. This becomes especially problematic for large files that I’m moving to or from an external drive, making me second-guess whether the transfer is working at all.
- Quick Actions aren’t customizable like they are on macOS (and have been since Mojave). Files’ inspector panel does support Quick Actions, but, for some reason, you can’t build your own custom actions using Shortcuts. The technology is literally the same across platforms, but one file manager doesn’t support it all the way.
- Speaking of Shortcuts, on the iPad, the app has no concept of “getting the current selection” from the Files app. On the Mac, you can create shortcuts that act on the currently-selected file(s) in Finder; on the iPad, Shortcuts doesn’t offer a matching action for the Files app.
- We still cannot create smart folders in Files for iPad. The technology is clearly there – Apple added a similar feature to Notes and Reminders – but the Files app for iPad remains behind on this front too.
No custom quick actions here.
I saved the most absurd limitation of Files for last. As of iPadOS 17, it’s still impossible to set default apps for opening specific file types. I shouldn’t even have to explain why this is a ridiculous shortcoming, but here we are. On the iPad, every document you click in Files defaults to showing you a Quick Look preview, and there is no way to tell the system that you want to view the document with another app instead.
It’s not like macOS has a fantastic UI for this (Windows has a much better system for file defaults), but at least it’s something, and it works. On iPad, the Files team seemingly failed to acknowledge that people may want to use different apps for different document types; instead, iPadOS assumes all the file management you could ever need should be happening inside the Files app. The inability to just say, “I want to open this file in [App XYZ]”, is completely unacceptable.
John sent me edits for this story as a .md file. Since I have a beta of Delta for iPad installed, the Files app is convinced that this file is a SEGA Genesis game, and there’s nothing I can do to change it. I wish I was kidding.
Ah yes, I can’t wait to play…’Edits ticci story’ on my emulated Genesis.
After seven years, I’m starting to wonder if maybe it’s time for Apple to scrap the Files project and start over with a new app based on the strong foundation of Finder. We’re well past the point of excusing the Files app for being a young file manager; when you’re spending $3,000 on a high-end iPad Pro with plenty of storage, you want the app to manage that storage to be flawless.
Files is not that app.
Audio LimitationsThere are two key problems with the audio system of iPadOS:
- You cannot play multiple audio streams at the same time.
- You cannot record your own local audio while on a VoIP call.
Jason Snell and I have widely documented these issues over the years, but especially the second one as it relates to podcasting on iPad. Jason was my source of inspiration years ago when I tried to record podcasts on my iPad Pro, and…the setup I concocted was a bit of a mess. Allow me to quote myself from five years ago:
To record a podcast, I have a conversation with my co-hosts on Skype. However, we don’t use the audio of the Skype conversation itself as the episode: while we’re talking, each of us records a high-quality local audio track from our microphones; at the end, multiple local tracks are mixed together in one audio file that gives the illusion we’re all talking together in the same room rather than thousands of miles apart over Skype. This right here is, by far, the most important requirement for the way I like to record podcasts: we want to use Skype, but each of us has to record the local track of our own microphone input.
Secondly – and this is why I’ve been unwilling to try other “solutions” for podcasting on iPad over the years – I want my co-hosts to hear my voice coming through the same microphone I’m using to record my local audio track. To have a good conversation with natural back and forth that yields a good final product, I think it’s important that everyone on Skype gets to hear the other person loud and clear.
Replace “Skype” with “Zoom”, and nothing has changed since I wrote this in 2019. If I want to record my microphone’s local audio while also being on a call, iPadOS doesn’t let me do it. It’s no surprise that I, Jason, and others ended up going back to a Mac, if only to record podcasts the way we like, which is not even a particularly weird way of recording audio. All I’m asking for is a way to record myself while I’m on a call, and iPadOS 17 still doesn’t support it. Plus, I have to imagine that this issue would apply to other fields of audio production as well, such as musicians collaborating remotely, folks who want to record screencasts over apps that play audio, and more.
Furthermore, these audio restrictions are part of a broader conversation regarding iPadOS and multiple audio streams, or the lack thereof. Have you ever found yourself watching a YouTube or Twitch video on mute on your Mac while also listening to podcasts or music on the same computer? It’s nice, right?
Multiple audio sessions on macOS with proper sound settings.
Well, the same scenario is impossible to achieve on iPadOS. Only one media playback session can exist at a time on the iPad, so if you’re listening to music and start a video, the music will pause, and vice versa. This is why iPadOS doesn’t know how to deal with recording audio while also outputting in another VoIP app. Fourteen years on, I find it hard to believe that an iPad has to be limited to playing only one source of audio at a time.
Multitasking: A Fractured MessWhere do we even begin here?
There is no better definition of uneven development than the iPad’s history with multitasking interfaces. As my annual reviews can confirm, Apple has shown a tendency to release a new iPad multitasking UI every 2-3 years, never refine it, and discard it to make room for another iteration that starts the cycle anew.
If Apple followed the same approach with the Mac since its launch in 1984, we’d have 13 different multitasking methods today. Instead, macOS has largely been built around the one freeform multi-window approach, with full-screen mode and Stage Manager tacked onto the system over the past decade.
Stage Manager is Apple’s latest attempt to bring a more flexible and desktop-like multitasking environment to the iPad. As I explained nearly two years ago when it launched, its original release was a disaster. Apple’s first take on Mac-like multiwindowing was riddled with bugs and performance issues, which, for a while, forced me to revert to traditional multitasking via Split View and Slide Over.
Still no more than four windows at once.
Fortunately, with last year’s iPadOS 17, Apple cleaned up several of Stage Manager’s initial stability woes and inconsistencies while also giving pro users more freedom in terms of window placement and touch-based controls. However, Apple’s efforts last year only improved the basic functionality of Stage Manager, leaving several requests unanswered and letting Stage Manager’s foundation languish without the additional flexibility that one would expect from a pro-oriented feature.
To name a few:
- Stage Manager is still limited to four windows at once. Despite the iPad Pro becoming more and more powerful over time (to the point that the latest iPad Pros are now one M-chip generation ahead of MacBooks), Stage Manager still forces you to work with only four windows shown on-screen at once. Imagine if a 13-inch MacBook Air could only let you see four windows at the same time. And no, Stage Manager for Mac doesn’t have this limitation, proving that – SoCs and screen sizes being equal – Apple’s architecture is more than capable of going beyond four simultaneous windows.
- It’s still impossible to create presets for often-used window combinations. iPadOS still doesn’t offer a way to save frequently-used app combinations as “presets” or “pairs” that you can recreate with one click. Shortcuts could be a way to address this limitation, but Shortcuts for iPadOS doesn’t integrate with Stage Manager at all. Android has offered this functionality on phones for several years now. With Stage Manager for iPad, pro users have to manually recreate their workspaces from scratch every time.
- Sometimes the wrong window still remains active and receives keyboard input. This is a bug that keeps getting in the way of my ability to get work done on a daily basis. Sometimes I have, say, Safari and Obsidian windows next to each other in Stage Manager, and I think I’ve selected Safari. But when I invoke a specific keyboard shortcut, text input is received by Obsidian’s text editor instead. Imagine if a Mac did this.
- It’s still unclear how to spawn a new window for the frontmost app, or how to see all windows from the current app. On a Mac, if you’re working with a window in front of you (regardless of whether you’re using Stage Manager or not), you have a consistent, universal way of creating a new window for the current app: the menu bar’s File ⇾ New Window menu. On iPad, this is not the case. There is no system-wide keyboard shortcut to create a new window for the app you’re currently using; to create a new window (and only in apps that support multiple windows), you have to long-press its icon in the dock (if you have that app in your dock), select ‘Show All Windows’, and only then can you press a ‘+’ button to create a new window for the app…in a separate workspace. All of these interactions need to be faster, simpler, and better-presented to users instead of being tucked away within long-press menus.
- There is no way to quickly preview all windows in the current workspace. Similarly, iPadOS doesn’t provide users with an easy-to-use, fast way of previewing all windows in the current workspace. The Mac has long offered Mission Control as a system to get a bird’s eye view of windows on your desktop, and it works with both Stage Manager and traditional multiwindowing. On the iPad, none of this exists.
I don’t think any of these features fall under the hypothetical umbrella of “Mac features you shouldn’t wish for on an iPad”. If Apple sells a product called “iPad Pro” that supports desktop-class apps with desktop-class multitasking, that experience should also be, well, desktop-class. But it’s not. Apple did the bare minimum work for Stage Manager, “fixed” it last year to make it at least passable, and never considerably improved it since launch – which, in many ways, is the story of iPad multitasking so far.
I insist on covering this aspect of the iPad experience because Apple has followed the same path with Split View and Slide Over, which haven’t received substantial updates in years, either. And I know for a fact that, if only time and resources were devoted to it, it wouldn’t have to be this way.
For a few months earlier this year, I spent some time with a OnePlus Open foldable. The device is obviously not as pleasant as an iPad, and I fundamentally dislike the Android app ecosystem, but believe me when I say that the folks at OnePlus (objectively, a smaller company than Apple) have shipped a vastly better tiling interface for split-screen multitasking than Apple.
OnePlus’ ‘Open Canvas’ multitasking UI has several advantages over the iPad’s Split View system. For starters, you can create saved app pairs (which you can pin to your Home Screen), and the same app window can exist either in an app pair or standalone without having to create a new window for the app. This is a major difference from iPadOS’ architecture, where a window can only exist as an “object” in one place at a time. But it goes deeper than that. To take advantage of the Open’s larger screen when unfolded, the Canvas UI lets you add up to three tiles on-screen, and the system automatically zooms out and reflows to either show you a three-column interface or a fluid tiled arrangement with two windows above and one larger window below. It’s incredibly clever and intuitive in practice, and I recommend checking out this video to get a sense of what it looks like:
All this to say: iPadOS’ multitasking, even without Stage Manager, could be so much more. I think several iPad users (and I was guilty of this, too) have convinced themselves due to Apple’s pace of updates that we’ve reached the peak of what tablet multitasking should do with Split View and Stage Manager. But look outside Apple’s stance on iPadOS, and you see that is not the case. Once again, I’m not arguing for macOS features on the iPad; I’m saying that, if Apple wanted to, it could design innovative, high-performance, delightful tablet-first multitasking systems. Sadly, iPad multitasking tells a very different story.
I could then go on and mention the fact that iPadOS doesn’t offer APIs or sandboxing exceptions for third-party apps to enhance multitasking (like they can on a Mac), but that’s a step too far given the circumstances. Serious iPadOS multitasking changes need to happen from the top down; before wishing for third parties to be able to modify and augment multitasking, we need Apple to address the basics first.
SpotlightSpeaking of the basics, we need to talk about Spotlight for iPadOS.
Any respectable, modern computer – especially one from Apple – should have a fast and reliable app launcher. Spotlight for iPad, despite some minor improvements over the last few iPadOS releases, still isn’t that.
As has been documented over the years, the iPad’s version of Spotlight has long been afflicted by slow and inconsistent performance. To this day, sometimes I invoke Spotlight and search for an app that I know I have installed on my iPad, and no results come up. Then I dismiss Spotlight, try again, and the app appears. Other times, Spotlight gets stuck: either I press ⌘ + Space and the search box doesn’t appear, or my keyboard’s arrow keys don’t do anything. Usually, a reboot fixes these issues; sometimes, I have to detach my Magic Keyboard and re-attach it for Spotlight to receive keyboard input again.
When it works, Spotlight is nice. When it works.
Then there’s the “find my stuff” issue. So many times, I try looking for a document inside an app that supports Spotlight indexing, or perhaps a shortcut from the Shortcuts app, and no results come up. Then I try again after a few hours, and results do appear. It drives me insane, and it’s been like this for years now.
Can you spot the problem?
These issues are compounded by the inability to install Spotlight replacements on iPadOS. Spotlight works well on macOS, but if I don’t like it, I can install a replacement like Raycast or Alfred and use a different launcher. The iPad has neither the APIs nor the policies in place for these apps to exist. And so I’m left using a half-baked, inconsistent launcher that mostly encumbers my work, hoping that someday, eventually, it’ll get better.
Lack of Background Processes and System-Wide UtilitiesAnd now, allow me to wish for one Mac-like feature that is not even that esoteric if you think about it.
iPadOS needs to gain support for executing long-running, complex tasks in the background. I’m not referring to Background App Refresh, which is the system that lets apps stay active in short bursts in the background to receive push notifications and other updates. I’m talking about the ability to tap into the power of the M-series chips and the iPad’s RAM to keep specific tasks running in the background while you’re doing something else.
You don’t need to look far to see where iPadOS is failing in this regard. If you use Apple’s own Final Cut Pro for iPad – one of the company’s very showcases of the new iPad Pro – and begin exporting a video, then switch apps for even a second, the export is canceled. If you simply switch workspaces in Stage Manager or accidentally click on an incoming notification, an entire project’s export will fail:
Like a pro.
From a computer that now comes with the M4 and, in certain configurations, 16 GB of RAM, this is absurd. Mac laptops with far less impressive specs have been able to keep tasks running in the background for decades. The iPad, now fourteen years old, can’t.
This limitation extends beyond the realm of pro apps such as Final Cut or Logic and applies to all kind of software that, due to the nature of iPadOS, is impossible to find on the platform. Because of a mix of technical limitations and policy decisions, it’s still impossible for an application that wants to perform something in the background to exist on iPadOS. From clipboard managers and video encoders to automation utilities and AI-based photo editors, if you want to run a time-consuming task in the background on iPad, you’re out of luck.
As a result, not only have these limitations fostered an environment in which third-party developers are actively discouraged from bringing true desktop-class experiences to iPad, but existing iPad apps still largely feel like blown-up versions of their iPhone counterparts. After all, if the same limitations are shared between a phone and tablet, what’s an iPad app but an iPhone version dressed up with a larger layout?
If you want to use a clipboard manager on iPad (pictured: PastePal), you have to keep the app open, just like on an iPhone.
iPadOS’ closed, iPhone-like nature has reverberated throughout other parts of the iPad experience. For instance, system-wide utilities can’t currently exist on the platform. Software such as customization tools, task managers’ quick capture windows, alternative emoji pickers, and drag-and-drop “shelf” utilities – apps that do not execute memory-intensive background tasks but still want to run in the background – simply can’t exist on iPadOS.
If the same limitations are shared between a phone and tablet, what’s an iPad app but an iPhone version dressed up with a larger layout?
Does it have to be this way? Apple is well within their rights to choose how they want iPadOS to behave. But when the operating system powers a computer that is ostensibly sold as a laptop replacement, one has to wonder if Apple is making the correct decisions.
To Be Fixed Later This Year, But Only for SomeI hear you: some of these problems will be addressed later this year thanks to the Digital Markets Act in Europe, which has been extended to apply to iPads as well.
I’m sure that, later in 2024, we’ll see the likes of Clip and other side-loaded apps come to iPadOS in Europe. And it’s also obvious that we’ll receive support for non-WebKit browsers to replace Safari. Besides the fact that these changes are going to be limited to Europe, they also aren’t tied to deeper, global policy-related changes on iPadOS. The issues I’ve outlined so far, and the others I’ll continue highlighting below, don’t indicate that Apple is willing to open up the foundation of iPadOS to allow for more flexible, desktop-class computing. These DMA-related changes just mean that Apple is complying with the law and covering the essential functionalities requested by the European Commission.
Hiding behind the DMA as a hopeful force for structural iPadOS changes is a farce. At the core of the problem lies Apple’s reticence to take iPadOS to the next level, and the DMA has nothing to do with it. The change, once again, needs to happen from the top down.
Inefficiency by a Thousand CutsIf you’ve used iPadOS long enough (the iPad has been my primary computer for 12 years now), I’m sure you’ve run into these: the small bugs, annoyances, and missing features that don’t seem like much in isolation. Considered as a whole, however, they paint a not-too-rosy picture for an operating system that, 14 years into its existence, still lags behind macOS in terms of basic functionalities and problems that have never been addressed. Let me mention just a few examples.
iPadOS still doesn’t support third-party backup tools or a built-in one like Time Machine. If you’re one of those professional users whom Apple caters to, such as a photographer or YouTuber, you know how painful this is. If you want to back up your work, which likely spans multiple terabytes of storage these days, you have two solutions on iPad:
- Back up your work manually.
- Rely on iCloud backups.
Sure, you could use iCloud backup, and, as long as your work archive does not exceed 12 TBs, and assuming the Files app works for you, you’ll be okay. But we’d be kidding ourselves if we thought that an online-only backup system with no support for local or off-site storage was the answer for folks whose livelihoods depend on preserving the files they create. Where is Time Machine for iPadOS with support for versioning? Where are third-party APIs to allow for tools like Backblaze or Carbon Copy Cloner to exist on iPad?
The iPad’s only backup option is iCloud.
We’ve gotten used to this idea that such tools “shouldn’t exist” on iPad because the iPad was meant to be different from the Mac. But then again, we can’t have it both ways: we can’t celebrate the arrival of Mac apps such as Final Cut and Logic on iPad while also glossing over the lack of flexibility that professional users have on Apple’s other platform. That is, unless we want to live with a delusional idea of “professionals” only needing to back up their files on a Mac because nothing could ever happen when they do the same work on an iPad.
Platforms may differ, but work is work. You can’t be all loosey-goosey about work only when it’s convenient for your theory that iPadOS should be “lighter”.
I could then mention the lack of clamshell mode, which is another example of Apple getting an iPad functionality almost right without finishing it. The company rolled out support for external displays with Stage Manager two years ago, and that’s been a fantastic addition to the platform, allowing people to connect an iPad to a monitor and double their workspace. The iPad Pro supports Thunderbolt 4, which implicitly supports DisplayPort over USB-C, making the iPad compatible with a wide range of third-party displays too. It’s great.
The problem is that if you want to use an iPad with an external display at a desk, you have to keep it open and unlocked. Even if you’ve paired an iPad with an external keyboard and mouse or trackpad, you can’t just close the Magic Keyboard on top of the iPad and assume that the external display connection will continue working. This, of course, is not ideal; it forces you to always keep the iPad open somewhere on your desk, with its display turned on and accessible because – this is the worst part – some functionalities such as Control Center cannot be used on the secondary monitor at all.
Sigh.
Like so many other iPad workflows, there are workarounds, but they’re suboptimal, and they’re no replacement for the real functionality that Apple should ship – a functionality that, as you may imagine, has been working fine for ages on the Mac. I’m sure that someone out there will spin this as, “Actually, I like that I need to keep my iPad open”, but I don’t buy it.
I could then maybe mention how the Home Screen still doesn’t let you place icons freely anywhere you want, or pin specific folders and files for quick access, thus feeling like an enlarged version of the iOS Home Screen. Or maybe I should cover the floating keyboard “thingy”, that button that routinely gets in the way of text fields and other UI elements when you’re typing inside apps with a Magic Keyboard. Perhaps I should note that sometimes the Magic Keyboard’s pointer gets stuck, requiring a reboot of the iPad itself?
You get the idea.
The Need for ChangeYou know what’s equally the best and worst part of all this? That I still love the iPad.
The iPad is the only Apple computer that genuinely feels made for someone like me – a person who loves modularity, freedom, and the mix of touch and keyboard interactions. I share my frustrations because I care about the platform and want it to get better. But at the same time, we need to face reality: the iPad’s operating system isn’t improving at the speed the hardware deserves – that iPad owners who spent thousands of dollars on these machines deserve.
Something needs to change.
With new iPad Pros nearly upon us, it’s time to admit that iPadOS is not an operating system of the same caliber as Apple’s new hardware. iPadOS has been the victim of erratic updates over the years, with features that were meant to “reimagine” desktop computing only to get not even halfway there and be left to languish for years. Once again, I am not suggesting that the solution is to put macOS on iPad and call it a day. I’m saying that if that’s not in the cards, then Apple should consider all the ways iPadOS is still failing at basic computing tasks. I’d be okay with iPads running iPadOS forever. But if we passively accept that this is as good as an iPad can get, I strongly believe that we’ll play a role in letting Apple squander the greatest computer form factor they’ve ever created.
iPadOS is a flawed operating system that still doesn’t get the basics right.
I’m tired of hearing apologies that smell of Stockholm syndrome from iPad users who want to invalidate these opinions and claim that everything is perfect. I’m tired of seeing this cycle start over every two years, with fantastic iPad hardware and the usual (justified), “But it’s the software…” line at the end. I’m tired of feeling like my computer is a second-class citizen in Apple’s ecosystem. I’m tired of being told that iPads are perfectly fine if you use Final Cut and Logic, but if you don’t use those apps and ask for more desktop-class features, you’re a weirdo, and you should just get a Mac and shut up. And I’m tired of seeing the best computer Apple ever made not live up to its potential.
I started using the iPad as my main computer when I was stuck in a hospital bed and couldn’t use a laptop. I kept using it because once you get a taste of that freedom, it’s hard to go back. I will continue using it because none of the alternatives match Apple’s hardware quality, app ecosystem, and pure delight. But loving something doesn’t mean ignoring its flaws. And iPadOS is a flawed operating system that still doesn’t get the basics right and, as a result, drags down the entire product line.
I’m looking forward to the new iPad Pros, but I can’t shake the feeling that the same old iPadOS cycle is about to begin all over again.
- I hope Kotoba finds its way to AltStore in the near future. ↩︎
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Last month, AltStore was finally made available on iOS for everyone living in the European Union. Not only does the first alternative app marketplace on iOS ship with the great Delta videogame emulator, but it also lets you install Clip, a clipboard manager unlike any other on the iPhone.
The app’s uniqueness resides in the sole fact that it’s the first ever clipboard manager on the iPhone that can actually run in the background and continuously monitor your clipboard, regardless of the app you’re in. And despite the fact that the app is pretty bare-bones right now, this core ability alone makes a huge difference in usage, enough to crown Clip the best clipboard manager to ever ship on iOS.
Let’s check it out.
To be able to monitor your clipboard and build a history, a proper clipboard manager needs to keep running in the background at all times. However, due to the system limitations of iOS and Apple’s rules on the App Store, building a clipboard manager for the iPhone isn’t as straightforward for developers as it is on macOS. On iOS, only some system entitlements allow apps to do this, and to this date, Apple still doesn’t permit third-party developers to release an app on the App Store that can continuously run in the background to monitor your clipboard.
As a result, clipboard manager apps like Yoink and Paste have long relied on cumbersome workarounds, like manually adding content to the clipboard history via the share sheet, having to tap a Home Screen widget, or even installing a full third-party keyboard to access and manage your clipboard history from any app’s text fields. These workarounds aren’t ideal to say the least. They require you to jump out of your context, and they simply won’t work if you regularly forget to save your clipboard content.
Clip is different. Since it doesn’t have to follow Apple’s strict rules for apps released in the App Store, Clip is able to use the iPhone’s location services to continuously run in the background. This allows the app to send you a notification every time you copy something on iOS, regardless of the app you’re in. All you have to do is swipe down on the notification banner, and that’s it. You’ve just updated your clipboard history. You didn’t have to use a share sheet extension, install a new keyboard, or go back to the Home Screen to tap a widget — and best of all, you didn’t have to leave the app you were in. It’s glorious.
Clip sends you a notification every time you copy something on iOS. Simply swipe down on the notification to add it to Clip without leaving the app you’re in. It even works with images.
To set up Clip (assuming you’ve already gone through the process of installing AltStore and Clip on your iPhone), open Settings, scroll down to ‘Clip’, then make sure you give the app the proper permissions:
- ‘Allow location access’ must be set to ‘Always’; otherwise, Clip will not be able to keep running in the background. This will also let you see your clipboard history items on a map inside the app. If you’re understandably weary about this setting, know that the developers behind Clip and AltStore specifically mention that, ”Your location data never leaves this device.“
- ‘Paste from Other Apps’ must be set to ‘Allow’ (instead of the default ‘Ask’); otherwise, iOS will systematically display a permission popup every time Clip attempts to read your clipboard. Note that even after granting this permission, Clip is not able to read your clipboard unless you swipe down on the app’s notification.
For Clip to work properly, make sure the app’s location access is set to ‘Always’ and clipboard access to ‘Allow’.
Inside the app itself, the only two settings you can tweak are the number of clipboard history items to keep and a toggle to disable location icons.
Apart from that, the UI is very basic. You can tap on clipboard history items in the List tab to copy, delete, or share them via the share sheet, and you can switch to the Map tab to view your clipboard history items on a map. The app supports various types of clipboard content, including text, URLs, and images (in which case a preview is displayed).
Additionally, in the current beta version of the app (which you can also install via AltStore), Clip is adding a custom keyboard to allow you to paste items from your clipboard history directly into any text field. Simply tap the globe icon to view your clippings and select one of them to paste it. You’re then automatically brought back to your regular keyboard so you can continue typing. It’s a welcome addition that makes it even easier to tap into your clipboard history without having to switch apps.
You can tweak the number of clipboard history items to keep in Clip.
Clip Beta is adding a custom keyboard to allow you to paste items from your clipboard history directly into any text field.
Even in its current basic state, Clip is already far ahead of any other clipboard manager app on the iPhone in that I actually use it without having to actively think about it. Still, I think the app would cement itself as a great productivity tool if it gained a couple of more advanced features in the near future.
Here’s my small wish list for Clip:
Add Shortcuts support. Right now, it’s pretty easy to go back and forth between Clip and other apps to string together multiple clipboard history items in, say, a note. However, it can quickly become frustrating if you’re trying to act on more than two or three items at once. As a result, I would love to be able to create simple shortcuts to fetch a set number of recent clipboard history items and manipulate them. Even better, I would love a shortcut action that could let me fetch all my clipboard history items that contain a specific keyword or string of text.
Add drag and drop support. This one will make more sense once Clip and AltStore are available on iPadOS (hopefully later this year), but even on iOS, being able to drag and drop clipboard history items from Clip to other apps would be amazing. On the iPad, I can’t wait to be able to keep Clip in Slide Over, or in a floating window with Stage Manager, and quickly pick up and drop items from my clipboard history to a code editor or a note in Obsidian.
Add a Home Screen widget. Even if Clip doesn’t need a Home Screen widget to function, it would be helpful to be able to see your recent clipboard history right on the Home Screen without having to open the app. Already, I suspect many heavy Clip users will want to keep the app icon on their Home Screen; since the app is already taking up precious space there, it might as well be functional.
Ship on macOS. Like I said, hopefully we’ll get to use Clip on both iOS and iPadOS later this year. But the even greater prospect would be to have Clip run on macOS as well. When using Clip, you may notice that the app is already able to monitor your Mac clipboard thanks to Universal Clipboard. As soon as I copy something on my Mac, a Clip notification appears on my iPhone, letting me add what I just copied on macOS to my clipboard history inside Clip on iOS. If a Mac version of Clip existed, it could automatically add my Mac’s clipboard content to its history and keep it in sync between the two devices. Clip could be the app that brings us closer than ever to the productivity dream of having a proper universal clipboard manager that works across all of Apple’s platforms.
Since it was not nearly as anticipated as Delta, Clip is flying a bit under the radar following AltStore’s release in the EU. But here’s the thing: Clip represents and highlights the potential for apps released outside of Apple’s App Store, apps that could have never existed because of the company’s limitations. It will be interesting to see whether apps like Clip take off in the EU in the coming months and years. If that happens, hopefully Apple will take the hint: if it isn’t going to add a native clipboard manager to iOS and iPadOS anytime soon, then it should at least let apps like Clip thrive in its own App Store for all to enjoy.
In the meantime, if you don’t live in the EU, you should be jealous. We have working clipboard managers here.
Clip is available in AltStore. In the EU, AltStore requires a €1.50 (+ VAT) annual subscription. Clip can be installed after pledging to the AltStore team’s Patreon.
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Apple Music kicked off a 10-day event today celebrating its newly-compiled list of the 100 Best Albums of all time. Apple’s press release explains that the list was created by:
Apple Music’s team of experts alongside a select group of artists, including Maren Morris, Pharrell Williams, J Balvin, Charli XCX, Mark Hoppus, Honey Dijon, and Nia Archives, as well as songwriters, producers, and industry professionals.
Apple also clarifies that its 100 Best Albums list is an editorially-created list that isn’t based on streaming statistics.
There are multiple ways to navigate Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums list.
Each day, Apple Music is revealing 10 new albums, starting with albums 91-100, which are:
- 91: Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 by George Michael
- 92: Flower Boy by Tyler, The Creator
- 93: A Seat at the Table by Solange
- 94: Untrue by Burial
- 95: Confessions by USHER
- 96: Pure Heroine by Lorde
- 97: Rage Against the Machine by Rage Against the Machine
- 98: ASTROWORLD by Travis Scott
- 99: Hotel California by Eagles
- 100: Body Talk by Robyn
Rachel Newman, Apple Music’s senior director of content and editorial, had this to say about the list:
100 Best brings together all the things that make Apple Music the ultimate service for music lovers — human curation at its peak, an appreciation for the art of storytelling, and unparalleled knowledge of music and an even deeper love for it. We have been working on this for a very long time, and it’s something we are all incredibly proud of and excited to share with the world.
Each album includes editorial content too.
The 100 Best Albums list can be accessed at 100best.music.apple.com. From there, you can listen on the web, add an album to your library, share it, or stream it with the Music app. Each album has its own page including written material that puts the album into context and lists each track, too.
Apple is also celebrating the 100 Best Albums list on Apple Radio and giving the creators of each album an award:
All 100 Best Albums recipients will be given an award comprised of blasted anodized aluminum, sourced entirely from recycled Apple products, in a unique polished PVD gold. The design on the back of the award takes its cues from a vinyl LP record and is inscribed with the artist’s name, the album title, and the album’s year of release.
I’ve enjoyed browsing through the first ten albums in this collection and appreciate that it’s being rolled out in stages, allowing listeners to explore a manageable number of albums each day. This will be a nice treat to look forward to for the next nine days.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
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Now, don’t get offended, but – you aren’t as good at clocking deepfakes as you think you are.
And it’s not just you–nobody’s that good at it. Not your mom, or your boss, or anyone in your IT department.
To make matters worse, you probably think you can spot a fake. After all, you see weird AI-generated videos of celebrities on social media and they give you that uncanny valley tingle. But it’s a different ballgame when all you’ve got to go on is a voice.
In real life, people only catch voice clones about 50% of the time. You might as well flip a coin.
And that makes us extremely vulnerable to attacks.
In the “classic” voice clone scam, the caller is after an immediate payout (“Hi it’s me, your boss. Wire a bunch of company money to this account ASAP”). Then there are the more complex social engineering attacks, where a phone call is just the entryway to break into a company’s systems and steal data or plant malware (that’s what happened in the MGM attack, albeit without the use of AI).
As more and more hackers use voice cloning in social engineering attacks, deepfakes are becoming such a hot-button issue that it’s hard to tell the fear-mongering (for instance, it definitely takes more than three seconds of audio to clone a voice) from the actual risk.
To disentangle the true risks from the exaggerations, we need to answer some basic questions:
- How hard is it to deepfake someone’s voice?
- How do hackers use voice clones to attack companies?
- And how do we guard ourselves against this… attack of the clones?
Like a lot of modern technologies, deepfake attacks actually exploit some deep-seated fears. Fears like, “your boss is mad at you.” These anxieties have been used by social engineers since the dawn of the scam, and voice clones add a shiny new boost to their tactics.
But the good news is that we can be trained to look past those fears and recognize a suspicious phone call–even if the voice sounds just like someone we trust.
If you want to learn more about our findings, read our piece on the Kolide blog. It’s a frank and thorough exploration of what we should be worried about when it comes to audio deepfakes.**
Our thanks to Kolide for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico and I discuss how Apple crushed it at its iPad event, and Federico lets loose in London.
Links and Show NotesCrushing It* Apple’s Crush! ad * Hugh Grant, Justine Bateman and More Slam Apple for iPad Pro ‘Crush’ Ad: ‘Truly, What Is Wrong With You?’ * Apple’s New iPad Ad Leaves Its Creative Audience Feeling … Flat
Federico Lets Loose in London* MacStories’ ‘Let Loose’ event coverage * Photos from Federico’s trip + With Myke on the Thames + Apple’s Battersea Station atrium + John Ternus kicks off the event in London + Federico and John Ternus + Federico in the iPad hands-on area
Up Next* Dark Matter on Apple TV+
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MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
→ Source: podcasts.apple.com
On Tuesday, Apple introduced its new iPad Pros with a video called Crush! that was meant to convey how much the device can do. The trouble was the way the video delivered the message, depicting musical instruments, books, a record player, paints, a TV, and many other creative tools being crushed by a hydraulic press. When the press opened, it revealed the new iPad Pro.
Crush! was widely criticized by the creative community, including actor Hugh Grant, director Reed Morano, and many others. Within hours, the story had spread beyond the tech industry to all corners of the mainstream media.
Today, as reported by The Verge, Apple vice president of marketing Tor Myhren made a statement to Ad Age, apologizing for the video saying:
Creativity is in our DNA at Apple, and it’s incredibly important to us to design products that empower creatives all over the world. Our goal is to always celebrate the myriad of ways users express themselves and bring their ideas to life through iPad. We missed the mark with this video, and we’re sorry.
Earlier today, Federico and I covered the firestorm caused by the video on MacStories Unwind+ for Club MacStories members. During the episode, which will be generally available tomorrow, Federico predicted this outcome, which I think is the right move given the widespread strong reaction to the video.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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This week’s “Let Loose” Apple event was filmed on the iPhone and edited on the Mac and iPad. During the event, filmmaker Stu Maschwitz noticed that some scenes featured a shallower depth of field than is possible with the iPhone’s cameras. Although he doesn’t cite a source, Maschwitz says he figured out how Apple got those shots:
“Let Loose” was shot on iPhone 15 Pro Max, and for several shots where a shallow depth-of-field was desired, Panavision lenses were attached to the iPhones using a Panavision-developed mount called the “Lens Relay System.” This rig is publicly available for rent from Panavision today, although not currently listed on their website.
As he further explains:
With Panavision’s new system, the iPhone’s own lens captures the areal image created by any Panavision lens you like. The iPhone provides the image capture, in ProRes Apple Log, of course.
In fact, “Let Loose” is the first Apple Event finished and streamed in HDR, pushing the iPhone’s capture abilities even further than “Scary Fast.”
The wildest part of all is the seamlessness of it all:
Or think of it this way: Apple confidently intercut footage shot with the most elite cinema lenses available with footage shot with unadorned iPhone lenses.
I appreciate Maschwitz’s perspective on the capabilities of the iPhone’s cameras. Having rewatched this week’s event a couple of nights ago, I would never have suspected it was shot on a mobile phone if I didn’t know to look for the note at the end of the video.
→ Source: prolost.com
Apple Music has launched Shazam Radio Spins, a new set of top chart playlists built by identifying music played by over 40,000 radio stations in over 200 countries and regions.
The centerpiece of the new charts is the global Top 200 Radio Chart, which is updated daily. Shazam has also begun publishing charts for a wide variety of genres like Pop, Dance, R&B/Soul, Hip-Hop/Rap, French Pop, Reggae/Dancehall, AfroBeats, Latin, Country, Singer/Songwriter, and more.
Apple Music subscribers can access Shazam Radio Spins from Shazam’s curator page in the Music app or Shazam’s website. So far, I’ve only been able to access the Top 200 Radio Chart in Apple Music, but I expect the genre-specific charts will begin to appear before long because they are already available on the web.
In addition to the new charts, Apple has introduced a new music industry partner program to help record labels and music distributors spot trends in the music industry. The new Apple Music Partner Program is available initially to a limited number of US labels and distributors that distribute via Apple Music.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Tandem OLED display panels were new to me when Apple mentioned them during the “Let Loose” event yesterday. I figured it was another marketing term like Ultra Retina XDR, but it’s not.
As Quinn Nelson of Snazzy Labs explains in his excellent video, tandem OLED is a technology that stacks two OLED displays on top of each other, creating more light, greater electrical efficiency, and longer-lasting displays. The catch is that tandem OLED displays are hard to make without losing a lot of the light they generate. There have been multiple proposed solutions as Quinn explains, but it’s not clear how Apple has solved the issue with the new iPad Pros. What is clear, though, is that the technology is a big deal.
Quinn also explains the differences between TSMC’s 3-nanometer chip processes and why the M4 ‘…is a necessary strategic leap. It’s not a computational leap.’ The entire video is worth watching a couple of times to understand the nerdiest bits and why they hold so much promise for Apple’s future hardware releases.
→ Source: youtu.be
This week on Magic Rays of Light, Sigmund and Devon break down all of the announcements from Apple’s Let Loose event, grade their event predictions, and highlight this week’s release of sci-fi series Dark Matter.
Show Notes* Highlight + Dark Matter * Let Loose Event Recap + Apple Event: Let Loose + Apple Announces New 11” and 13” iPad Pros + Apple Expands the iPad Air Lineup + Apple Reveals New Keyboards and the Apple Pencil Pro + Final Cut Pro 2 and Logic Pro 2 for iPad Updated Along with Their Mac Counterparts * Trailer Talk + Presumed Innocent + Jake Gyllenhaal Recommendation: Nightcrawler * News + Apple Announces New and Updated Apple Arcade Games Coming in May and June + Ted Lasso: The Complete Series on Blu-ray * Releases + Hollywood Con Queen * Extras + Argylle: Bryce Dallas Howard on Stunt Training for Her Action Star Role + Looks Like Loot with Michaela Jaé Rodriguez and Joel Kim Booster + The Cast of Sugar Reads Fan Theories * Up Next + Star Wars: Tales of the Empire + Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire + Abigail + The Taste of Things + Hacks
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads
Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads
Join Club MacStories.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
→ Source: podcasts.apple.com
Source: The Walt Disney Company.
Today, Marvel Studios and ILM Immersive announced What If…? – An Immersive Story for Disney+ subscriber on the Apple Vision Pro. What If…? is Marvel Studios’ animated series that considers what might occur if major events in the Marvel Cinematic Universe turned out differently. Drawing on the animated series, the creators say:
Fans will be invited to step inside the Multiverse like never before and have the chance to dive into an immersive, narrative-driven and innovative story in mixed reality.
Executive producer Brad Winderbaum adds that:
What If…? the animated series as well as the comic book has always been about looking over the horizon into realities that have yet to be conceived. What If…? – An Immersive Story takes this one step further and actually allows you to visit these strange new worlds, not as a Watcher but as an actual participant. The creative work on this project is nothing less than stellar and we could not be more excited for fans to interact firsthand with some of their favorite Marvel heroes.
There’s not a lot of detail on the special hour-long project yet, but Marvel Studios and ILM Immersive promise more details soon. Still, it’s good to see Marvel Studios and ILM Immersive are working on this. The interactive content for the Vision Pro has been sparse since its launch, so hopefully, this is a sign that the market is big enough to support more interactive content, and the Vision Pro will be expanding to other countries soon.
I appreciate the advance notice, too. I’ve had the What If…? series in my queue for a while, and now I have another reason to check it out.
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Apple’s presentation moved fast yesterday, and since the event concluded, more details have emerged about everything announced. We’ve been combing Apple’s product pages, social media, and other sources to learn more about everything announced, which we’ve collected below:
- Chance Miller of 9to5Mac, reporting based on a memo sent to Apple Store employees that Apple will no longer include stickers in the boxes with the iPads introduced yesterday. Instead, retail stores will have a small number of stickers on hand for customers who ask for them.
- One of the first things I noticed in yesterday’s video presentation was that Tim Cook’s shoes were different somehow. The detail wasn’t enough to identify them from the streamed video, but it turns out that they were Nike Air Max 1 ‘86’s that were ‘Made on iPad,’ which was embroidered on the tongue of the shoes. Apple has published a Reel on Instagram showing the shoes sketched on an iPad.
- MacRumors reports that the new iPad Pros support lower refresh rates but not the iPhone Pro’s always-on feature. Nonetheless, the lower refresh rate support should help the iPad Pros extend battery life depending on how the iPad is used.
- As I first learned from MKBHD’s iPad Pro first impressions video, the new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro includes a 60W USB-C charging port, which is a significant increase from the previous model.
- As Dan Moren explained on Six Colors, Apple appears to be binning the M4 chips in the new iPad Pro models with the 1TB and 2TB storage tiers sporting an additional performance core.
- The Verge reported that the new iPads have eliminated physical SIM cards in favor of eSIMs, which is likely a space-saving measure.
You can follow all of our May 2024 Apple event coverage through our May 2024 Apple event hub or subscribe to the dedicated May 2024 Apple event RSS feed.
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The new 13” iPad Pro.
I just came back to my hotel from the media event Apple held earlier today in London at their Battersea Power Station headquarters. I had high expectations for the new generation of iPad Pros that Apple unveiled today – some of which were exceeded by reality (hardware), and others that were, regrettably but unsurprisingly, faced with the reality of the iPad platform (software).
What follows is a loose collection of notes and impressions from the event, where I was able to try both iPad Pro models multiple times and spend some quality time with their accessories.
Let’s dive in.
Notes on Apple’s Battersea LocationBefore we get to the iPads, I have to spend a few words on how stunning Apple’s office space at Battersea Power Station in London is. I knew from photos and general knowledge that there was something special about the history of Battersea and the work Apple had done there, but seeing it in real life for the first time truly is something else. The scale of the building is remarkable, and it hits you in a different way than, say, Apple Park’s ring does. It’s tall.
Arriving at Battersea.
What I didn’t know about Battersea is that the lower-level floors are a mall, with Apple’s offices taking up the higher floors. It immediately struck me that, the way Apple renovated Battersea Power Station, it feels like a place that sits somewhere in between Apple Park and, say, the Via del Corso Apple Store in Rome. Much like the city of London itself is a fascinating mix of modern architecture and old structures, so is Battersea a blend of old and new. The contrast between brick walls and the modern wood and glass that Apple added everywhere is a recognition of the building’s historical importance mixed with contemporary touches that we know from Apple’s retail stores.
The mall downstairs.
A view of Apple’s offices.
Most of all, Apple’s Battersea HQ feels like a welcoming place for media gatherings, which is why I hope Apple will continue hosting similar events here in the future. Apple set up a stage and chairs in the office’s atrium, which is a large open space surrounded by balconies where everyone can see you and you can see everyone. No offense to Cupertino, but simply looking around and taking in the scene here was a lot cooler than sitting under a tent at Apple Park:
The view from the atrium today.
Apple’s Battersea office is unmistakably a European place with a strong European vibe. Apple Park is remarkable for a lot of different reasons, but after years of media events in the United States, I have to say: today felt nice. I hope Apple does more events here. I could easily see a “European WWDC” happening at and around Battersea in the future.
The New iPad Pros: OLED, Thinness… and iPadOSAlright, let’s get to the iPads.
First, I have to come clean and admit that I didn’t even go see the new 13” iPad Air in person. The stars of the show were the new iPad Pros. I think the larger iPad Air will make for an excellent tablet for most people who want an iPad with a good keyboard, but the more interesting story today was Apple’s strategy for the high end of the iPad lineup. The fact that the iPad Air demo tables at the hands-on area were always half-empty was proof of that.
The first thing I noticed when picking up the new 13” iPad Pro1 wasn’t the new OLED display (more on this below); it was the thinness and lightness. It’s hard to convey in an article what it felt like, but I’ll try: the 13” model feels impossibly thin and light. At 5.1mm, the 13” iPad Pro is now 1.3mm thinner than before, and in the process, Apple also shaved off 103 grams from the device’s weight (579 grams vs. 682 grams in the old model). Both are impressive reductions that I felt right away when I picked up the larger iPad Pro. I will have to use this device for prolonged sessions to make a final assessment, but after holding it with one hand for a minute, I couldn’t feel the same pressure I did with the previous-gen model.
Holding the 13” iPad Pro.
The 13” iPad Pro is remarkably thin.
The thinness and reduced weight of the big iPad Pro are making me question which model I want to use going forward. I went into this event knowing I’d get an 11” iPad Pro again, but after trying the new 13” in person, I’m not so sure anymore. It’s still a large tablet that’s not as portable as the small one, but the thinness and lightness of it are making reconsider my decision. I can’t get over how wildly thin and light the new 13” iPad Pro feels.
I guess I’m feeling this way because the 11” iPad Pro – although finally on par with the 13” in terms of display technology – didn’t see quite the same leap in terms of thickness and weight.
The small iPad Pro is 5.3mm thin (0.2mm more than the 13” iPad Pro), and it “only” lost 20 grams (446 grams vs. the old 466 grams) in the transition to OLED. Don’t get me wrong: the 11” still feels like you’re holding the “right” tablet – small enough to use one-handed, and large enough in landscape to use it with a keyboard attached. I speak from experience here since I’m actually using macOS (with smaller UI elements than iPadOS) on my 11” iPad Pro, and it’s totally fine. It’s just that when you pick up the new 11” iPad Pro, it doesn’t wow you like the thinner and lighter 13” model does.
I have a theory regarding what Apple has done here, and it revolves around the company’s approach to each device’s built-in battery. The 11” iPad Pro features a bigger battery than before, going from a 28.65-watt-hour battery to a 31.29-watt-hour one, and the device only lost 20g and 0.6mm. Conversely, the big iPad Pro features a smaller battery than before, going from a 40.88-watt-hour battery to a 38.99-watt-hour one, and the device has lost 1.3mm and 103g. However, both models are advertised as having the same battery life as before: up to “10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi or watching video”.
Also worth keeping in mind: the new iPad Pros have new display resolutions with more pixels that need to be pushed than before. The 11” iPad Pro has gone from 2388x1668 to 2420x1668 (3,983,184 pixels vs. 4,036,560 pixels – a 1.3% increase), while the 13” iPad Pro has gone from 2732x2048 to 2752x2064 (5,595,136 pixels vs. 5,680,128 pixels – a 1.51% increase).
The 11” iPad Pro.
My theory is that Apple prioritized different aspects of the iPad experience for each model and chose different trade-offs for the two sizes. Given the weight reduction granted by OLED and the lower power draw made possible by the M4, I can imagine that they may have chosen to make their most common tablet size (the 11” one) as thin as possible, but not dramatically so. At the same time, I have a feeling Apple wanted to make the unwieldy 12.9” iPad Pro a lot more accessible than it used to be, hence the smaller battery that is, however, compensated for by the M4, which promises the same battery life as before despite the smaller capacity and increased pixel resolution.
Are these the right trade-offs? I can’t answer that question today, but I’m curious to find out. The one thought I still can’t shake is that, on the 13” iPad Pro, Apple’s own Thunderbolt cable connector is thicker than the device itself:
Hard to see from this zoomed shot, but the connector is thicker than the iPad now.
Speaking of the display: you’ll be shocked to hear that OLED (or as Apple calls it, their “Tandem OLED” tech) looks incredible in real life. I’ll want to try my own content on those displays (I can’t wait to stream PC games and play Nintendo Switch games on them), but from what I saw at the hands-on area, colors were vivid and vibrant, blacks were true, deep blacks, and both displays were bright. If there’s an OLED version of a product, I’m always going to get it, and I can’t wait to spend more time with these OLED iPad Pros. I’m especially intrigued to test dark mode interfaces with OLED’s true blacks, which I didn’t do today.
The colors on these new iPads look incredible.
I was able to play around with the nano-texture display too, and while I’m going to need more time with it, I came away impressed. At first glance with a regular iPad Pro and a nano-texture one side by side, I couldn’t see the difference. According to Apple, they’re using a new chemical process to alter the glass with nano textures, which ensures the display keeps the same properties as the glossy one – same brightness, same contrast. However, as soon as an Apple employee grabbed the iPad with the nano-texture display and started moving it around, I could see the difference: the overhead spotlights were not reflecting on it as much as they were on the other iPad Pro, and even fingerprints on the display looked different.
Check out the light reflection in the top-right corner of the iPad and you’ll see what the nano-texture glass does compared to the glossy bezel.
At the hands-on area, I couldn’t discern a loss in quality and color reproduction between the two displays, but I hope I’ll have the chance to try both in the near future and judge Apple’s claims for myself. What I wasn’t expecting when I grabbed the iPad Pro with the nano-texture display was that the display felt as smooth as the regular glossy one. The best way I can describe it is that the nano-texture iPad Pro looks like a nicer version of the Paperlike screen accessory that doesn’t degrade image quality and is also smooth to the touch. If you were expecting this matte option to feel rough like paper, this is not it, and I’m glad Apple went in this direction. An 11” iPad Pro with a matte OLED display sounds like an incredibly intriguing proposition for a device that can be your main computer and a tablet you can use outside or, dare I say it, at the beach.
I know what you’re all thinking, though. I went into this event with a MacPad on my hands (literally) and left with a new generation of iPad Pros that are an amazing hardware revision powered by the same lackluster software as before.
The elephant in the room, which I plan to address more in-depth in a future story, is that while the iPad Pro’s hardware was fine before and is finer now, its software was a letdown before, and nothing has changed after today’s event. I don’t need to rehash why I think Apple is missing a huge opportunity by not embracing the iPad Pro as a machine that could do both iPadOS and macOS equally well in the same package. I’ll save that for iPadOS 18 at WWDC. What I will say is that if there was a gap between the older-generation iPad Pro hardware and its software, that gap is now a Tears of the Kingdom-sized chasm between these thin, OLED iPad Pros and iPadOS 17.
Apple can’t seem to break out of this loop they’ve been in for the past six years with the iPad Pro: state-of-the-art, bleeding-edge hardware running software that underutilizes it. Will the even better hardware of these new iPad Pros be enough to offset the limitations of iPadOS? Is there more to these iPads when it comes to software that will be revealed at WWDC next month? Do you feel like you’ve heard these questions before?
The AccessoriesI was also able to play around with the iPad Pro’s new accessories today.
The Apple Pencil Pro’s squeeze gesture and associated haptic feedback feel great. You squeeze the pencil, and a radial menu appears on-screen in apps that use the native PencilKit framework, allowing you to choose which tools you want to use. (Third-party apps can reprogram this gesture to show different UIs.) Squeezing the Pencil and getting the haptic feedback feels like squeezing the AirPods Pro’s stem, but there is real, tactile feedback since there’s a haptic motor inside the new Pencil. I dig it, and the addition of a gesture is a nice way to simplify the interface while still providing quick access to drawing tools. I’m not much of a Pencil user myself, but I look forward to playing around with it in different apps.
I was obviously more interested in the new Magic Keyboard, and I think Apple pretty much delivered what I wanted. The new Magic Keyboard has the same key mechanism and outer-facing cover as before; however, the keyboard now has a function row, the inner part (the palm rest) is made of aluminum, and it has a larger glass trackpad that supports the same haptic feedback previously seen in Mac laptops.
The larger trackpad is a welcome change.
The redesigned hinge of the Magic Keyboard.
The new Magic Keyboard is, effectively, the definitive version of the original design from 2020. The cantilever-based floating mechanism is here to stay (as is the Smart Connector), and everything else around it has been fine-tuned for pro users. I always found the previous trackpad a little too cramped for my hands, so I’m glad to see a larger version; my white Magic Keyboard aged horribly in the inner part despite my care, so I think the aluminum body will help; the addition of a function row means I’ll never have to make the trip to Control Center again to adjust display brightness or control media playback, which is terrific and a huge “finally”. Somehow, the new Magic Keyboard also felt lighter than the previous one, but this is something I’ll have to double-check in a future review.
Using the multitasking function key on the Magic Keyboard with Stage Manager produces a nice animation with the app switcher.
There are two details I noticed with the new Magic Keyboard that I want to point out. When you close the keyboard shut on the iPad Pro, it now makes a nice, satisfying “click”, which I liked a lot.
Up close with the new Magic Keyboard.
Furthermore, the keyboard has a color-matched, rubber (I think it’s rubber?) ridge that runs across its entire perimeter, which likely serves as protection for the display when the keyboard is closed. I like how this frames the keyboard and that the rounded edges unsurprisingly match the curvature of the iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard itself.
Open QuestionsOf course, I left the event with a lot of questions about the iPad Pro’s hardware and software:
Is the new Magic Keyboard more difficult to open? Myke mentioned this when we were at one of the hands-on tables, then I noticed another journalist struggling with opening the Magic Keyboard, and when I tried it, I experienced it myself. Since the edge of the keyboard is now flush aluminum without an inset “lip” like on MacBooks, it’s hard to know at first where you’re supposed to grab it. I’m keen to see how quickly I can get used to this design, but I also wonder why it wasn’t designed like MacBook keyboards.
Myke trying to open the Magic Keyboard.
How will third-party apps handle the new iPad Pro’s display resolutions? If a developer hasn’t updated their iPad app for the new screen sizes, will the app get letter/pillar-boxed, or automatically scale to fill the screen?
Is the function row on the new Magic Keyboard hard to access? We knew this was going to be the case, but the cantilever design of the Magic Keyboard does seem to make the function row a little too hard to access sometimes. Depending on the angle the iPad is at, your fingers will likely bump into its bottom edge. Again, I need to use the device more, but I noticed this at the event today.
How will the M4 impact “normal usage” of the iPad Pro in everyday life? The improvements in Logic and Final Cut Pro look fantastic, but those apps are not for me. Given the limitations of iPadOS, it’s hard for me to imagine what I – someone who doesn’t edit video or audio – will notice in terms of performance improvements granted by the M4. I suppose that having the same battery life with thinner iPads will have to be it.
My Next DecisionsI came away from today’s Apple event with two thoughts2:
- I want Apple to hold more media events at Battersea in the future.
- I know I’m going to get a new iPad Pro, but I’m not sure about which size anymore.
Let’s face it: I didn’t go into this event thinking that my iPad Pro’s thickness was the problem. But at the same time, after seeing and holding a 5.1/5.3mm OLED tablet – optionally with a matte display – I would lie if I said I didn’t want one immediately. In many ways, these new iPad Pros are the ultimate expression of the design language introduced in 2018: impossibly thin and approaching the limit of the USB-C port’s height, with an outstanding display technology, and with better accessories.
The problem was, is, and will continue to be the iPad’s operating system, which doesn’t provide users with nearly as many capabilities as macOS does on laptops that are now even behind the iPad Pro when it comes to M-series chips.
The thing is, however, despite my grudges with iPadOS, there is no other tablet or laptop I want to use in my life made by any other tech company. Believe me, I’ve tried them all over the past year, from a Surface Pro to a OnePlus Open foldable that I never mentioned before. None of the alternatives are as compelling as an all-in-one package as an iPad Pro if what you’re looking for is a tablet that can transform into a laptop. And now these iPads are going to feel even nicer to hold and use thanks to the slimmer profile, reduced weight, and OLED displays.
This is probably not the sort of inflammatory take that’s going to make this story go viral, but my opinion is that you can still love the iPad’s hardware for what it is and criticize its software for what it’s not. As I have explained, the alternative – just getting a regular Mac laptop and calling it a day – is not for me. I’d rather keep pushing the limits of what my iPad Pro can do and make my case for radical changes to iPadOS than give up on a form factor that makes computing more fun and pleasant for me.
The iPad Pro remains the only clear answer for a particular type of hybrid computer.
And so here I am, back in my hotel room in London, thinking about whether I want to stick with my original plan and get an 11” OLED iPad Pro or return to the 13” model because of its newfound thinness and lightness. Glossy display or nano-texture one? 512 GB model or 1 TB model to get access to 16 GB of RAM and the 10-core M4?
The road to iPad Pro happiness has always been paved with questions and compromises, and today’s event has followed the same trajectory. Life is easier for Mac users: most of them pick a MacBook Air and are done. And they’re happy! The iPad Pro is a complicated product, part of a complicated lineup, with a complicated software story. And yet, for many of us, it also remains the only clear answer for a particular type of hybrid computer that we want in our lives. The kind of computer with the kind of app ecosystem that, frankly, no one else makes.
Just like six years ago, I’m wondering, “Where does the iPad Pro go from here?” There’s only one way to find out: to be along for a bumpy ride.
You can follow all of our May 2024 Apple event coverage through our May 2024 Apple event hub or subscribe to the dedicated May 2024 Apple event RSS feed.
- I’m so happy that Apple has simplified the name to just “13 inches” instead of the old “12.9 inches”. It’s much easier to say and matches Apple’s other dimensions for Mac laptops. ↩︎
- Okay, fine, three thoughts: John Ternus looks even better in person. ↩︎
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Today’s Let Loose online Apple event was packed with facts, figures, and statistics throughout the presentation and elsewhere. We’ve pulled together the highlights.
iPad ProSource: Apple.
- The new iPad Pro’s GPU is 10x faster than the original model and 4x faster than the M2 iPad Pro
- The M4 chip is 50% faster than the M2
- The M4’s 16-core Neural Engine is 60x faster than the original Neural Engine
- The M4 uses a 2nd generation 3nm process
- The M4 features 28 billion transistors
Source: Apple.
- Apple has improved the thermal performance of the iPad Pro by 20% compared to the previous model
- The Neural Engine can handle 38 trillion operations per second
- The unified memory bandwidth is 120GB/s
- The iPad Pro display supports 1000 nits of brightness for SDR and HDR content and 1600 nits peak brightness for HDR
- Storage capacities range from 256GB to 2TB
- The Wi-Fi version of the 11” iPad Pro is .98 pound (444 grams), and the 13” model is 1.28 pounds (579 grams). Adding cellular adds 2 grams to the 11” model and 3 grams to the 13” version.
Source: Apple.
- The 256 and 512GB models have 8GB of RAM, while the 1TB and 2TB models have 16GB of RAM
- The new models support Bluetooth 5.3
- The 11” iPad Pro is 5.3mm thick, and the 13” model is 5.1mm thick
- It’s possible to spend $3,077 on a fully-spec’d 13” iPad Pro with Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard for iPad
iPad AirSource: Apple.
- There’s a new 13” model
- The M2 chip in the new Air is 50% faster than the M1 and 3x faster than the iPad Air with the A12 Bionic chip
- The iPad Air can be configured with up to 1TB of storage
- The front and back cameras both have 12MP sensors
- There are 4 colors available, 2 of which are new
- The 11” Air is 1.02 pounds, and the 13” model is 1.36 pounds, both of which are heavier than their iPad Pro counterparts
- Both models are 6.1mm thick
- The 11” iPad Air maxes out at 500 nits of brightness and the 13” model at 600 nits for a 100-nit difference
Accessories and OtherLook at that beautiful row of function keys.
- The Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro has a 14-key function row
- The price of the existing 10th generation iPad was reduced to $349
- Apple paid 0 tributes to Warren Buffet’s Paper Wizard
You can follow all of our May 2024 Apple event coverage through our May 2024 Apple event hub or subscribe to the dedicated May 2024 Apple event RSS feed.
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Source: Apple.
Last year at this time, I beta-tested Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad. I was impressed with both and found editing podcasts in Logic Pro for iPad surprisingly easy. That said, both apps were still limited compared to what their sibling versions could do on the Mac. With today’s update, Apple appears to be pushing both apps much further into ‘Pro’ territory than ever before, undoubtedly thanks to the M4 chip inside the new iPad Pros.
Source: Apple.
In what I think is a first for one of its iPadOS apps, Apple has given Final Cut Pro for iPad a version number. One of the most impressive features shown off today was Live Multicam, which supports up to four simultaneous live camera feeds:
Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 delivers Live Multicam, an innovative new solution for users to capture up to four different angles of a single scene, whether working with their own devices or collaborating with others. Live Multicam connects wirelessly via Final Cut Camera, a new video capture app, enabling users to view up to four iPhone or iPad devices and providing a director’s view of each camera in real time. Each live camera feed can have settings adjusted right from Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 to easily dial in exposure, focus, zoom, and more for the perfect shot. Editable preview clips are immediately passed through to Final Cut Pro for iPad and replaced with full-resolution files in the background, so users can seamlessly move from production to editing.
Final Cut Camera is a separate new app for the iPhone and iPad that works with Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 to feed each video stream to an iPad for real-time, wireless capture.
Source: Apple.
The app also offers greater storage flexibility, allowing videographers to edit projects on an external drive. Here’s how Apple describes it in its press release:
For even more storage flexibility, Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 now supports external projects, letting users easily create or open projects on an external storage device and import media without taking up space on their iPad. Editors can quickly hand off external projects to another editor or take them into Final Cut Pro for Mac; create new projects on external storage; and seamlessly import high-resolution files and professional codecs like ProRes and Log.
Additionally, the update adds new color-grading presets, text titles, and soundtracks. Final Cut Pro for Mac is being updated to version 10.8, which includes new AI features and organizational tools.
Source: Apple.
Logic Pro has been updated for the iPad and Mac, too, with several features, including:
…Session Players, which expand the popular Drummer capabilities in Logic Pro to include a new Bass Player and Keyboard Player; Stem Splitter, to extract and work with individual parts of a single audio recording; and ChromaGlow, to instantly add warmth to tracks.
The common thread among these updates that Apple highlighted is the apps’ reliance on AI and machine learning to make complex edits to compositions.
Apple says that Final Cut Pro for iPad 2, Final Cut Camera, and Final Cut Pro for Mac 10.8 will be available later this spring, while Logic Pro for iPad 2 and Logic Pro for Mac 11 will be available on the App Store starting Monday, May 13.
You can follow all of our May 2024 Apple event coverage through our May 2024 Apple event hub or subscribe to the dedicated May 2024 Apple event RSS feed.
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Source: Apple.
The big news for the new iPad Air is that it comes in two sizes now: 11” and a new 13” model. The Air has also upgraded from the M1 to the M2 chip and moved the front-facing camera to the landscape side of the tablet, and it has higher storage configurations, works with the new Apple Pencil Pro, and comes in new colors.
A new blue and purple join starlight and space gray.
Before today’s announcement, the iPad Air was close enough in specs to an 11” iPad Pro that the two felt like fraternal twins. With today’s update, though, the iPad Air is more versatile and better differentiated from the iPad Pro models despite the fact that both models now come in identical sizes.
There’s now a more substantial difference between the chips used in Air and Pro models. The M2 in the Air is a healthy step forward that Apple says makes it 50% faster than the M1 model. Like the iPad Pros, anyone who has used an iPad for video conferences will appreciate that the Air’s front-facing camera is on the landscape edge of the device. The Air also works with the Apple Pencil Pro.
The new iPad Air works with the existing model of Magic Keyboard.
However, the new iPad Air is not compatible with the new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro. Instead, it works with the existing Magic Keyboard. The iPad Air’s storage configurations aren’t as expansive as the iPad Pro, either, topping out at 1TB, although that configuration and the 512GB version are new to the Air. Meanwhile, the base configuration has been doubled to 128 GB. Apple also introduced new blue and purple Airs that join the starlight and space gray models.
Source: Apple
I like what Apple has done with the Air a lot. The updates address the most glaring shortcomings of the tablet while clarifying how it differs from the iPad Pro, which should reduce customer confusion. Personally, I’m more interested in the iPad Pro, but the Air has grown into an impressive laptop alternative of its own, filling a MacBook Air-like role in comparison to the iPad Pro, which has MacBook Pro vibes now.
The 11” iPad Air starts at $599, with the 13” version starting at $799. Both models can be ordered today with deliveries starting May 15th.
You can follow all of our May 2024 Apple event coverage through our May 2024 Apple event hub or subscribe to the dedicated May 2024 Apple event RSS feed.
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Source: Apple.
Along with the iPad Pros, Apple today introduced new keyboards and an Apple Pencil Pro.
The new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro, at long last, has a function row of half-height keys similar to what you’d find on a Mac. The trackpad is bigger, the palm rest is aluminum, and the whole thing is thinner and lighter than before, which are all great additions. The keyboards come in black (with a black aluminum palm rest) and white (with a silver palm rest). What hasn’t changed is the cantilevered design of the keyboard, which some had predicted would be replaced by a more laptop-like hinge.
Source: Apple.
There’s a new Smart Folio for iPad Pro, too. According to Apple’s press release:
The new Smart Folio for iPad Pro attaches magnetically and now supports multiple viewing angles for greater flexibility. Available in black, white, and denim, it complements the colors of the new iPad Pro.
Source: Apple.
The new Apple Pencil Pro sounds as though it’s a big step forward. There’s a sensor in the device’s barrel so that, with a squeeze, users can summon a tool palette on the iPad Pro or iPad Air. The new Pencil also incorporates haptics, allowing it to provide a bit of feedback when a user squeezes the Pencil. There’s even a built-in gyroscope that senses when the barrel is rotated, which can be used to rotate brushes and onscreen objects. The rotation functionality is incorporated into the hover feature, allowing users to see the rotation of a brush before placing the Pencil on the screen, for example. The new model Pencil also supports Find My. As before, the new Apple Pencil Pro connects to the iPad Pro magnetically for pairing, charging, and storing.
I like the look of the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro and Apple Pencil Pro a lot. The previous Magic Keyboard always felt too cramped, and it was frustrating to not have function keys. And, although I’m not a heavy Apple Pencil user, I’m excited to see how developers implement the new Pro features.
The new Smart Folio comes in black, white, and denim and is $79 for the 11” iPads and $99 for the 13” iPads. The new Magic Keyboard comes in white and black and is $299 for the 11” iPad Pro and $349 for the 13” iPad Pro, with $20 off those prices for education customers. The Apple Pencil Pro is $129 and $119 for education customers.
You can follow all of our May 2024 Apple event coverage through our May 2024 Apple event hub or subscribe to the dedicated May 2024 Apple event RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
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At its Let Loose video event today, Apple introduced new 11” and 13” iPad Pros. Both models come in Silver and Space Black and feature OLED displays, the M4 chip, and more. Based on the specs Apple shared, both iPad Pro models appear to be significant upgrades over the existing M2 models.
The DesignApple has made its thinest device ever with the iPad Pro. The 11” model is 5.3 mm thick, and the 13” model is 5.1 mm thick. That’s a remarkably thin device, achieved though a combination of new display technology and power efficiency, which allow it to use a smaller battery.
The DisplayIt’s not surprising that the new iPad Pros have OLED displays. That’s been rumored for a while. However, Apple says these are the most advanced OLED displays available.
The display, which Apple calls Ultra Retina XDR, is made from two OLED panels, allowing the device to achieve higher brightness than a single-panel setup. So in addition to the deeper blacks and high-contrast that OLED typically achieves, Apple says the new iPad Pros will support 1,000 nits of full-screen brightness for SDR and HDR content and 1,600 nits peak for HDR.
A nano-textured display is also available for the first time in the 1TB and 2TB configurations of both iPad Pros.
The M4 ChipThe new iPad Pros are the first devices made by Apple to include the new M4 chipset, skipping the M3 generation altogether. Apple says that the M4, which is built with a second-generation 3-nanometer process, builds on the technologies found in the M3 chips, including features like Dynamic Caching and hardware-accelerated mesh shading and ray tracing that were only available on certain Macs before.
The 256GB and 512GB configurations of the new iPad Pro include a 9-core CPU with three performance cores and six efficiency cores. Those models also have a 10-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine. The 1TB and 2TB models add one performance core to the CPU but have the same GPU and Neural Engine.
Apple spent a lot of time talking about the M4 and its ability to handle difficult AI tasks, pointing out that the latest Neural Engine can handle 38 trillion operations per second. The company says that’s 60x faster than its first Neural Engine in the A11 Bionic chip. Apple also claims that the Neural Engine is faster than any equivalent chip in PCs, implying that it’s the rest of the AI industry catching up to it and not the other way around.
CamerasThe front camera has been moved to the landscape side of the iPad Pro, which will make video conferencing less awkward. Plus, there’s a new Adaptive True Tone flash that removes shadows by taking multiple exposures of documents when scanning, and neither model includes an Ultra Wide camera anymore.
I’m excited about the new iPad Pro. It remains to be seen how the advances in hardware translate into everyday experiences, but it’s still good to see Apple pushing the iPad’s capabilities forward aggressively, which should encourage developers to push the boundaries of what is possible with a tablet.
The new 11” iPad Pro starts at $999, and the 13” model starts at $1,299. Both models can be ordered today and ship next week.
You can follow all of our May 2024 Apple event coverage through our May 2024 Apple event hub or subscribe to the dedicated May 2024 Apple event RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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If you didn’t follow the livestream of today’s ‘Let Loose’ Apple event, you can replay it on Apple’s Events site or YouTube.
The keynote video can be streamed here and on the Apple TV using the TV app. A high-quality version will also be available through Apple Podcasts as a video and audio podcast. An American Sign Language version of the event keynote is available on the Apple Events page too.
We’ll be adding links to the product videos released by Apple today as they appear on YouTube after the break.
You can follow all of our May 2024 Apple event coverage through our May 2024 Apple event hub or subscribe to the dedicated May 2024 Apple event RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Screens by Edovia is a screen-sharing app that lets you control your computer from another device, and today, version 5.2 is out with an excellent set of updates that improve the app’s performance and usability. However, the biggest change is that Screens now works on the Vision Pro, which is a big deal for anyone managing computers remotely.
I’m a longtime Screens user, but I was initially skeptical about using it with the Vision Pro. How useful or easy-to-use would Screens be when running on the device? The answer is ‘very.’ The Vision Pro version of Screens is a terrific addition to the previously-released iPhone, iPad, and Mac versions, and combined with the other changes in version 5.2, this is a bigger update than the point release might suggest.
Watching myself take screenshots of Screens via Screens.
I’m going to stick to covering the visionOS version of Screens and the other changes introduced in version 5.2 because I reviewed version 5.0 of the app late last year. So, if you’re unfamiliar with Screens’ core functionality, be sure to check out that review.
Suffice it to say, I’m a big fan of Screens. I’ve used the app to connect to my Macs, whether at home or away, for years. Sometimes, I’m just being lazy because a file I need is on my office Mac, and I’m in another part of my home, and other times, I’m away and forget something important. Either way, firing up Screens makes it easy to get what I need.
That sort of convenience is multiplied when I’m using the Vision Pro. If I’m close to my Mac, I can simply mirror its display in the Vision Pro using visionOS’ built-in remote access feature. That only works well, though, when I’m near the Mac it’s connected to. What’s great about Screens 5.2 is that it allows me to do something similar from anywhere, which is incredibly cool. That means being able to type in an app on my Mac Studio no matter where I am. I love it.
Connections can be sorted by frequency of use.
Not only that, but I can open a connection to my Mac mini or laptop, too, spreading three virtual Macs around my living room if I want. I don’t have a good reason to do that, but if your job is managing multiple Macs or running different processes on a bunch of computers, I have to imagine it would be a lot nicer to have multiple big windows that you can spread out around your space than flipping among them on a fixed-size display.
Another highlight of Screens on the Vision Pro is the quality of the image it mirrors. As part of the version 5.2 update, Edovia updated its rendering engine across all platforms, which I expect made a difference. Text was crisp and legible on every Mac I accessed, and images looked great, too. Plus, unlike the Mac mirroring built into visionOS, you also have access to all the tools available in Screens, which are arrayed in toolbars along the bottom and left side of its visionOS window.
If there’s a downside to accessing your Mac from the Vision Pro with Screens, it’s that the gestures to control your Mac take some getting used to. I’ve been mirroring my Macs in the Vision Pro since I got the device. However, to navigate the Mac using mirroring, you need a keyboard and trackpad because it doesn’t support gestures, so you better have a Magic Trackpad for moving your cursor around.
Screens includes an excellent set of gestures for navigating remote computers.
In contrast, Screens does support gestures. The app allows you to move the pointer by pinching and dragging. A single pinch is the same as a single click, and a double-pinch is a double click. If you pinch with both hands and move them up or down, the active window will scroll. Also, a right-click is triggered if you pinch with both hands and rotate them a little. After some practice, I found it easy to get around my Mac’s UI using these gestures, but the experience is different enough from working with native visionOS windows that you should expect it to take a little time to wrap your head around conceptually.
Unused sidebar sections can be toggled off.
In addition to the new rendering engine I mentioned above, Screens now allows users to set image compression on a per-connection basis. That way, if you have a connection you know isn’t great, you can compress the image more to help improve performance. Codecs can be specified for PC connections, too. Finally, if there are sidebar sections you don’t use, you can toggle them off in settings, and your library of connections can be sorted by connection frequency so the ones you use the most are at the top of the list.
Mac mirroring is one of the Vision Pro’s best features. It’s both an escape valve for things the Vision Pro can’t do or where app support is thin and a powerful way to interact with the Mac, period. Screens 5.2 takes that idea even further, allowing you to interact with multiple Macs and other computers anywhere and making the app the most useful utility I’ve tried for visionOS so far.
Screens 5.2 is available on the App Store for $2.99/month, $24.99/year, or a one-time payment of $79.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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This week on AppStories, we are joined by Riley Testut for a conversation about the history of AltStore from side-loaded app to official alternative app marketplace in the EU and Delta’s dominance of the Top Free App chart in the US and elsewhere..
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An Interview with Riley Testut* AltStore + AltStore + AltStore PAL + Delta + Clip * Follow Riley and Shane’s work: + Riley and Shane’s Patreon + Riley Testut on Mastodon and Threads + Shane Gill on Mastodon and Threads * MacStories coverage: + The Delta Videogame Emulator Launches on the App Store + How to Load Your Game Boy Games Onto the iPhone to Play in the Delta Emulator + Game On: Speed Running Game Emulation on iOS + Emulators Will Change the App Store Forever * Other coverage: + Apple’s still thinking about the Core Technology Fee in Europe + The game emulator your phone has been missing + Third-party iPhone app store AltStore PAL is now live in Europe
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On AppStories+, I propose an optimistic perspective on iOS gaming.
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MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
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You’re Warren, and your job is to deliver newspapers.
Apple anniversaries come and go. Some mark important milestones in the company’s history. Others celebrate products that have had outsized impacts on the world. Both have their place, but I prefer Door Number 3: Weird Apple Anniversaries.
That’s why today, on its fifth anniversary, it’s worth taking a moment to solemnly reflect on the legacy of one of Apple’s least culturally significant software releases ever: Warren Buffet’s Paper Wizard. I regret to say that I didn’t cover Warren Buffet’s namesake paper-tossing arcade game in 2019. So, to make amends, let’s take a look back at this gem that dropped out of nowhere five years ago today.
Source: CNBC
To understand why Warren Buffet’s Paper Wizard was made, you really only need to know one thing. In 2019, Warren Buffett, who is known for his ability to pick stocks, was one of the biggest investors in Apple via his company Berkshire Hathaway. That remains as true today as it was then, with Apple stock currently making up nearly 50% of Berkshire Hathaway’s stock portfolio, amounting to over 5% of Apple’s issued stock.
2019 was the tail end of Buffet’s initial buying spree of around $35 billion of Apple stock. So it’s not too surprising that Tim Cook turned up for Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholder meeting that year with a funny video,1 as noted by Leif Johnson at Macworld at the time:
As the Omaha World-Herald reports, Apple made Warren Buffet’s Paper Wizard for one of Apple’s dad-jokey video shorts, and this one was shown for Apple CEO Tim Cook’s visit to Berkshire-Hathaway’s annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, this weekend. In the video, Buffet attempts to come up with good app ideas at an Apple facility, and Cook recommends a newspaper-throwing game based on Buffet’s early job as a paperboy.
However, Apple went a step beyond playing the game idea for laughs at the shareholders’ meeting. A couple of days after the event, the company released the game on the App Store for anyone to download and enjoy.
Warren Buffet’s Paper Wizard is a sort of first-person newspaper shooter reminiscent of Atari’s Paperboy. The game opens with an upbeat banjo jingle that loops endlessly through the first level, lodging in your brain like a sun-shiny mind virus. You start on the streets of Omaha, Buffet’s hometown, advancing automatically past homes, streets, cars, and flocks of birds.
At the bottom of the screen is a newspaper. Your job is to deliver the paper to each house and barn highlighted with a glowing blue target. Some targets are close and pass out of range quickly, while others are distant and harder to hit. Along the way, cars and birds block your path, complicating your targeting. Near the end of the first level, you advance to delivering papers to larger apartment buildings and offices, aiming at their windows.
A new town, more papers to deliver.
For the game’s second and final level, Paper Wizard transitions to Cupertino, California, and a more melodic soundtrack. The landscape changes to a suburban street lined with ranch homes and glass office buildings before ending at Apple Park, where you circle the inner ring of the building, delivering your papers.
At the end of each level, your score is tallied, and when the game ends, you’re prompted to enter your name, which is added to a leaderboard. The final punchline of the game is that no matter how well you play, you’ll never beat Warren Buffet’s score. I know because I managed a few perfect scores back in 2019.
A leaderboard that can’t be topped no matter what you do.
Warren Buffet Paper Wizard was briefly released worldwide but pulled a week later from every store except the US App Store. That’s not too surprising. I suspect the joke of it all was too obtuse for many Americans, let alone a worldwide audience. At some point later, the game was pulled from the US App Store, too, but it remains available to re-download if you snagged the game before it disappeared.
You can still download Warren Buffet’s Paper Wizard if you snagged a copy in 2019.
Paper Wizard is not a great iOS game. In fact, its two levels play more like a demo or proof of concept than a full-blown game, so it’s not surprising that it is no longer available.
At the same time, though, the game represents a bit of Apple history. It was the first game Apple had produced in a decade, following Texas Hold’em.2 It also highlights just how important Warren Buffet had become to Apple as an investor – a fact as true today as it was then – which is why I’m glad it is still available to re-download even if no one will ever dub it a classic iOS videogame.
Many of these apps are already gone.
But being able to re-download apps and games that are no longer on the App Store isn’t enough. Recently, we migrated 15 years of images on MacStories to a new service provider. In the process, Federico, Robb, and I ran across app after app and game after game that was no longer on the store and that we’d forgotten about. It was fun to enter that time capsule, but it also made me acutely aware that for many apps and games, there is nothing left but those screenshots, which is why we took great pains to make sure they were preserved in the transition.
However, those apps and games deserve more than a handful of screenshots on MacStories and scattered across the Internet. Apple recently began allowing ‘retro game console’ emulators on the App Store. That lets fans play games on apps like Delta, enjoying titles from classic Nintendo systems. Apple should allow the equivalent to be done with early versions of iOS. They can define ‘retro iOS distros’ as whatever version of the OS is no longer supported by recent hardware and then allow .ipa files to be sideloaded by customers.
There’s no evidence Apple would ever allow old versions of iOS to be emulated. In fact, there’s ample evidence to the contrary, which is a shame. There are apps like Tweetie that invented modern touch gestures, games like Super Monkey Ball that pioneered the integration of the iPhone’s accelerometer into its gameplay and kicked off the spiraling downward pressure on app prices, and apps like I Am Rich that helped put the early App Store gold rush into perspective. Every app and game tells a story, and without Apple’s participation in preserving those stories, they’ll inevitably be lost.
- It just so happens that Tim Cook made another appearance at Berkshire Hathaway’s annual stockholders meeting this past weekend. However, this time, there were no reports of funny videos or remakes of Warren Buffet’s Paper Wizard. Instead, Berkshire Hathaway’s first quarter earnings report for 2024 revealed that it had unloaded 13% of its stake in the company or about 115 million shares. ↩︎
- Talk about a bizarre bit of Apple gaming history. Texas Hold’em was a poker game that was released when the App Store first opened its doors and had roots on the iPod, where Phil Schiller appeared as a character you played against. That game disappeared from the App Store in 2011, was revived with no fanfare not long after Paper Wizard was released, and can still be downloaded today. ↩︎
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
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Source: Apple.
Apple announced that four new games are coming to Arcade early next month:
- Rabbids: Legends of the Multiverse
- Return to Monkey Island+
- Tomb of the Mask+
- Fabulous - Wedding Disaster+
In addition, on May 30th, Where Cards Fall, the excellent indie game by The Games Band that was published by Snowman and is already part of Apple Arcade, will be coming to the Vision Pro for the first time.
Source: Apple.
Where Cards Fall is a beautiful game that won an Apple Design Award in 2020. One of the game’s core mechanics is building structures from cards that help you advance from one level to the next, which strikes me as an excellent match for the Vision Pro’s spatial gestures.
Source: Apple.
Return to Monkey Island is getting the Apple Arcade ‘+’ treatment too. As Apple describes it:
Return to Monkey Island+ is an unexpected, thrilling return of series creator Ron Gilbert that follows the legendary adventure games The Secret of Monkey Island and Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge. The game continues the story of Guybrush Threepwood, his zombie pirate nemesis LeChuck, and his true love Elaine Marley. Return to Monkey Island+ is playable across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Players will solve puzzles and explore the islands with a clever evolution of classic point-and-click adventure game controls.
Anyone who grew up in the 90s on The Secret of Monkey Island should enjoy this game a lot. I’m also curious to try Tomb of the Mask+, a retro platformer.
In addition to the new games coming to Arcade and the Vision Pro, Apple announced updates to some fan favorites throughout May and June, including WHAT THE CAR?, Ridiculous Fishing EX, and Crossy Road Castle. For a complete list, be sure to check out Apple’s press release.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Source: Apple.
Today, Apple introduced a new Pride collection highlighting LGBTQ+ communities. The collection includes a new Apple Watch Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop, a matching Apple Watch face, and dynamic iPhone and iPad wallpapers. The band goes on sale beginning May 22nd, and the watch face and wallpapers are coming in watchOS 17.5, iOS 17.5, and iPadOS 17.5.
Here’s how Apple describes the new brightly-colored Watch band:
The new Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop evokes the strength and beauty of LGBTQ+ communities with a vibrant, fluorescent design inspired by multiple pride flags, and features a laser-etched lug that reads “PRIDE 2024.” The colors black and brown symbolize Black, Hispanic, and Latin communities, as well as those impacted by HIV/AIDS, while the pink, light blue, and white hues represent transgender and nonbinary individuals.
Source: Apple.
The watch face is called Pride Radiance and, along with the wallpapers, uses dynamic multi-colored neon-style lighting:
Users can choose from a spectrum of colors to personalize their watch face and wallpapers. On Apple Watch, the colors trace each numeral of the watch face and react in real time as the user moves their wrist based on input from the gyroscope. On iPhone and iPad, beams of color spell out “Pride” and dynamically move when the user unlocks their device
The new Apple Watch Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop will be sold in retail stores, on apple.com, and via the Apple Store app for $99 on May 22nd in the US and Canada and on May 23rd in other locations.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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This week on MacStories Unwind, we return to an animal kingdom to discuss invading fire ants, raccoons, and wild boar before recommending a Mario classic and Amazon’s TV adaptation of the Fallout videogame series.
Links and Show NotesGhost in the TVJohn Versus the Fire Ants* Red Imported Fire Ant in North Carolina * “Controlling Fire Ants, Pests That Seems to Always Be Present” * Image
Picks* Federico’s Pick: + Paper Mario and the Thousand Year Door (GameCube version) - Original Trailer - Remake * Trailer * John’s Pick: + Fallout - Fallout 3 game - Fallout 4 game
MacStories Unwind+We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.
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MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
→ Source: podcasts.apple.com
Almost three years ago now, Apple announced that it would support adding state IDs and driver’s licenses to the Wallet app on the iPhone and the Apple Watch, with the feature first rolling out to a handful of US states. Today, digital IDs in Wallet still haven’t materialized in most of the states that committed to support the feature back in 2021, and Apple hasn’t announced any expansion of the feature beyond the US.
Here in France, the government has long pledged to offer the ability to get a digital ID for all holders of the redesigned national identity card that started rolling out in 2021. The new ID card format was to be smaller than the old one (finally reaching the size of any standard credit card), but more importantly, it would feature an RFID chip that would enable contactless interactivity with, say, a dedicated terminal or any NFC-enabled smartphone. Fast-forward to today, and with this new ID card now widely in the hands of French citizens, France’s government has released France Identité, an app that allows any French ID card holder to get a digital version of their ID or driver’s license on their smartphone.
While the app was publicly made available earlier this year on iOS and Android, I have been using the beta for close to a full year now. France Identité is a strange, frustrating mix of physical and digital that says a lot about the privacy concerns and technical issues that inevitably get raised when a state wants to take their IDs digital.
Let’s take a look at the app, what it can do, and how it differs from Apple’s vision for digital IDs.
To get started with France Identité, all you need to do is scan your French ID card. Since the app is leveraging the iPhone’s NFC chip, you just have to hold your ID card near the top of the iPhone for a few seconds. You are then prompted to choose a six-digit passcode. The process is fairly intuitive. Within a few minutes, you’re enrolled, and your ID card is available in the app.
The app’s settings are super limited. In fact, there is currently only one setting you can change: enabling Face ID. If enabled, Face ID is then always required to open the app, but it does not supplant the passcode that you regularly have to enter in the app to perform actions.
Currently, France Identité can be used for three specific use cases:
- Presenting your ID in person.
- Logging into France’s online public services.
- Generating a proof of identity without having to send a copy of your real card.
1. Presenting your ID in person. Presenting your French digital ID is completely straightforward. Unlike Apple’s implementation in the Wallet app, which assumes the presence of a contactless terminal on the other end, here the process feels very analog. Simply open the app, and the card is immediately visible. So, you should just be able to present your phone to an agent so they can read your information on the screen. Every piece of personal information that’s present on your physical card is readily viewable in the app, including the unique ID card number.
While it should soon be possible to pick and choose what information to share in face-to-face situations, this feature is not available yet, so it’s an all-or-nothing kind of deal for now. It’s also currently unclear if you can present your digital ID instead of your physical card in all situations. For instance, France’s national train company (SNCF) is still refusing to accept France Identité as a valid way to present your ID to their agents in stations and aboard trains.
France Identité lets the card holder see all of their personal information on one screen. Note: France Identité automatically strips any personal information from screenshots.
This is very different from the way Apple envisions presenting your ID in person. In its various support documents on the feature, Apple specifically mentions that when using a state ID inside Apple Wallet, “you don’t need to unlock, show, or hand over your device to present your license or ID.” A contactless terminal is always needed. Although this significantly reduces the number of situations where it’s actually possible to present your digital ID instead of a physical ID card, this is an immense layer of protection for both your sensitive data and your iPhone that the French digital ID app does not have in its current state.
In person, digital IDs stored in Apple Wallet can only be presented to a contactless terminal according to Apple Support.
2. Logging into France’s online services. The French digital ID app can be used to sign in to most of France’s online public services. This includes, for instance, the official revenue tax website where French people go every year to pay their taxes (impots.gouv.fr), as well as other official portals like the French social benefits platform (caf.fr) and the national health service dashboard (ameli.fr). And let me tell you, the way France Identité works in this use case is weird. Let me walk you through the process.
When signing in to an online public service, you need to look for a button that says ‘Sign in with FranceConnect’, then select ‘France Identité’ as the authentication method. At this point, on your computer, you’re presented with a QR code. Now, open the digital ID app on your phone, and use it to scan the QR code. The app will show you a list of the personal information that will be shared in order to connect to the site, and you can either approve or cancel the connection. If everything is in order, tap ‘Approve’ to continue.
That’s it, right? No, to proceed, you now need to enter your digital ID passcode, even if you enabled Face ID in the app’s settings. But now, surely that’s enough to sign in, right? Nope, the app is now asking you to fetch your physical ID card and scan it with your iPhone. Hold the card near the top of your phone for about five full seconds, and now you’re done. You’re finally logged in.
French ID card holders can log in to almost any French online public service using their digital ID by clicking the ‘Sign in with FranceConnect’ button.
Using France Identité to log in to an online public service is a five-step process involving scanning a QR code, approving the connection, entering your ID passcode, and scanning your physical ID card.
When I first went through this process, I assumed that scanning my physical card was only needed the first time, and at least not for a while after that. Unfortunately, I quickly realized that scanning the physical card is an integral part of the process that is required every time. I am sure that this choice was made for very specific security reasons, but having to fetch my physical card every time I need to log into one of those platforms really made me question the digital nature of this digital ID app.
In US states that support digital IDs in Apple Wallet, users can actually give access to specific information from their digital IDs to third-party apps. This can be used to restrict minors’ access to certain content, for example, in which case iOS would only let the app see the age data point after you have consented via Face ID. So it’s not unreasonable to imagine a government body allowing its residents to log in to official online services in this way. But as far I can tell, this method would never involve actually scanning a physical version of the ID.
Apple Support details how information from IDs stored in Apple Wallet can be shared to third-party apps.
3. Generating a proof of identity. This one is pretty cool. France Identité lets you generate a PDF that you can address to any person, organization, or body to prove your identity, without having to send a copy of your physical ID card. You can set an expiration date so that the document can’t legally be used after a certain amount of time and even fill in a specific purpose for the document so that it can’t legally be used in any other context than the one you specified. The generated PDF document includes a QR code that anyone also using France Identité can scan to verify its authenticity. It’s a pretty well-thought-out system.
The only issue is, once again, that you need to fetch your physical ID card and scan it every time you want to generate a proof of identity.
The French digital ID app can be used to generate a one-time-use proof of identity in the form of a PDF document containing a QR code.
The technical choices that were made here are interesting. I’m glad to see that they were able to leverage the RFID chip inside the card to make it easier to scan, and that the app’s UI is not nearly as bad as most other government-issued apps. I’m also thankful for its clever way of generating proofs of identity without having to give away all my information. Still, it’s hard to call France Identité a digital ID. Unlike Apple’s implementation of state IDs in Apple Wallet, where the physical ID card is only needed to add it the first time, France’s digital ID feels more like a companion to the existing physical ID that only serves as a bridge between it and online apps.
Unfortunately, it’s safe to assume that even if Apple had reached out to France’s government to support French IDs in the Wallet app, France would have probably refused. France isn’t historically known to trust US tech companies with its sensitive data, even when Apple says it’s encrypted and stored on-device. One fairly recent example of this dates back to 2020, when Apple and Google offered to natively support contact tracing in iOS and Android amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, while most European countries decided to get on board – including almost all of France’s neighboring countries – France notoriously refused to adopt the protocol, opting instead to ship its own contact tracing app with a homemade protocol.
Although the context is obviously very different, I see a small parallel between this story and France’s digital ID app that’s available today. Even if it doesn’t seem like Apple and Google are even trying to offer support for digital IDs outside the US for now, France could have chosen to wait. But instead, it went ahead and once again shipped its own implementation.
If you’re thinking, “But it’s still better than nothing,” I wish I could agree with you. Unfortunately, despite having had my French digital ID on my iPhone for close to a full year now, I still take my physical card with me everywhere I go, present my physical card in face-to-face situations out of fear that my digital one won’t be accepted, and almost never use France Identité to sign in to online public services because, most of the time, I just can’t be bothered to fetch my physical ID card to complete the five-step login process. France’s digital ID just isn’t digital enough to have made a difference in my life.
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Last quarter, Apple reported revenue of $119.6 billion, which included the holiday season and the first full quarter of iPhone 15 sales. Although Apple hasn’t provided financial guidance since the COVID pandemic, the company warned investors to expect a $5 billion year-over-year drop in revenue for its second fiscal quarter. However, the actual Q2 results were better than expected.
Today, those earnings are out and Apple reported Q2 revenue of $90.8 billion. As Apple reminded investors last quarter, Q2 2023’s revenue numbers were unusually high due to pent up demand for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, which were in short supply during the company’s first quarter of 2023 due to COVID-related factory shutdowns.
According to Apple CEO Tim Cook:
“Today Apple is reporting revenue of $90.8 billion for the March quarter, including an all-time revenue record in Services,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “During the quarter, we were thrilled to launch Apple Vision Pro and to show the world the potential that spatial computing unlocks. We’re also looking forward to an exciting product announcement next week and an incredible Worldwide Developers Conference next month. As always, we are focused on providing the very best products and services for our customers, and doing so while living up to the core values that drive us.”
Going into today’s earnings call, the consensus among Wall Street analysts was that Apple would earn 90.37 billion an expected decrease that would a little less than the projected decrease cited by the company during its last earnings call. However, Apple beat both Wall Street expectations and its guidance.
The iPhone remains the cornerstone of Apple’s revenue. However, with sales down in China, analyst concern over whether Apple will incorporate AI into its products this year, and regulatory and antitrust pressure in the US and EU, the company’s outlook for the remainder of 2024 and into 2025 is more uncertain than ever.
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One of the most controversial aspects of Apple’s response to the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) was the introduction of a Core Technology Fee (CTF), which must be paid by developers who opt into Apple’s alternative business terms. Today, in a post on its developer website, Apple announced changes to the CTF and regarding the treatment of iPadOS, which was added to Apple’s DMA compliance obligations earlier this week.
The problem was that the CTF as originally conceived applied to all apps, including free apps. If a developer offered a free app and had first annual app installs of over 1 million installations, they would owe the €0.50 per installation fee, regardless of the fact they earned no income from the app. The fee, as proposed, would likewise be a problem for developers with other sources of income that weren’t enough to pay the CTF.
Today, Apple made two changes to the way the CTF works:
- First, no CTF is required if a developer has no revenue whatsoever. This includes creating a free app without monetization that is not related to revenue of any kind (physical, digital, advertising, or otherwise). This condition is intended to give students, hobbyists, and other non-commercial developers an opportunity to create a popular app without paying the CTF.
- Second, small developers (less than €10 million in global annual business revenue*) that adopt the alternative business terms receive a 3-year free on-ramp to the CTF to help them create innovative apps and rapidly grow their business. Within this 3-year period, if a small developer that hasn’t previously exceeded one million first annual installs crosses the threshold for the first time, they won’t pay the CTF, even if they continue to exceed one million first annual installs during that time. If a small developer grows to earn global revenue between €10 million and €50 million within the 3-year on-ramp period, they’ll start to pay the CTF after one million first annual installs up to a cap of €1 million per year.
The first change should take care of the free app scenario regardless of its popularity. The second change is designed to transition small businesses into paying the CTF. The first time a business with less than €10 million of global annual revenue crosses the CTF threshold, they won’t pay the fee. They will, however, have to start paying the fee up to a €1 million cap if the business’ global annual income grows to between €10 million and €50 million in that 3-year period. If revenue exceeds that range, the cap on the CTF presumably would not apply.
In the same post, Apple confirmed that the same EU rules that apply to iOS will begin to apply to iPadOS this fall and that a download of an app on both iOS and iPadOS will only count as one annual installation for CTF purposes.
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Earlier this week, Federico and I interviewed two of the Swift Student Challenge winners on AppStories, which was a lot of fun. A new feature of the 2024 competition was the addition of Distinguished Winners. As Apple explains it in a press release published today:
Out of 350 winning submissions, 50 students have been named Distinguished Winners for building app playgrounds that stand out for their innovation, creativity, social impact, or inclusivity. These 50 students have been invited to a three-day in-person experience at Apple Park that includes tailored programming and the special event at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), where they’ll join like-minded creators from all over the world.
Apple’s press release includes profiles of three of the Distinguished Winners: Elena Galluzzo, a college student from Canada, Dezmond Blair, from Canton, Michigan, and Jawaher Shaman, who is studying at the Apple Developer Academy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Elena Galluzzo’s winning app is an assistant for seniors:
Galluzzo designed Care Capsule to be an all-in-one assistant for elderly people. She used Apple’s machine learning framework Create ML to build a chatbot that analyzes interactions with the user to deduce whether they are experiencing loneliness or depression. The app also lets users track their medications, connect with community resources, and keep a record of positive memories.
Dezmond Blair, who attended the Apple Developer Academy in Detroit, built MTB XTREME, an app that
…puts users behind the handlebars of a mountain bike, offering a 360-degree view of the trails around them.”
Finally, Jawaher Shaman created an app called My Child to help people with speech conditions:
My Child tells Shaman’s story through the eyes of a child who stutters, and features characters inspired by her father and grandfather. The app guides users through exercises that help slow down their breathing and prepare them for real-life experiences like reading a story in class. Shaman used AVFAudio to add sounds that mimic the way her father would break sentences into small, more manageable parts.
Every year, I’m impressed with the projects students come up with for the Swift Student Challenge, and this year is no exception. Harshitha Rajesh and Roscoe Rubin-Rottenberg, whom Federico and I spoke to Monday, as well as the Distinguished Swift Student Challenge winners whose projects Apple featured today, are great examples of the sort of impactful projects that students from 35 countries and regions have created for the Challenge. It’s great to hear that 50 of the students will be at WWDC this year. Hopefully, Federico and I will have the chance to meet a few of them.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
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This week on Magic Rays of Light, Sigmund and Devon make their long-awaited return to Las Colinas with Acapulco season three, share their predictions for Apple’s upcoming Let Loose event, and recap Constellation.
Show Notes* Air Cover + Air Cover for Apple Vision Pro + Vision Pro Chronicles: My Custom ‘Dual Knit Open’ Setup for Maximum Comfort and Awareness * Highlight + Acapulco * Predictions + Apple’s Let Loose Event * Trailer Talk + Hollywood Con Queen + The Big Cigar * News + Beats Solo 4 + Beats Solo Buds + Sofa 4.0: A Customizable Downtime Tracker Without Compromises + Assassin’s Creed Mirage + First Look at WondLa + First Look at The Instigators + Ted Lasso Blu-Ray (Future Amazon Listing) * Releases + Dicey Dungeons+ + Summer Pop!+ + A Slight Chance of Sawblades+ * Extras + Apple Fitness+ Celebrates International Dance Day * Recap + Constellation * Up Next + Wonka + Remembering Gene Wilder + The Idea of You + Unfrosted
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
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MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
→ Source: podcasts.apple.com
This week on Ruminate, more snacks than you can shake a stick at, Weblog posting month 2024, Raycast experiments, and some new game controllers.
Links and Show Notes* Pringles Crocs: New shoes, ankle holster and crisp flavor unveiled * Jalapeno Popper Cheese Curls * Chupa Chups Cola Popcorn * Apple Annie’s Weblog · Participators in WeblogPoMo 2024 * Raycast * Kishi Ultra Mobile Gaming Controller * GameSir X2s
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
→ Source: podcasts.apple.com
Jason Snell, writing at Six Colors about the arrival of emulators on the App Store:
So where do we go from here? While Apple’s acceptance of emulators in the App Store is groundbreaking, and should delight many fans of retro gaming consoles, it’s an extremely limited change. Nobody really knows how Apple defines any of the words in that phrase. How old is retro? Is an old computer on which you can play games a console?
I grew up playing games on early computers, including the Apple IIe. Does the ability to open a spreadsheet in AppleWorks disqualify an Apple II emulator that would otherwise let me play Lode Runner and Choplifter? And if so, why?
I continue to be perplexed by Apple’s (intentionally?) vague designation of “retro” consoles for emulators. Perhaps the company is waiting for the market to figure itself out without having to intervene by selectively banning certain types of emulators? Perhaps rejecting requests to use JIT recompilers is Apple’s way of implicitly drawing the “retro” line?
Jason mentions another interesting point: what about emulating old computers that also happened to have games on them, or emulating old iOS games that are no longer compatible with modern iPhones? There are some precedents for old computers on the App Store: a Sinclair ZX80 emulator was recently updated with the ability to load external ROMs, and there appear or be some Commodore 64 emulators too (some of them with… questionable features). In the age of entire vintage OSes running inside a web browser, I think it’d only make sense for Apple to approve them on the App Store too.
As for old iOS games, while I agree with Jason, I’d be very surprised if Apple went down that path rather than cutting deals with developers to remaster old games for Apple Arcade. I’ve always cared about game and app preservation on the App Store, but I’m afraid that ship has sailed.
→ Source: sixcolors.com
At last fall’s iPhone event, Apple and Ubisoft announced that Assassin’s Creed Mirage would be coming to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Today, Ubisoft confirmed with a press release that the game is coming on June 6th, just before WWDC. In addition to the iPhone, the game is coming to iPad Air and iPad Pro models with an M1 chip and later, which includes the 5th generation iPad Pros released in the spring of 2021 and later, as well as the current iPad Air.
According to Ubisoft’s website:
Developed by Ubisoft Sofia, these ports offer an intuitive, comfortable and engaging gaming experience with optimized touch controls and controller support. Cross-save and cross-ownership will also be available for players to enjoy the game between iPhone and iPad as they please.
The game will also be a Universal Purchase that will work across the iPhone and iPad and will be free to download and play for 90 minutes. The full version of Mirage will unlockable for $49.99. If you’re interested in pre-ordering Assassin’s Creed Mirage, you can do so now on the App Store.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage launched on consoles and PCs last fall to favorable reviews. I’m looking forward to giving it a try on the iPhone and iPad, but I’m a little disappointed that it’s not also launching on the Mac.
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I’ve written about media-tracking apps a lot in the past, and they tend to fall into one of two categories: there are ‘generalist apps’ that cover multiple types of media, and there are ‘specialist apps’ that go much deeper into one particular kind. The benefit of the former is having a one-stop destination for all your media tracking, while the latter usually goes further, focusing on the unique characteristics of one media type. There are advantages to each approach, but they’re serving two different kinds of users, so it’s not that surprising that apps don’t try to do both.
That’s why I was intrigued when I heard about Sofa 4.0 and its custom Categories and Ingredients features, which launch today. Sofa has always been one of my favorite apps for tracking multiple types of media, but as soon as I saw custom Categories and Ingredients, I knew the app had the potential to transcend the media tracker category by letting users have a greater say in how it’s used. That’s exactly what its developer, Shawn Hickman, has done, and the results are fantastic.
Before Sofa 4.0, the app was limited to storing media.
Shawn Hickman has always pitched Sofa as a downtime organizer instead of a media tracker, which makes more sense now than ever before. It’s an app that makes it easy to decide what to watch, read, play, or listen to next. Yet, until version 4.0, Sofa was limited to the same sort of downtime activities you see in a lot of media-tracking apps:
- Movies and TV
- Music
- Books
- Audiobooks
- Videogames
The app also incorporated podcasts and apps, which few media trackers do.
Examples of custom Categories that I’ve created.
However, with custom Categories, it’s now possible to expand what you save to Sofa to include many more options, extending the app’s utility beyond media to all sorts of activities.
Categories can be anything you want to collect in Sofa. The default set includes the media types mentioned above, which are now called Easy Categories and can be toggled on and off. Now, however, you can add your own Categories, too. Sofa has a handful of suggested custom Categories, including articles, events, hikes, places, restaurants, videos, and websites, but you’re not limited to those. You can create your own Category and give it a name and icon. Then, when you add a new item to Sofa, you’ll see your custom Categories listed below the default ones.
Trip, restaurant, and shopping entries created using custom Categories.
Since I’m still new to the Charlotte, North Carolina area, I set up a new Group in Sofa called ‘Getting Out.’ Then, I set up custom Categories for Restaurants, Shops, and Places, allowing me to create lists for each type of destination. I’ve also added a custom Websites Category for those one-off sites that I want to explore later but don’t fit into my existing read-later system. I could use Raindrop.io for this sort of thing instead, but I’ve enjoyed the experience of keeping a handful of websites in Sofa that I want to look at more carefully in the short term.
A selection of the Ingredients I’ve created in Sofa.
The other big addition to Sofa is Ingredients, which are bits of metadata that can be applied to any of your Categories. The metadata can be text, a number, a date, a link, a toggle, or a single- or multiple-choice selection from a defined list. For example, you can create a five-star rating system and apply it to everything you store in Sofa, allowing you to rate books, games, TV shows, and more. Or, you could add a toggle to items to mark them as completed. The options are really only limited by your imagination and can be applied selectively to just those Categories where they make sense.
What makes Categories and Ingredients even more interesting, though, is that they can be combined along with other variables as filters to build Smart Lists. Smart Lists are created by giving them a name and, optionally, a Group, just like a standard list. However, you can also add as many filters as you’d like, including built-in options like the Date Added, Date Edited, Pinned Items, Logbook Items, whether an item has a Sticky Note and what the content of the note is, and the Categories and Lists to which an item belongs, plus the custom Ingredients you’ve added.
Using my Status ingredient to create custom In Progress and Next Smart Lists.
My Sofa setup includes several standard types of media grouped by type of activity. For example, Watch includes lists of movies and TV shows. However, with my custom ‘Status’ Ingredient, I’ve created Smart Lists called ‘In Progress’ and ‘Next’ that cut across all media types. Similarly, I created a ‘Distance’ Ingredient for my Shopping, Trips, and Eating Out lists. That made it easy to create a custom Smart List that lets me see all the activities I’ve saved based on how far they are from where I live.
Adding a website using the share sheet.
Another great addition to Sofa is its share sheet integration. Sofa has excellent built-in search for the core set of Categories it offers, but to extend the app beyond the defaults, Sofa includes the ability to add URLs to the app from the clipboard, manually, or via the share sheet as you browse the web or any app that generates a URL. So, not only have I added websites for restaurants I want to try (complete with an image and description of the location, which are pulled from the site automatically), but I can add items from Apple Music, Spotify, the TV app, and any other apps that use URLs. When you add an item via the share sheet, you can also define its Category, the list to which it should be added, and any Ingredients, eliminating the need to go into Sofa to add those details later.
Sofa 4.0 now lets users pin entire lists just like you can pin individual items. Doing so moves the list out of any group it’s in and puts it right at the top of your lists. Along similar lines, there are more options to customize Sofa’s home screen. For example, I’ve hidden the Logged Items list because it’s not something I want to see very often. When I do, I can still access it from the menu button at the top of the screen.
The core of Sofa isn’t compromised by its customization options.
What impresses me most about Sofa 4.0 is that its deep customization doesn’t come at the expense of usability. That’s a tradeoff a lot of apps make in the name of flexibility; however, Sofa hasn’t made those tradeoffs.
The ability to create complex Smart Lists is easy to find and use, but the app’s main UI is no more complicated than it ever has been. If you prefer to simply create manual lists of media, that’s as easy as ever. The difference, though, is that Sofa now rewards those who spend some time exploring its new capabilities. With its limitation to media removed, the app invites users to think about how they spend their downtime and make lists of whatever they’d like to save whether it involves media or not. It’s the kind of novel, modular approach that I can already tell I’ll be spending a lot more time tweaking in the coming weeks.
Sofa 4.0 is available on the App Store as a free download with certain features only available as part of a $3.99/month or $29.99/year Super Sofa subscription. For a limited time at launch, the annual plan is 40% off until Saturday, May 4th. Sofa also offers a lifetime version for $179.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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This week, Federico joined John Gruber on The Talk Show for a wide-ranging conversation about:
- MacStories’ 15th anniversary and how blogging has changed over the years
- WWDC 2024
- Federico’s MacPad
- Apple’s upcoming event on May 7th
- Apple’s response to the EU’s Digital Markets Act
It’s a terrific episode from two people who have witnessed the evolution of blogging firsthand and Apple’s struggle to find a comfortable place for the iPad in its product lineup. That makes it the perfect warmup for next week’s Apple event.
→ Source: apple.co
This week on AppStories, we are joined by Susan Prescott, vice president of developer relations, education, and enterprise at Apple, along with 2024 Swift Student Challenge winners Harshitha Rajesh and Roscoe Rubin-Rottenberg to talk about the challenge and the students’ projects. Then, I interview Finn Voorhees and Ellie O’Sullivan, past winners of the Swift Student Challenge who share their advice about participating in the program and getting started with Swift.
Sponsored by:
- DetailsPro – Design with SwiftUI, no coding required.
Links and Show NotesStudent Interviews with Susan Prescott, Harshitha Rajesh, and Roscoe Rubin-Rottenberg* Swift Student Challenge + Apple Announces the Swift Student Challenge Will Begin in February 2024 and New Everyone Can Code Resources * Swift Playgrounds * Coding Resources + Swift.org Getting Started + 100 Days of Swift + Introducing SwiftUI + Harvard CS50 course + Apple Coding Resources - Apple and Education - App Development
Interviews with Past Swift Student Challenge Winners* Finn Voorhees + Working on: - Detail for Mac and iOS + Personal apps: - Unsqueeze - Shortcut Buttons - Castaway - HexEdit * Ellie O’Sullivan
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On AppStories+, we discuss a wild iPad rumor that Federico found on Reddit.
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MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
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Collections Database is the premier personal database app for organizing anything and everything on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
The app features more than 20 field types, linkable sub-databases, reusable lists, and a robust customization system. It’s a powerful and flexible solution that makes Collections easy to get started with for beginners, while meeting the needs of advanced users too.
Collections provides essential templates to get started, including Expenses, Contacts, Subscriptions, Books and more. However, you’re always free to start from scratch by building your own custom templates.
A long, complete list of field types is available for your databases too. The set includes everything you’d expect from a modern database app, including Text, Number, Date, Picture - even Barcode fields. Collections can import spreadsheets from other apps, using its powerful CSV import functionality. Collections also offers quick filters, sorting, password protection, smart text-based search, and more.
Apple Shortcuts.
A standout feature is the extensive support for Shortcuts, which expands the app capabilities even more.
Collections is free to try, but by upgrading to the Pro version via In-App Purchase, you’ll gain access to an unlimited number of database entries and files, plus advanced filters. The Pro version also includes a unique visual formula editor the makes building complex formulas intuitive and easy.
The app is a universal purchase, so your purchase will be available on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. At the same time, though, Collections has been carefully optimized to each Apple platform for the best experience on every platform.
Collections is regularly updated to take advantage of the latest Apple technologies and is privacy-minded. Your data isn’t collected or sent anywhere else.
To learn more, and download Collections Database visit the App Store today.
Our thanks to Collections Database for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Today, the European Union announced that it has added iPadOS to the products and services subject to the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The designation gives Apple six months to comply with the DMA.
In a press release, the European Commission said:
The Commission’s investigation found that Apple presents the features of a gatekeeper in relation to iPadOS, as among others:
- Apple’s business user numbers exceeded the quantitative threshold elevenfold, while its end user numbers were close to the threshold and are predicted to rise in the near future.
- End users are locked-in to iPadOS. Apple leverages its large ecosystem to disincentivise end users from switching to other operating systems for tablets.
- Business users are locked-in to iPadOS because of its large and commercially attractive user base, and its importance for certain use cases, such as gaming apps.
On the basis of the findings of the investigation, the Commission concluded that iPadOS constitutes an important gateway for business users to reach end users, and that Apple enjoys an entrenched and durable position with respect to iPadOS.
In a statement to Bloomberg, an Apple spokesperson said that:
…the company remains focused on delivering for European consumers, “while mitigating the new privacy and data security risks the DMA poses.”
iOS is already subject to the DMA, and Apple’s response meant that actions it took to comply with the law did not apply to iPadOS, leading to incongruous differences between the platforms. With the addition of iPadOS under the purview of the DMA, I expect some of those differences will need to be ironed out.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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This week on MacStories Unwind, why game emulators on iOS are a big deal, Girls5eva, and Franklin.
This episode is sponsored by:* Kolide – It ensures that if a device isn’t secure it can’t access your apps. It’s Device Trust for Okta. Watch the demo now.
Links and Show NotesUnplugged Segment* The Wild World of iOS Retro Gaming + Related MacStories articles: - Game On: Speed Running Game Emulation on iOS - How to Load Your Game Boy Games Onto the iPhone to Play in the Delta Emulator - Emulators Will Change the App Store Forever - The Delta Videogame Emulator Launches on the App Store
Picks* Federico’s Pick: + Girls5eva on Peacock and Netflix - Trailer * John’s Pick: + Franklin on Apple TV+ - Trailer - Based on the book, A Great Improvisation by Stacey Schiff
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MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
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Source: Eve.
A couple of weeks ago, the MacStories team shared our favorite indoor HomeKit devices. The HomeKit accessory universe is more limited outdoors, but with spring easing into summer in the Northern Hemisphere, we thought we’d share the devices that we use outside, too.
[table_of_contents]
FedericoLogi Circle 2 CameraThe Circle 2. Image: Logitech.
Even though we have upgraded to Aqara cameras indoors, we decided to keep one of our old Logi Circle 2 cameras (the one that was not having any disconnection issues) outside to monitor the balcony. The placement we chose is relatively close to the router we have in the living room (there’s only one window and wall between them), so Wi-Fi reception is good enough, and the camera stays connected all the time.
Eventually, I should probably upgrade to a more modern outdoor camera that also supports pan and tilt controls. As long as this one works, though, I’m going to leave it be.
Philips Hue Iris Table LampThe Hue Iris. Image: Philips Hue.
This lamp used to be in our hallway at the old apartment, and it recently graduated from storage to the top of an IKEA cabinet we have on the balcony. Technically, this semi-spheric table lamp is not an outdoor one, but since it’s not exposed to rain and it’s never too cold in Rome, it’s fine.
This lamp connects to my Hue setup and provides some nice accent colors for the “chill” area of the balcony, where we like to turn off the main lights and relax with diffused colored LEDs at night. It gets the job done and looks good. Plus, its base is transparent acrylic plastic, and we all know that I’d use any tech product made of that material.
Gardena Smart Water Control SetThe smart water control set. Image: Gardena.
This is my crown jewel, a product that I researched for months before I bought it, and I couldn’t be happier with it.
Last summer, Silvia and I decided we wanted to add a lot of plants and flowers to our balcony, which is an area of about 70 square meters (~750 square feet). We went with a series of planters with a mix of bamboo plants, photinias, laurels, loropetalum, small lemon trees, bougainvillea, and more. Obviously, all these plants would have to be watered on a regular basis, and I didn’t want to add the responsibility of doing that manually to my life. I needed to set up an automated irrigation system that supported a schedule I could customize and remotely control.
The last part was a key requirement for me: there are plenty of Bluetooth-enabled irrigation hubs that you can manage locally – inside your house – with a smartphone, but what if I’m not home? What if I’m on vacation, check the weather, realize that it’s a hotter day in Rome than previously anticipated, and decide to give some extra water to my plants in the evening so they don’t suffer the heat too much? I couldn’t do that with a Bluetooth-only irrigation system. I needed something that would provide me with remote access capabilities. And, ideally, it would be part of the technology I was already using to manage remote access to my home: Apple’s HomeKit. So I set out to find an irrigation system that would make water control appear in the Home app.
My solution, which we’ve been using for nearly a year now, was Gardena’s smart water control set. This kit is comprised of a main unit that needs to be connected to a water faucet, plus a gateway that needs to be placed inside the house and connected to your network. The idea is simple enough: you leave the faucet always “open”, and the central unit physically controls when water can flow or not. Commands to open or shut off the water valve are issued by the gateway, which communicates locally with the irrigation device, but is also capable of connecting to HomeKit and the open web thanks to Gardena’s API.
This system has been working exceptionally well for us, even though it required a lot of work upfront.
I decided to build my own irrigation system without any help from a professional, which meant I had to buy several meters worth of different types of flexible pipes, adapters, and sprinklers. I installed the central line under the floor of our balcony (we have a raised floor that allows me to hide pipes and wires underneath), connected each planter to a micro-pipe and sprinklers, and tested everything over the course of a few months. I also had to turn the one faucet I had outside (it’s inside an IKEA cabinet we customized) into two faucets using an adaptor.
I took this when I was working on the irrigation system last year. The small black pipe is the central line.
The double faucet and Gardena’s main unit.
By the end, we had a beautiful balcony featuring a mix of 10+ species of plants in a total of (roughly) 30 planters that are all hooked up to my irrigation system and are now living their best lives under my supervision.
Some of our plants. The irrigation system runs under the floor and is then connected to each planter.
The Gardena device shows up in HomeKit as a ‘water control’ accessory that allows me to turn it on whenever I want with a single tap. The accessory is connected to the Gardena smart gateway, which shows up as a ‘bridge’ in HomeKit. I’m very proud of how this entire setup went.
The water control set in the Home app, and the Gardena app (right).
That said, there are a couple of caveats worth addressing. The most important one is that, for whatever reason, the Home app doesn’t let you set a default run time for water control of 1 minute. The minimum threshold is 5 minutes, which is too much water for my plants. I have no idea why this limitation exists, nor why water control cannot be part of native HomeKit automations. For these reasons, I had to create a schedule using Gardena’s smart app, which is only available in the European App Store for… reasons. That app lets me set a schedule for 1 minute of irrigation every day, which is what I wanted. With this hybrid approach, I can have my daily schedule set in the Gardena app; when I want to give the plants more water, I can use Siri or Control Center, which I find easier and faster to use than the Gardena app.
That’s a lot of words to describe watering some plants but, hey, you know me. I had to go down this rabbit hole because I wanted the optimal solution for me. Despite some limitations, I like this system a lot, and I recommend it.
Aqara Leak SensorThe water leak sensor and Aqara app. Image: Aqara.
After we set up the dual faucet and irrigation control system, I had to figure out a way to be alerted if anything went wrong outside with a water leak from the Gardena unit. I fixed this with an Aqara leak sensor, which is a little puck-style device that detects if water hits it and sends you a notification.
I confirmed that the sensor was working last summer by intentionally splashing water on it, and again for the screenshots in the story. Fortunately, I’ve never received a “real” notification from the device because an actual water leak hasn’t occurred in real life so far. However, if you’re curious, you should know that this device can send critical notifications via HomeKit, which will always make a sound (regardless of your Focus settings) and stay pinned until you dismiss them.
Critical alerts sent by the leak sensor.
The leak sensor also shows up in the Aqara app, which can tell you additional information such as the strength of the Zigbee signal from the nearest Aqara hub (in my case, that’s the G3 indoor camera) and the firmware version. Battery in these things also lasts forever: I set up the sensor eight months ago, and the battery is still at 92%.
Meross Waterproof PlugThe European version of the outdoor plug. Image: Meross.
After my good experience with Meross plugs in our bedroom and office, I knew I wanted to look for another accessory by the same company to control the gadgets we have outside. Specifically, we have a non-HomeKit, 30-meter LED strip running across the entire perimeter of the balcony that I wanted to make “smart” with a HomeKit plug, and I also wanted to provide power to the aforementioned Logi camera. The only problem: the power outlet was inside the same IKEA cabinet we customized around the water faucet, and I felt a little uncomfortable about that placement near a water source.
Thankfully, the folks at Meross thought about this kind of scenario as well with their line of outdoor and waterproof smart plugs. The one I got is a two-plug system with two sockets that are individually controllable from the Home app. The plug is certified for IP44 water resistance, which means that it’s “splashproof” – a good enough rating for the ease of mind I was looking for. This way, even if the occasional water droplet lands on the plug’s housing, I feel safe knowing that nothing nefarious is going to happen.
We’ve been using this outdoor plug since last August, and I have zero complaints. I set it up months ago and never touched it again.
JohnEcobee Smart Doorbell CameraI cheated a little and included this device as part of our indoor gadget roundup because the ecobee’s Smart Doorbell Camera is an integral part of my security system that consists mostly of indoor devices. However, it’s worth mentioning again because it’s an excellent standalone outdoor HomeKit accessory, too.
When I lived in Illinois, I had a Logitech Circle View doorbell. Well, technically, I had two. The first one I owned overheated and died, which, based on my research a couple of years ago, seemed to be a common problem. That issue may or may not have been addressed since then, but I didn’t want to take any chances with my new setup in North Carolina because it gets hot here, and my front door is in the sun all day long.
I’ve always been impressed with the quality of ecobee’s thermostats, and when I moved into my new place, it was rumored that the company was working on a smart doorbell. So, I did something uncharacteristic: I waited semi-patiently.
Source: ecobee.
My patience paid off because last fall, a year after my move, ecobee’s Smart Doorbell Camera debuted to good reviews. I bought one and installed it myself one Saturday, and it’s been working without a hitch ever since.
The camera integrates with the Home app, and when someone rings the bell, it rings both a chime that comes with the doorbell and my HomePods. The doorbell does not, however, integrate with HomeKit Secure Video. Instead, ecobee offers a separate security subscription that I covered in our other HomeKit roundup. I’ve been happy with the service, but I would prefer if HomeKit Secure Video were an option, too. The subscription also adds package detection, while person detection is a standard feature that doesn’t require a subscription.
Overall, I’ve been very happy with ecobee’s doorbell. My door is close to a sidewalk, and the ecobee app’s ability to create detection exclusion zones has spared me from constant notifications when neighbors walk by. Package detection works well, too. And, despite direct sunlight and high temperatures, even late last fall and this spring, the doorbell has not overheated.
Hue Festavia String LightsHue’s Festavia string lights.
We have a big balcony that extends off the back of the second floor of our home. When we moved in, I bought a string of big outdoor decorative bulbs and paired it with an outdoor smart plug from iHome that is no longer made. The setup allowed me to turn the lights on and off on a schedule or with Siri, which I liked, but since last fall, I switched to a set of Hue Festavia string lights that I like even more.
Hue’s Festavia lights were so much fun during the winter holidays that we’ve left them up.
The Hue Festavia string lights, which I reviewed last year, are expensive, but they’ve been a big upgrade because they’re colorful and integrate with the Hue app. The lights come in 250- and 500-light versions. I have the longer version, which is 131.2 feet (40 meters) long, more than enough to drape them around the edge of my balcony twice.
Hue’s app lets you set colorful animated lighting scenes.
Like other Hue lighting, the Festavia lights require a Hue Bridge and can be controlled from the Hue or Home apps. That allowed me to create a simple automation in the Home app to turn our lights on at sundown and then turn them off automatically a few hours later. The Home app is also how I operate the Festavia lights manually. However, when I want to add a little color or animation, I turn to the Hue app for scenes like Candle and Sparkle, which cause the lights to flicker and twinkle through the windows that look out on the porch. Then, when I’m sitting outside on a warm evening, I can pick something more dramatic and festive, taking advantage of the lights’ wide color palette.
I’ve had the Festavia lights outside for about six months through all sorts of weather, and they’ve held up well. They add a little fun to our balcony that plain bulbs controlled by a smart plug didn’t, but that’s a great option, too, especially if you aren’t interested in colored lights or animation, in which case I’d recommend pairing something like a Meross smart plug with a sturdy set of outdoor string lights.
Hue Smart White LightbulbsSource: Hue.
I have light fixtures outside my front door and next to my garage, which I’ve equipped with simple Hue Smart White lightbulbs. The bulbs are advertised for indoor use, but I’ve used them in sheltered outdoor light fixtures for years, and both still work. Since they’re outside, though, I went with the least expensive, non-dimmable bulbs that Hue makes. My Wi-Fi network is strong enough, and the bulbs are close enough to my other Hue devices, that connectivity between them and the Hue Bridge has been solid, too. It’s a small thing, but not having to remember to turn on our outdoor lights at dusk or turn them off in the morning is a nice convenience.
JonathanEve AquaImage: Eve
The recent uptake in Thread support has enabled excellent reliability and response times for many devices. Eve has been at the forefront of implementing this new technology, and one of their devices in particular is a perfect example of the benefits of Thread. The Eve Aqua is a simple (and chunky) add-on to your outdoor tap that enables you to turn the water supply to a hose or other garden attachment on or off from your Home app.
It has been very handy to control my garden hose without having to go all the way to the tap, but the thing I’ve noticed most about the Eve Aqua is its incredible speed in carrying out a request from the Home app. It connects directly to a HomePod mini, which also supports Thread, and I imagine this direct connection is the reason for the speed. Even so, the split-second responses are always impressive. I love the Eve Aqua for what it does, and it’s a great example of the benefits of a Thread-supported home accessory.
Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell and Smart Outdoor Camera with SirenImage: Netatmo
Video doorbells are the perfect example of smart technology making your home better by adding a new feature to it. The ability to see who’s at the door when you’re away or in the garden is a much better experience than missing deliveries or racing through the house to answer the door before the caller leaves.
While there are many video doorbells on the market, very few work with HomeKit, and even fewer support HomeKit Secure Video. It would be pretty easy to get a Ring doorbell and set it up outside our front door, but previous scandals surrounding some models led me to ensure that the doorbell I got was both secure and private, in addition to working well with HomeKit.
There are mixed results for picture quality across the video doorbells available, so after some research, I settled on the Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell, which has excellent night vision. I got it over two years ago, so there are solid alternatives that have come out since then, but the Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell has stayed strong and is still reliable.
One thing it doesn’t have is HomeKit Secure Video Support, which, while disappointing, isn’t a deal breaker. This is because all recordings are stored locally (and securely) on a memory card within the doorbell – no cloud service required. In fact, the ease of scrolling through past events in Netatmo’s app with its nice, big previews is superior to Apple’s Home app, which can often be very fiddly. Despite the lack of HomeKit Secure Video, this video doorbell has all the usual features like people detection and alert zones, where you can tell the camera to ignore certain parts of the area it’s pointed at.
Image: Netatmo
My experience with their video doorbell led me to purchase another product from Netatmo: the Smart Outdoor Camera with Siren. This chunky boy has a really powerful outdoor light on board, a 1080p camera, and a loud siren (which I’ve never had to use, thankfully).
I hardwired the camera into my home mains through the outer wall, and from there, the setup is simple: it points at an area outside (in my case, our back yard) and alerts you when it detects a person, while also turning the light on. From there, you can trigger the alarm to scare off the intruder (or play a prank on your family member) from within the app. You can customize the triggers for animals and vehicles, too, though I have those turned off as our yard can sometimes be the scene of the neighborhood cat tailgate. As with their video doorbell, this camera is easily accessible within HomeKit.
One fun additional feature is the ability to turn all the video that the camera captures during a certain amount of time into a timelapse video. I’m not sure of the practical use for this, but it sure was fun watching us zip around cleaning the backyard in a 20-second highlight real.
NiléaneEve WeatherThe Eve Weather outside our bedroom window.
Last summer, after a succession of severe heat waves, l realized how inaccurate Apple Weather and other online weather sources could sometimes be. They were particularly unhelpful when I wanted to check in the evening if the temperature had finally dropped enough so we could open the windows and let in some fresh air for the night. So I started looking for an outdoor weather station that could give me an accurate, real-time temperature reading at home at all times. I had two criteria for it: since we live in a small apartment, it had to be small and compact, and it had to be easy to set up with HomeKit.
Having already owned and used several HomeKit gadgets from Eve, I immediately went with the Eve Weather, and I was incredibly satisfied with how easy it was to set up and how reliable it’s been since. After scanning the QR code from Apple’s Home app, I only had to stick it on the wall right outside our bedroom window, and it’s been sitting there doing its thing for close to nine months now. The device’s metal build was able to withstand several heat waves, rain showers, snow, and even hail, and so far it’s still working perfectly.
While I wish the Eve Weather’s display was as readable as its e-ink indoor counterpart, the Eve Room, the temperature is still easily visible in daylight. On the display, you can also see the current air humidity reading, as well as an atmospheric pressure trend in the form of a pictogram.
Since the Eve Weather is compatible with HomeKit, its temperature and humidity readings are surfaced in the Home app, where you can use them as automation triggers for other devices in your home. This means that, in theory, you can ask Siri to tell you the current temperature. However, in practice, if you simply ask it something like, “What is the current outdoor temperature?” Siri will often just reply with data from Apple Weather instead of the Eve Weather. To work around this, I found that placing the Eve Weather in its own room in the Home app and naming that room ‘Outdoor’ makes it so Siri will consistently respond with the Eve Weather’s temperature reading when you ask it using that term. Although, since we’re talking about Siri’s notorious quirkiness here, I should say that your mileage may vary with this trick.
Siri workarounds aside, HomeKit support also means that you can fetch the current temperature and humidity using the ‘Get the state of my Home’ shortcut action. I’ve actually been leveraging this action with a shortcut on my Mac to display the data coming directly from the Eve Weather in the menu bar.
The Eve Weather’s full data history can be accessed through the Eve app.
If you don’t want to deal with Shortcuts, Siri, or the Home app, you can also access the Eve Weather’s data from the Eve app, which features a full data history for each of the station’s sensors. The temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure can each be viewed on a graph spanning hours, days, weeks, months, or a full year. The app is also where you can export the data in a CSV file if you want to go wild and create your own visualizations in your software of choice.
I absolutely love spending time in Eve app’s views, especially now that we’ve accumulated months of data. It is oddly fascinating to be able to generate a hyperlocal climate overview of where you live like this. If you’ve been looking for a simple, compact, HomeKit weather station, and if you can spare a small spot in the shade on your balcony or outside a window, I definitely recommend giving the Eve Weather a go.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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As any Pokémon fan knows, the series is all about data – lots and lots of data. So much data that entire websites and apps are dedicated to helping players keep track of it all. That’s a big design challenge for any app developer, which is why I was so glad to see it taken on by Ben McCarthy, whose apps, including the camera app Obscura, are some of the best designed on the App Store.
Ben’s new app is called Ketchup, and it’s a comprehensive compendium of every generation of Pokémon that incorporates powerful search, caught and favorite Pokémon tracking, a battle match-up utility, and a quiz game all in one app. But what makes it special and sets the app apart from others I’ve tried over the years is the design, which makes it easy to find what you’re looking for and presents it in a coherent, understandable, and modern interface.
You really can never have too much information about Magikarp.
The core of Ketchup is its catalog of Pokémon, moves, items, and abilities. The free version of the app includes the first generation of 151 Pokémon, with all nine generations – a total of 1,025 creatures – available via a one-time In-App Purchase.
The catalog defaults to showing a summary list of Pokémon, but it can be filtered to display moves, items, and abilities, too. The summary view is organized by generation and includes a small image of the Pokémon, its name and entry number, and icons representing its types. If a Pokémon has been caught, you have its shiny variety, or it has been marked as a favorite, that information is shown in the summary, too, and synced to other versions of the app via iCloud. A touch I like a lot is that you can mark a creature as caught from the summary view simply by swiping to the right and tapping, making it easy to add them while in the midst of a gaming session.
Search and the compact and full versions of ‘recents.’
Another of my favorite parts of Ketchup is its search functionality, which is present across all of its iOS tabs and in the corner of the iPad app’s window. On iOS, the search field is built into a slide-up card element. A short swipe up on the card reveals a compact, horizontally scrolling list of recently viewed entries. Swipe again, and additional details about everything you’ve viewed are revealed. I’d love to see more apps take this approach to search. It’s perfect for a reference app like Ketchup. The only time you won’t find recently viewed items in Ketchup is when you’re in full-screen mode on the iPad. There isn’t a natural place to put recents, like there is on the iPhone or small iPad size classes, but I’d like to see it tucked away in the iPad’s sidebar or somewhere similar in a future update.
That’s a lot of information about Pokémon, and we haven’t gotten beyond Ketchup’s creature summary view yet. However, there’s a lot more available when you tap on a Pokémon’s Ketchup entry, which reveals a detail view that goes much deeper. Here, you’ll find the same information you can get from the summary view, plus evolution information, catching information by game, abilities, type match-up data, physical characteristics, and learned and Technical Machine moves. It’s a ton of information, but it’s expertly organized in a way that makes it easy to understand the basics of each creature and progressively dig deeper as you scroll through each entry. Add the fact that every entry is tinted with the color of the Pokémon depicted, and each one feels a lot like a classic sports trading card, with the exact sort of nerdy stats that Pokémon fans, which Ben clearly is, will love.
Moves.
Abilities.
Items.
It’s worth noting that moves and abilities also have their own separate sections accessible from the iPhone version’s summary view and the sidebar on the iPad, which is a convenient way explore them independently of the Pokémon themselves. Items can be accessed from Ketchup’s catalog summary view, too, and include every variety of Pokéball, candy, powder, potion, berry, stone, and everything else that can be found in Pokémon games, along with a detail view for each.
Favorites, match-ups, and a fun quiz.
In addition:
- Any Pokémon marked as a favorite is accessible from a separate tab on the iPhone and a section in the iPad’s sidebar for quick access.
- There’s a Pokémon match-up utility similar to Ben’s app Aether that uses a clever dial-like interface to evaluate Pokémon match-ups by picking the type of the attacker and defender. The feature accounts for dual-type Pokémon, too.
- You can test your Pokémon knowledge with the Quiz tab, which shows the silhouette of a random Pokémon and gives you three guesses to pick it from a list of 16 choices.
Anyone who has gotten deep into the weeds of the decades of Pokémon games knows how much information there is out there about every aspect of the game. Ketchup is a great utility because it will appeal to fans at all levels. For casual players, it’s a great way to track the creatures you catch and make a list of your favorites.
Playing Pokémon Yellow in Delta alongside Ketchup.
However, as you get more into the series, Ketchup is the perfect guide to understanding Pokémon types, match-ups, and other details that will add depth to the experience. The only thing I think that would make Ketchup an even better companion to Pokémon games would be an option to create notes about whichever game you happen to be playing. Still, Ketchup’s timing is excellent because with the release of the Delta game emulator, I’ve been feeling the itch to go back to some of the Game Boy and Game Boy Advance entries in the Pokémon series. I’m sure I’m not alone.
If you love Pokémon games, go get Ketchup now. It’s easily the best Pokémon companion app I’ve tried.
Ketchup is available as a free download on the App Store and comes with the first generation of Pokémon. A one-time purchase of $9.99 unlocks the full catalog of creatures. There is also an option to pay $19.99 if you want to pay more to support this excellent app.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Earlier this week, Supercell soft-launched Squad Busters, a party action game, in Canada, Mexico, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Singapore. Today, the company announced that the game will launch on iOS and Android worldwide on May 29th.
According to Supercell’s CEO, Ilkka Paananen:
Our dream is to create great games that as many people as possible play for years and that are remembered forever. Huge credit to the Squad Busters team – it’s already apparent that the game has such high potential, making it our first company game launch since Brawl Stars in 2018. Squad Busters brings together our Supercell characters in a fun way that fans have never seen before and I can’t wait to see the reactions from players across the globe!
I haven’t had a chance to play Squad Busters yet, but from the demo Supercell shared with me, it looks like an interesting addition to its lineup, which includes popular titles like Clash of Clans. The Supercell team likens Squad Busters to the fun, chaotic competition of classic games like Mario Kart. Players compete against friends and online squads in ten-person, four-minute matches that are populated with characters from across Supercell’s stable of games, collecting gems and other items. Along the way, characters evolve in a style similar to Pokémon games.
Squad Busters may superficially look a little like a last-person-standing battle royale game, but Supercell says its goal was to design a competitive action game that is accessible to players of all skill and experience levels. To that end, prizes are awarded no matter where you finish among the squads competing during a match. It’s not easy to design a game that appeals to such a broad spectrum of gamers, but if Supercell can manage it, Squad Buster’s colorful, frenetic, one-button gameplay has the potential to become a big hit. In that same vein, Supercell has worked to make sure that the game works on multiple generations of hardware as far back as the iPad mini 2.
Clash of Clans and Supercell’s other games have never appealed to me, but Squad Busters is intriguing. The gameplay I’ve seen looks fun, and I can see it working as a way to introduce a new wave of gamers to the company’s other titles.
Squad Busters is available for pre-order on the App Store now.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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This week on Magic Rays of Light, Sigmund and Devon discuss TV technology and the pivot from OLED to mini LED, round up Apple-related announcements from this year’s National Association of Broadcasters Show, ask if season two of The Big Door Prize can fulfill its potential, and recap historical thriller Manhunt.
Show Notes* Highlight + The Big Door Prize * NAB Roundup + DaVinci Resolve Micro Color Panel + Blackmagic Camera 1.3 + Ninja Phone + Rode Mounts and Grips + Khronos Ecosystem for iPhone + Aputure INFINIMATs + Aputure Sidus One and Sidus Link Pro * Apple TV News + IHG and Apple AirPlay + Delta - Game Emulator + Bezel — Phone Mirroring * Trailer Talk + Acapulco Season 3 + Trying Season 4 * Apple Original News + First Look at Sunny + Long Island Compromise (Hardback) + Long Island Compromise (Ebook) + Long Island Compromise (Audiobook) + Apple Studios Unveils Participants For Its Inaugural Episodic Directors Program * Releases + Solitaire Stories (Spatial) + Crossy Road Castle (Spatial) + Prehistoric Planet Immersive: Triceratops Forest * Extras + Electric Energy (Reimagination) by THE BOYZ + Argylle: Blooper Reel + Earthsounds: Outside For Innies * Recap + Manhunt * Up Next + American Idol + Freud’s Last Session + Monkey Man + Love Lies Bleeding + Adam Savage’s Beautifully Chaotic Studio Tour | Gerald Undone
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads
Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads
Join Club MacStories.
View our Apple TV release calendar on the web.
Subscribe to our Apple TV release calendar.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
→ Source: podcasts.apple.com
I read this post by Jarrod Blundy a few weeks ago and forgot to link it on MacStories. I think Jarrod did a great job explaining why Apple’s Shortcuts app resonates so strongly with a specific type of person:
But mostly, it just lights up my brain in a way that few other things do.
[…]
But when there’s a little burr in my computing life that I think could be sanded down with Shortcuts, my wheels get turning and it’s hard to pull myself away from refining, adding features, and solving down to an ideal answer. I’m sure if I learned traditional coding, I’d feel the same. Or if I had a workshop to craft furniture or pound metal into useful shapes. But since I don’t know that much about programming languages nor have the desire to craft physical products, Shortcuts is my IDE, my workshop.
For me, despite the (many) issues of the Shortcuts app on all platforms, the reason I can’t pull myself away from it is that there’s nothing else like it on any modern computing platform (yes, I have tried Tasker and Power Automate and, no, I did not like them). Shortcuts appeals to that part of my brain that loves it when a plan comes together and different things happen in succession. If you’re a gamer, it’s similar to the satisfaction of watching Final Fantasy XII’s Gambits play out in real time, and it’s why I need to check out Unicorn Overlord as soon as possible.
I love software that lets me design a plan and watch it execute automatically. I’ve shared hundreds of shortcuts over the years, and I’m still chasing that high.
→ Source: heydingus.net
Today, Apple announced that it will be holding a video event on May 7, 2024 at 7 AM Pacific.
The announcement, which was sent to members of the press, doesn’t specify what it is about, but based on the illustration in the invitation, which clearly depicts an Apple Pencil, and based rumors, I expect the company will reveal new iPads and related accessories.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Delta.
Game emulators are nothing new to mobile phones. That is unless you have an iPhone. There’s a long history of emulation on Android and an even longer history on Macs, PCs, and other platforms. However, with ‘retro game console emulators’ (Apple’s App Review Guidelines term) now allowed worldwide on iOS, we’re seeing the iOS world speed-running game emulation. It will be a while before iOS emulators catch up to Android and other OSes, but in just over a week, there’s already been a lot of news.
It started with a Commodore 64 emulator.
- The party got started with Emu64 XL, a Commodore 64 emulator, which has been available on the Google Play store for a while.
- Not long after, iGBA appeared on the App Store and then disappeared within a couple of days. The ad-supported app was a clone of Riley Testut’s GBA4iOS, a predecessor to his Delta emulator. Apple told MacRumors that it pulled the app because it violated the company’s App Review Guidelines related to spam and copyright.
The short-lived Bimmy.
- About the same time that iGBA was being pulled from the App Store by Apple, Bimmy, an NES emulator, appeared on the Store for $0.99. It, too, was pulled from the Store within a day or two, but this time, it was the developer who pulled it, not Apple. Tom Salvo, Bimmy’s developer, told Zac Hall of 9to5Mac that he pulled the app “out of fear” and not as the result of pressure from anyone.
Delta works with a variety of classic systems.
- Then, last Wednesday, Delta, Riley Testut’s game emulator that supports a long list of older Nintendo systems and the Sega Genesis console, was released on the App Store everywhere except the EU, where it is available on AltStore. Within hours, Delta shot to the top of the App Store’s Free Apps Top Chart, where it remains today.
- In the wake of Delta’s success, other developers have announced that they plan to bring their game emulators to iOS, including the maker of the Sony PSP emulator PPSSPP and the developer of Provenance, which works with multiple systems.
- The rush to the App Store by emulator developers isn’t universal, however. The creators of Dolphin, which works with Nintendo GameCube and Wii games, announced that it will not be coming to iOS because Apple doesn’t allow the necessary Just-In-Time recompilers to be integrated with game emulators.
Meanwhile, all eyes are on Nintendo. The company is notoriously protective of its intellectual property. And, although Nintendo has not sought to restrict the availability of emulators for its oldest systems, it aggressively pursued the makers of Yuzu, a Switch emulator, which resulted in the emulator being forced from the Internet with other emulators following suit. So, while emulators for early Nintendo systems have been available elsewhere for years, the sudden mainstream popularity of Delta on the App Store could draw an unwanted reexamination of emulators by the company. My hope is that instead of litigation, the new crop of iOS emulators spurs Nintendo to offer older games on the App Store and via other channels, but history isn’t on the side of my hopes and dreams.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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This week on AppStories, we revisit our Obsidian systems, themes, and favorite plugins.
Sponsored by:
- Genius Scan – A scanner in your pocket.
- Jam: Developer-friendly bug reports in 1 click.
Links and Show NotesAn Obsidian Check-In* Our Systems + John - A shallow system of numbered folders organized by areas, projects, and related notes * Johnny Decimal system - A separate vault for the MacStories GitHub repos + Federico - Working files stored in the root folder with a series of Archive folders for older material, reference folders, and Templates - Obsidian Sync across platforms - Properties for organization and integration with Things - My Obsidian Template Setup Powered by Shortcuts, Things, and the Actions App * Our Themes + Federico - Border - Custom Font Loader + John - Minimal and testing Border * Plugins + Federico - MacStories Plugins * Obsidian Shortcut Launcher + Obsidian Shortcut Launcher 1.1 Brings Support for File Properties and Backlinks - Club MacStories Plugins * Markdown Insert * Backlinker * Export Markdown with Embeds * Image Inserter - Footnote Shortcut - Settings Search - Home Tab - Templater - Actions for Obsidian * Actions URI - Commander + John - DB Folder and Dataview - Calendar - Editor Syntax Highlight - Omnisearch - Update Modified Date - Hotkeys++ - Natural Language Dates - Plugin Update Tracker
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, Federico ponders what notes are, what they should be, and whether he should document more of what he learns on the web.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
→ Source: appstories.net
The September 2023 MGM hack quickly became one of the most notorious ransomware attacks in recent memory. Journalists and cybersecurity experts rushed to report on the broken slot machines, angry hotel guests, and the fateful phishing call to MGM’s help desk that started it all.
And, like a slick magic trick, the public’s attention was drawn in the wrong direction. Now, months later, we’re still missing something critical about the MGM hack.
That’s because, for many of the most important questions about the breach, the popular answers are either incomplete or inaccurate. Those include: who hacked MGM, what tactics they used to breach the system, and how security teams can protect themselves against similar attacks.
Why is that a problem? Because it lets us write off the MGM hack as a one-off story, instead of an example of an emerging style of attack that we’ll certainly be seeing more of. And that leaves companies and security teams unprepared.
Who hacked MGM?
Plenty of news stories have confidently blamed the MGM attack on either the Scattered Spider or ALPHV hacking group, but the truth is still murky, and likely involves a dangerous team up between different groups, each bringing their own expertise to the table.
Their attacks first use fluent English social engineering skills to get onto networks, where they then deploy sophisticated ransomware that quickly establishes persistence across multiple systems.
What tactics did they use?
The dominant narrative has been that “a single phone call hacked MGM.” A phone vishing attack to MGM’s IT help desk is what started the hack, but there’s much more to it than that. The real issue is that this help desk worker was set up to fail by MGM’s weak ID verification protocols, and probably wasn’t doing anything “wrong” when they gave the bad actors access to a super administrator account.
How can security teams protect themselves?
Cybersecurity experts have centered most of their advice on user ID verification. But while it’s true that MGM’s help desk needed better ways of verifying employee identity, there’s another factor that should have stopped the hackers in their tracks.
That’s where you need to focus your attention. In fact, if you just focus your vision, you’ll find you’re already staring at the security story the pros have been missing.
It’s the device you’re reading this on.
To read more of what we learned when we researched the MGM hack–like how hacker groups get their names, the worrying gaps in MGM’s security, and why device trust is the real core of the story–check out the Kolide Blog.
Our thanks to Kolide for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
This week on MacStories Unwind, I’m a little wired, we explore Southern expressions, share some Legion Go follow-up and have app, hardware, TV, and music picks.
This episode is sponsored by:* Listen Later – Listen to the Articles as Podcasts
Links and Show NotesSouthern Expressions
- Southern Phrases That Others Need A Dictionary For
- Are Southern accents disappearing? Linguists say yes
- Also mentioned:
- Markdownload Safari extension
- Legion Go Follow-Up
- Also mentioned:
- Espresso 17 Pro
- Also mentioned:
Picks
- John’s Pick:
- Delta Game Emulator
- GameSir X2S Controller for the iPhone and iPad mini
- Also mentioned:
- GameSir G8 Galileo
- iOS Gaming with the GameSir Galileo G8 Controller
- Turning the 11” iPad Pro into a Game Streaming Device
- Razer Kishi Ultra
- GameSir G8 Galileo
- Federico’s Pick:
- Loot, Season 2
- Trailer
- Fix You covered by Alex Melton
- Loot, Season 2
MacStories Unwind+We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.
To learn more about the benefits of a Club MacStories subscription, visit our Plans page.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
→ Source: podcasts.apple.com
The sands beneath Federico’s videogame setup have shifted. As he explained on Unwind last week, Federico has gone all-in with the Lenovo Legion Go, a Windows-based handheld that he’s paired with a ONEXGPU eGPU, a fancy fiber optic Thunderbolt cable, a compact GaN charger, and more. As a result of the changes, Federico has also trimmed a handful of devices from his setup.
For the latest, visit the MacStories Setups page to find the full changelog and all the other gear Federico and I are using.
→ Source: macstories.net
So, you’ve probably seen the (totally justified) hype surrounding the Delta emulator’s launch on the App Store and downloaded it because, why not, it’s free. You may have also recalled that, like a lot of people, you have a box of old Game Boy cartridges stored somewhere that are gathering dust. Or, like me, maybe you spent way too much money on second-hand videogame sites during the COVID lockdown. Regardless of your Game Boy cartridge origin story, today I’m going to show you a simple way to breathe new life into those games by bringing them, along with your save files, to your iPhone.
The GB Operator. Source: Epilogue.
The easiest way I’ve found to pull the game files from a Game Boy, Game Boy Color, or Game Boy Advance cartridge is with a little USB-C accessory called the GB Operator by Epilogue, or as I like to call it the Game Boy Toaster. That’s because the device looks like a top-loading transparent toaster that takes game cartridges instead of bread. If you have a big collection of game cartridges, the GB Operator is a great investment at $50 because it allows you to both play and back up your games using a Mac.
Epilogue’s Playback Mac app waiting for a cartridge to be inserted.
Drop in a cartridge and it’s ready to play or back up.
The process couldn’t be simpler. Connect the GB Operator to your Mac via a USB-C cable, start Epilogue’s Playback app, which can be downloaded from its website, and the app will prompt you to insert a cartridge. Once you do, you’ll get a nice summary of the game along with box art. Here, I’m using Spanky’s Quest, a game from the early 90s by Natsume, the creator of the Harvest Moon series that was re-released by Limited Run Games a few years ago.
Playing Spanky’s Quest on my Mac.
With Playback, you can play your games on your Mac, which is a lot of fun. The app supports controllers and has a long list of settings to tweak how games look and behave on macOS. That’s an excellent way to revisit old games but remember, these games are the Millennials of the videogame world. If you’ve had cartridges sitting in a box in your hot attic for decades, they may not be long for this world, especially those that have internal batteries that may be on the brink of dying, which is where Playback’s backup feature comes into play.
Backing up Spanky’s Quest.
To back them up and make those games available in Delta, go to Playback’s Data tab and click on the Start button. For a Game Boy game like Spanky’s Quest, the backup is nearly instantaneous, creating a file that is just 66KB. Yes, 66 kilobytes, which is wild to think about in 2024. When was the last time you were entertained by a file that was less than one megabyte?
Playback also allows you to copy any game save data stored on a cartridge too. This is how Federico was able to resume Final Fantasy Tactics Advance after putting the game down more than two decades ago, which is remarkable.
Adding Spanky’s Quest to Delta.
The final result.
Once you have the files you need, all that’s left to do is move them to your iPhone, and then load your games and save data in Delta, which couldn’t be easier. I used AirDrop to send Spanky’s Quest to my iPhone, opened Delta, and tapped the plus button, adding it from my iPhone’s Downloads folder. You can also save game files to iCloud Drive on your Mac, so they’ll just show up on your iPhone, where you can add them to Delta en masse. Delta uses the iOS file provider APIs, so navigating to your games and adding them is just like using the Files app. To add save data, long-press on a game and pick ‘Import Save File.’ You can export save files the same way.
It turns out that there was demand for game emulators on the App Store.
As I write this, Delta is currently the number one free app on the App Store in the U.S. That’s remarkable for an app that launched mid-day yesterday. It’s a testament to the pent-up demand for a way to play retro games on the iPhone and the quality of Delta, which is new to the App Store but has earned a stellar reputation from gamers who have been side-loading it for years. Yes, iOS has a long way to go before the available emulators catch up to Android and other platforms. However, everything starts somewhere, and I couldn’t think of a better place for game emulation to start on the iPhone than with Delta.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Delta for iOS.
Writing at his personal blog, Brendon Bigley explains why the Delta emulator launching on the App Store is a big deal for retrogaming fans who also love native iOS apps:
AltStore for me (and many) was just a way to get access to Delta, which is the best emulator on iOS by a pretty shocking margin. While there are admittedly more feature-rich apps like RetroArch out there, no other app feels made for iPhone in the way Delta does. With a slick iOS-friendly user interface, custom themes and designs to reskin your experience, and the ability to grab game files from iCloud, Delta always represented what’s possible what a talented app developer could do if the App Store was even slightly more open. It’s in this possibility space where I likely never switch to Android again.
I posted this on Threads and Mastodon, but I was able to start playing old save files from my own copies of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and Pokémon Ruby in 30 seconds thanks to Delta.
Years ago, one of my (many) lockdown projects involved ripping my own Game Boy Advance game collection using a GB Operator. I did that and saved all my games and associated save files in iCloud Drive, thinking they’d be useful someday. Today, because Delta is a great iOS citizen that integrates with the Files picker, I just had to select multiple .gba files in iCloud Drive to add them to Delta. Then, since Delta also supports context menus, I long-pressed each game to import my own save files, previously ripped by the GB Operator. And that’s how I can now continue playing games from 20 years ago…on my iPhone. And those are just two aspects of the all-encompassing Delta experience, which includes Dropbox sync, controller support, haptic feedback, and lots more.
Brendon also wraps up the story with a question I’m pondering myself:
How does Nintendo react to the news that despite their desire to fight game preservation at all costs, people are nonetheless still enjoying the very games that built their business in the first place?
I’ll never get over the fact that Nintendo turned the glorious Virtual Console into a subscription service that is randomly updated and not available on mobile devices at all. I’m curious to see if Nintendo will have any sort of response to emulators on iOS; personally, I know that Delta is going to be my new default for all Game Boy/DS emulation needs going forward.
→ Source: wavelengths.online
This week on Magic Rays of Light, Devon is joined by MacStories Community Manager Jonathan Reed to highlight Argylle, discuss Jonathan’s approach to tracking TV and films, and look ahead to an exciting summer of Apple Originals.
Show Notes* Guest Cohost: Jonathan Reed + Mastodon + Threads + Letterboxd * Highlight + Argylle + Inside Claudia Schiffer’s English Countryside Home Filled With Wonderful Objects | Vogue * TV Tracking + Watch History Journal 1.1 + Shortcut: Letterboxd Review to Socials + Sequel * Trailer Talk + Dark Matter * News + YouTube’s Screen Stealer | Joe Rosensteel + First Look at Yo Gabba GabbaLand! * Releases + Jane + Prehistoric Planet Immersive: Triceratops Forest * Extras + Apple TV+ celebrates Earth Day with slate of award-winning programming for the entire family, featuring inspiring stories about our extraordinary planet + Argylle — An Inside Look + Palm Royale — Crafting the Glamour of 1969 Palm Beach + Franklin — An Inside Look: Michael Douglas on Playing Ben Franklin * Up Next + Shogun + American Horror Story: Delicate
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads
Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads
Join Club MacStories.
View our Apple TV release calendar on the web.
Subscribe to our Apple TV release calendar.
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
→ Source: podcasts.apple.com
Delta, the videogame emulator for a long list of Nintendo systems, is now available worldwide. In the US and many other countries, you’ll find it in Apple’s App Store, while in the EU, it is part of the AltStore alternative marketplace.
I’ve been using Delta for years. The app was available using a clever system that took advantage of an Apple Mail plugin and developer account to allow it to be side-loaded onto iPhones. It wasn’t the most convenient way to use the app, but it worked, and legions of classic videogame aficionados flocked to it for its excellent performance and design.
Today, however, anyone can download Delta from the App Store for free, load their game files, and play their favorite NES, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, SNES, N64, and Nintendo DS games on the iPhone. Delta has been in development for years, so the experience of playing your old games on it is superb, incorporating native features like haptic feedback and quality-of-life enhancements like the ability to save a game’s state, fast forward, and use cheat codes. Delta also supports controller skins, local multiplayer, and syncing of save state, save data, and more.
Delta is the Nintendo emulation standard bearer on iOS. I expect we’ll see other emulators that work with the same games, as we did briefly last week, but Delta is going to be a tough app to beat.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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It’s been ready for a while, but today, AltStore is finally available for iOS users in the EU.
Riley Testus, one of AltStore’s founders, had this to say about the launch:
This is a day I’ve been looking forward to for over 10 years.
I’m thrilled to announce a brand new version of AltStore — AltStore PAL — is launching TODAY as an Apple-approved alternative app marketplace in the EU. AltStore PAL is an open-source app store made specifically for independent developers, designed to address the problems I and so many others have had with the App Store over the years. Basically, if you’ve ever experienced issues with App Review, this is for you!
We’re launching with 2 apps initially: my all-in-one Nintendo emulator Delta — a.k.a. the reason I built AltStore in the first place — and my clipboard manager Clip, a real clipboard manager that can actually run in the background. Delta will be FREE (with no ads!), whereas Clip will require a small donation of €1 or more. Once we’re sure everything is running smoothly we’ll then open the doors to third-party apps — so if you’d like to distribute your app with AltStore, please get in touch.
AltStore is a self-hosted solution, meaning once it starts accepting third-party apps, those developers will have to host and promote their apps themselves. From a user’s standpoint, that means:
…there is no central directory of apps; the only apps you’ll see in AltStore are from sources you’ve explicitly added yourself.
Also, if you’re in the EU and have US and EU Apple IDs, sign into the EU one and download AltStore. Then, you’ll be able to log back in with your US Apple ID if you want, and AltStore will still work.
As Riley explains, this is a lot like Apple’s recently announced web distribution feature in the EU.
Thanks to Federico, we have screenshots.
The AltStore team envisions their marketplace as a place for apps from indie developers and those that Apple won’t allow on the App Store, like the team’s Clip app. AltStore will use Patreon donations as its payment system for paid apps, just like AltStore and Delta have been doing for years. Also, AltStore will not take a commission on Patreon donations. However, AltStore will cost €1.50/year to cover Apple’s Core Technology Fee.
It’s exciting to see AltStore live in the EU. I wish it were available in the US too, and I recommend reading Riley’s blog post about what motivated him build AltStore. It’s about more than videogame emulators, which I love. That’s maybe where AltStore started, but it’s about the iOS indie developer community, which I love even more.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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This week on Ruminate, I explore more pickle snacks, Robb bought a new keyboard, and I grill Robb on what exactly EchoFeed is.
Links and Show NotesKrinkle Cut Dill Pickle - Kettle Brand
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Using the 8BitDo Keyboard on MacOS • Robb Knight
8BitDo Ultimate Controller with Charging Dock（Bluetooth） | 8BitDo
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EchoFeed
MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
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Five years ago, Soulver 3, the sheet-based app that serves as a notepad for calculations, launched on the Mac with a long list of new features. In the years since, Acqualia Software launched an iPadOS version of the app and, today, an iOS version.
As I said in my review of the Mac app:
The strength of Soulver lies in its flexibility. Full-fledged spreadsheet apps like Numbers and Excel have their place. However, day-to-day life requires calculations that don’t demand that level of horsepower and benefit from contextualizing numbers with text. It’s the kind of math that happens in notebooks and on the back of envelopes. By combining elements of a text editor, spreadsheet, and plain English syntax, Soulver commits those easily-lost notebook scribblings to a format that allows for greater experimentation and easier sharing.
That’s as true of the iPhone version of Soulver as it was of the app’s other versions, perhaps more so. That’s because many people are more likely to have their iPhone with them than a Mac. With Soulver on iOS for the first time in a long time, it’s easier than ever to explore numerical ‘what-ifs.’ For example, what would my payment be if I refinanced my mortgage? How close am I to spending my budget for that party I’m planning? The possibilities go on and on.
Soulver works in portrait and landscape on iOS.
The secret to the success of the iOS version of Soulver compared to the Mac or iPad is its compact design. Despite the lack of horizontal space, the app maintains its familiar split-style view with the narrative that accompanies your calculations on the left, the results on the right, and a tally along the bottom of the screen. Because lines wrap, there’s no need to worry about verbose calculations either. Plus, Soulver works in landscape mode, opening up more room to describe your math.
Instead of organizing Soulver sheets in an always-visible left sidebar, as you would on the Mac and iPad, Soulver 3 for iOS tucks the sidebar away on the left, where it’s just a swipe away. The edge of your current sheet remains visible when you’re in the sidebar view, helping provide context for where you are in the app. From here, you can swipe to delete sheets or long-press to copy a deep link, duplicate, share, move, or delete it. The sidebar is where you can organize your documents into folders and access various settings and Soulver’s excellent help documentation.
Soulver 3’s dedicated calculator keypad.
All versions of Soulver 3 handle a long list of calculations, including:
- Arithmetic
- Percentages
- Unit conversions
- Date math
- Time zones
- Video timecodes and frame math
- Financial and stock price calculations
Comments, labeling, and variables are also available, along with a custom number keypad for quickly adding calculations.
If you’re like me and love to customize your apps, you’re in luck there too. There are long lists of settings to format numbers and other editing parameters to your liking, along with font and other styling controls. Soulver also has settings for how sheets look and behave, including options to save them locally or to sync them across devices using iCloud.
Soulver can track stock prices and more.
Finally, for an additional subscription, you get advanced weather data, live and historical stock prices, and an inline AI assistant based on OpenAI’s GPT-4 Turbo, all of which can be used as data sources for your sheets.
I’ve been a fan of Soulver for a long time. The app is an excellent way to work out problems involving numbers and math in a way that’s reminiscent of paper but with the benefits of a digital environment. My needs in this area are fairly simple, so I don’t need the weather, stock, and AI add-on subscription, but I’m glad to see that the app is finally available on iOS, iPadOS, and Mac. Next, I’d love to see a visionOS version.
Soulver 3 is available on the App Store as a Universal app. However, the app requires the following separate In-App Purchases for each version after a 30-day free trial:
| Platform | Price | | --- | --- | | iOS | $14 | | iPadOS | $20 | | macOS | $34.99 |
The subscription that adds advanced weather, stock, and AI data is $26/year. That’s expensive compared to similar apps, and it’s unusual to find apps with this sort of pricing structure these days, but for anyone who has come to rely on Soulver over the years, it’s a worthwhile investment.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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This week on AppStories, we return with a classic Pick 2 episode focused on the Mac.
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On AppStories+, we talk about Apple’s decision to allow game emulators and game streaming services on the iPhone worldwide.
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MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
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Listen Later gets you through that huge pile of web articles you’ve been saving for later. Let’s face it, the web is a big place, and there’s always more to read than you have time for. Read-later apps give you a place to save articles for later, but you still need to find the time to read everything you saved.
Listen Later helps you get through that stack of articles by combining the power of podcasts and AI. Simply send Listen Later a link to an article and its AI converts the text into a narration using one of its natural-sounding AI voices. Each article becomes an episode of your very own personal Listen Later podcast. Listen Later works with text from images, PDFs, and other text documents and can translate articles to other languages, too.
It’s easy to add your Listen Later podcast to your favorite podcast player, making it available whether you’re driving to work, out for a long walk, or simply hanging out. Best of all, though, by converting your articles to audio, Listen Later greatly expands the time you can spend on your read-later queue.
What’s more, with Listen Later, you never spend more than you need. You buy credits, which are used as you add articles to your podcast feed. When you’ve used up your credits, you can reload them automatically or purchase more manually. How much you spend is completely up to you.
Visit Listen Later today to learn more, sign up for free, and receive $2 in free credits to convert articles to audio.
Our thanks to Listen Later for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico has reached the pinnacle of handheld gaming with a setup that he’s been working toward for years.
This episode is sponsored by:* Kolide – It ensures that if a device isn’t secure it can’t access your apps. It’s Device Trust for Okta. Watch the demo now.
Unplugged* Espresso soda follow-up + Moka Drink from Cosenza + Brasilena
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MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
If you’re interested in advertising on our shows, you can learn more here or by contacting our Managing Editor, John Voorhees.
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John: Everyone on the MacStories team is deep into HomeKit devices. For me, smart home gadgets tick all the boxes:
- Hardware
- Software
- Automation
It’s really as simple as that.
However, as fun as HomeKit devices can be, they can also be frustrating. The best accessories fit comfortably into your household, making life a little easier but falling back gracefully to a simple solution for anyone in your home who isn’t interested in automation. It sounds easy, but it’s a tough balancing act that few companies get right.
We’ve all tried our share of HomeKit and other smart home devices. Some have worked out, and others have fallen by the wayside as failed experiments. Today, we thought we’d pool our collective experience and share with you the MacStories team’s favorite smart home gadgets.
We have a lot of ground to cover, so this story will focus on indoor gadgets. Soon, we’ll shift our focus to the great outdoors.
[table_of_contents]
FedericoEasykon for KNX BridgeImage: Freedompro.
The most important HomeKit accessory in my setup is a very specific piece of equipment that few people reading this will need, but I want to mention it anyway. Our apartment is fully wired for a home automation standard called KNX. By this I mean that there are literal wires in the walls connecting every light and roller shutter (plus a handful of temperature and humidity sensors) to a central processing unit that sits inside the apartment’s main electrical service panel.
Now, when we bought the house, they told us we could start paying an annual subscription to use a proprietary KNX app, and I don’t want to say that I laughed in the realtor’s face because that would have been rude, but deep down inside, I did. The guy had no idea what I was planning.
I had done my research, and I knew about the existence of devices that could bridge KNX’s connected appliances to HomeKit over Ethernet. Essentially, they translate one home automation standard to another (relevant XKCD). I went with Freedompro’s Easykon for KNX, a serious-looking 2-DIN rail bridge module that I had a professional technician install in my electrical box and connect to my network over a Cat6 cable.
The installed module.
After an initial configuration phase, all of my apartment’s lights and shutters started showing up in the Home app, and I’ve been using them happily ever since. The great thing about this setup is that I’m actually controlling the power that goes to the lights: using these devices in the Home app replicates the process of physically pressing a wall switch. Controlling shutters and their open/closed state with Siri from the Apple Watch is also fantastic.
A look at my Home app.
If you happen to have a KNX-enabled home and don’t want to use some proprietary, locked-in app, I can’t recommend this product enough.
Philips Hue: Recessed Lights, Filament Bulbs, Light Strip, and BridgeI’ve always been a huge fan of Philips’ Hue lights and overall system: I’ve been using the same second-generation Hue hub for almost a decade at this point, and I’ve only had to replace a Hue lightbulb once in the 10 years or so I’ve been using them. It’s an expensive ecosystem, for sure, but it’s reliable, it’s constantly updated, and the Hue app has gotten pretty good on iOS. (It even has interactive widgets now.)
When we bought our apartment in 2022, I knew I’d have more freedom to go all-in on installing smart lights in more places than I was allowed to when we were renting. I’ve kept using the same bridge, old light strip behind the bedroom TV, and semi-spheric table lamp outside, but there have been three big improvements indoors.
First, we installed two rows of recessed lights into the ceiling (it was a whole thing) above the sofa and behind it. These lights allow me to fine-tune gradient-based scenes for the living room that look amazing.
A picture I took during the holiday break showing the recessed lights with a pink scene.
Most importantly, these scenes are synced with the gradient light strip we added behind the living room TV, which can also sync its colors with the Philips Hue Play HDMI sync box we have connected to the Apple TV and Nintendo Switch. I cannot express how much I love the different styles and accents for our living room, and I’m so glad I stuck with the Hue ecosystem so far.
Color-synced Tears of the Kingdom.
Lastly, I want to mention the filament bulbs we’re using above the living room table. We wanted to add a retro/elegant touch to the dining area, and we liked the style provided by the filament bulbs. We installed the bulbs in two pendant lights by Trio, and I like how we can individually control each light or dim them as a group from the Hue app.
The filament bulbs above the living room table.
Aqara Cameras: G3 and E1Image: Aqara.
We have three Aqara cameras in our apartment: in the living room and bedroom, we have two G3s; in the office/guest room, we have the cheaper E1 camera.
We upgraded from the Logi Circle 2 cameras we used for years in the old apartment for a variety of reasons. For starters, both cameras had been acting up for a while with random disconnections and reboots that were growing annoying over time. But mostly, I’d grown tired of manually turning the cameras away from us whenever we were at home; I wanted a camera that could pan and tilt on its own and rotate away from, say, the bedroom or living room.
The Aqara cameras do everything we were looking for. We first got the more expensive G3 since that camera can also act as an Aqara hub for other devices. (More on this in the next installment of this series.) When we decided to add a third camera to the house, we went for the more affordable E1.
In any case, all cameras can be viewed in HomeKit, but it’s only by using the standalone Aqara app that you can unlock their true power. In the app, you can put together very simple automations that turn the camera to a pre-defined position when you leave the house or arrive. This took a bit of manual configuration the first time, but once set up, it’s exactly what we wanted. When we’re home, the cameras look at a wall; when we leave, they automatically turn to monitor the scene. Performance on Wi-Fi has been great, too.
My only complaint is that, to remotely move the cameras, you have to use the dedicated app. But that’s not Aqara’s fault: for some reason, the Home app still doesn’t support manual camera controls.1
Meross Smart PlugImage: Meross.
I’ve tried a variety of smart plugs over the years, and the ones I like best are these ones by Meross. (I have the EU plug version.) I have two that I use to control a humidifier (more on this below) and the light strip at my desk2, which is a non-HomeKit one that I wanted to make addressable via the Home app in some way. The Meross plugs, in my experience, have been the fastest and most reliable over time: they’re resilient after software updates (which would inevitably cause issues with my old Eve plugs) and have never failed me once so far. I hope I don’t jinx it now.
Meross Mist HumidifierImage: Meross.
You’d be forgiven for thinking I went ahead and purchased a wooden Dragon Quest slime for my nightstand by looking at the picture above. (They exist.) Alas, the device is a bit more boring than that.
A few months ago, Silvia noticed that the air was too dry in our bedroom, so we did some research and decided to buy a mist humidifier/oil diffuser to balance the air quality and reach a comfortable 45% humidity threshold. We got the Meross one because its unique shape made it look like a nice, visually pleasing object (something we highly prioritized when designing our bedroom, which is meant to be a calm and relaxing environment) and because it was compatible with HomeKit.
Controlling the diffuser from the Home app.
In the Home app, I can turn the air spray on and off (but I have to use the Meross app if I want to control the intensity level), and I also have a separate device for the built-in colored LED embedded within the diffuser. The humidifier has been on Silvia’s nightstand for months, she loves it, and we’ve been sleeping quite well.
HomePod mini with Battery BaseMy portable HomePod mini.
I’ve been using a HomePod mini with a portable battery base for almost a year now, and it’s perfect for my needs.
You see, I primarily use the HomePod mini in two ways: it’s a Siri device when I’m working at my desk, and it’s a portable speaker when I’m cooking and want to hear music or podcasts over the noise of water or the hood above the stove. At my desk, the HomePod mini takes up very little space, and it’s a cute little device just hanging out there alongside my Anker charger and audio interface; when freed from the desk, it becomes a good-sounding wireless speaker that I can place anywhere around the house.
Plus, of course, the HomePod mini is also a HomeKit hub that makes sure other accessories that support Thread can always be in range and accessible from other rooms of the house. I wish Apple made its own battery stand for it, but my setup (and Niléane’s) works great for me.
LG C1 and C2 TVsJust beautiful.
I mean, what else is there to say about these big, beautiful TVs? They’re OLED, they natively support FreeSync and G-Sync for gaming, they have a bunch of HDMI ports, and they run a decent operating system. (I often forget that this is where webOS ended up.) We have a 65” C2 VESA-mounted in the living room, which is where we watch most of our TV shows and where I play videogames with my PS5, Nintendo Switch, and gaming PC (a Lenovo Legion Go with ONEXGPU). Conversely, the smaller 55” C1 is in the bedroom, and we mostly use it to watch sitcoms and reality shows before going to sleep.
Both TVs appear in HomeKit, which is convenient since I can use Siri or Shortcuts to turn them on and off. To give you an example, if I’m recording podcasts and I hear fireworks going off in the distance3, I can quickly issue a few commands to try and attenuate the noise for my dogs. First, I can close the living room’s shutter; then, I can turn on the TV to generate some background noise. I can’t tell you how many times this approach has saved Zelda and Ginger from spending a couple of hours shaking under the bed.
Generally speaking, these are some of the best OLED panels on the market. Whether you want to connect a modern PC/videogame console (4K OLED @ 120 Hz with G-Sync/FreeSync looks amazing) or watch some Apple TV+ content in Dolby Vision, you can’t go wrong with the C1 or C2.
JohnHue Accent LightingI like having my display backlit by a Hue gradient tube.
I have several fairly ordinary Hue smart bulbs in my house that I use in various lamps and ceiling fixtures. Some are colorful, and others are the simpler white ambient variety. They’ve been reliable for years, but for this roundup, I wanted to focus on other Hue lighting products I use primarily in my home office and kitchen.
Another Hue gradient tube light.
In my office, I have two Hue gradient light tubes. One sits on top of a tall bookcase, and the other rests behind my Studio Display. Both shine light up the wall, providing indirect illumination for the room. I typically have both set to ‘adaptive’ in the Home app’s settings, but it’s fun to switch them to colorful gradients in the Hue app now and then. Either way, though, both lights help keep the entire room well-lit, which helps me stay alert as I work.
You cant’s see the light strip under my windows, which is the whole point.
The other accent light in my office is a Hue gradient light strip that I tucked under the window sill to my right as I sit at my desk. Like the gradient tubes, the light strip adds light to a corner of the room that would otherwise be in the shadows, which I like. It, too, is typically set to a boring ‘adaptive’ lighting setting but offers a lot more options when I want to mix things up.
Hue’s candelabra lights are best if they can be hidden.
In the kitchen, we have a chandelier over our table that has little lampshades covering candelabra-style bulbs. That’s the perfect setup for Hue’s smart candelabra bulbs because they’re hidden. The trouble with these bulbs is that they have an opaque white or black base that extends about a third of the way up the bulb, which I don’t like. I prefer ordinary bulbs that typically are all glass. However, with the lampshades on our chandelier, Hue’s candelabra bulbs work with my setup, allowing me to group all five in the Home app and control them as one.
I replaced dumb filament bulbs with these smart ones from Hue.
I also have Hue Edison-style filament smart bulbs in three hanging fixtures over my kitchen island. This bulb style has come a long way in the past couple of years and looks more natural than an earlier version that I tried. Again, I control the three bulbs as a group from the Home app.
Eve Smart Motion SensorMy Eve Motion Sensor.
My Eve Smart Motion Sensor has one job, which is to control my kitchen and office lights in the morning. It sits on top of a short wall overlooking the stairway down to the kitchen. I’m usually the first to get up in the morning, and as soon as the Eve Motion Sensor sees me walk into the hallway and approach the stairs, it turns on the kitchen lights at 50% brightness, allowing my eyes to adjust to the light. The sensor does the same with my office lights. It’s a simple automation, but one I love because it helps me ease into my day as I make a beeline for the coffeemaker.
Aqara Presence SensorIf Aqara’s presence sensors ever work on batteries, I’ll buy a six-pack.
I’m a late-comer to the Aqara line. The company’s reliance on hubs for many of its early products turned me off, but that’s changed. Now, much of Aqara’s gear can be used standalone with its app or HomeKit.
The company’s presence sensor is one of my favorite smart home gadgets because it solves a problem motion sensors can’t. I like the idea of having the lights in my office turn off when I leave. The trouble with motion sensors is that if you set up an automation to turn off your lights when motion is no longer detected, they have a tendency to leave you sitting in the dark because they aren’t sensitive enough.
The Aqara presence sensor solves that problem by using radar to detect the presence of people in a room. My office is perfect for Aqara’s sensor because it’s a relatively small, rectangular room, and I have a spot about four feet off the floor where it gets a good view of the entire space.
The device took a little fiddling to set up, but with some effort, it can tell whether I’m at my desk or sitting on a nearby couch. That opens up automation options that aren’t possible with motion sensors. For me, though, I use it (along with a backstop Hue motion sensor) to keep my lights on when I’m at my desk and turn them off when I leave during the day. It’s remarkable how well it works, too, shutting off my lights within a minute or two of me leaving the room.
The only downside of the Aqara sensor is that it requires a wall outlet for power, which limits where it can be placed without becoming an eyesore. I would have three or four of these sensors around my home if they worked on batteries, but with a cable dangling down the wall, my office is the only space I have that works.
Eve Energy Strip and Meross Smart Plug Power StripA glamour shot of the Eve Energy Strip because mine is dusty and crammed out of sight under my desk.
I love the warm weather in North Carolina, but my office faces the sun all day, so it can get hot. It doesn’t help that I have a lot of lights and gadgets emitting heat all day, too. I don’t like the idea of using electricity needlessly, either. So, one of the first things I did when I set up my new office was buy an Eve Energy Strip that sits by the foot of my desk.
Currently, the Eve power strip has two things plugged in: an HP LaserJet M110w printer and a Fujitsu ScanSnap iX 1300 scanner. Neither gets used a lot, but they’re handy to have nearby. When I need either, I simply ask Siri to, ‘Turn on the printer,’ or the scanner. Both connect to my Wi-Fi network relatively quickly and are ready to go. When I’m finished, I turn both off with Siri, too.
The Meross Smart Plug: Less glamour for less than half the price.
As much as I like the Eve power strip, it’s a little expensive compared to the Meross Smart Plug Power Strip, which is sold for less than half the price. When I was redoing my office space last fall, I bought the Meross, which sits in a cable tray that hangs under my desk. The power strip has four outlets (one more than the Eve power strip) and four USB-A ports.
I have an Anker Charging Base, electrical outlets that are embedded in the surface of my desk, and a 200W UGreen charging hub all connected to the power strip’s outlets. When I ordered it, I didn’t expect to use the USB-A ports, but they’ve proven to be more useful than I anticipated. I have iPhone and Apple Watch chargers that are accessories to my modular Balolo desk shelf setup, plus my BenQ light that sits on top of my Studio Display, plugged into the USB ports.
The key to both power strips is naming each outlet after the device that plugs into it. That makes it easy to use Siri, Shortcuts, or the Home app to control individual devices or chargers, so I’m only powering what I’m using. It also means I can do things like turn off an outlet when my iPad reaches a 90% charge as it sits next to my Studio Display for use with Universal Control. Then, when the charge drops to 30%, the outlet turns back on and charges the iPad again.
Ecobee Security SystemAn ecobee Smart Camera monitoring the entryway to my home.
When I lived in Illinois, I had ecobee Smart Thermostats and loved them. They don’t work with the heat pump system I have now, so I’m using Honeywell T9s, which have been reliable, too. However, my experience with ecobee’s thermostats was so good that I decided to build my home security system around the company’s other products in my new home.
My security system is comprised of three ecobee SmartCameras, sensors on all doors and windows, and a Smart Video Doorbell that all work together with ecobee’s Smart Security monitored security service. HomeKit security systems range from complete DIY systems that aren’t monitored by anyone to very expensive hardware and subscription combos. Ecobee falls somewhere in the middle with hardware that has a heft and premium feel. The company’s hardware costs more than some solutions, but has been worth it in my year with the service. At $90/year, the monitoring service is one of the best deals I’ve found, too.
The ecobee Smart Video Doorbell.
The doorbell works a lot like any smart doorbell connected to HomeKit, ringing a speaker on our main floor, plus my HomePods and AirPods if I’m wearing them when people and packages are detected. The other cameras are all indoor cameras with a good field of view and low-light performance. Also, they all include speakers you can use to communicate with people remotely as well as sirens. The cameras came with additional temperature and motion sensors, which work with ecobee’s thermostats, but are also standalone HomeKit sensors that allow me to trigger automations based on their temperature readings and motion detection.
Ecobee’s app.
The ecobee app isn’t fantastic, but it gets the job done and is reliable about sensing when someone is home. I’m usually the last one to leave the house, and with the app’s geofencing feature, I can arm our alarm system from a notification on my watch. Once armed, if anyone breaks in, the cameras will be recording, the alarms will go off, and the service monitoring the system will contact the police. When I return home, the geofence works in reverse, disarming the system automatically when I get within sight of my home.
The only downside of I’ve found with this setup is that ecobee’s doorbell doesn’t support HomeKit Secure Video. Instead, with a security monitoring plan like I have, 30 days of recordings are stored by ecobee. If you don’t have a security service subscription, the doorbell can be monitored live and will only takes snapshots of activity at your door.
NiléaneOnvis 5-Key SwitchIf I had to pick a single accessory that I couldn’t imagine living without now, it’s this one. Last year, after months of having to fight with Siri and its poor performance in French, I started looking for a simple HomeKit wall switch I could simply have in every room to turn the lights on and off, simply by pushing a button instead of asking Siri or fiddling with Apple’s Home app.
Unfortunately, since we do not own our place, replacing our built-in wall switches was not an option. So I had to find a switch that I could easily mount to the wall in a less permanent way. I also wanted to find a button that would work over the Thread protocol, which I’ve generally found to be pretty reliable. In the end, I landed on the Onvis 5-Key Switch HS2. I am happy to say it has allowed me to rediscover the simple joy of pressing a button on the wall that instantly turns on our lights and won’t make us wait up to 10 seconds before we can step into a room.
A single Onvis switch consists of a magnetic base that can be mounted on the wall and five keys: four corner buttons and a central button. I was pleasantly surprised with how easy it was to set up, too. Just scan the QR code with the Home app, and you’re done. No third-party app is needed.
Each key can support up to three actions, which adds up to a whopping 15 actions that can be set on a single Onvis 5-Key switch. Here’s my advice, though: don’t fall into the trap of configuring all 15 possible actions. You should limit each key to a single action and keep the button layout consistent between rooms. In our case, I have chosen to always set the central button to turn on the lights in the room and the bottom-left-hand corner to always turn them off. I then assigned the remaining three buttons on the switch to each room’s specific scenes. That makes it super easy to remember and build muscle memory for.
Eve RoomI’m a huge fan of Eve’s products. Their build quality has always been what sets these accessories apart in the market of HomeKit devices. Eve Room is an indoor sensor that keeps track of the temperature, humidity, and general air quality in your home. With the return of spring and my seasonal allergies, the Eve Room has been a helpful tool for keeping an eye on the air quality inside our apartment.
Combined with the Eve Energy smart plug, I’ve been able to turn on my ”dumb” air purifiers automatically, depending on the Eve Room sensor’s real-time readouts. Both accessories rely on the Thread protocol and the Matter standard, and I’ve been quite impressed with their reliability.
In the winter, the Eve Room has also been a great way to monitor the indoor temperature and adjust our old-school electric radiators throughout the day. Whether it’s just because you’re sensitive to changes in air quality or because you’re looking to optimize your heating schedule, I strongly recommend checking it out. Until we can buy our own place and install proper thermostats, the Eve Room does the job fantastically of helping us string together a couple of automations inside the Home app.
Nanoleaf LightstripOur Nanoleaf Lightstrip emits a soft pink light behind the TV in the evening.
I take our indoor lighting very seriously. Both my partner and I are particularly sensitive to artificial lights, so it’s been a priority for us to figure out how to properly light up our rooms in a neat and cozy way. To address this, light strips are a great solution. When carefully placed behind key pieces of furniture, like a TV or a shelf, they can provide a diffuse source of light that’s not too aggressive for our sensitive eyes.
Still, we didn’t want to overdo it. The idea was to find a simple light strip for each room that wasn’t too expensive and would work with HomeKit over Thread. After testing out a few options, we settled on the Matter-enabled Nanoleaf Lightstrip. Like most Matter-enabled accessories, they were extremely easy to set up in the Home app, and we haven’t needed to tweak them since.
Another key advantage of the Nanoleaf Lightstrip is that they feature built-in physical controls, which come in handy when you want to adjust the color of the emitted light or turn it off entirely without having to deal with the Home app, and when you don’t have a HomeKit wall switch in your home setup.
Nanoleaf’s Lightstrip also supports Apple’s HomeKit adaptive lighting, which changes the color temperature of light throughout the day – colder during the day, then warmer in the evening and at night. While I wasn’t a big user of the feature at first, it proved to be useful during the winter when it could get pretty dark inside on overcast days.
JonathanHue Dimmer Switch with Samotech Switch CoverImage: Hue
The most important rule I live by when setting up home accessories is that if they are a core home utility, like lights or heating, they must have a manual fallback that’s easy to access. This is critical for two reasons: 1) technology fails sometimes, and 2) not everyone who visits our house is familiar with smart home accessories.
The area where I first implemented this approach also involved a cheap third-party mount: smart lighting. Hue bulbs are great for automating lights at different times, with varying brightness and even color, and Hue’s dimmer switch is a great way to control this outside of the Home app. However, sticking them on the wall can be confusing for some when there is already a wall switch in place.
Image: Samotech
The solution to this comes in the form of the Samotech Switch Cover. Quite simply, this piece mounts over the regular wall switch (they come in all kinds of size variations), and the Hue Dimmer Switch magnetically attaches on top, becoming your new wall switch. The Samotech Switch Cover can be removed quickly, providing access to the original light switch (and thus meeting the accessories rule), and when mounted, means that guests only need to deal with one switch.
Aqara Door and Window SensorsImage: Aqara
There are many contact sensors on the market that work with HomeKit, and from what I hear, most work great. Nevertheless, I chose Aqara for two key reasons: price and size.
At around a third of the price of the equivalent sensor from the well-respected HomeKit brand Eve, they’re quite a bargain. But more than that, I like these sensors because of their minimal footprint. They are so small that I’ve been able to attach them to every window and door in my house and completely forget they are there. Nevertheless, their presence allows me to keep track of open windows when I’m out or even create automations that remind me to close a window one hour after opening it, as I detailed in Issue 395 of MacStories Weekly.
Tado Smart ThermostatsImage: Tado
While similar products are available from Netatmo and Eve, among others, I’ll focus on the smart thermostats from Germany-based smart energy company Tado. Tado only supplies three products, all of which work together to control your home heating. The first is a smart radiator thermostat that attaches to the radiators around your home. The second is a wall-mountable thermostat for adjusting temperature. And the third is a wireless receiver add-on for your gas boiler.
When combined, they enable you to control which radiators in which rooms come on at what times. If no radiators are on, the wireless receiver, which is hardwired into your boiler, tells your house’s heating to turn off.
You can set up schedules for each room from within the Home app or Tado app. The latter allows for more granular control and detects when you’re away from home to suspend any heating schedules you might have set up.
This all adds up to a great experience and, even better, noticeable savings on my energy bill.
Netatmo Smart Smoke AlarmsImage: Netatmo
There are a few smart smoke alarms on the market, such as OneLink, but I’ve had firsthand experience with Netatmo, so I can recommend them. So, what fancy things does a smart smoke alarm do? Well, it detects smoke and sends an alert to your iPhone while setting off all the other smoke alarms you have connected in your home.
So yeah, it’s not the most dramatic accessory to have, and yet, after my Hue lights and Tado smart thermostats, it’s probably the accessory I’d choose to install first in a new home. I have peace of mind knowing I will be alerted if something is burning whether I’m home or away, which is reassuring. Oh, and if all the power goes out, it still works like a dumb smoke alarm, running off batteries, meeting my rule for always having a manual fallback for essential utilities.
A List of Hardware Mentioned in This StoryTo make browsing the gadgets mentioned in this story easier, we’ve complied a handy shopping list, covering our top picks:
Federico* Easykon for KNX Bridge * Philips Hue + Recessed Lights + Filament Bulbs + Light Strip + Bridge * Aqara Cameras + G3 + E1 * Meross Smart Plug * Meross Mist Humidifier * HomePod mini with Battery Base * LG C1 and C2 TVs
John* Hue gradient light tubes * Hue candelabra bulbs * Hue filament smart bulbs * Eve Smart Motion Sensor * Aqara Presence Sensor * Eve Energy Strip * Meross Smart Plug Power Strip * ecobee SmartCameras * ecobee Smart Sensors * ecobee Smart Video Doorbell * ecobee Smart Security
Niléane* Onvis 5-Key Switch * Eve Room * Nanoleaf Lightstrip
Jonathan* Hue Dimmer Switch * Samotech Switch Cover * Aqara Door and Window Sensors * Tado Smart Thermostats * Netatmo Smart Smoke Alarms
For even more hardware and and app recommendations, be sure to visit the MacStories Setups page.
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- Thanks to Aaron Pearce, the developer of HomeCam and other excellent HomeKit apps, I discovered that the HomeKit API does actually support manual camera controls, but the Home app hasn’t implemented them yet. And since the Home app doesn’t support pan and tilt controls, third-party manufacturers haven’t bothered adding HomeKit camera controls to their cameras. It’s a weird limitation that reminds me of a similar situation with temperature and humidity thresholds from a few years ago. ↩︎
- It’s a shorter version of this one, which is also the model I have outside on the balcony. However, I can’t find the shorter (2-meter) version on Amazon US. ↩︎
- What is the problem with people and fireworks at random times of the year? Personally, I think fireworks should be made illegal: they’re bad for the environment, and thousands of animals die each year because of a stupid human tradition predicated on, supposedly, the enjoyment some people feel by watching a thing go “boom” in the sky. Grow up. ↩︎
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Source: Apple.
Today, Apple announced that it is extending its repair program to make it easier for repair shops to work with used parts while also limiting the use of lost or stolen devices.
A complaint leveled at Apple by right to repair advocates is that its use of parts pairing limits the use of used parts by repair shops. With its announcement today, Apple says that it has developed a system that satisfies customer privacy, security, and safety while broadening the use of used parts:
The process of confirming whether or not a repair part is genuine and gathering information about the part — often referred to as “pairing” — is critical to preserving the privacy, security, and safety of iPhone. Apple teams have been hard at work over the last two years to enable the reuse of parts such as biometric sensors used for Face ID or Touch ID, and beginning this fall, calibration for genuine Apple parts, new or used, will happen on device after the part is installed. In addition, future iPhone releases will have support for used biometric sensors. And in order to simplify the repair process, customers and service providers will no longer need to provide a device’s serial number when ordering parts from the Self Service Repair Store for repairs not involving replacement of the logic board.
The iPhone’s Activation Lock and Lost Mode are being extended to used parts as a deterrent to thieves pulling apart iPhones for their parts. If a lost or stolen part is detected, Apple says its calibration capabilities will be restricted. Also, Apple says it will expand the Parts and Service History section of its Settings app to include information about whether parts used in an iPhone are new or used.
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This week on Magic Rays of Light, Sigmund and Devon highlight American Revolution-era drama Franklin ahead of its premiere on Apple TV+. They also dive into new Apple Original documentary Girls State, spatial personas on visionOS, and the possibility of game emulation on Apple TV.
Show Notes* Opening Topic: Apple Vision Pro and Spatial Personas + Vision Pro Chronicles: My Custom ‘Dual Knit Open’ Setup for Maximum Comfort and Awareness * Highlights + Girls State + Franklin * Trailer Talk + The Big Door Prize — Season 2 + Fly Me To The Moon + Fly Me to the Moon First Look | People * News + Kung Fu Panda: School of Chi + Supercut + Napoleon Soundtrack on Vinyl + Napoleon Soundtrack on Vinyl (US) * Releases + Argylle * Extras + aespa x Fraggle Rock — Get Goin’ * Up Next + Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV + Ennio + Kung Fu Panda 4 + Drive-Away Dolls + Fallout + Dune + Dune: Part Two
Send us a voice message all week via iMessage or email to magic@macstories.net.
Sigmund Judge | Follow Sigmund on X, Mastodon, or Threads
Devon Dundee | Follow Devon on Mastodon or Threads
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MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
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→ Source: podcasts.apple.com
A couple of weeks ago, in a members-only special episode of the Accidental Tech Podcast, John Siracusa went in-depth on his window management techniques on the Mac. This was absolutely fascinating to me. I strongly recommend checking the episode out if you can. One of the many reasons it captivated me is the fact that John Siracusa uses macOS in only a single space (the system’s name for virtual desktops) and lays out windows in a very specific way to take advantage of his entire display.
This is completely opposite of the way I’ve been managing and arranging windows on my Mac for the past ten years. To work on my Mac, I always heavily rely on having at least three spaces and switching between them on the fly depending on the task at hand. Moreover, I rarely keep more than two or three windows open at a time in each space.
However, since I’m always up for an experiment and shaking things up, I thought I would try going back to a single space on my Mac for a full week. I approached this by drawing inspiration from John Siracusa’s window management techniques and digging up an old Mac utility that helped me with the transition. I’ve learned a lot from this challenge; even more surprisingly, it has sparked in me a newfound interest in Stage Manager on the Mac.
Let me tell you how it went.
First, I should briefly catch you up on why I’m such a big fan of spaces on macOS.
When I purchased my very first Mac about ten years ago, I was coming from many years of using Linux distributions as my main desktop operating systems. At the time, I was particularly fond of the GNOME desktop environment, which started featuring a radically-redesigned user interface in 2011 called GNOME Shell. That UI had one huge appeal for me: an overview called ‘Activities’ where you could see all your open windows and all your virtual desktops laid out in a bird’s-eye view. Sound familiar? That same year, as part of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, Apple also introduced a similar UI paradigm called ‘Mission Control’, which lets you see all your open windows, fullscreen apps, and active spaces in a single interactive overview.
So suffice it to say, after switching to a Mac, I was feeling right at home. GNOME had already engraved in my brain this habit of spreading my open windows across virtual desktops and constantly moving between them thanks to its intuitive UI. On the Mac, Mission Control allowed me to keep working this way, and that has been the case for the past ten years now. The Mac even has a special advantage to bring this workflow together: an amazing trackpad experience. To this day, nothing beats macOS’s fast and fluid three-finger swipe gesture to flick between spaces on the fly.
GNOME’s ‘Activities’ view, released in 2011, allowed you to see an overview of all your open windows and virtual desktops. It also acted as a full-blown app launcher. Source: Wikimedia Commons
In 2011, as part of OS X Lion, Apple introduced ‘Mission Control’, which lets you see an overview of all your open windows, fullscreen apps, and spaces. Source: 512 Pixels macOS Screenshot Library
As for how I like to spread my windows across spaces, it’s pretty straightforward. As far back as I can remember, I have always arranged them in this way:
- All of my messaging and communication apps go in Desktop 1.
- The web browser goes in Desktop 2.
- Music, plus everything else overflowing from the first two desktops, goes in Desktop 3.
My usual three-space setup. Communication apps live in Desktop 1, Safari in Desktop 2, and everything else in Desktop 3.
While this is flexible and can change to fit specific tasks, the main constant is to always keep Safari in Desktop 2, and always keep my messaging apps in Desktop 1. They’re my anchor windows. The only exception is when I’m on a call, in which case I usually bring Discord or Zoom to Desktop 2 to keep them side by side with Safari.
Otherwise, when I’m working on a document or researching something, I like to add Notes or Obsidian to Desktop 2, next to Safari. Similarly, if I’m working on a design in Figma or a project in VS Code, that’s going to happen in Desktop 2 where the browser is. And if, during any of those tasks, I need to reply to a message, I can just swipe on the trackpad with three fingers to switch to Desktop 1 where all my communication apps live, then swipe back to Desktop 2 or 3 when I’m done.
Now you can probably see why getting rid of my spaces and using only one instead might be a considerable challenge for someone like me.
Still, I went ahead and deleted my two extra spaces. Now, with all my windows stacked in a single space, I had to experiment with ways to make this work – and make sense of the apparent mess.
After merging all of my spaces into one, my Mac desktop looked like this.
After experimenting for the first couple days of my single-space challenge, I put together a collection of tricks that have allowed me to start enjoying this experience. Here are the main three:
1. Generously hide your apps. I must admit, since I could always just switch to a different space at any time, I was really not used to hiding windows when I wasn’t actively using them. However, switching to a single-space workflow made this a necessity if I didn’t want my desktop to look extremely cluttered, even during light tasks. This led me to discover a handful of macOS keyboard shortcuts that have been around for ages but that I had no idea existed.
Of course, Command (⌘) + H hides the application in the foreground. But that’s not all. If you hold Option (⌥) and click a window in the background, this will instantly hide the app you were previously on. Even better, if you hold ⌥ and ⌘ at the same time and click any window, this will hide all apps except for the one you just clicked. Both of these also work if you click an app’s icon in the Dock. Using these keyboard shortcuts has made a world of a difference in managing my windows on a single desktop.
Cleaning up my desktop in a few seconds by holding ⌥ or ⌥ + ⌘ when clicking on windows.
Despite these useful shortcuts, I was still finding myself drowning in windows at times. This was mainly due to the fact that I frequently need to reopen Discord and other messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, and I tend to leave those visible in the background even when I’m done with them. To solve this, I dug up a tiny utility that I hadn’t launched in a long time: Quitter by Marco Arment.
Quitter is a fantastic free Mac app that automatically hides or quits apps after a set amount of time. I’ve set it to hide all my messaging apps automatically after 10 minutes of inactivity. The result is that they’re still open and active in the background if I need them, but their windows will go away even if I forget to hide them manually.
My Quitter rules include most of my messaging apps.
2. Find a pattern to arrange your windows onscreen. If this experiment has taught me one thing, it’s that you can make your life a lot easier if you place and resize every window with intention, instead of just letting them pile up wherever they spawn. Let me explain.
In my case, since the web browser is central to most, if not all, of my workflows, I came up with a general way of organizing my windows onscreen that makes a lot of sense to my brain: Now, I always keep the Safari window in the center of the screen, with every other window around Safari along the edges of the display, as if they’re only poking out from under the Safari window. I like to think of it as an imperfect planetary system. Safari is Saturn, and all the other apps are its orbiting moons. Moon windows can move around Safari freely, but Safari always remains in the center.
And if, at any point, I need to focus on a single application, I can just ⌥ + ⌘ + click it to make it the only visible window, then temporarily move it to the center of the screen.
Making sense of my single-space desktop: I keep Safari in the center and all the other apps “in orbit” around it. To the left of Safari are Ivory and Mimestream. Telegram is in the top right corner, Obsidian on the right side of the screen, and Music in the bottom right.
A key part of making this work is not being afraid to make your windows smaller. Apps don’t have to fill the entire screen to be useful. Some apps can even be super tiny and still be fully usable in a corner of the display. This is especially true for Safari and other web browsers. In a world where most people access the web on their phones, most sites will work just fine in a narrow window.
This has also led me to rediscover the Music app’s MiniPlayer window, which you can activate by clicking on the album art of the currently playing track. (You can also ⌥ + click the album art to open the MiniPlayer while keeping the main window open.) The MiniPlayer is super easy to tuck in a corner of the screen so you can keep an eye on your current queue at all times. This has been a nice way to curb my habit of always keeping the main Music window open.
In the Music app, click the currently playing album art to switch to the MiniPlayer, or ⌥ + click the album art to open the MiniPlayer above the main Music window.
My Safari-focused “planetary system” arrangement is obviously very personal, and it may or may not work for you. If you want to try this approach, I recommend first thinking about which app would work best as your centered window.
3. Give Stage Manager a try. Alright, this may be a controversial one. As you know, Stage Manager, first introduced in macOS Ventura, is Apple’s newest mode for managing windows on your Mac’s desktop. It lets you group windows together and lists your recently active apps on the left edge of the screen. To be honest, despite loving some aspects of working with Stage Manager on the Mac, I think it still has many flaws I can’t quite get over.
Stage Manager has felt superfluous to me since its release. After all, I was already used to grouping my windows together; I was just doing it using macOS’s spaces. However, during my single-space challenge, I was inexorably drawn back to it.
Stage Manager is an amazing way of eliminating clutter on your desktop with a single click in Control Center, and I found myself turning it on sporadically instead of relying on my above two tricks for managing windows. In many cases, it was just simpler to use Stage Manager instead of thinking about where and how I should place my apps. And I must admit, the way it positions your active app in the center of the screen while still letting you keep an eye on all the other apps that are running to the side – it clicks for me.
One other reason that I was drawn to Stage Manager during the single-space challenge is that I had a really hard time kicking the habit of swiping with three fingers to switch between spaces. I often found myself reflexively swiping with three fingers to no effect. To address this, I re-enabled one of my BetterTouchTool triggers, which allows me to three-finger swipe between app groups in Stage Manager.
With the addition of this gesture, Stage Manager is so close to being perfect. If it had a setting to open new windows in the current stage instead of spawning a new one every time, and the ability to reorder the app groups in the strip by dragging them, I would keep it on permanently. But for now, I just like to toggle it on and off depending on the state of my desktop.
Now that my single-space challenge is over, I find myself at a crossroads. To my surprise, this experiment has been quite enjoyable, and now I honestly can’t decide whether I want to continue this way or revert to my ten-year-old three-space setup. The answer is that I’m probably going to land somewhere in-between. I will keep using a three-space setup, but I will upgrade Desktop 2 (the center space) to the Safari-focused “planetary system” arrangement. Similarly, I will consider turning on Stage Manager when one of my spaces gets too crowded.
Overall, this past week has made me realize how amazing macOS can be when it comes to window management. While it is severely lacking in some areas, especially when it comes to tiling and snapping windows, the fact that you can pick and choose which layers of Apple’s window management tools you want to leverage means that, in just a week, you can get used to a workflow that would have felt completely alien before. There is a certain beauty to this. My only hope is that Apple finally iterates on Stage Manager this year.
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Mark Gurman, writing for Bloomberg, reports that Beeper, the messaging app that ultimately lost its fight to bring blue bubbles to Android, has been acquired by Automattic, for $125 million according to his sources.
You may recall that Automattic, the company behind WordPress, Tumblr, Day One, Pocket Casts, and other endeavors, acquired a company called Texts last fall. Roughly two months later, Beeper took advantage of a loophole in iMessage’s architecture to offer iMessage natively on Android. After some back and forth, Apple ultimately blocked the technique Beeper was using.
According to Gurman, Automattic is acquiring Beeper’s team of 27 employees, its app, which integrates services like Signal, Facebook Messenger, and Slack, and about 100,000 customers. Of those things, I suspect the people and the customers were most important to Automattic because, as I explained in my story about the company’s purchase of Texts, the two services run on different technology stacks. Regardless of Automattic’s underlying motivations, it’s more apparent than ever that the company is betting that consumer demand, government regulation, and antitrust lawsuits will open up messaging platforms for companies ready to integrate them.
→ Source: bloomberg.com
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MacStories launched its first podcast in 2017 with AppStories. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include a family of shows that also includes MacStories Unwind, Magic Rays of Light and Ruminate that collectively, cover a broad range of the modern tech media world from Apple’s streaming service and videogames to apps and the web for a growing audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth approach to media.
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Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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You know the drill: when you go through airport security there are two lines. In one, a TSA agent makes sure you’re the person in your passport photo. In the other, a machine scans your carry-on for explosives, weapons, or a normal-sized bottle of shampoo.
Enterprise security is much the same, but instead of passengers and luggage, we’re talking about end users and their devices. In the first line, user authentication verifies a user’s identity, and it’s gotten pretty sophisticated in the past few years, with SSO and MFA becoming more common.
But user devices don’t get nearly the same level of attention. The average device trust solution only looks at a handful of endpoint security factors, like OS updates and firewall. If this really were the TSA, that wouldn’t even be an x-ray machine, more like holding a bag to your ear and listening for a ticking sound.
And that’s assuming an organization looks at end user devices at all. Kolide’s Shadow IT report found that 47% of companies let unmanaged devices access their resources, and authenticate via credentials alone.
Unmanaged devices (those outside a company’s MDM) can be infected with malware, full of PII, or worse–they can belong to a bad actor using phished employee credentials.
And hey, there are valid reasons for a device not to be enrolled in MDM. Contractor devices, Linux machines, and employee phones all need to be able to access company resources. But there’s plenty of room for middle ground between “fully locked down and managed” and an open-door device policy.
Specifically, companies need device trust solutions that block devices from authenticating if they don’t meet minimum security requirements.
Even with phishing-resistant MFA, it’s frighteningly easy for bad actors to impersonate end users–in the case of the MGM hack, all it took was a call to the help desk. What could have prevented that attack (and so many others) was an unspoofable form of authentication for the device itself.
That’s what you get with Kolide’s device trust solution: a chance to verify that a device is both known and secure before it authenticates. Kolide’s agent looks at hundreds of device properties (remember, our competitors only look at a handful). What’s more, our user-first, privacy-respecting approach means you can put it on machines outside MDM: contractor devices, mobile phones, and even Linux machines.
Without a device trust solution, all the security in the world is just security theater. But Kolide can help close the gaps. (And we won’t even make you take off your shoes.)
To learn more, please watch our on-demand demo.
Our thanks to Kolide for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Earlier this week, I linked to The Ringer’s profile of Monument Valley on its 10th anniversary, which focused on what’s become of mobile gaming since the game’s release. Today, I have another story about Monument Valley that focuses on the game’s origins and beautiful design.
Jonathan Bell’s article for Wallpaper explores the Monument Valley team’s approach and influences:
The end result had a pixel-perfect axonometric aesthetic that not only went hard on its references to Dutch master artist and printmaker Maurits Cornelis Escher, but also dug deep into classic video game design, going right back to early arcade machines and 8-bit titles. Each of the ten levels is like a piece of fine furniture, built with invisible dovetail joints and inlaid with marquetry, stuffed with secret compartments and little design flourishes. Gray cites the world of theatre and stage design, as well as graphics, as important keystones in the way the levels were constructed. ‘Ken would always talk about flower arranging, and how you frame a silhouette of a level on the screen,’ he says
I love this anecdote about the game’s last minute naming:
The small team was so laser-focused on delivering the best game they could that the name wasn’t even considered until the very end. ‘Right before launch we were going to be interviewed by Edge magazine – the morning of that day we hadn’t picked the name.’ Monument Valley was chosen as being familiar, yet unusual, implying a sense of mystery, grandeur and travel.
Monument Valley is one of the most important indie games ever published on the App Store, so it’s great to see its backstory told in detail by Bell. Be sure to check out the full story, which includes photos of early design sketches of the game’s interface and characters.
→ Source: wallpaper.com
This week on AppStories, we are joined by Alex live in the Club MacStories+ Discord community for a special episode covering our initial impressions of Apple’s Wonderlust media event, which introduced new iPhones, Apple Watches, and more. Sponsored by: Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free. Vitally: A new […]
Source: Apple. Apple covered a lot of ground today, and since the event concluded, more details have emerged about everything announced. We’ve been combing Apple’s product pages, social media, and other sources to learn more about the new iPhones, Apple Watches, and services, which we’ve collected below: iPhones Source: Apple. The iPhone 15 and 15 […]
Following the introduction of the Apple Watch Ultra last September, one question that stood out was whether this would be a new addition to the annual Apple Watch lineup, or another device like the Apple Watch SE which was only updated every few years. Two years may not yet make a trend1, but the Ultra […]
Today’s Wonderlust event was packed with facts, figures, and statistics throughout the presentation and elsewhere. We’ve pulled together the highlights from the event that was at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California. The New iPhones Source: Apple. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are 19 grams lighter than their predecessors The iPhone 15 […]
Source: Apple. Today, Apple introduced four new iPhone models: the iPhone 15, the iPhone 15 Plus, the iPhone 15 Pro, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The new iPhones pack a wide array of new features to cover, so let’s dig in. iPhone 15 and 15 Plus Source: Apple. As in the past, the iPhone […]
At this morning’s annual September Apple Event, Apple announced its latest lineup of iPhones and Apple Watches. Kicking things off with the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2, both devices can be ordered starting today, with availability beginning September 22nd. Despite rumors of a delayed launch date for the iPhone 15 […]
If you didn’t follow the livestream or announcements as they unfolded today, you can replay it on Apple’s Events site or YouTube and catch the product videos on Apple’s YouTube channel. The keynote video can be streamed here and on the Apple TV using the TV app. A high-quality version will also be available through Apple Podcasts as a video and audio podcast. An American Sign […]
Source: Intel. Today, Intel announced the next iteration of its Thunderbolt connectivity standard. According to a company press release: Thunderbolt 5 will deliver 80 gigabits per second (Gbps) of bi-directional bandwidth, and with Bandwidth Boost it will provide up to 120 Gbps for the best display experience. These improvements will provide up to three times more […]
One of the biggest challenges small business owners face is a lack of time. As your business grows, you struggle to stay on top of increasing demands. There are prospects to follow up with, sales to track, and commitments that you promised to deliver to your clients on a daily basis. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and fear the business will fail if you can’t keep up. Before long, and without even realizing it, you’ve lost the passion and drive you once felt.
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Our thanks to Daylite for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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23:39
This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico explains his UVC device journey that naturally ended with using a Game Boy Camera as an iPad webcam, and I embrace the South by cooking grits, and I recommend Plane, a 2023 action-thriller movie.
Sponsored By:* Kolide – It ensures that if a device isn’t secure it can’t access your apps. It’s Device Trust for Okta. Watch the demo today!
Links and Show NotesFederico’s Game Boy Webcam for iPad* I Used a Game Boy Camera for FaceTime Video Calls in iPadOS 17 and It Was Glorious + Game Boy Camera + Analogue Pocket + Analogue Pocket Dock + Elgato Cam Link + Capture Pro: UVC Viewer
John’s Picks:* Grits * Plane + Trailer
MacStories Unwind+We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.
To learn more about the benefits of a Club MacStories subscription, visit our Plans page.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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A major change introduced by iPadOS 17 that is going to make video creators and gamers happy is support for UVC (USB Video Class) devices, which means an iPad can now recognize external webcams, cameras, video acquisition cards, and other devices connected over USB-C. I started testing iPadOS 17 thinking this would be a boring […]
This week on AppStories, we look at the history of bookmarking apps, their relationship to read-later apps, how our use of bookmarking apps has changed, and our favorite modern bookmarking apps.
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On AppStories+, we discuss the benefits of tinkering to avoid burnout and for generating writing ideas.
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To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
→ Source: appstories.net
Michael Flarup has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund an illustrated book about macOS iconography. The macOS App Icon Book, which has already been fully funded, is estimated to ship in January 2024.
This book is a follow-up to The iOS App Icon Book, which was also funded via Kickstarter and shipped last year, and I reviewed on MacStories. The new title includes full-color reproductions of hundreds of icons and profiles of the designers behind some of them.
Flarup’s iOS icon book was a wonderful bit of Apple history that preserved some of the best iconography produced on the platform. It’s great to see a macOS version is being added to preserve the history of iconography on the Mac, too. If you’re interested in pledging, there are multiple reward levels, including the hardback book, a PDF version, and a set of both the iOS and macOS icon books.
→ Source: kickstarter.com
A new App Store will launch alongside the Apple Vision Pro, which will include apps built specifically for the headset, as well as iPhone and iPad apps.
According to an announcement on Apple’s developer website, the new store will debut in the visionOS betas this fall, allowing developers to check how their apps run on the Vision Pro via the visionOS simulator. According to the announcement:
By default, your iPad and/or iPhone apps will be published automatically on the App Store on Apple Vision Pro. Most frameworks available in iPadOS and iOS are also included in visionOS, which means nearly all iPad and iPhone apps can run on visionOS, unmodified. Customers will be able to use your apps on visionOS early next year when Apple Vision Pro becomes available.
However, if updates are needed, developers will be alerted via App Store Connect. Apple has multiple ways for developers to check how their apps work on the Apple Vision Pro too:
To see your app in action, use the visionOS simulator in Xcode 15 beta. The simulator lets you interact with and easily test most of your app’s core functionality. To run and test your app on an Apple Vision Pro device, you can submit your app for a compatibility evaluation or sign up for a developer lab.
It will be interesting to see how the Apple Vision Pro App Store experience differs from other platforms.
→ Source: developer.apple.com
Today, Binarynights released Forklift 4, its Mac file management and transfer app. Version 4 is a complete rewrite of the app, which adds a lot of new features, a modern design, and a new business model. I’ve only spent a little while with the update, but so far, I like what I’ve seen a lot. […]
Digital Trends’ Alex Blake interviewed Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of worldwide developer relations and Steve Sinclair, senior director of product marketing for Apple Vision Pro, along with several developers about the ways the company is encouraging development for its upcoming headset.
According to Sinclair:
One of the things that we’ve observed is that when people first put on Vision Pro, they’re so blown away by the new spatial experiences that they see that they oftentimes forget that they’re actually wearing something.
When we’re working with developers,” he continues, “we really try to stress the importance of creating new experiences that take advantage of all those capabilities.” That means building apps that “flex from windows to apps to being able to create fully immersive applications that transport you somewhere else. Because those are the things that customers and users are going to be excited about.”
Developer Ryan McLeod, the creator of the iOS and iPadOS game Blackbox, believes hands-on time with the Vision Pro hardware is key for developer adoption:
“It’s hard for me to imagine being inspired enough to build Blackbox for Vision Pro without having had ample hands-on time,” he notes. “I think it’s going to be critically important that as many developers as possible — especially smaller indie teams — get that opportunity and support for the platform.”
McLeod suggests that to get the Vision Pro in as many developers’ hands as possible:
Apple could help by “continuing to push beyond the traditional yearly WWDC cycle to continuously release more example apps, more API documentation, more sessions, and more opportunities to talk directly with engineers at Apple.”
Mark Gurman of Bloomberg posted on Twitter in early August that he’d heard that the Vision Pro labs were “under-filled with a small number of developers.” As valuable as the labs seem to have been to those who have attended, so far, they’ve only been held in Cupertino and a handful of large cities in a limited number of countries and on relatively short notice. Hopefully, as the weeks pass, Apple can schedule labs further out, expand the number of locations, and offer more developer kits. It’s that sort of hands-on experience that will get developers excited, drive the adoption of visionOS, and ensure there are apps for customers when Vision Pro ships next year.
→ Source: digitaltrends.com
It seems like every company is scrambling to stake their claim in the AI goldrush–check out the CEO of Kroger promising to bring LLMs into the dairy aisle. And front line workers are following suit–experimenting with AI so they can work faster and do more.
In the few short months since ChatGPT debuted, hundreds of AI-powered tools have come on the market. But while AI-based tools have genuinely helpful applications, they also pose profound security risks. Unfortunately, most companies still haven’t come up with policies to manage those risks. In the absence of clear guidance around responsible AI use, employees are blithely handing over sensitive data to untrustworthy tools.
AI-based browser extensions offer the clearest illustration of this phenomenon. The Chrome store is overflowing with extensions that (claim to) harness ChatGPT to do all manner of tasks: punching up emails, designing graphics, transcribing meetings, and writing code. But these tools are prone to at least three types of risk.
- Malware: Security researchers keep uncovering AI-based extensions that steal user data. These extensions play on users’ trust of the big tech platforms (“it can’t be dangerous if Google lets it on the Chrome store!”) and they often appear to work, by hooking up to ChatGPT et al’s APIs.
- Data Governance: Companies including Apple and Verizon have banned their employees from using LLMs because these products rarely offer a guarantee that a user’s inputs won’t be used as training data.
- Prompt Injection Attacks: In this little known but potentially unsolvable attack, hidden text on a webpage directs an AI tool to perform malicious actions–such as exfiltrate data and then delete the records.
Up until now, most companies have been caught flat-footed by AI, but these risks are too serious to ignore.
At Kolide, we’re taking a two-part approach to governing AI use.
- Draft AI policies as a team. We don’t want to totally ban our team from using AI, we just want to use it safely. So our first step is meeting with representatives from multiple teams to figure out what they’re getting out of AI-based tools, and how we can provide them with secure options that don’t expose critical data or infrastructure.
- Use Kolide to block malicious tools. Kolide lets IT and security teams write Checks that detect device compliance issues, and we’ve already started creating Checks for malicious (or dubious) AI-based tools. Now if an employee accidentally downloads malware, they’ll be prevented from logging into our cloud apps until they’ve removed it.
Every company will have to craft policies based on their unique needs and concerns, but the important thing is to start now. There’s still time to seize the reins of AI, before it gallops away with your company’s data.
To learn more about how Kolide enforces device compliance for companies with Okta, click here to watch an on-demand demo.
Our thank to Kolide for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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25:10
This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico is back from Spain, unbeknown to each other, Federico and I buy the same new audio gear, and I want you to join him in his Run Across America.
Sponsored By:Kolide – It ensures that if a device isn’t secure it can’t access your apps. It’s Device Trust for Okta. Watch the demo today!
Links and Show Notes* Simultaneous Invention, but for shopping + Audient EVO 4 * Ticci’s Travels + Formentera + Ibiza + Cala Sant Vicenç, Mallorca * John’s Pick: + Run Across America - App Store - Website - How I Tricked Myself Into Liking Running - Anyone interested in forming a Run Across America team, get in touch on Mastodon or Threads.
MacStories Unwind+We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.
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Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Longplay 2.0 by Adrian Schoenig is out, and it’s a massive update of the iOS and iPadOS album-oriented music app.
If you’ve tried Longplay before, the update will be familiar. The first time it launches, it quickly checks your Apple Music library (about six seconds for over 1200 albums in my case), finds all the nearly complete and complete albums, and displays them in a grid of album art. I’ve always loved this interface because it does such a great job of emphasizing album art. However, what’s different is a long list of new features, but since we’ve only covered the app for Club MacStories members and AppStories listeners, I’m going to cover everything and call out the updated features as I go.
Getting started is easy. Just tap an album to start playback. It’s worth noting, though, that Longplay is not a streaming app. Your music must be downloaded to play, which means that if you don’t have a data connection of some kind to download them, albums that aren’t on your iPhone or iPad won’t play. However, even albums that aren’t on a device start playback immediately if you’re on WiFi or a mobile connection, so that hasn’t been an issue for me in practice.
Sorry 90s era Mickey. We had some good times, but you’re getting hidden. It’s not you, it’s me.
Nor has the fact that I have over 1,000 albums and playlists been an issue because there are so many ways to manage your collection. First of all, if there are albums in your Apple Music library you don’t like anymore, kids’ music you don’t want cluttering up your collection, or something similar, you can long-press on an album and hide it, so it won’t show up in Longplay. That same long-press gesture provides playback controls and the ability to build a playback queue the way Apple Music does with Play Next and Play Later buttons, which is new in version 2.0. There’s also an option to remove an album from your queue or add it to a Collection.
There are two ways to add an album to a Collection.)
Collections are another great way to organize and navigate your albums and are new in version 2.0. If you’re on the main screen with its grid of album art, tap on the ‘My Library’ banner at the top of the screen. From there, you’ll see Collections of your already-downloaded music and any that you’ve already created and a button to create a new one. Then, you can drag and drop albums into the collections you’ve created or long-press on them and use the ‘Add to Collection’ option in the context menu. As much as I like scrolling through my full library, Collections are a great way to organize your music based on a mood or context.
Longplay’s eight sort orders and what they mean.
Another way to navigate a big music library is by swiping right on the album grid to reveal eight different ways to sort your albums. For purists, there’s an Orderliness option that’s alphabetically based on artist and then album, but there’s also a Random option, another based on star ratings, Negligence for forgotten favorites, and others. If there’s a sort option you don’t understand, head to the app’s settings, where there’s a setting called Dictionary that explains how each sort order works.
Infinite Album Shuffle.
Settings is also where you can enable Infinite Album Shuffle, another 2.0 feature. As you’d expect, Infinite Album Shuffle will play random albums as long as you want. If you’re listening to a queue you set up and have Infinite Album Shuffle turned on, shuffle will kick in after the queue finishes.
Longplay’s versitile playback screen.
In addition to the main grid of albums and the interface for its sort order, Longplay also has a playback screen that you get to by swiping left from the grid view. The playback screen includes album art, album, track, artist information, and playback controls, plus buttons to access your playback queue, show all of an album’s tracks, enable Infinite Play Shuffle, and invoke AirPlay. Right in the middle of those buttons, there’s also a dice button that’s brand new and, when held, shows a horizontal slice of album art, allowing you to quickly pick an album to play as they scroll by. The albums flick by pretty fast, but you can also move among them by sliding your finger left and right, which goes album by album. Another element of the playback screen that I like a lot is that it counts down the time remaining on an album instead of showing individual track progress, which fits perfectly with the app’s album-orient approach.
Also new with version 2.0 is that Longplay syncs between devices using iCloud sync and allows you to rate individual album tracks using a 5-star rating system. I appreciate the rating system, which harkens back to the days of iTunes and is still available in Apple Music, but I wish adding a heart to a song were an option too. If you use star ratings, Longplay also allows you to skip tracks below a certain rating, which is handy.
Longplay on the iPad.
It’s worth noting that Longplay 2.0 adds support for CarPlay, Last.fm scrobbling, Listenbrainz, Shortcuts, and alternate icons. Plus, the update adds Home Screen widgets that include a grid of albums from your library that can be tapped to play the album on which you tap. This isn’t widget interactivity. Instead, the app is deep-linking to the album and must open Longplay, but it’s a fantastic feature, and I hope true interactivity is on the horizon for the app. The small and medium-sized widgets have multiple parameters that can be set for things like the collection displayed and its sort order. I’d love to see large and extra-large versions of the same widget, along with Lock Screen widgets to play a random album from a Collection in the future.
I’ve always liked Longplay, but version 2.0 is head and shoulders better than prior iterations. I’ve said before that I’m more of a playlist person than album-oriented, but that’s shifted a little recently, and I’m going to use Longplay’s new queueing feature to tee up multiple albums to get me through the long, busy-season workdays of September. Plus, despite its album-focused approach, Longplay can include playlists that you’ve saved, which I appreciate for those times when I want more variety.
Longplay is available on the App Store for $5.99.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Ben McCarthy’s career as a developer coincides almost exactly with mine as a writer. As a result, I’ve had the pleasure of watching Obscura evolve from little more than an idea to one of the best camera apps on the App Store. As with so many apps, what sets Obscura apart from others is Ben’s […]
If you’ve ever found yourself repeatedly checking the weather of a trip destination in the days leading up to your travels, you’ll appreciate Mercury Weather 2.0, which was released today for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. The update’s marquee feature is Trip Forecast, which lets you set up a trip once and keep tabs […]
No app has had a bigger impact on my day-to-day work in the past couple of years than Obsidian. What makes Obsidian tricky, though, is its flexibility and depth. It can accommodate everything from a simple Markdown note-taking system to acting as a Notion-like relational database. It’s a powerful tool, but also one that takes […]
Today, Sega released Samba de Amigo: Party-To-Go, the latest incarnation of the rhythm game franchise, on Apple Arcade. Samba de Amigo debuted in 1999 in arcades, with a Sega Dreamcast version coming the next year. In those first versions of the game, you played by shaking a pair of maraca controllers to the beat of […]
Apple announced that it will host a fall media event on September 12th at 10:00 am Pacific US time. Like last year, this fall’s event will include an in-person component. The event will also be streamed. It’s expected that Apple will unveil the iPhone 15 lineup and Apple Watches. The company may update the media […]
Today, Relay FM kicked off its annual fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to help combat childhood cancer. We’d love it if MacStories readers joined us in supporting this cause. You can make a donation by visiting here. If you’re a MacStories reader, there’s a good chance you have listened to one of the shows Federico co-hosts on the network or […]
Getting OS updates installed on end user devices should be easy. After all, it’s one of the simplest yet most impactful ways that every employee can practice good security. On top of that, every MDM solution promises that it will automate the process and install updates with no user interaction needed. Yet in the real […]
0:0024:49 This week, John is joined by Alex Guyot to talk about old gadgets and handmade tech accessories, plus a movie and TV show. Sponsored By: Kolide – It ensures that if a device isn’t secure it can’t access your apps. It’s Device Trust for Okta. Watch the demo today! Links and Show Notes John’s Old […]
After the tragic passing of Alex Hay earlier this year, many in the Shortcuts community wondered what would become of his many excellent apps. Today, Snailed It, a development company consisting of Rosemary Orchard, David Stephens and Dom Chester, announced that it would be taking over all of Hay’s apps including Toolbox Pro, Logger, and […]
Timers are a staple of productivity systems, which is why there are so many of them on the App Store. My favorite timer apps are the ones that are the most flexible. A little structure goes a long way if you’re casting about for a system that works for you, but I prefer timer apps […]
Today, Apple published the reactions from some of the people who have attended the Vision Pro labs being held in cities around the world. Those quoted include developer David Smith, the creator of Widgetsmith, the chief experience officer of Pixite, Ben Guerrette, the maker of the video creation and editing app Spool, Chris Delbuck, the […]
This week on AppStories, we look back at the gadgets we’ve accumulated over the summer and share what’s worked and what hasn’t. Sponsored by: Concepts - Sketch, Note, Draw. Vitally – A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting. HelloFresh – Use code 50appstories […]
It’s easy to forget how powerful the computers we carry with us everywhere are. While most of us are firing off text messages to our friends, companies like 3D Pets are using the iPhone’s LiDAR and TrueDepth camera in innovative ways to help dogs and other animals with missing or deformed limbs. Yesterday, both Apple […]
Source: Apple. It was a warm, humid morning in North Carolina when I went out for a run today. I came back a sweaty mess, which got me thinking about my Apple Watch Ultra. I’m no mountaineer, but I love the Ultra’s long battery life and big screen. It’s been my constant health and fitness […]
Source: Apple. Today, Apple announced new analytics and marketing tools for podcast creators. Apple Podcast analytical tools are being expanded to provide a wealth of new anonymized information about paid podcast subscriptions. The new stats will cover information about free trials, conversion rates to paid subscriptions, financial data, and more. There are a number of […]
Our pals Myke and Stephen at Relay FM announced today that they’re celebrating their podcast network’s 10th anniversary in style with a special live show in London. The event will take place at the Hackney Empire Theater and feature a group of Relay podcast hosts competing in a game of Family Feud Fortunes. Tickets for […]
It seems like every company is scrambling to stake their claim in the AI goldrush–check out the CEO of Kroger promising to bring LLMs into the dairy aisle. And front line workers are following suit–experimenting with AI so they can work faster and do more. In the few short months since ChatGPT debuted, hundreds of […]
0:0024:01 This week on MacStories Unwind, with vacation season rolling into review season, we check in on OS review preparations and our building excitement for widgets everywhere. I learn that a hot dog and a slice of pizza are a common combo in Rome. Federico questions the nature of hot dogs themselves. Plus, we have […]
There’s something for everyone in the weather app category. There are incredibly technical, complex apps, apps with a narrow focus, ones junked up with ads that don’t respect your privacy, and everything in between. One of my favorite newer entrants in the category that I’ve been keeping an eye on for a while is Mercury […]
This week on AppStories, we each share two app recommendations in a classic Pick 2 episode. Sponsored by: Fitbod: Get stronger, faster with a fitness plan that fits you. Get 25% off your membership. Subscribe here. On AppStories+, Federico has a mini surprise, and I experiment with connecting his Sony a6500 mirrorless camera to an […]
Zenitizer 1.2, an iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS meditation app by Manuel Kehl, was released yesterday, adding iCloud sync support. The update means that progress toward your meditation goals and routines you create on any version of the app will sync across all devices for the first time. I recommended Zenitizer to Club MacStories readers not […]
Yesterday, the iMac turned 25, and The Verge had an excellent trio of articles, plus a visual history, covering the computer’s impact on Apple, the computer industry, and culture. The series includes a look back at the introduction of the iMac in 1998 by Jason Snell and the many controversial design choices the iMac introduced […]
Finalist is a new iPhone and iPad task manager that combines elements of note-taking apps, Kanban boards, and calendar apps in a unique and interesting way. The result is a lightweight app that’s simple and quick to use but unlikely to replace a fully-featured task manager for most users. Finalist is organized into three primary […]
Lucas Pope’s critically acclaimed dystopian puzzle game Papers, Please celebrated a big milestone this week. As reported by Engadget, the game just passed its 10th anniversary and has sold 5 million copies, which is huge for an indie title. Of course, the game is on every platform imaginable these days, but if you still haven’t […]
0:0022:12 This week on MacStories Unwind, we chat about Universal Control, update listeners on the status of our OS reviews, and I recommend The Beanie Bubble on Apple TV+. Sponsored By: Kolide – It ensures that if a device isn’t secure it can’t access your apps. It’s Device Trust for Okta. Watch the demo today! […]
This week on AppStories, we look at how making apps has changed along with the evolution of Apple’s hardware lineup and what that means for the future of apps on those platforms. Sponsored by: Concepts - Sketch, Note, Draw. Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free. Subscribe here. On AppStories+, […]
Just before I hopped on a plane to head to WWDC, I noticed a new app called Söka, an iOS and iPadOS bucket list tracker by Roddy Munro. I didn’t have time to dig into the details or test it, but there was something about it that caught my eye, so I made a note […]
Juli Clover, writing for MacRumors on a new addition to Apple Music: Apple Music today gained a new “Discovery Station,” which is located under the “Listen Now” section under Top Picks in the Apple Music app. The customized radio station is paired with the personalized radio station featuring your name, and it has the “Made […]
Today, Casey Liss released a brand new app called Callsheet for looking up cast and crew information about movies and TV shows. The app, which works on the iPhone and iPad, has a lot in common with movie and TV show tracking apps that I’ve covered, except for one very big difference. Callsheet isn’t a […]
Getting OS updates installed on end user devices should be easy. After all, it’s one of the simplest yet most impactful ways that every employee can practice good security. On top of that, every MDM solution promises that it will automate the process and install updates with no user interaction needed. Yet in the real […]
0:0034:30 This week on MacStories Unwind, John is joined by Jonathan Reed and Club member David to discuss the Apple TV+ show, Silo. This week’s show was recorded live in the Club MacStories Discord community as part of the Club MacStories+ AV Club. This episode is sponsored by: Kolide – It ensures that if a […]
Today, Apple announced $81.8 billion in Q3 2023 revenue, a drop of 1% year-over-year that was likely driven by a soft global economy that has caused an industry-wide reduction in smartphone demand. The results mark the third consecutive quarter of revenue declines for the company. With so much of Apple’s quarterly earnings tied to the success […]
This week on AppStories, we examine the latest app trends and where Apple’s system apps are heading to try to answer the question of where the world of apps is heading. Sponsored by: Vitally – A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting. […]
Oxenfree II. Not long ago, I linked to an in-depth profile of Netflix Games published by The Ringer. It seems Netflix has been busy getting the word out to more publications because not long after The Ringer’s post, Ash Parrish of The Verge published a story about Netflix Games from the perspective of its in-house […]
Today, Apple announced that it, along with Pixar, Adobe, Autodesk, and NVIDIA, have formed the Alliance for OpenUSD (AOUSD), to “promote the standardization, development, evolution, and growth of Pixar’s Universal Scene Description technology.” OpenUSD is a 3D screen description technology invented at Pixar and open-sourced in 2016. The alliance’s new project, which will be housed […]
It seems like every company is scrambling to stake their claim in the AI goldrush–check out the CEO of Kroger promising to bring LLMs into the dairy aisle. And front line workers are following suit–experimenting with AI so they can work faster and do more. In the few short months since ChatGPT debuted, hundreds of […]
0:0028:39 This week, John has news from the animal kingdom and tries a new beverage while Federico struggles with text editors (again). Plus John has a surprise videogame hardware pick. Sponsored By: Kolide – It ensures that if a device isn’t secure it can’t access your apps. It’s Device Trust for Okta. Watch the demo […]
This week on AppStories, we talk about Safari, videoconferencing, Messages, and gaming on macOS Sonoma, plus stickers and widgets on iOS and iPadOS 17. Sponsored by: Concepts - Sketch, Note, Draw. Notion – Do your most efficient work with Notion Projects. Try it free today. HelloFresh – Use code appstories50 for 50% off plus free […]
One of the perks of a Club MacStories+ or Club Premier membership is discounts on a long list of great apps and services. Today, we’re pleased to add four new Mac apps to the growing catalog of deals available to members: Lasso – 30% off Lasso. Lasso is a Mac window manager that lets you […]
As previously announced at WWDC, Apple today rolled out more details on three programs it has created for helping developers build apps for Vision Pro. Developers will be able to submit their visionOS, iPadOS, and iOS apps for Vision Pro compatibility evaluations. Apple has included a checklist of steps developers should follow before submitting their […]
Getting OS updates installed on end user devices should be easy. After all, it’s one of the simplest yet most impactful ways that every employee can practice good security. On top of that, every MDM solution promises that it will automate the process and install updates with no user interaction needed. Yet in the real […]
0:0023:40 This week on MacStories Unwind, I endure smokey summer days with the help of an app, Federico discovers churros, and we check in on our favorite media of the first half of 2023. Churros Ticci’s Spanish churros from Xurreria Trebol Our Mid-Year Media Picks Federico’s Picks: Music the record by boygenius (So Much For) […]
The videogame industry is huge, surpassing movies and music by wide margins. Apple has seen a lot of success with mobile games, but it’s history with desktop gaming leaves a lot to be desired. However, one thing is clear. Apple wants to expand its presence in the videogame industry and sees Apple silicon as the […]
Speaking of catching up on my reading queue: here’s Chris Welch, writing at The Verge last week about tvOS 17: tvOS 17 isn’t trying to reinvent any of this. There are now six icons in each row, so you can add yet another app to your main “dock” at the top of the screen, but […]
As I always do every summer, I read other journalists’ opinions about the new versions of iOS and iPadOS after I’ve published my preview story. This week, as I’m catching up on my reading queue (yes, I’m still using the Reading List/Notes setup I described here), I was pleased to see I’m not the only […]
Last week, The Ringer published an in-depth look at Netfix’s foray into videogame publishing, which, to this point, has primarily consisted of mobile games on iOS, iPadOS, and Android. The story goes back to 2017, when Netflix published a retro-style game tie-in with Stranger Things. Today, Netflix offers not only a sizeable and growing catalog […]
What the Golf? running on visionOS. Source: Unity. Today, as promised at WWDC, Unity launched a beta technology for visionOS developers called PolySpatial, which is designed to help developers bring their apps and games to the Vision Pro, which Apple has said will debut in early 2024. Mike Rockwell, Apple’s vice president of the Vision […]
John: Part of the widget story for all of Apple’s OSes this fall is StandBy, an iPhone-only mode that displays widgets, a clock, or photos when your device is stationary and charging in landscape orientation. When StandBy was first rumored before WWDC, I was skeptical. It didn’t sound like something I needed or would find […]
The App Store is at once infinitely large and impossibly small. As a digital storefront, the App Store can accommodate an endless number of apps on its virtual shelves. However, at the same time, the App Store has to contend with screens as small as the iPhone SE’s 4.7” display. That poses interesting editorial challenges. […]
This week on AppStories, I’m joined by Alex Guyot to talk about the watchOS 10 and macOS Sonoma public betas. Sponsored by: Concepts - Sketch, Note, Draw. Fitbod: Get stronger, faster with a fitness plan that fits you. Get 25% off your membership. Subscribe here. On AppStories+, Alex shares the tech he’s using to plan […]
It’s summertime, and with high temperatures comes the need to stay hydrated. The trouble is, you’re busy and have a lot going on every day, which can make it hard to remember to grab a glass of water, let alone keep track of how much you’ve had during the course of a day. That’s where […]
0:0024:44 This week, Federico and I talk about the writing process, Federico recommends Vampire by Olivia Rodrigo and I recommend Hijack on Apple TV+. Sponsored By: Kolide – It ensures that if a device isn’t secure it can’t access your apps. It’s Device Trust for Okta. Watch the demo today! Links and Show Notes Federico’s […]
On the same day that the App Store turned 15, the Video Game History Foundation released a study that concludes 87% of all classic videogames released in the US are no longer commercially available. The study looked at a broad cross-section of platforms and found that this isn’t a problem that’s limited to one corner […]
David Smith has been poking around the visionOS SDK and chronicling his efforts on his website. His latest experiment was to take the weather forecast part of Widgetsmith and adapt it to visionOS. We’ve seen a lot of developers post screenshots of what their app looks like when it’s first built in visionOS, and it’s […]
Jason Tate, in his always-excellent Liner Notes newsletter1, has written about the practical value of Threads’ built-in social graph and how it differs from signing up for Mastodon or Bluesky: This is a key (and likely killer) feature for onboarding someone into Threads. Like TikTok, you don’t have to do anything else after signing up […]
Apple itself is hailing watchOS 10 as the largest software update since the introduction of the Apple Watch. I’m not sure I quite agree with that characterization, but it’s certainly the biggest update we’ve seen in many years. The tenth iteration of watchOS includes an exciting fresh take on some of its core interactions, including […]
Never before have the iPhone, iPad, and Mac been as interconnected as they are today. It wasn’t that long ago that the iPhone was, well, the iPhone, the iPad was essentially a big iPhone, and the Mac was off doing its own thing. Now, the iPad has its own OS, the Mac is running on […]
iOS and iPadOS 17. Apple is releasing the first public betas of iOS and iPadOS 17 today, and I’ll cut right to the chase: I’ve been using both of them on my primary devices since WWDC, and I’m very satisfied with the new features and improvements I’ve seen to date – especially on iPadOS. More […]
Today, Shiny Frog launched Bear 2.0, a ground-up rewrite of its popular note-taking app that has been years in the making. The new version has been rebuilt with a custom text editing engine and introduces a long list of features, including: Tables Section folding Tables of contents and backlinks Footnotes Nested text styling Sketching Sidebar […]
This week on AppStories, we explore the web apps and services we use and how we use them. Sponsored by: Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free. Subscribe here. On AppStories+, we share our first impressions of Meta’s new social network, Threads, and its app. We deliver AppStories+ to […]
Fifteen years ago, the App Store opened its doors with 500 apps. Today, the number of apps has swelled to exceed more than 1.5 million. OmniFocus for iPhone. Of those first-day apps, a few are still around, including OmniFocus. Today, Ken Case, The Omni Group’s founder and CEO, shared what that first day was like […]
Amazon’s Prime Day begins tomorrow and with the Internet in a buying mood, Matt Corey gathered indie developers to organize an App Store sale that runs from Tuesday, July 11 - 12. Corey, the maker of Bills to Budget and Signals, has put together a collection of over 100 apps that will be offered at […]
It seems like every company is scrambling to stake their claim in the AI goldrush–check out the CEO of Kroger promising to bring LLMs into the dairy aisle. And front line workers are following suit–experimenting with AI so they can work faster and do more. In the few short months since ChatGPT debuted, hundreds of […]
0:0023:02 This week on MacStories Unwind, I explain America’s birthday to Federico and we veer into man-made lakes and nuclear power plants before recommending some of the many iPhone chargers we’ve been trying lately. The Fourth of July Where to Watch the Chicago Fourth of July Fireworks 2023 Fireworks regulations in the US McGuire Nuclear […]
Chronicling is a brand-new event tracking app for iOS and iPadOS by Rebecca Owen. The App Store is full of apps for tracking everything from the very specific, like caffeine consumption, to apps like Chronicling that can be used to track nearly anything. What makes Owen’s app unique, though, is it’s one of the best […]
Last night, by the time I called it quits and went to bed Threads, Meta’s new social network, had hit 2 million users in 2 hours. As I write this, Meta’s Adam Mosseri says the count has now surpassed 10 million in 7 hours, which exceeds Mastodon’s user base. Currently, Threads is a pretty barebones […]
The App Store is full of apps for tracking the media you enjoy, and at least for TV shows and movies, many use Trakt.tv as a data source and tracking service and Just Watch to list where you can watch something. That results in a degree of sameness in the category. What’s harder to find […]
Running Threader via Back Tap on Twitter and Mastodon. Instagram just rolled out Threads, the company’s new text-based social network that’s been advertised over the past few weeks as an alternative to Twitter. I’m trying out Threads (you can find my account at threads.net/@viticci) and in the process of setting up the list of people […]
This week on AppStories, we conclude our look back at our pre-WWDC OS wishes for iOS 17, watchOS 10, and tvOS 17 and look at which came true. Sponsored by: Notion – Do your most efficient work with Notion Projects. Try it free today. Subscribe here. On AppStories+, I report on my early experiments with […]
Quinn Nelson of Snazzy Labs has an excellent video about the trouble with gaming on the Mac. The video’s title says it all: “Macs Can Game. But Apple Can’t.” As Nelson explains, it’s not the hardware or the software that’s holding the platform back. It’s the size of the Mac market and the lack of […]
Sketch, explore and share endless ideas with Concepts’ infinite canvas for iPad. Used by creators for visual thinking, note taking, team communication and design, Concepts goes beyond a digital sketchbook. Since everything you draw is a flexible vector-raster hybrid, you can move your ideas around like a visual playground to help you see the bigger […]
With millions of people facing a long, smokey summer here in the US, I thought it would be a good time to recommend Paku, an iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch app for tracking the air quality where you live. Paku on the Mac. Paku combines Apple’s MapKit framework with public data from PurpleAir to […]
0:0026:33 It’s summertime, so it’s time to talk about our favorite American and Italian frozen treats, plus Platonic on Apple TV+ and Vengeance on Netflix. Ice Cream Gelato Ellie May’s Dang Good Ice Cream Frozen Custard Dairy Queen Blizzard Cornetto Maritozzo Affogato Italian Ice Granita Grattachecca Platonic Available on Apple TV+ Trailer Vengeance Available on […]
This week on AppStories, we revisit our pre-WWDC OS wishes, including visionOS, macOS, and iPadOS, and look at which came true. Sponsored by: CleanMyMac X: Your Mac. As good as new. Get 5% off today. DetailsPro: Design with SwiftUI, no coding required. 50% off throughout June. Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Subscribe […]
Paste feels like the kind of clipboard manager Apple might make, especially version 4.0, which was released today. The focus of today’s update is the design of the Mac version app, but it’s also available on the iPhone and iPad. However, it’s the design of the Mac app that makes Paste feel so Apple-like and […]
It’s Tuesday morning, and I didn’t feel like working at home today, so after breakfast, I headed out to the co-working space I joined in the spring. As I got ready, I realized my MacBook Air’s battery was a little low. I used it a lot yesterday and didn’t charge it overnight. My Apple Watch […]
Source: Apple. Monica Chin, writing for The Verge, interviewed more than 20 professionals to try to figure out who the Mac Pro is for and gauge interest in Apple’s most powerful desktop computer: I wanted to know whether Apple’s purported target demographic — people who spend their days animating, making visual effects, and doing various […]
UI Designer Weekly is a free weekly newsletter by designer Sahand Nayebaziz all about Apple user interface design. As the number of Apple platforms multiplies, staying on top of the latest design trends and principles has never been more important and hard. Whether you’re a designer or developer, UI Designer Weekly will get you up […]
0:0039:46 This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico and John are joined by Jonathan Reed and Roman Lefebvre, the developer of Sequel, to discuss The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. This week’s show was recorded live in the Club MacStories Discord community as part of the Club MacStories+ AV Club. The Legend of Zelda: […]
TotK Travel Guide. If your summer’s going to be anything like mine, some of these things should sound familiar: you’re going to play around with the iOS and iPadOS 17 betas and get on some TestFlights for third-party apps; you’re going to spend some time at the beach or perhaps even travel abroad; and you’ll […]
Source: Apple. Yesterday, Apple released the visionOS SDK and updates to its Human Interface Guidelines and developer documentation for visionOS. Within hours, developers had downloaded the Xcode beta and begun testing the visionOS waters, building their apps for the Apple Vision Pro. Although there is undoubtedly a lot of work to be done to fine-tune […]
In addition to releasing the visionOS SDK and developer tools today, Apple has updated its Human Interface Guidelines and published additional visionOS documentation for developers. The updated HIG begins with an overview of designing for the Apple Vision Pro, covering topics like Passthrough, Spatial Audio, Focus and Gestures, Ergonomics, and Accessibility, advising developers to: Embrace […]
As I wrote earlier today, Apple has a lot of plans for its Podcasts app this fall, but the company is not waiting to roll out all of the changes to the app. Yesterday, Apple Podcasts added the following nine new subcategories to the app’s search tab on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV: Mental […]
Source: Apple. Today, Apple announced the visionOS software development kit that will allow developers to start creating apps for the Apple Vision Pro. In addition to the SDK, an update to Xcode is introducing Reality Composer Pro, which lets developers preview 3D models, animations, images, and sounds. There’s also a new visionOS simulator that can […]
Source: Apple. Apple’s services have become an increasingly important part of the company’s product lineup, but they didn’t get a lot of time at WWDC this year. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some interesting new features coming with OS releases and beyond. There are a wide variety of updates coming that promise to better […]
A simple setting can be used as a workaround for clamshell mode in iPadOS 17. Fernando Silva of 9to5Mac came up with a clever workaround to have ‘clamshell mode’ in iPadOS 17 when an iPad is connected to an external display. The catch: it doesn’t really turn off the iPad’s built-in display. Now before readers […]
This week on AppStories, we consider the impact that this year’s OS releases will have on third-party apps. Sponsored by: CleanMyMac X: Your Mac. As good as new. Get 5% off today. DetailsPro – Design with SwiftUI, no coding required. 50% off throughout June. Nom Nom: Healthy, fresh food for dogs formulated by top Board […]
WWDC never gets old. There’s the excitement surrounding Apple’s announcements, but it’s far more than that. At its heart, the value of WWDC is in the people you see. Ten years ago, I attended my first WWDC ever as the parent of what is now called the Swift Student Challenge. At the time, I’d already […]
Fin is a simple and elegant way to track your finances on your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. The app takes the hassle out of keeping tabs on your income and expenses with a straightforward, modern interface that supports multiple accounts, including cash tracking. Fin privacy-focused approach to budgeting doesn’t require you to sign up […]
0:0023:41 This week, John discovers chicken trucks, Federico has some thoughts on American cuisine, and John unwinds post-WWDC with a trip to Wilmington, North Carolina to see boygenius in concert. Links and Show Notes Wilmington, North Carolina Why Federico knows Wilmington Dawson’s Creek One Tree Hill boygenius the record boygenius tour dates MacStories Unwind+ We […]
Source: Apple. Earlier this week, I linked to Tom Warren’s story on The Verge about Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit and gamers’ early experiments with running Windows games on Apple silicon Macs running macOS Sonoma. Yesterday, Christina Warren, writing for Inverse, published an in-depth look at why Apple’s innocuously Game Porting Toolkit has the potential to […]
Today, our friend Stephen Hackett launched a follow-up to his successful series of Apple history calendars with a campaign on Kickstarter. This year’s calendar features more of Stephen’s excellent photography, along with notable dates in Apple’s services and retail history. Here’s what Stephen has to say about this year’s calendar: The calendar features my own product photography […]
This week on AppStories, I was joined by Alex Guyot to talk about the new features coming to Apple Notes and Reminders, as well as new Mac hardware announced at WWDC. Sponsored by: DetailsPro – Design with SwiftUI, no coding required. 50% off throughout June. CleanMyMac X – Your Mac. As good as new. Get […]
Excellent developer-focused take on the Vision Pro by David Smith, who also tested one last week at Apple Park. I particularly liked his reasoning for why it’s important to begin understanding a new Apple platform sooner rather than later: Another reason I want to develop for visionOS from the start is that it is the […]
Chance Miller, writing last week at 9to5Mac, notes how Apple’s most expensive AirPods model are going to miss out on two key features announced at WWDC: Adaptive Audio (which blends Active Noise Cancelation and Transparency mode) and the new ‘Siri’ command that does not require saying ‘Hey’. As my colleague Filipe Espósito also pointed out yesterday, […]
Earlier today in my Vision Pro story, I wondered about how Apple will showcase and set up the headset for customers in retail stores in the future. For some excellent analysis on this topic, look no further than Michael Steeber’s latest issue of the Tabletops newsletter. Michael (who’s the leading expert on Apple retail stores) […]
Vision Pro. I’m going to be direct with this story. My 30-minute demo with Vision Pro last week was the most mind-blowing moment of my 14-year career covering Apple and technology. I left the demo speechless, and it took me a few days to articulate how it felt. How I felt. It’s not just that […]
By now, most MacStories readers are probably familiar with the story surrounding Reddit’s decision charge exorbitantly high fees for access to its API after years of offering it for free to third-party developers like Christian Selig, the creator of Apollo. Since then, the situation has gone from bad to worse, with Reddit making unsubstantiated allegations […]
Source: Apple. During the WWDC keynote, Apple showed off Game Mode for the Mac, which gives a game priority over a Mac’s CPU and GPU resources. Apple has also reduced the latency of AirPods used while gaming and doubled the sampling rate for connected Bluetooth controllers. Game Mode promises to improve the overall experience of […]
MacStadium, the industry-leading Mac cloud and MacDevOps provider, now offers a pre-packaged MacDevOps solution directly from the MacStadium website, enabling immediate use of their popular macOS CI/CD automation tool. With a simplified setup process and instant access, the Orka Small Teams edition was developed as an enterprise-level solution to meet the needs of small to […]
Federico and John also had the opportunity to sit down with three winners of the Swift Student Challenge in the Apple Podcasts Studio at Apple Park. It was fun and inspiring to chat with Damian Perez, Henri Bredt, and Maria Eduarda Cabral de Lucena. Sponsored by: Setapp – Grow your app with Setapp. Subscribe here. […]
0:0027:19 This week, John is joined to chat about ocean liners, a decade at WWDC, and the time they met at WWDC in an Irish pub. Sponsored By: iMazing – The Powerful Local Tool for iPhone and iPad Management Links and Show Notes A Decade at Dub Dub Cortex 143, Apple Vision Pro: Experiencing the […]
Today on AppStories, Federico and John interview the creators of five apps that were finalists or winners of the 2023 Apple Design Awards: Zach Gage, the creator of Knotwords, Swupnil Sahai, the developer of SwingVision, Philipp Nägelsbach, the publisher of Engling, Leon Sasson of Rise: Energy and Sleep, and Jakob Lykkegaard of Lykke Studios the […]
Source: Apple. Every WWDC, I look forward to what Apple’s Notes and Reminders teams have in store for the next version of the company’s OSes. Notes debuted with the iPhone itself, and Reminders wasn’t too far behind. All these years later, both apps remain actively developed, and in recent years have significantly extended their capabilities, […]
In today’s WWDC episode of AppStories, Federico shares his experience with Apple Vision Pro answering questions from John, Alex, and Club MacStories members. Sponsored by: Setapp – Grow your app with Setapp. Subscribe here. We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week. To learn more about […]
The Apple Vision Pro wasn’t the only new hardware announced at Apple’s WWDC keynote event this Monday. The company also introduced a few new Mac models: a new 15” MacBook Air, an upgraded Mac Studio, and the long-awaited Apple silicon Mac Pro. Powering the freshly minted top of Apple’s Mac line is a brand-new chip: […]
In the latest WWDC episode of AppStories, Federico, John, and Alex are joined by MacPaw developer Serhii Popov for a developer’s perspective on WWDC before covering iPadOS 17’s Stage Manager changes in depth, along with Notes, Reminders, and StandBy. Sponsored by: Setapp – Grow your app with Setapp. Subscribe here. On AppStories+, Federico, John, and […]
Stage Manager on iPadOS 17 beta 1. I’m in Cupertino for WWDC this week, and after yesterday’s whirlwind of announcements and surprises, I had some time to sit down with my 12.9” iPad Pro, install iPadOS 17 beta 1 on it, and try the improved version of Stage Manager. As you know, I have a…complicated […]
For this special episode of AppStories, John and Federico were joined by Alex live in the Club MacStories+ Discord community to share their first impressions of the WWDC 2023 Keynote. Sponsored by: Setapp – Grow your app with Setapp. Subscribe here. On AppStories+, Federico, John, and Alex take questions from Club MacStories members. We deliver […]
FaceTime is getting more attention in iOS 17 than it’s seen in quite a while, with a number of new features announced at yesterday’s WWDC keynote. All of these changes are coming to the iPad and Mac as well, and even tvOS has been shown some love. tvOS 17 will include a brand-new FaceTime app, […]
Developers have been clamoring for alternatives for the App Store since the beginning, frustrated by the commissions they pay Apple, shifting app review standards, and the lack of trial versions. The thing is, developers already have another fantastic way to distribute their apps. It’s Setapp.
Check out Setapp today. Developed by the team at MacPaw and released in 2017, Setapp has been offering Mac, iOS, and web apps to users for one flat subscription price for five years. It’s a fantastic way to sell your apps and a terrific source of predictable monthly income for developers with a monthly commission that’s as low as 10%.
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For developers, Setapp makes it easy to get up and running quickly. They take care of payment processing, update mechanism, marketing, and support. When you offer your app through Setapp, you also get the benefit of their machine learning-based personalized app recommendation system, smart search, and curated collections, like Lifestyle, Creativity, Developer Tools, and Writing & Blogging.
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Our thanks to Setapp for sponsoring our WWDC coverage this year.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Two weeks ago, Apple announced the finalists for the 2023 Apple Design Awards: 36 apps and games in six categories: Inclusivity, Delight and Fun, Interaction, Social Impact, Visuals and Graphics, and Innovation.
Last evening, at an outdoor event on the stage built outside Caffè Macs for yesterday’s WWDC Keynote, the company announced two winners (one app and one game) in each category for a total of twelve 2023 Apple Design Award winners. Following the announcements, developers gathered in Caffè Macs for a reception and had a chance to see the Vision Pro for themselves at the Steve Jobs Theater.
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Congratulations to all of this year’s Apple Design Award winners:
Inclusivity* Universe — Website Builder by Universe Exploration Company * stitch. by Lykke Studios
Delight and Fun* Duolingo by Duolingo, Inc. * Afterplace by Evan Kice
Interaction* Flighty by Flighty LLC * Railbound by Afterburn
Social Impact* Headspace by Headspace * Endling by HandyGames
Visuals and Graphics* Any Distance by Any Distance Inc. * Resident Evil Village by CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
Innovation* SwingVision: A.I. Tennis App by SwingVision Inc. * MARVEL SNAP by Second Dinner
We’ll have more 2023 Apple Design Award coverage soon, so stay tuned.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2023 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2023 RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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This fall, iOS 17 will introduce a brand new viewing mode for iPhone, but it will be quite familiar to most Apple Watch users. StandBy is enabled automatically when you turn your iPhone on its side while it’s charging, and functions nearly identically to Nightstand mode on the Apple Watch.
Nightstand mode has been around since all the way back in watchOS 2 (I covered it in my very first watchOS review in 2015), and exists as a way to view the time in the middle of the night just by bumping your nightstand while an Apple Watch is charging on it. Just like the new StandBy mode, the Apple Watch must be charging on its side, thus placing the screen at an ideal angle to be read from your bed without having to sit up or search for your device in the dark.
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I’ve used Nightstand mode almost every day for 8 straight years — it is an excellent idea with a beautifully simple implementation. Bumping my nightstand to view the time is an utterly ingrained interaction for me now. When I’m occasionally somewhere without my beloved classic Mac Apple Watch charger, I often find myself confused and mildy annoyed when a light nightstand bump doesn’t give me any information and I have to carefully feel around to find my phone in the dark of the night.
The Apple Watch picked up Nightstand mode so long ago because its wireless charging setup made it easy and natural to charge on its side. That never made much sense for the iPhone, or at least not until the introduction of MagSafe charging a few years back. Ever since sideways charging became possible, I expected it was only a matter of time until this feature leapt platforms. With StandBy, it has arrived.
The iPhone’s version of this feature casts a bit wider of a use-case net, which is probably why they picked a different name. Place an iPhone running iOS 17 sideways on a charger, and it will enter StandBy mode. This mode displays a new, minimal full-screen interface with large, easy-to-read fonts and UI elements which are designed to be read at a distance.
By defaut, StandBy uses a very similar display to the Apple Watch’s Nightstand mode: a dark background with bold green numbers displaying the time, and smaller elements showing the date, any alarms you have set, and the current weather.
From here though, StandBy begins to differentiate itself from its watchOS counterpart. You can swipe up on an iPhone display while it’s in StandBy mode to cycle through interface options. These quickly range wildly from the default — which is clearly meant to be a subtle, nighttime display — to a variety of vibrant and colorful options. These choices are meant for a StandBy iPhone that is placed on a desk, or in a kitchen or living room.
If you swipe to the side of the screen in StandBy mode, you’ll enter a view of your past photos. They will cycle through over time, turning your iPhone into an easy photo frame with access to your entire library.
You can even set StandBy mode to display widgets. It can show two stacks side-by-side, and you can then swipe up on either side to cycle through the widgets in each stack. This works with iOS 17’s new interactive widgets as well, allowing you to set up an interactive control screen for your smart home devices, control your music playback, and so much more.
Finally, if you have “Hey Siri” enabled (which can be configured to no longer require the “hey” in iOS 17), you can make hands-free requests of your iPhone while it’s in StandBy mode. This makes it great for kitchen timers in particular, as the running timer should then be displayed on the screen if you have live widgets enabled.
All in all, StandBy mode seems like a great new feature addition in iOS 17. I hope to eventually see some of these features brought to other platforms as well. The Apple Watch’s Nightstand mode could benefit from some of them, but the elephant in the room is clearly the iPad, whose significantly larger display would combine perfectly with StandBy mode to create a killer kitchen computer.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2023 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2023 RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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iOS 17 is coming this fall, and Apple has once again directed a significant amount of attention to one of the iPhone’s most popular apps: Messages. This year we’re getting another round of minor UI tweaks, most notably shifting the positioning of iMessage apps again: they will now pop up in a new full-screen overlay. The two-page overlay starts with your most frequently used iMessage apps, which is where you’ll find Camera and Photos. Swiping the first page up will reveal any further apps you have installed beyond your top six.
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The new overlay isn’t the most efficient use of screen real estate, but it does look less confusing to access since there’s now a single button to get to all iMessage apps. The previous version of Messages showed two separate interface rows, with the top row containing only the Camera app and a button to show or hide the bottom row. The Photos app was in the second row, and I can’t count the number of times I’ve tried to access the Photos iMessage app only to accidentally press the toggle button and hide its entire row.
Left: the new ‘+’ button to reveal the iMessage apps interface. Right: the new iMessage apps interface pop up.
In the new iOS 17 interface, a single ‘+’ button will pop up both the Camera and Photos iMessage apps. This will add one extra tap to get to Camera, but I think that’s a decent trade-off to make it less confusing to access everything else. By default, the overlay also appears to include the Stickers, Cash, Audio, and Location iMessage apps. It’s unclear whether this first-page grouping will fully sort itself based on your most-used apps, or if you’ll be able to manually sort it. I’m hoping for the latter.
New iMessage AppsApple is also introducing some new first-party iMessage apps in iOS 17. A new Location app will temporarily display yours or a friend’s location inside your Messages conversation. This looks like a great addition to make it more convenient to set up a temporary location share when you’re on your way to meet someone. Especially if you’re a perpetually late-running person like myself.
The new Check In iMessage app allows you to schedule a time when you’re supposed to be at a location, such as when you’re arriving back home late at night. Once you’ve set up a Check In, your friends or family in the Messages conversation will be automatically notified when you make it safely to your location. Check In monitors your location as the designated time approaches, and if it determines that you can’t possibly make it to your destination in time, it will prompt you to add more time so that your family knows it’s a non-problematic delay. If it doesn’t hear back from you, it will share some information with your family or friends — including your location, your phone’s battery level, and your cell service status. All of this data is end-to-end encrypted.
Both Check In and Location seem like great additions to Messages core feature set, and it’s good to see Apple continuing to invest in iMessage apps rather than let that platform fade away.
Stickers and Custom Sticker ReactionsStickers is another new iMessage app in iOS 17, but its feature set extends even further into the app since it integrates with the existing sticker functionality, and adds even more. For starters, you can now use the Stickers iMessage app to create new stickers using photos from your collection. Stickers from photos are created using the same technology as last year’s feature where you could tap and hold on the subject of a photo to pop it out of the background. You can then save and reuse these stickers, and you can even pop out animated stickers from Live Photos. Memoji and other third-party sticker apps now live in the Apple Stickers iMessage app as well, and you can even create stickers from any standard emoji.
Best of all, Stickers can now be used as reactions to messages. A new ‘Add Sticker’ button now exists in the tap-back menu when you tap and hold on a message. Choosing a sticker will apply it to the message in the bottom-right corner, just like the set of five previously-boring tap-back icons. I still wish that Apple would just replace the boring tap-back icons with your most recently used stickers (or let you select a set of favorites), but at least it’s now possible to react with something other than a gray heart, thumbs up, or strange textual “HA HA”.
Improved AutocorrectThis feature obviously spreads far beyond just Messages, but I am too excited about the prospect of autocorrect being significantly improved to not highlight it here. Apple has integrated a new language model technology into autocorrect, allowing it to better learn your personal style and the words that you like to use. It can also now correct at the sentence level rather than just the word or phrase level. This should make it more adept at understanding the full context of what you’re trying to say before it, for example, errantly changes your “well” to a “we’ll”.
Autocorrect has been in fairly bad shape in recent times, so I’m definitely taking this news with a grain of salt until I can start testing it personally. But, while Apple didn’t use the keyword “AI”, it does sound like the improvements to autocorrect have been made using a related technology to the large language models that have powered the recent AI craze. This gives me hope, as does Craig Federighi’s perfectly delivered keynote joke which made it clear that autocorrect will finally be willing to learn curse words.
Miscellany* The new Messages app in iOS 17 also includes the ability to swipe a message to the left to start an inline reply to it. * Audio messages are now transcribed like voicemails, so if you aren’t able to listen to an audio message, you can still read its contents in the meantime. * Messages search has been significantly improved with the addition of search filters. These allow you to apply multiple disconnected filters rather than only being able to search a particular word or phrase. For instance, you can filter by messages from a specific contact, and then search for the actual text of a message and only see results from that contact.
All of these iOS 17 Messages features should also be coming to iPadOS 17 and macOS Sonoma, making it a great year for Messages users across all of Apple’s platforms. We can’t wait to get our hands on these updates to dig into the details, and will have more on Messages later this summer.
In the meantime, developer betas of Apple’s new OSes are live today, and public betas will be released in July. Non-beta public releases are, as usual, dropping in the Fall.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2023 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2023 RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Craig’s form is even better this year. In a packed WWDC keynote, Apple raced through many impressive additions to their hardware and software lineup, including a new 15” MacBook Air, an upgraded Mac Studio, and an all-new Apple Silicon Mac Pro. Significant changes are coming to watchOS 10, and Widgets are getting super-powered across all […]
This week on AppStories, we recorded our last-minute thoughts and predictions for WWDC before a live audience in the Club MacStories+ Discord community.
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On AppStories+, we answered questions from Club MacStories members.
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Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings:
MacStories Weekly: Issue 371Ben McCarthy’s Desk Setup.
- Federico’s WWDC travel Home Screen
- John’s WWDC travel Home Screens and Lock Screen
- Obsidian developer Ben McCarthy’s desk setup
- Plus:
- App Debuts
- Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord
- Interesting links from around the web
- A sneak peek at what’s next on AppStories
- and more
Club MacStoriesTo Learn More and Join the Club:
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Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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iMazing is the must-have multi-tool for everyone who prefers or needs to manage iPhone or iPad devices locally from their Mac or PC.
Whether you’re an individual, family, small business, or enterprise, iMazing delivers powerful and easy-to-use solutions for working with your Apple mobile devices and their contents.
These features include:
- backup iPhone or iPad to external storage or NAS volumes, with snapshot support (like TimeMachine for iOS devices)
- browse the contents of old device backups; export any data from them
- export or print SMS, MMS, iMessage, and WhatsApp messages, including attachments and metadata (great for memories or business purposes)
- easily place a device in kiosk mode (use old iPads as photo frames or dedicated FaceTime devices)
- create blueprints and bulk configure devices locally with iMazing Configurator
- migrate your business from one MDM solution to another without losing any device data
iMazing also packs powerful media transfer capabilities, enabling you to browse and export photos and videos from your devices faster and with more options than Apple’s own Image Capture. iMazing can also export music and playlists from any Apple mobile device to your computer, so that special recording that only survives on your old iPod can be enjoyed elsewhere.
Many iMazing features are also available free of charge, including Spyware Analyzer and QuickTransfer, the faster way to transfer files from your computer to a device with just a single drag-and-drop.
iMazing provides the power and flexibility that pro users demand with the ease of use and flexible export features that all users will love. Try iMazing today for free by visiting their website and taking it for a spin.
Our thanks to iMazing for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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0:0023:42 This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico and I share our preparations for traveling to California for WWDC, I recommend Laya’s Horizon, an iPhone game, and Federico has more thoughts on Tears of the Kingdom. Links and Show Notes John’s Pick: Laya’s Horizon by Snowman Website Trailer MacStories review MacStories Unwind+ We deliver MacStories Unwind+ […]
I’ve never used Reddit without a third-party app. For a while, that was Narwhal, and most recently, Apollo. Sure, I read Reddit in Safari once in a while when a Google search leads me there, but I’ve never used Reddit’s first-party app because it’s never been as good as third-party alternatives.
In April, Reddit announced that it would start charging users for API access. Sound familiar? Yes, it’s a lot like what played out with Twitter’s API and third-party apps. And just like Twitter, Reddit is charging a price for its API that’s so steep, it’s hard to imagine any third-party apps will be able to pay it.
Christian Selig, the creator of the immensely popular Reddit client Apollo, on the pricing he was quoted:
I’ll cut to the chase: 50 million requests costs $12,000, a figure far more than I ever could have imagined.
Apollo made 7 billion requests last month, which would put it at about 1.7 million dollars per month, or 20 million US dollars per year. Even if I only kept subscription users, the average Apollo user uses 344 requests per day, which would cost $2.50 per month, which is over double what the subscription currently costs, so I’d be in the red every month.
I hope Reddit reconsiders its pricing, but I’m afraid we may be seeing the end of the era when platforms used free or cheap APIs to accelerate their growth. Reddit may be within its rights to charge so much, but that doesn’t make it any less a slap in the face to app developers like Selig, whose app has helped grow Reddit’s business. Between this and Twitter, it’s hard to imagine new services attracting third-party support as a way to grow their businesses ever again.
→ Source: reddit.com
Today, Apple released the results of an independent study of the App Store economy by the economists at Analysis Group. According to the report, it was supported by Apple, but the conclusions and opinions expressed in it are those of the Analysis Group alone.
If you’re thinking, ‘Wait, I thought Apple just issued a press release about the app economy,’ you’re mostly right. That was the same group of economists reporting specifically on the success of small app developers, whereas this report extends beyond apps to other transactions facilitated by apps.
What the report shows is that the App Store economy is far larger than just apps. Along with app sales and subscriptions, the Analysis Group looked at the sale of physical goods, services, and advertising through apps downloaded from the App Store. What the results of the study show is that this more broadly-defined market accounted for about $1.1 trillion in sales in 2022, an enormous number by any measure.
The study includes some interesting insights into the App Store and the economy surrounding it:
- The broader App Store ecosystem grew 29%, but digital goods and services, which is a category that includes more than just App Store sales, only grew 2% in 2022
- Over 90% of billings connected to the App Store occurred outside of it
- Ride-sharing and travel sales accounted for a big part of the App Store ecosystem’s growth in 2022
- Other categories that saw big increases are grocery sales, food delivery and pickup services, and general retail sales
It’s worth considering the broader purpose of this study and the results that Apple has highlighted. The message of the report is that the impact of the App Store extends beyond apps, which is accurate. From that broader perspective the fees paid to Apple as a percentage of overall sales are lower, which is an argument the company will surely make to regulators and in antitrust disputes. Whether that perspective is relevant or persuasive in those contexts remains to be seen.
In any event, the App Store drives a remarkably large engine of commerce, the likes of which are reminiscent of the Internet itself. That’s an enormous accomplishment, of which Apple is understandably proud. However, it’s also important to remember that it’s an engine to which just one company holds the keys.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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It’s harder than ever to push Apple devices to their limits. Sure, some apps and workflows will do it, but for everyday tasks, Apple silicon has opened a gap between hardware and software that we haven’t seen in a while.
The transformation was gradual with the iPhone and iPad compared to the sudden leap the Mac took with the M1, but the result is the same. There are fewer and fewer apps that push Apple’s chips to the max.
That’s beginning to change with the focus on machine learning and Apple silicon’s Neural Engine. While pundits fret over Apple’s lack of an AI chatbot, developers are building a new class of apps that use local, on-device machine learning to accomplish some pretty amazing feats on all of Apple’s devices.
Detail Duo.
Great examples of this are the apps by Detail, an Amsterdam-based startup. Detail has two apps: Detail Duo, an iPhone and iPad video production app, and Detail for Mac, which does something similar but with a focus on multi-camera setups more suitable to a desktop environment.
As I explained in my Final Cut Pro for iPad first impressions story last week, I don’t work with much video. However, I’ve been dabbling in video more, and I’ve discovered a story as old as personal computers themselves.
Every hardware advance that creates a huge amount of performance headroom is eventually consumed by the ever-growing demands of apps. That’s just as true with Apple silicon as it was for other chip advances. What seemed like more power than average consumers would ever need quickly becomes a necessity as apps like Detail Duo and Detail push that hardware to its limits.
It’s these sorts of advances that I find incredibly exciting because when they’re coupled with intuitive, well-designed apps, they open up entirely new opportunities for users. For Detail, that means simplifying and democratizing video production that would have been out of reach of most users not that long ago, expanding access to video as a creative outlet.
Before digging into these apps further, though, you should know that my son Finn is on the team building Detail and Detail Duo. That’s one of the reasons I’ve known about and followed these apps for a long time now. I figured that’s context readers should know.
Detail DuoDetail Duo and Detail serve two very different kinds of users, but both apply machine learning in ways that make it easy to create videos. On iOS and iPadOS, Detail Duo leverages both cameras, person segmentation, and speech recognition, combined with Apple’s Metal frameworks. That allows users to do things like film themselves in the foreground of a vertical video shot with the camera on the backside of an iPhone or iPad. That’s a lot of pieces to assemble continuously in real-time on any device, let alone a passively cooled iPhone or iPad.
In total, Duo features five camera layouts:
The many layouts of Detail Duo.
and three framing shapes that come in seven colors:
Detail Duo’s framing options.
Some of Detail Duo’s colorful framing options.
Unless your face is being composited onto the view from the back camera, you can switch the camera sources for each layout. You can also replace a camera source with any of ten different pre-built animations or a pre-recorded video. Plus, all videos can be shot in .5x, 1x, and 3x unless the selfie camera is your only source.
After setting up how you want to shoot your video, just hit record to get started. You can record multiple clips, all of which will appear near the bottom of the screen as separate clips. There’s a play/pause button to review your recording, and you can scrub along the timeline by swiping on it. Instead of moving the playhead, the entire timeline moves across a stationary playhead, which works well but was different from other apps I’ve used, which surprised me at first. Beneath those controls are buttons to split and delete clips, generate captions for your video using machine learning, and change the camera layout, frame shape, and frame color.
Digging into Detail Duo’s editor.
What those buttons mean is that you have full control to change your video after you’re finished recording, which is Detail Duo’s most compelling feature. This all works because the app is recording from both cameras and creating separate assets for each element of the video. That allows you to change things up later before sharing your video. It also means you can save individual clips from a project, the entire source videos, or save the project’s .detail file, which is a bundle of the project’s assets.
Detail Duo’s file format is a package complete with audio and video files, a proj.data file that describes the video’s structure in a JSON format, a thumbnail, and transcripts of audio converted to text. It’s a clever structure that users don’t have to deal with, but that makes Detail Duo projects flexible and portable.
Detail Duo was clearly built as an iPhone-first app, which is where I expect most people would be likely to use it. However, the app is also offered on the iPad, where it feels like a blown up version of the iPhone app. Detail Duo would make sense as an iPhone-only app, but as long as it’s also offered on the iPad, its design should be rethought to work better with that platform.
Detail for MacDetail offers a variety of Scene layouts that are good for things like presentations and product demos.
Detail for Mac is a little different but draws on many of the same ideas. The primary difference is Detail’s emphasis on multi-cam recording. Camera sources can include:
- Any camera input recognized by your Mac, such as connected DSLR cameras
- An iPhone or iPad camera that supports Continuity Camera
- An iPhone or iPad that uses Detail Camera, a companion iOS and iPadOS app that allows multiple older iPhones and iPads to be connected and used with Detail for Mac wired or wirelessly
- A shared Mac screen or window
- Scenes created in Detail, which I’ll explain in a moment
Setting up Scenes in Detail.
The sources above are the component parts of what Detail calls Scenes, which can use one or more sources to create a single-view Scene or a Combo Scene that comes in five different layouts. That allows you to mix and match camera sources with screen-sharing sources and even other scenes into one composite video. The result is a flexible system that can be easily adapted for video interviews, tutorials and help documentation, video conferencing apps like Zoom, and more. Moreover, you can set up multiple scenes in advance and switch among them using keyboard shortcuts or Apple’s Shortcuts app.
Detail for Mac includes Shortcuts actions, something few other video production apps offer.
Like Detail Duo, each Scene you create for a landscape or vertical video is recorded simultaneously as a separate clip. That means that instead of having to perfectly time your Scene switches while recording, you can start with one Scene’s clip, split it, and then swap in the clip from another Scene, taking a lot of the pressure during the recording process.
Detail’s transcription isn’t perfect, but it’s a good head start over doing it by hand.
Detail also supports:
- Insetting your video sources and adding backgrounds in the border around each source
- Video filters
- Text overlays with multiple style options and the ability to place the text in the foreground or background of your video
- Center Stage-style auto-framing of subjects
- Taking still snapshots of a frame of video for use as a thumbnail
- Any audio input source available on your Mac
- AI-generated transcripts exportable in SRT and VTT formats
- Magic Markers that suggest highlights that can be exported as separate clips
- Insights, another AI feature that suggests titles and descriptions for your video
- Importing video from other sources
- Adding markers manually
- Pre-built Scene Packs available from Detail’s website
- Exporting as a standalone video or Final Cut Pro XML file for editing in the Mac version of that app
Detail Insights offer suggested text for titles, descriptions, and social media posts.
I’m a big fan of Detail’s automation integrations too. There are keyboard shortcuts for everything. Plus, Detail lets you control your multi-cam setup with Shortcuts, which is something not many apps do. The app’s Shortcuts actions include switching between Scenes or to a previous Scene, taking snapshots of your video, starting, stopping, or toggling recording, and switching scenes at an index.
Many of Detail’s buttons only appear on hover as an overlay on top of your video.
Overall, I’ve found Detail easier to get started with than most video-creation apps. However, one thing that I think would help get Mac users up and running faster would be to make use of the Mac’s menu better. Many features are behind buttons that only appear on hover or require right clicks, making them hard to discover. The app’s Settings are sparse and unconventional for a Mac app too. These aren’t deal-breaker issues, but they do create friction for new users.
Yes, I’m going to be the guy with the giant ‘Good Morning’ behind his head for my next video call.
There are a lot of apps for making videos. When I reviewed Final Cut Pro for iPad, I felt like I was using a fancy version of iMovie designed to create traditional movie-style videos with title cards and credits at the end. What I like about Detail is its flexibility to present clips from multiple angles, with adjustable styles and formats that fit perfectly with social media, streaming services, and web-based video.
By taking advantage of Apple Silicon’s Neural Engine, Detail Duo and Detail for Mac put powerful tools in the hands of creators who can mix and match sources and styles on the go or quickly edit something together at their desks with the help of machine learning and AI. It’s a different style of editing that focuses on speed and efficiency while maintaining flexibility and personality, which is perfect for video storytelling in 2023.
Detail Duo is available on the App Store as a free download with certain features available for a subscription that’s $7.99/month or $34.99/year.
Detail for Mac is free to download from the Mac App Store, but pro features, including 1080p and 4K exports, AI transcriptions, and XML exports, require a subscription that is $11.99/month or $69.99/year.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Nothing beats the anticipation of WWDC. After months of speculation and rumors, we’ll finally get a glimpse of what’s in store for the fall OS season. This year is more exciting than ever, with rumors that Apple will unveil a mixed reality headset and the first new OS since watchOS to drive it.
This WWDC is also special for us at MacStories because it’s the first time we’ll have our full team in Cupertino since 2019. Federico, Alex, and I will all be in town to cover the events for the extended MacStories audience, with coverage on MacStories, for Club MacStories members, and with special episodes of AppStories. It’s going to be a busy week, so we thought we’d preview our coverage for you and introduce you to this year’s sponsor: Setapp.
Supported BySetappSetapp: Grow your app with Setapp
As always, we’ll have in-depth coverage of the keynote, Platforms State of the Union presentation, Apple Design Awards, and sessions. We’ll cover Apple’s announcements, dig into the details of announced OS updates and any new hardware, and roundups of everything happening throughout the week. You’ll also get the kind of details that aren’t widely reported as the team combs through session videos, product pages, developer videos, social media, and other sources.
Before WWDC even gets started, we’ll be hosting a special live episode of AppStories in the Club MacStories+ Discord community for Club MacStories+ and Club Premier members today, May 31st, at 10:00 AM Eastern US time. For Club members who can’t join us live, we’ll release the audio in the AppStories podcast feed on Sunday for AppStories+ subscribers and the morning of the beginning of WWDC for everyone else. We’ve also created a dedicated WWDC 2023 channel in our Discord community to discuss the conference this week and throughout the conference.
We’ll also be doing bonus WWDC episodes of AppStories all week. Our extended AppStories coverage has been a big hit the past few years, so we’ll be at it again, starting with recaps of the keynote and Platforms State of the Union presentations next Tuesday, followed by episodes that dig in deeper into everything that’s announced. We also have a couple of surprises lined up for listeners, so be sure to follow along all week.
Last year’s recording of these AppStories episodes in our Club MacStories+ Discord community was a big hit, so we’ll be doing that again this year. It’s a great way to learn the latest in real time and an opportunity to ask us questions. We’ll be releasing the AppStories+ and AppStories versions of these episodes simultaneously due to the time constraints of WWDC, but the Q&A segments will be released as bonus content for AppStories+ subscribers only. The precise schedule of our recordings is still up in the air, but keep an eye out in Discord for details during the conference.
To join the fun in Discord, sign up for a Club MacStories+ or Club Premier account at plus.club. Club Premier is our all-access pass to everything MacStories, including AppStories+, our extended, ad-free version of the show that is published a day early.
Club MacStories+
Join Annual$100/yearJoin Monthly$10/monthClub Premier
Join Annual$120/yearJoin Monthly$12/monthYou can follow along with all of the MacStories and AppStories coverage on our WWDC 2023 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2023 RSS feed.
Finally, we’ll send a special issue of MacStories Weekly to Club MacStories members one day later than usual on Saturday, June 11th. The issue will be packed with WWDC-themed features, our thoughts on everything revealed, and giveaways.
If you’re not a member of Club MacStories, you can join here.
Of course, we’re working on some surprises for the week, too, so keep a close eye on the MacStories, Club MacStories, and AppStories websites.
To recap, stay tuned to MacStories, AppStories, and the Club for a full week of WWDC coverage:
This WeekToday
- At 10:00 AM Eastern US time, a special live recording of AppStories in our Club MacStories+ Discord community, which will also be released in the AppStories+ and AppStories podcast feeds on Sunday, June 4th and Monday, June 5th.
Next WeekMonday - Friday
- Continuous Keynote, Platforms State of the Union, and session coverage on MacStories
Tuesday - Friday
- Daily episodes of AppStories covering all of Apple’s announcements, big and small
- Live recording of three shows Monday through Wednesday in the Club MacStories+ Discord
Saturday
- A WWDC-themed issue of Club MacStories Weekly newsletter
We’re all excited for next week and hope you’ll join us for the festivities.
You can follow all of our WWDC coverage through our WWDC 2023 hub or subscribe to the dedicated WWDC 2023 RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
This week on AppStories, we talk about Logic Pro for iPad and our wishes for Apple’s rumored mixed reality OS, xrOS. Sponsored by: Nom Nom – Healthy, fresh food for dogs formulated by top Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists. Prepped in our kitchens with free delivery to your door. Get 50% off. Subscribe here. On AppStories+, […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings:
MacStories Weekly: Issue 370Federico’s keyboard and mouse setup.
- Details on this week’s recording of AppStories live in the Club MacStories+ Discord
- The ElevationLab DraftTable V2
- Federico on the Logitech MX Keys Mini and Lift Mouse
- The benefits of rebuilding a workflow from the ground up
- Plus:
- App Debuts
- Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord
- Interesting links from around the web
- A sneak peek at what’s next on AppStories
- and more
Club MacStoriesTo Learn More and Join the Club:
Club
Join Annual$50/yearJoin Monthly$5/monthClub MacStories+
Join Annual$100/yearJoin Monthly$10/monthClub Premier
Join Annual$120/yearJoin Monthly$12/month
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Every runner who has used a fitness tracker has a moment at some point that is similar to Victoria Song’s at this year’s New York City Half Marathon, where she was unable to beat her time from the year before:
I’d been running for nearly two hours in freezing temperatures, straight into the wind. The Apple Watch Ultra on my left wrist buzzed to tell me I’d just passed mile nine. On my right wrist, the Garmin Forerunner 265S said I’d only run 8.55 miles. A short-ish distance ahead, I could see the official mile nine marker. I had no idea which distance was “true.”
As someone who has had a borderline obsessive relationship with tracking personal fitness metrics at times, I can relate to wondering about the ‘true’ distance of a run. If you run the same route over and over, you’d think the distance would always be the same, but it’s not. As Song explains in her story for The Verge, the truth is much more complicated:
Altogether, the additional L5 signal is cross-referenced with data from Maps and Wi-Fi for what Mayor calls hyper-accurate GPS. It’s important to maintain a healthy skepticism, but it’s hard to argue that this method doesn’t deliver freakishly accurate location data. For instance, the Ultra (plus Series 8, SE, and any watch running watchOS 9) can automatically detect when you arrive at a running track. It also knows which lane you’re running in without calibration. If I hadn’t tried it out myself — multiple times, mind you — I’d be inclined to think it’s too good to be true.
Ultimately, Song attributes her slower 2023 time to the mental exhaustion of losing her mother to ALS in 2021. Her story is an excellent reminder that humans are complicated. We’re not robots, and although the data collected by our devices can help us become fitter, they can’t track everything, so it pays to listen to your body as well as your gadgets.
→ Source: theverge.com
Collections Database is the premier personal database app for organizing anything and everything on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
The app features more than 20 field types, linkable sub-databases, reusable lists, and a robust customization system. It’s a powerful and flexible solution that makes Collections easy to get started with for beginners, while meeting the needs of advanced users too.
Collections provides essential templates to get started, including Expenses, Contacts, Subscriptions, Books and more. However, you’re always free to start from scratch by building your own custom templates.
A long, complete list of field types is available for your databases too. The set includes everything you’d expect from a modern database app, including Text, Number, Date, Picture - even Barcode fields. Collections can also import spreadsheets from other apps, using its powerful CSV import functionality. Collections also offers quick filters, sorting, password protection, smart text-based search, and more.
The app has recently added extensive support for Shortcuts, which expands its capabilities even more.
Collections is free to try, but by upgrading to the Pro version via In-App Purchase, you’ll gain access to an unlimited number of database entries and files, plus advanced filters. The Pro version also includes a unique visual formula editor the makes building complex formulas intuitive and easy.
The app is a universal purchase, so your purchase will be available on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. At the same time, though, Collections has been carefully optimized to each Apple platform for the best experience on every platform.
Collections is regularly updated to take advantage of the latest Apple technologies and is privacy-minded. Your data isn’t collected or sent anywhere else.
To learn more, and download Collections Database visit the App Store today.
Our thanks to Collections Database for sponsoring MacStores this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
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This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico and John are joined by Jonathan Reed for our monthly Club MacStories+ AV Club selection. This month, Club MacStories + and Premier members chose videogame and TV show, The Last of Us, which we discussed for a live audience in the Club MacStories Discord community.
Sponsored By:SaneBox – Clean up Your Inbox Today and Keep It That Way Forever
The Last of Us, Videogame and TV Show* Play: + The Last of Us Part I * Watch: + The Last of Us (Apple TV app) * Game and TV Show Comparisons: + THE LAST OF US Episode 1 Side By Side Scene Comparison + THE LAST OF US Episode 2 Side By Side Scene Comparison + THE LAST OF US Episode 3 Side By Side Scene Comparison + THE LAST OF US Episode 4 Side By Side Scene Comparison + THE LAST OF US Episode 5 Side By Side Scene Comparison + THE LAST OF US Episode 6 Side By Side Scene Comparison + THE LAST OF US Episode 7 Side By Side Scene Comparison + THE LAST OF US Episode 8 Side By Side Scene Comparison + THE LAST OF US Episode 9 Side By Side Scene Comparison * TV Show Recaps: + Vulture + Man of Recaps - Season 1 Recap
MacStories Unwind+We deliver MacStories Unwind+ to Club MacStories subscribers ad-free and early with high bitrate audio every week.
To learn more about the benefits of a Club MacStories subscription, visit our Plans page.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
This week on AppStories, we share our wishes for macOS 14.
Sponsored by:
- Factor – Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door.
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, my corrupt Mac user account and changes to our workflows that we’re considering in advance of WWDC.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
→ Source: appstories.net
I’m going to straight-up spoil this review for you at the top. If you primarily use Gmail and work on a Mac, you should try Mimestream now. It offers the core Gmail experience wrapped in a thoughtfully designed native Mac app. If you spend a lot of time on other devices or have non-Gmail accounts, the call is tougher, but that’s exactly my situation, and I think Mimestream is still the best Mac email choice for most people. Here’s why.
I have four primary email accounts. Two are work-related, and two are personal. All but my iCloud email are connected to Gmail, which makes me a pretty strong candidate for Mimestream, which launched this week after a couple years in beta.
I’ve been using Mimestream on and off for over a year, returning to it in late January after briefly trying Missive. What drew me back to Mimestream was the app’s native design, tight integration with Gmail, and open roadmap. The app doesn’t have everything I want from an email client. However, because I handle most of my email on the Mac and most of what I’d like to see Mimestream incorporate is planned or under consideration for future updates, it’s become how I manage most of my email.
As I mentioned at the outset, Mimestream is Gmail and Mac only. As a result, I’ve continued to use Apple Mail for my iCloud email address, which isn’t a big deal because it’s not an account I use for many things anyway.
The bigger deal is that Mimestream isn’t on iOS or iPadOS. As a rule, I don’t like using different apps on different platforms to do the same thing. That’s one of the reasons I prefer Logic Pro for iPad over Ferrite, for instance. However, every rule has an exception, and Mimestream is one of those. The app is too good not to use. Plus, I handle most of my email on the Mac anyway, so switching to Apple Mail on my iPhone or iPad isn’t as difficult for me as it might be for others.
Mimestream includes extensive settings for customizing the app to your liking.
Putting those limitations aside, Mimestream handles everything you’d expect:
- Multiple email accounts, whether they’re Gmail accounts or custom domains managed in Gmail
- Undo send for up to 30 seconds
- The ability to organize messages as conversations
- Message templates with variables for frequently sent messages
- A menu bar app for peeking at your latest messages
- Syncing with Gmail, Google Calendar, Contacts, and Gmail’s settings
- Gmail message categories: Social, Promotions, Updates, Social, and Forums
- A vacation responder
- Tracking prevention
- Customizable signatures for each account that can vary for new messages and replies
- An experimental client-side message snoozing feature
Mimestream supports Gmail labels.
The app also includes labels, another staple of Gmail that I don’t use much but which are so easy to apply and edit in Mimestream that I’ve begun experimenting with them for messages requiring follow-up. Messages can also be starred and marked as important.
The app is organized into the sort of three-pane window you’re probably already familiar with from other email clients. The leftmost column organizes your messages by inboxes, including unified inboxes, categories, and labels.
Mimestream profiles appear at the top of your account sidebar and support Focus modes.
There’s also a top-level, account-based organization scheme that lets you create profiles that appear as buttons with their own icon, label, and message count at the top of the left sidebar. I’ve set up a personal profile for my personal Gmail account and a Work one for my work-related addresses. I’ve found it to be an excellent, lightweight way to separate work and personal messages, but you’re not limited to two profiles, so you can set them up any way that makes sense to you. You can also set up notification schedules for each profile, so you won’t be bothered by personal messages during work hours, for instance. Also, profiles tie into macOS’s Focus filters, allowing you to completely hide a profile’s messages based on a Focus mode you’ve set up.
Filters allow me to do things like extract new betas from the sea of messages about existing betas.
The middle column of Mimestream is the message list, which can be viewed in a compact or expanded format. Mimestream supports customizable swipe gestures too. Swipe left or right on an item in the message list, and it will reveal an action you’ve assigned in the app’s Settings. The options include the following:
- Unread/Starred
- Archive
- Trash
- Trash/Spam
- Move to…
- Label…
- Snooze
- None
The message pane includes a customizable toolbar with options for the most common actions you can take on messages, plus a search field for searching your messages. Because Mimestream uses Google’s Gmail APIs, search is fast and reliable, in my experience.
The heading of messages includes a star and reply button, along with a three-dot ‘More’ button with other options. I particularly appreciate the ability to copy the Gmail URL for messages, which I often drop into tasks in Things when I think a task will require referring back to a message I received. That’s handy, but I’d prefer a deep link directly into Mimestream because the Gmail URL opens Gmail in my browser instead.
Mimestream includes its own extensive set of keyboard shortcuts and supports Gmail and Apple Mail’s too.
Mimestream has its own extensive set of keyboard shortcuts, but you can use the standard Gmail or Apple Mail ones if you prefer. The app also implements Gmail’s filtering system. In Settings, you can apply actions based on metadata. Triggers include the following:
- From
- To
- Subject
- Has the words
- Doesn’t have
- Size
- Has Attachment
- Don’t include chats
As for actions, if a message meets all of the criteria you’ve chosen, you can do any of the following with a message:
- Archive
- Mark as read
- Star
- Apply the label
- Forward
- Delete
- Never Spam
- Set importance
- Categorize
It’s a powerful system that has helped me keep on top of messages by doing things like starring or marking as important messages from certain people or about certain topics.
Mimestream already supports exporting as PDF, which would make a great Shortcuts action.
As useful as Mimestream’s filtering is, though, the system only works within the four corners of the app. I’d also like the app to adopt Shortcuts support, so it can be used more gracefully with other apps and workflows. Actions allowing users to interact with attachments, save PDFs of message threads, and deep link to Mimestream or Gmail on the web would be a great start, along with actions corresponding to those in the app’s filtering system.
The perfect email client is the only thing more difficult to find than the perfect task manager. There’s a good reason for it too. There are almost as many ways to use email or a task manager as there are people using them. If you’ve found the perfect email solution for yourself, that’s fantastic, but I’ve resigned myself to the fact that looking for the perfect email app is futile – at least so far.
Despite my wishes for Mimestream, it is heads and shoulders better than any Mac email client I’ve ever used. I’m still left wishing for an iOS app, Shortcuts support, deep linking, and support for my iCloud email account, but I’ve chosen to be patient. Mimestream has seen steady improvements and expansion of its core features over the two years or so it’s been in beta, and the company has a public roadmap that gives me some comfort that most of what I’d like to see added to the app is planned or at least under consideration. I’m not usually so patient with apps, but Mimestream is that good.
Mimestream is available directly from the company’s website for $49.99/year, but there’s currently a special launch deal. Through June 9th, you can get the first year of Mimestream for just $29.99.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings:
MacStories Weekly: Issue 369* Strategies for dealing with task manager overload * Using Things as a web clipper using Shortcuts * Why apps need their own version of Migration Assistant * Plus: + App Debuts + Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord + Interesting links from around the web + A sneak peek at what’s next on AppStories + and more
Club MacStoriesTo Learn More and Join the Club:
Club
Join Annual$50/yearJoin Monthly$5/monthClub MacStories+
Join Annual$100/yearJoin Monthly$10/monthClub Premier
Join Annual$120/yearJoin Monthly$12/month
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
As has been the case the past couple of years, Apple has announced the finalists in the running for its annual Apple Design Awards. The awards ceremony revealing the winners will be held during WWDC at 6:30 pm Pacific on June 6th.
The finalists have been divided into six categories that include six finalists each:
Inclusivity* Anne * Universe – Website Builder * Passenger Assistance * stitch. * Ancient Board Game Collection * Finding Hannah
Delight and Fun* Duolingo * Creme * Chantlings * Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On! * Knotwords * Afterplace
Interaction* Shuffles by Pinterest * Tide Guide: Charts & Tables * Flighty * Automatoys * Railbound * Kimono Cats
Social Impact* Duolingo * Sago Mini First Words * Headspace * Hindsight * Endling * Beecarbonize
Visuals and Graphics* Any Distance * Gentler Streak Health Fitness * Riveo * Diablo Immortal * Resident Evil Village * Endling
Innovation* SwingVision: A.I. Tennis App * Camo Studio * Rise: Energy & Sleep Tracker * Resident Evil Village * stitch. * MARVEL SNAP
The selections include a broad selection of games and apps, including some apps from smaller developers like Knotwords, Afterplace, and Gentler Streak, as well as titles from bigger publishers.
This is the third year in a row that Apple has announced the finalists in advance, which I like a lot. Winning an ADA is a big achievement for any developer, but it’s also nice to know who the finalists are because it’s quite an honor among the many apps that could have been chosen too.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Today, Apple released Final Cut Pro for iPad alongside Logic Pro. I’ve been testing the app for about a week with sample projects from Apple and some drone footage I shot with one of my kids during the winter holidays. Like Logic Pro for iPad, Apple has packed a lot of sophisticated features into Final Cut Pro for iPad, but with one crucial difference. Whereas Logic Pro projects can be sent back and forth between the iPad and Mac versions of the app, Final Cut Pro projects cannot.
Managing Final Cut Pro for iPad projects.
Final Cut for iPad projects can be opened in Final Cut for Mac, but once they’re on the Mac, they can no longer be opened on the iPad. Nor can projects started in Final Cut Pro for Mac be opened on the iPad. That will be a significant downside for people who already work in Final Cut Pro for Mac, but for creators with a mobile-first workflow or who want to try Final Cut Pro for the first time without paying the Mac version’s steep price, compatibility will be a non-issue.
My early experiments with Final Cut Pro for iPad with some drone footage I took in December.
That’s the camp I fall into. I don’t edit a lot of video, and except for testing Final Cut Pro for iPad, I would probably have dropped my drone clips into iMovie, added a few transitions, and called it a day. That sort of editing is absolutely possible in Final Cut Pro, too. However, the app allows you to do far more, as the two sample projects I’ve been studying make clear.
Final Cut Pro’s default layout. Source: Apple.
Like Logic Pro for iPad, Apple has done an exceptional job designing a complex app in a way that feels at home on the iPad. The screen is divided into three parts:
- A preview player, which can be taken fullscreen or moved to picture-in-picture
- A browser for selecting video clips, effects, transitions, titles, audio, and other assets
- A timeline for editing your video
Each section of the app is adjustable, allowing users to hide what they don’t need and shrink or enlarge them as needed, making the best use of the iPad’s limited screen space.
Final Cut Pro’s inspector panel.
There’s also an inspector panel that can be displayed along the left side of the screen with details about the clips in your timeline, along with volume, animation, and multicam elements that can be toggled on and off in the timeline section of the app. A jog wheel can also be displayed along either edge of the screen. By default, the jog wheel is a tiny floating element that stays out of the way until it’s tapped and expands in a semi-circle along the edge of the screen. It’s possible to really crowd the iPad’s UI, but by resizing and hiding elements until you need them it’s easier to focus on one aspect of your video at a time.
Having used iMovie in the past, I immediately felt at home in Final Cut Pro for iPad. Of course, there are many more features and options in Final Cut Pro, but the overall structure and editing process are similar, which made it easier to get started.
Final Cut Pro’s jog wheel is an incredibly natural feeling way to review clips.
The jog wheel and Apple Pencil hover support are two of my favorite features of the app. When the jog wheel is expanded, it’s incredibly fast to select a precise edit point, moving quickly by spinning the wheel with a fast swipe or slowly advancing the frames one by one. There is an extensive list of keyboard shortcuts for navigating your timeline, too, which is often a better approach when using an iPad in a Magic Keyboard. The neat thing about hover is that you can skim through your timeline footage quickly without moving the playhead. When you find what you’re looking for, simply tap the top of the timeline to jump the playhead to that position, and then zero in frame-by-frame using the keyboard or jog wheel.
Final Cut Pro’s multicam support. Source: Apple.
Final Cut Pro for iPad takes advantage of Apple silicon’s machine learning capabilities to enable several features. The app supports the following:
- Multicam editing, allowing users to sync multiple camera angles, edit them, and switch between them
- Scene Removal Mask for pulling subjects from the background of a clip and placing them against a different backdrop
- Auto Crop, which crops a project to social media-friendly aspect ratios while preserving the important parts of a shot
- Voice isolation to clean up noisy audio
Another fun feature is Live Drawing, which lets you write on top of a video using the iPad’s familiar drawing tools. What you write is automatically animated, appearing on the screen as though you were writing it live. Your handwriting is a separate layer in the timeline, which you can edit just like any other part of your video.
Exporting from Final Cut Pro for iPad.
In addition to editing, Final Cut Pro for iPad can be used for capturing footage too. The app’s camera interface includes manual controls for focus, white balance, an exposure offset, and a zoom dial. There are also overexposure indicators and grid overlays. Finally, when it’s time to export your video, Final Cut Pro supports popular social media video aspect ratios and resolutions outputting to Apple ProRes, HEVC, and H.264.
I have mixed feelings about Final Cut Pro for iPad. As someone who hasn’t done a lot of video work, the app strikes me as a great place for someone to start who wants to go beyond what apps like iMovie can do. The $4.99/month or $49/year subscription with a free one-month trial also makes advanced video production accessible to a wider audience than the Mac version, which costs $299.99. The app is also perfect for anyone whose workflow is primarily on mobile devices too.
Am I saying that Final Cut Pro for iPad isn’t a ‘pro’ app? Not exactly. There are plenty of people for whom the iPhone and iPad are the sole devices they use for making videos.
However, not having the option to move a project back and forth will hamper the ability for users to get the most out of both apps, which is a negative to anyone who wants to use both. I’m sure there are plenty of people working with Final Cut projects in offices on Macs who would like to take those projects project home with them on an iPad instead of on a laptop but won’t be able to. The same goes for students using school Macs during the day who want to edit on an iPad after class. Whatever the roadblock to round-tripping Final Cut Pro projects between a Mac and iPad is, I hope it’s resolved because until it is, the lack of flexibility will likely mean most users will stick to one hardware setup or the other and view the iPad version as the lesser of the two.
Final Cut Pro for iPad is available on the App Store with a free one-month trial, after which the app is $4.99/month or $49/year. Final Cut Pro for iPad requires an iPad with an M1 chip or later and iPadOS 16.4 or later.
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I was as surprised as anyone when Apple announced that Logic Pro was coming to the iPad. I was excited too. Logic Pro is an app I use every week to produce MacStories’ podcasts, and I’d wanted the freedom to do that work on the iPad for a very long time.
However, my excitement was tempered by skepticism about whether the kind of work I do would be supported. Logic Pro for the Mac is designed for music production. It’s a very capable podcast production tool, too, but editing podcasts uses only a tiny fraction of Logic Pro’s tools. With the focus on music production in Apple’s press release announcing the iPad version, I wondered whether the subset of production tools I use would find their way onto the iPad or not.
Music production projects are typically much more complex than podcast edits.
So, when Apple offered to send me a 12.9” M2 iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil last week to test Logic Pro for iPad, I jumped at the chance to see what it could do. Since last week, I’ve played with Logic Pro’s music-making tools, which I’ll cover below. They’re impressive, but I’ve spent most of my time putting the app through a more personal, real-world test: podcast editing. After some initial exploration of Logic Pro’s UI to get my bearings, I created a project, dropped in the audio tracks from last week’s episode of MacStories Unwind, and started editing.
Logic Pro for iPad includes a collection of lessons to help you learn the app, along with a catalog of sound packs and loops.
What I found is that Logic Pro for iPad is a remarkably capable alternative to the Mac version. The app comes with limitations and frustrations, like any first version of a complex new app, but it’s also the real deal. Logic Pro for iPad isn’t a companion app to the Mac version. The iPad version doesn’t match the Mac app feature-for-feature, but it’s not a watered-down version of the desktop version either. Instead, Logic Pro for iPad delivers on the promise of the iPad’s hardware in a reimagined way that we haven’t seen enough of with so-called ‘pro’ apps.
There’s a lot of ground to cover between my podcasting experiments and the music production features of Logic, so let’s dive in.
Rethinking Logic Pro for Smaller ScreensLogic Pro for iPad integrates with the iPadOS system file picker.
Music and podcast production require precise editing, which is why Logic Pro uses a timeline-based UI that you can zoom in and out of when editing tracks. That’s why I’ve always preferred to edit podcasts on my Mac Studio connected to a Studio Display. The 27” screen, paired with the precision of a mouse or trackpad, gives me the space and control I need to move fast while editing. Then, when I’m finished, I export my project as a single WAV file.
You can open up multiple panels with multiple toolset options.
Designing a timeline-based app like Logic Pro for smaller screens like the M1 MacBook Air that I sometimes use to edit and, now, the iPad, poses significant challenges. On the Mac, there are a lot of panels and views enabled by default that can be closed or hidden to maximize your workspace on smaller screens. Apple has taken a similar approach with Logic Pro for the iPad but to greater effect. The Control Bar on the iPad is more compact, freeing up vertical space, and even before customization, the toolbar and other onscreen elements feel cleaner and easier to navigate.
The design is so well done that, at least for my usual two-track edits, I can even use my iPad mini. I wouldn’t want that when I could turn to my iPad Pro, but making a few quick edits and exporting an episode is entirely doable in a pinch.
It’s not ideal, but it’s easier to edit a simple project on the iPad mini than I expected.
The effect of the iPad version’s design choices has been to make me more receptive to editing on a smaller screen than I’ve ever been when my only alternative was my MacBook Air. I can set up my Mac and iPad Pro to show the same amount of audio, but the less cluttered UI of Logic Pro for iPad makes me want to edit with it.
I’d rather edit audio in Logic Pro on a 12.9” iPad Pro than a 13” MacBook Air.
The effect is similar to a good photo editor that puts your images front and center, allowing you to focus on the image you’re editing without getting distracted by the tools you’re using. With Logic Pro for iPad, the audio tracks are the primary focus. The tools are easy to summon, just as they are in a good photo editor, but they stay out of the way until you need them, which I love. The result is that all else being equal, I’d rather edit audio in Logic Pro on a 12.9” iPad Pro than a 13” MacBook Air.
Editing Podcasts in Logic Pro for iPadEditing MacStories Unwind in Logic Pro for iPad.
Logic Pro for iPad’s focused editing environment is an advantage over the Mac that can only take it so far. The real test is what it’s like to edit in the app.
With Logic Pro’s focus on music production, I figured there was a good chance that editing a podcast in the iPad version wouldn’t be possible or might be limited in a way that didn’t fit how I edit. The good news is that editing podcasts in Logic Pro for iPad is absolutely doable, but there are definitely places where the process could be streamlined more than it currently is.
Logic Pro for iPad takes advantage of iPadOS features like context menus.
Logic Pro for iPad takes advantage of all the iPad’s input methods: multitouch gestures, the Apple Pencil, and keyboards. That leaves room for several different approaches to editing, which I like, but in practice, I’ve found that each editing mode has drawbacks and friction points that I hope get addressed in the future. The issues aren’t deal breakers, but I expect the limitations will limit how often I edit on the iPad.
Editing a podcast in any version of Logic Pro is relatively simple mechanical work. At the highest level, you line up multiple audio tracks on the app’s timeline, clean up the conversation by snipping out small segments or pulling apart cross-talk, and then closing up any gaps left by your edits.
Everyone seems to edit podcasts a little differently. Personally, I listen to the entirety of every episode I edit at 1x speed. If I find a segment I want to clip out, I split the track on both sides of the audio I want to remove, delete it, and then slide the parts of the tracks that I haven’t edited yet to the left to close the gap. Pulling apart cross-talk is similar but doesn’t always involve deleting any audio. At the heart of the process is a lot of moving around the playhead, splitting tracks, and then selecting and dragging them into place.
Dragging audio files into Logic Pro for iPad from an external SSD connected to my iPad Pro using Files.
That’s as simple as it sounds, but the way the tools are implemented makes a big difference in how quickly you can edit. Setting up a project to edit MacStories Unwind was easy. I was pleasantly surprised that copying audio files into tracks in a new Logic Pro for iPad project was faster than on my M1 Max Mac Studio. I don’t know what it is about Logic Pro on the Mac, but in the six years I’ve used the app, importing audio into a project has been slow compared to copying a file from one folder to another in Finder.
After I’d dragged the audio tracks into alignment with my finger, I was ready to start editing. I alternated between editing with the iPad Pro in and out of the Magic Keyboard to compare the two experiences. On balance, I preferred editing without the iPad Pro in the Magic Keyboard case, which comes down to the biggest drawback of Logic Pro for iPad: the lack of depth of its keyboard shortcuts.
On the Mac, Logic Pro has a keyboard shortcut for just about everything. In fact, there are so many shortcuts that don’t even require a modifier key that I find it far too easy to change something unintentionally. The iPad app is different. There are a lot of keyboard shortcuts for an iPad app, but they are primarily for showing and hiding the app’s various tools, selecting different project elements, and a few other things.
As a practical matter, that means you still have to poke at the screen even if your iPad connected to a keyboard, which slows the editing process. My podcast editing workflow is a good example.
Dragging the Split marker to slice two tracks at once.
If I’m listening to MacStories Unwind in Logic Pro with the iPad Pro in the Magic Keyboard, I can tap the Space Bar to start and stop playback – so far, so good. However, editing requires two modes: Split and Trim, which don’t support keyboard shortcuts. When I find audio I want to remove from the episode, I can use the Magic Keyboard’s trackpad to place the playhead at the beginning of a segment that I want to remove. However, if I’m not in Split mode already, I have to tap the Split control in the segmented control beneath the app’s Control Bar. Then, with a tap of a track, Logic Pro’s Split control appears beneath the playhead as a separate marker with an icon of a pair of scissors. The Split marker can be dragged along the timeline independently of the playhead indicator, and when you’re ready to split the track, dragging downward on the indicator clips the selected tracks at the Split marker.
Next, I repeat the same process on the other side of the audio segment I want to delete. However, to delete the clip I want to remove, I have to switch to Trim mode, click or tap the track, which activates a context menu, and tap the delete button. Trim mode is also necessary to close the gap between segments of the track I’ve edited.
Deleting an audio segment and closing the gap in Trim mode.
If I’ve got the iPad Pro in the Magic Keyboard, positioning the playhead, activating Split mode, splitting tracks, deleting unwanted audio, and closing any gaps in my tracks all require touching the screen or using the trackpad. Actions like moving between Trim and Split modes, splitting selected tracks, and deleting selected segments would all be faster using just the keyboard. The trackpad isn’t a bad alternative, but it’s a modal switch from typing that’s a little cumbersome.
The alternative is to edit without the keyboard using multitouch gestures only, which has its own tradeoffs. The biggest downside to editing solely in multitouch is that you lose the convenience of starting and stopping the audio with the Space Bar. That means you need to reach up to the Control Bar to tap the Play and Stop buttons instead. Interacting with the iPad without an attached keyboard is more immediate, so the reach isn’t as big of an issue as it would be if the Magic Keyboard were connected, but the buttons are just small enough that they require more precision to hit than I’d like.
On balance, though, I like editing without the iPad Pro’s keyboard attached a lot. The interactions feel more immediate and fluid than when I’m separated from the app by keyboard input. The Apple Pencil is perfect for precisely placing the playhead or Split control along the app’s timeline, but even using just my fingers feels more natural and precise than trying to drag elements around using the Magic Keyboard’s relatively small trackpad.
The overall effect of editing in multitouch mode is the perfect match for Logic Pro for iPad’s UI. The two create a focused editing environment that’s only held back by the lack of a deeper set of gestures for starting and stopping playback and switching between modes like Trim and Split. A two-finger tap or similar gesture would be perfect for playing and pausing audio. Also, a floating palette for switching between modes and other tools that users could place wherever they want on the screen would go a long way toward eliminating the need to reach for the relatively small buttons in Logic Pro’s Control Bar and toolbar.
Logic Pro for iPad’s support for keyboard shortcuts is a good start, but they need to cover more of the app’s functionality.
There’s room for improvement when the iPad is connected to a Magic Keyboard too. The existing keyboard shortcuts are a good start, but switching among modes like Trim and Split should be as easy as tapping the Space Bar to play and pause audio. Instead, having to use the trackpad or reaching out to tap the screen slows me down. The same is true of splitting a track. On the Mac, ⌘T splits a track. It should do the same on the iPad, which isn’t already using that key combination for something else.
Logic Pro for iPad’s support for keyboard shortcuts is a good start, but they need to cover more of the app’s functionality.
Even better than defining additional keyboard shortcuts for all users would be allowing them to set up their own keyboard shortcuts. Logic Pro is a deep app that’s used in a lot of different ways by its users. I’d love the ability to define my own keyboard shortcuts for the handful of functions that I use a lot that don’t have them already.
Logic Pro for iPad supports markers, which can be used to create podcast chapters.
It’s worth noting, too, that Logic Pro for iPad allows you to add markers to a project, which can be used to create chapter markers for a podcast episode.
Logic Pro for iPad also supports external recording hardware. I plugged in my Elgato Wave XLR audio interface and recorded myself using an external XLR microphone directly to Logic Pro with no trouble. However, for those who are wondering whether Logic Pro for iPad can record your local audio while you talk to a podcast co-host via Zoom, Skype, or another app, you can’t. Logic Pro’s access to the iPad’s audio is interrupted as soon as a voice or video calling app needs the audio from the iPad or a connected microphone.
Exporting a project to an uncompressed WAV file.
The final step of any edit is exporting the project as a single audio file. I export to WAV but AIFF, AAC, and Apple Lossless are also available. In my testing, the resulting file preserved my markers, and the same 25-minute episode was exported at almost exactly the same speed on both my M1 Max Mac Studio and the M2 iPad Pro. Both devices have nearly identical single-core Geekbench scores, so the results were in line with what I expected.
Logic Pro for the Mac looks old in contrast to the iPad version.
Despite the limitations of the different modes of editing podcasts on the iPad, which I hope Apple works on, I’m excited to incorporate it into my workflow. Podcast editing is the sort of task I tend to do at the end of my day because it doesn’t require the energy that writing does. But by the time I turn to editing a podcast, I’ve often been at my desk all day and want a change of scenery. My MacBook Air is always an option, but there’s something about the immediacy of manipulating audio tracks on the iPad that I prefer.
Of course, Logic Pro isn’t the only option for editing podcasts on the iPad. For example, Ferrite is an excellent alternative. However, because I spend most of my work hours in front of a Mac, where I’ll continue to use Logic Pro as I have for the past six years, having Logic Pro’s familiar interface on both platforms is a big advantage.
It’s too early to judge how often I’ll switch between the iPad and Mac to edit podcasts, but the experience so far has convinced me I will, especially since I can pass the same project back and forth between the Mac and iPad versions of the app. Third-party plug-ins that haven’t been adapted for the iPad won’t work, but I don’t use any, preferring to pre-process my audio files outside Logic Pro. That simplifies moving between platforms with my Logic Pro projects, which I’m eager to spend more time doing.
Everything ElseI’ve barely scratched the surface of what Logic Pro for iPad can do. I don’t produce music, so I haven’t spent a lot of time with the app’s other features besides experimenting with a sample project from Apple. However, for those curious about what’s available, here’s an overview.
Logic Pro’s Browser. Source: Apple.
I’m impressed with just how well Apple’s engineers and designers have adapted Logic Pro’s interface for the iPad. In addition to the panels that can be exposed or hidden on the left side of the screen, the app features Plug-in Tiles, a widget-like system for the most important features of any plug-ins that you use. To access a plug-in’s full controls, you simply need to double-tap it.
Software instruments. Source: Apple.
The panel on the app’s left side can be switched between the Browser and an inspector with track and region details. The Browser is where you’ll find tens of thousands of instrument patches, audio patches, loops, audio samples, plug-in presets, and Step Sequencer patterns. Everything is consolidated in one place and searchable to help you find what you want. The Browser also includes a huge list of filters to narrow down the library of sounds into smaller, more manageable groups.
Logic Pro’s mixer. Source: Apple.
The app also offers:
- Software-based instrument plug-ins to do things like manipulate samples, retro-style synthesizers from the 70s and 80s, along with keyboards, strings, horns, and more
- Beat creation tools for making and manipulating beats using an extensive collection of samples
- A mixer with an extensive collection of controls, third-party extension support, and more
- Guitar and bass amps and stompboxes
- Drummer and drum kit tools
In addition to compatibility with Logic Pro for Mac projects, you can also import GarageBand for iOS projects into Logic Pro for iPad.
Source: Apple.
Logic Pro for iPad is a remarkably deep and well-designed app that offers a first-class music production experience as well as a meaningful way to edit podcasts for many users.
Still, not every feature is available. For example, many of my fellow podcast editors use Logic Pro for Mac’s ability to remove silences from audio tracks, which the iPad version doesn’t support. Still, the core editing functionality is available, which will open up new editing workflow options for iPad users.
I like Logic Pro for iPad a lot. It’s an app I’ve wanted since the introduction of the 2018 iPad Pro, and as polished as it is for a 1.0, there are limitations like the ones that I’ve described above that I hope are addressed quickly. Fair or not, if Logic Pro for iPad had come out five years ago alongside the 2018 iPad Pro, I’d be more patient. However, having waited so long, my hope is that Apple iterates on the feedback it gets from users quickly, making it an even more capable alternative to the Mac version.
Setting aside how long it took for Logic Pro to make its way to the iPad, its debut is an important moment for the device. Logic Pro isn’t the first pro-level app on the iPad by any means. Adobe’s been steadily working on offering desktop-class features to Creative Suite for a long time now and more recently, powerful apps like Blackmagic’s DaVinci Resolve have found a home on the iPad. Still, there’s no better signal to the developers of pro apps who are still sitting on the fence about bringing their apps to the iPad than Apple demonstrating its commitment to the platform by bringing its own pro apps to the iPad.
There’s room for more apps on my Mac, but if I’m just doing a simple edit, the iPad Pro is a good alternative.
Having Logic Pro on the iPad is a big step forward toward an iPad-first podcast editing workflow, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle. The iPad still can’t separately record local audio during an audio or video call, and it will undoubtedly take a while for plug-in makers to bring their plug-ins to Logic Pro for iPad. There are other tools I use on the Mac to match audio loudness and transcode uncompressed audio into compressed formats that I don’t have a good iPad solution for yet, either. However, with Logic Pro for iPad filling the biggest hole in my podcast editing workflow, my hope is that more supporting apps in my workflow will follow suit, allowing me to move between devices even more efficiently as time passes.
Logic Pro for iPad is available on the App Store. Apple is offering a one-month free trial, after which the app is $4.99/month or $49/year, a bargain, in my opinion, that will make Logic Pro accessible to a broader audience. To run Logic Pro for iPad, you need an iPad with an Apple A12 Bionic chip or later, plus iPadOS 16.4 or later.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Ivory, Tapbots’ Mastodon client, is now available on the Mac, and like its iOS and iPadOS counterparts that Federico reviewed in January, Ivory for Mac is every bit as polished.
A lot has changed since Ivory was released on the iPhone and iPad. At the time, there were hardly any native Mastodon apps for the Mac, so I was using Elk in a pinned Safari tab. That’s changed. There are several excellent native apps now, including Mona, which I reviewed earlier this month. What Ivory brings to the growing field of native apps is what we saw with iOS and iPadOS: impeccable taste and snappy performance that few other apps can match.
By now, most MacStories readers are probably familiar with the table stakes features for Mastodon clients. Ivory ticks all of those boxes. Also, if you’ve already tried Ivory for iOS or iPadOS, you’ve got a big head start on the Mac app because they’re very similar. However, if you’re new to Ivory, I encourage you to check out Federico’s review of Ivory for the iPhone and iPad because I’m not going to cover that same ground again. Instead, I want to focus on the Mac version’s unique features and the details that make it such a compelling choice for Mac users.
Opening Ivory as a single, narrow column closely resembles the iPhone version of the app.
The most apparent difference is Ivory for Mac’s multi-column layout. Set to a single, narrow column, Ivory for Mac resembles its iPhone sibling but with the app’s tabs on the left edge of the window. However, in the bottom left corner of the window is the button for expanding the number of Ivory’s columns. You’ll find the same button in the iPad app, where you’re limited to a single additional column. In contrast, the Mac app supports up to six columns.
Ivory’s multi-column design is the most readable of any Mastodon app I’ve used. It’s easy with multiple columns of text and media for a multi-column window to look cluttered, so it’s a testament to Ivory’s design that it’s as readable as it is. One of the touches that helps a lot is that instead of including a tab bar for each column, Ivory uses drop-down menus at the top of each column to allow users to pick what the column shows. That eliminates a lot of duplicative interface elements you find in other apps like Mona.
Ivory for Mac supports up to six columns.
I really appreciate the additional columns I can open on the Mac. When I use Ivory on my iPhone, it’s usually to read my own timeline. However, when I’m at my Mac, I’m usually working and want to keep tabs on the mentions coming into our MacStories accounts. With Ivory, I typically open columns for my own timeline and mentions, plus the mentions for MacStories, Club MacStories, and AppStories. If that becomes too distracting, or it’s a quiet day without a lot of activity, though, I can easily close the columns and focus on just my timeline.
Ivory’s new post indicator is much easier to read than many others I’ve seen.
Another design elements of Ivory for Mac that I love are the indicator that shows how many new messages are available in your timeline. It’s a small touch, but it’s very readable at a glance, especially using the bright yellow accent color that I’ve chosen. Similarly, I appreciate the clear label for private mentions. I’m not a fan of mixing private mentions in the main timeline, but that’s how Mastodon works, so at least Ivory makes those messages stand out as different in kind from other posts.
I love how clearly Ivory labels private messages.
Also, if I mute an account, it only disappears for the account from which it’s muted. Mona also hides muted accounts from columns displaying different accounts. I understand the rationale that if you don’t want to see a post in one timeline, you might not want to see it anywhere. However, that’s not always the case and rarely is for me. It’s more work to mute an account in multiple places, but I like that Ivory leaves the choice up to me instead of assuming I don’t want to see a post in any timeline.
There are two features I’d love to see Ivory add: saved or recent searches and the ability to save the local views of particular Mastodon instances. I often repeat searches on Mastodon, and having a saved or recents list would eliminate the friction of retyping searches. I also follow a couple of app development servers that I’d love to be able to save as a pinned view in Ivory.
Those small items aside, though, Ivory for Mac is every bit as elegantly designed and performant as Federico described in his review of the iPhone and iPad versions of the app. Thinking back to when I first started using Mastodon, it’s incredible how far developers have elevated the options users have. Just a few short months ago, there were hardly any native Mac clients on the Mac. Now there are several, with Ivory right there among the very best.
Ivory is available on the Mac App Store as a free download with many of its features unlocked via a subscription, which is $1.99/month, $14.99/year, or $24.99/year for the iOS, iPadOS, and macOS versions as a bundle.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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SaneBox is the all-in-one solution to email clutter and overload, so you can spend less time managing email and more time on what matters. It works with any email client or service, and any device - literally anywhere you check your email. Oh, and there’s nothing to download or install. It just works.
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Better yet, if there’s something you never want to see again, drag in into the SaneBlackHole folder. It’s far easier than the hit or miss process of unsubscribing from email lists.
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Sign up today and save $25 on any subscription. You’ll see big benefits immediately as the message count in your inbox drops, and you’ll be able to maintain control going forward with SaneBox’s help.
Our thanks to SaneBox for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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This week on MacStories Unwind, I put Federico’s knowledge of American geography to the test, and we follow up on what sets The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom apart from Breath of the Wild.
UnpluggedComing to America* Coming to America is a recurring MacStories Unwind quiz where John tests Federico’s knowledge of American geography, history, culture, and more. * Geography + What States would you pass through driving from Chicago, Illinois to Charlotte, North Carolina? - Map + Name three states that start with ‘W’ - If you were in West Virginia, how would you get to East Virginia?
Weekly PicksThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom* Our Portable, Upscaled Nintendo Switch Setups + More on AppStories+, Episode 318 Pre-Show + C-Force CF015 15.6” portable OLED display + mClassic + Photofast 4K Gamer Pro + Genki Convert Dock Mini * Zelda players turned Tears of the Kingdom into a Korok torture chamber * A conversation with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s creative leads
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Source: Apple.
Earlier this week, Apple announced a series of new accessibility features coming to its OSes later this year. There was a lot announced, and it can sometimes be hard to understand how features translate into real-world benefits to users.
To get a better sense of what some of this week’s announcements mean, I spoke to David Niemeijer, the founder and CEO of AssistiveWare, an Amsterdam-based company that makes augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) apps for the iPhone and iPad, including Proloquo, Proloquo2Go, and Proloquo4Text. Each app addresses different needs, but what they all have in common is helping people who have difficulty expressing themselves verbally.
What follows is a lightly edited version of our conversation.
Let me start by asking you a little bit about AAC apps as a category because I’m sure we have readers who don’t know what they do and what augmented and alternative communication apps are.
David Niemeijer: So, AAC is really about all ways of communication that do not involve speech. It includes body gestures, it includes things like signing, it includes texting, but in the context of apps, we typically think more about the high-tech kind of solutions that use the technology, but all those other things are also what’s considered AAC because they augment or they are an alternative for speech. These technologies and these practices are used by people who either physically can’t speak or can’t speak in a way that people understand them or that have other reasons why speech is difficult for them.
For example, what we see is that a lot of autistic people is they find speech extremely exhausting. So in many cases, they can speak, but there are many situations where they’d rather not speak because it drains their energy or where, because of, let’s say, anxiety or stress, speech is one of the first functions that drops, and then they can use AAC.
Source: Apple.
We also see it used by people with cerebral palsy, where it’s actually the muscles that create a challenge. [AAC apps] are used by people who have had a stroke where the brain system that finds the right words and then sends the signals to the muscles is not functioning correctly. So there are many, many reasons. Roughly about 2% of the world population cannot make themselves understood with their own voice.
Proloquo for iPad. Source: Apple.
What’s the history behind AssistiveWare’s apps?
Niemeijer: Well, we actually got started in 2000, but at that time, our focus was on computer access technology for the Mac, helping people with physical impairments who couldn’t access their computers. That’s how we originally started. But 2009 is when we first released Proloquo2Go on iOS, but we already had an app called Proloquo on Mac since 2005, which was also in the same category.
Could you tell me a little bit more about your apps? What do they do, and how do they address some of these challenges?
Niemeijer: So, I would say we have two types of apps. We have an app that is for people who don’t speak and do read and write, and that’s called Proloquo4Text. And then we have several apps that are designed for people who do not read and write but need speech but that are symbol supported. So they allow people who can’t read to still learn and compose messages. And they’re also designed in such a way that they help you with learning language and learning or growing towards using the alphabet. And those apps are used especially by children but sometimes also by people with brain damage. And again also, autistic people may be fully literate, but when there’s too much going on at the same time, they might find it super helpful to actually see buttons with words there rather than having to construct them letter by letter.
Proloquo for iPhone. Source: Apple.
What excites you about the accessibility features Apple announced this week, and where do you see your apps adopting the new technologies?
Niemeijer: There’s a lot of exciting news, but I think there are two areas that are most exciting. The first is Personal Voice. There have been technologies like this on the market for a while, but there are some challenges in using them.
One challenge is that [existing technologies] typically require high-quality headsets for recording, not like Personal Voice that lets you just grab your iPhone and start.
The other part is that because of the costs involved, people often need to apply for funding, and those two things actually pose significant barriers. And where people are going to lose their voice, they need a certain amount of time to come to grips with that idea. If there are then additional barriers that prevent them from starting to record their own voice, what often happens is that they start too late and that they start doing this by the time they’re starting to lose their voice already, which means that the quality of the recordings is going to be a lot lower.
And I think the whole concept of Personal Voice, the ease with which you can make the recording, the fact that you don’t have to either look for funding or spend money on it, it takes away those barriers. So what I’m hoping is that it becomes so easy that people just do it at the stage where it’s not too late to do it.
I also think that the whole idea of privacy – of not having what you record go to the cloud and then be processed there – is really exciting.
And finally, voice is really a key part of people’s identity. It’s important for them personally but also for the people that love them. And so anything that makes it easier for someone to have a voice that sounds like them is really powerful.
I’ve already seen some reactions from our community, especially those people that are part-time AAC users, which means they sometimes speak, and sometimes they use a device. They love the idea of being able to, at no cost, easily record their own voice so that they can sound like themselves. So that’s a whole category that would not typically get any funding today, which makes other solutions challenging from a cost perspective. So, I think that’s a group that will be really excited about it.
For us as developers, we don’t know yet what it will take to integrate this Personal Voice feature, but it definitely sounds like something that’s interesting to do.
What’s also exciting about this is, as I mentioned, there are other companies that do similar things, but as a developer, that means I need to include this SDK for that company and that SDK for another company. When there’s a new iOS version, I need to get new versions of those SDKs and test them again. That’s been a barrier for us to include this kind of technology in some of our products. And so having a first-party solution from Apple that addresses this will lower the barrier for us to offer this kind of feature to more users. So I think that’s a big plus from a developer perspective.
Assistive Access. Source: Apple.
How about Assistive Access? I’ve got to imagine that having the ability to put your app in an Assistive Access setting would help with keeping people who use the app, especially children, focused on your app in settings like schools.
Niemeijer: I see Assistive Access as a really nice extension from what we have with Guided Access. Guided Access for the last decade allowed you to lock someone into an app, and block out certain parts on screen, but it didn’t allow you to switch back and forth between multiple apps. And being able to set something up where a user can switch between two apps is actually really interesting for us because it allows people to kind of go back and forth between two or three products that are really valuable to them, rather than that they need someone else to come in, unlock one and lock in the other. So I think it really gives people more autonomy but in a safe kind of environment.
I also expect that for the elderly population, this is going to be huge. That’s not our primary target group, but looking around me and also reading what other people say, including in my own team, there’s a lot of potential there. So I see this not just as a boon for people with cognitive disabilities but for anyone who doesn’t need all those power user features and is afraid to get lost.
And having a more forgiving environment also means that people are going to use technology more. Because if you go to someone today who is a little fearful of technology, and they see all the options they have there, they might just not use this product, or they might not use this particular app because they’re afraid they might break it or get stuck in a corner. And an environment like Assistive Access should eliminate a lot of that fear and give them the essential functions that they’re really looking for. So I think it’s huge.
That leads really well into my next question, which is something you’ve written about in the past – the democratization of communication. What’s your perspective on how devices like the iPad and the iPhone have democratized communication?
Niemeijer: In the days before iPhone, in a country like the US, only a fraction of the people that could have benefited from this kind of technology got access. Devices would cost anywhere from two to three thousand dollars for a small little handheld iPod touch kind of device to ten to fifteen thousand dollars for more of an iPad-like device. And when I say ‘like,’ they were heavier and clunkier but with a bigger screen than the small devices.
So what happened was that by putting this kind of technology on consumer devices, it de-stigmatized the fear of a school. A student might have one of those devices, but when they went out to the playground, it was locked in the cupboard because, God forbid, it got damaged because it was $15,000. The moment the iPod touch started being used in schools, and later the iPad, suddenly it could be taken to the playground.
Kids would suddenly be the cool kid because they have the device, whereas before, they were the weird kid that had a clunky device. Younger kids suddenly got access because these dedicated devices, where before, the cost of them typically meant that you might be eight or ten years old before you would get anything. Now, a two-year-old or a four-year-old can get a device, and the earlier in your development that you get access to a piece of communication, the more opportunities you have in terms of language development. In terms of learning, you’re not going to miss out. So that’s been really big.
The other part was that the kind of people who got access expanded. In the past, it was typically people with cerebral palsy and people with physical disabilities that would get funding and would get these devices, but with first the iPhone, iPod touch, and then the iPad, this really opened up to people with Down syndrome, autistic people, and people were also suddenly able to make that decision, because they could buy the device in an Apple Store, and then go the App Store, even if a professional would say, “I don’t think he’s ready yet for this,” or “I don’t think it’s a good choice.” So that really democratized access, made it more affordable, and today, the number of people who get access to this technology has multiplied maybe by a factor of 10 every year.
We’re still nowhere near where everyone who would benefit from the technology can actually get it, but we’re so much further ahead than before the App Store.
Source: Apple.
Where do you hope technology will take AAC apps in the future?
Niemeijer: I think one of the biggest challenges is in the educational environment. What we see is that, especially in the US, schools are required by law to provide these kinds of devices to provide communication, but teachers are struggling to use that effectively in the classroom and support the students that use this kind of technology effectively.
What we’re trying to do is work toward them actually being helpful to the teacher. So in our latest product, Proloquo, we actually significantly expanded the default vocabulary with a lot of the words necessary for the curriculum, and I think if we want AAC to further take off from a technology perspective, we really need to look more at how we can help teachers benefit from it, and not only have yet another thing that they’re responsible for in the classroom.
You make apps that are specifically targeted at accessibility, but what advice would you give to your fellow developers who maybe aren’t making accessibility apps but really want to incorporate some of Apple’s accessibility features in their own apps? Where should they start, and what are the kind of things they should be thinking about to do more with their own apps?
Niemeijer: One of the things I think to think about is how making your app accessible is not only good in terms of it’s a good thing to do, it’s not only good because you’ll get more customers who would otherwise not be able to use your app, but it can actually help you in your development and testing. If you make sure that every element in your app is accessible, for example, for a VoiceOver user who cannot see the screen, that also means that with the tools that Apple provides, you can actually build automated tests to see if your app function correctly.
To give you an example, some of our apps cover quite a few languages, and for the App Store, you need to upload screenshots in multiple device sizes for multiple languages. You make a change to your app, and things look slightly different, so you have to do it again. So what we did is we used those accessibility features to automate navigating the UI so we could automatically capture the screenshots. And what used to take a few days, it now runs on a machine for a few hours independently.
So it cuts both ways. You get better products, you get more accessible products, but you can also actually enhance the quality for everyone.
And sometimes, you don’t yet see the use of certain things, but then Apple introduces something like Voice Control, where you can actually speak to your device to interact with it. That opens a whole other kind of use for it. Automation features typically make use of these kinds of technologies.
So, I would say it’s one of those things when you’ve never done it, it looks really scary, but it’s actually really easy to do. And Apple provides a really great foundation. If you use standard elements, you get most accessibility features, like 95% for free, and the other 5% is not going to keep you working through the night.
When you make custom elements, you need to do more work. But again, it’s manageable, and the benefits to users and also to being able to deliver good quality, well-tested software are huge as well. So we do it for every product we do, even if we are not necessarily expecting that this product is going to be used by this category of people who would need this particular piece of accessibility. We see this as something that’s a must-have for whatever we do.
Thanks to David Niemeijer of AssistiveWare for joining me to talk about Apple’s upcoming accessibility features, and thanks to Apple for arranging for today’s interview.
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In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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John: One of the things I love about judging Automation April is seeing the wide variety of problems people use Shortcuts to solve and their creativity in solving them. This year’s Automation April Shortcuts Contest was no exception. We judged well over 100 shortcuts in the following categories.
- Best Everyday Shortcut
- Best Productivity Shortcut
- Best Health Shortcut
- Best Media Shortcut
- Best Mac Shortcut
- Best Overall Shortcut
The shortcuts we reviewed ran the gamut from simple shortcuts with a few actions to complex systems for automating elaborate workflows. What all of the shortcuts we judged had in common is a dedication to problem-solving. That’s reflected not just in the ingenuity of the shortcuts created by participants but also in their willingness to work with others in the Club MacStories+ Discord community and elsewhere to work together and learn. The Shortcuts community is a vibrant and generous group of which we’re fortunate to be a part.
Like last year, the quality of submissions to the contest made it exceptionally hard to pick the top shortcuts, but with the help of Simon Støvring, Jack Wellborn, Christopher Lawley, Matthew Cassinelli, Jason Snell, and Rosemary Orchard, we have come up with winners in each category. We’ve also included a handful of honorable mentions to showcase some of our favorite shortcuts that didn’t win a category. There are some real gems among the honorable mentions, so don’t forget to check them out too.
With that, we give you the 2023 Automation April Shortcuts Contest winners and the shortcuts they’ve created.
[table_of_contents]
Best Everyday ShortcutYes More EventsJohn: The Everyday Shortcut category is for those shortcuts that solve the kind of annoyances that creep into everyday life for a lot of people. Most of us just deal with those daily productivity paper cuts, but some people set out to solve them with Shortcuts.
That’s what Jason Biatek did with Yes More Events, a tongue-in-cheek reference to ‘No More Events,’ the message that is shown on the Apple Watch’s Calendar complication and iOS, iPadOS, and Mac widgets when you have no more events left for the day. The message is accurate, but with limited complication and widget space, it’s not a very good use of space either.
Yes More Events adds an event at the end of your day and fills it with useful information.
What Biatek did to solve this daily annoyance was to create Yes More Events, a shortcut that looks at your overdue tasks in Reminders and adds an event to the end of your day that starts at 11:45 pm and ends just before midnight. The event lists how many overdue events you have and includes the task titles in the event’s notes field. That way, if you finish your events for the day and find yourself with a little extra time, you can jump right into the shortcut-created event to pick a task or two to complete.
As Biatek notes in his write-up of the shortcut, Yes More Events doesn’t have to use Reminders. The shortcut is using the title and notes fields in Calendar to list tasks, but you could just as easily drop in an inspirational quote or text from other sources if you prefer. Another aspect of this shortcut that I like a lot is its clear organization and use of variables to make it easy for a first-time user of the shortcut to understand what it’s doing. If you’ve ever found yourself frustrated by the ‘No More Events’ message in Calendar complications and widgets, be sure to give this shortcut a try.
Congrats to Jason Biatek for winning the following prizes:
- A 1-year subscription to Club Premier (or membership upgrade and/or extension for existing Club members)
- A special Discord category winner role
- Induction into the Automation April Category Hall of Fame (coming soon)
Best Productivity ShortcutMeeting Notes for ObsidianJohn: Meeting Notes for Obsidian by Jan Dammshäuser is a great example of how Shortcuts can extend apps in interesting ways. Obsidian includes powerful automation tools, including a templating system, but with Shortcuts, you can expand the data that’s readily available to Obsidian in new and unique ways.
If you participate in a lot of meetings, it’s handy to keep a record of when it was, who participated, what was decided, and follow-up actions. Meeting Notes for Obsidian does just that by combining Calendar data with a meeting template to create the skeleton of a note, so you can hit the ground running when your meeting starts.
Meeting Notes for Obsidian asks for the name of your Obsidian vault and the folder you want to use for meeting notes up front. The shortcut also requires the Advanced URI community plugin for Obsidian, which is a plugin that uses an extended set of URL scheme parameters to generate notes with pre-defined content in your Obsidian vault.
When you run Meeting Notes for Obsidian, the shortcut asks you to pick a date and then an event. The rest is handled by the shortcut and the Advanced URI plugin, which generate a note with a file name that references the date, time, and name of the event. The body of the note is titled based on the name of your event, along with a link back to a note for the date of your event using Obsidian’s Wikilink-style double brackets. The remainder of the note includes the attendees, details from the notes of an event, and a space for taking notes.
What I love about this sort of shortcut is that it does more than just facilitate the creation of a note using a template system. By drawing on sources like Calendar, you can be assured of having a consistent format for your notes every time too. That may seem like a small thing, but when you’re pressed for time and reviewing multiple sets of notes, having a format you can rely on being the same makes working with them easier, which I love. I don’t attend a lot of meetings, but I’ve developed templates for Club newsletter sections, podcast show notes, and common MacStories posts. Shortcuts is perfect for that sort of automation.
Congrats to Jan Dammshäuser for winning the following prizes:
- A 1-year subscription to Club Premier (or membership upgrade and/or extension for existing Club members)
- A special Discord category winner role
- Induction into the Automation April Category Hall of Fame (coming soon)
Best Health ShortcutAction HealthJohn: Early on, I was a skeptic when it came to the Apple Watch Ultra’s Action button and Shortcuts. That had more to do with the limitations Shortcuts imposes on the actions that can run on the Apple Watch than on the promise of the Action button itself. Because of the constraints imposed on shortcuts for the Apple Watch, Tim Nahumck deserves a round of applause for his excellent Action Health shortcut.
Action Health uses the Choose from List action to minimize input on the Apple Watch.
Action Health is an all-in-one Apple Watch shortcut that works particularly well with the Apple Watch Ultra’s Action button, but it works from the watchOS Shortcuts app on other models too. When you install the shortcut, Action Heath presents you with a long list of fitness activities that you can pare down to just the activities you typically do.
Then, when you run the shortcut, you’re given four initial choices. You can start a workout, which opens up your list of activities. Once one is chosen, the Apple Watch’s Workouts app starts the corresponding workout. The other options available are logging your weight, water intake, or caffeine consumption. The water option is pre-programmed with preset quantities that can be edited, and the caffeine option includes three popular coffee drinks along with sizes for each. The weight, water, and caffeine tracking options all take your input and save it directly to the Health app.
Examples of some of the pre-defined lists built into Action Health.
I love Action Health’s time-saving ease of pre-defined workout, water, and caffeine options. It’s the sort of shortcut that I’m sure took a while to create but used regularly for workouts and logging, the time savings can be significant, which is a big part of what automation is all about. I also appreciate the ingenuity Nahumck’s shortcut shows in light of the limitations inherent to Apple Watch shortcuts. Let’s hope some of those limitations are removed in watchOS 10.
Congrats to Tim Nahumck for winning the following prizes:
- A 1-year subscription to Club Premier (or membership upgrade and/or extension for existing Club members)
- A special Discord category winner role
- Induction into the Automation April Category Hall of Fame (coming soon)
Best Media ShortcutQueue MediaFederico: I’m a big believer in the idea that useful shortcuts don’t have to be complex to have an impact on your everyday workflow. A perfect example of this idea is Queue Media, created by Joshua Dick and the shortcut we selected as the winner of the Media category this year.
Queue Media takes advantage of native Shortcuts actions for Play and MusicBox, two apps we love at MacStories, to either let you save videos or music into those apps. The idea is that rather than using two separate share sheet extensions for Play and MusicBox, you can use this one shortcut to save all kinds of media and let the shortcut figure out whether it’s dealing with music or video content.
Saving content via Queue Media from the share sheet.
Content saved via Queue Media in Play (left) and MusicBox.
To accomplish this, Joshua Dick devised a simple, yet clever system based on regular expressions that checks whether URLs passed to Queue Media are from YouTube, Vimeo, Twitter, or Nebula for video, or Apple Music, Spotify, Bandcamp, and Deezer for music content. The RegEx is easy to understand and modify, and Joshua used repeat blocks to support multiple URLs shared at once with Queue Media.
We liked Queue Media because it’s a good demonstration of how you can build an effective “read-later, but for media” catch-all shortcut that uses native actions from third-party apps, is built to be flexible, and can be useful on a daily basis.
Congrats to Joshua Dick for winning the following prizes:
- A 1-year subscription to Club Premier (or membership upgrade and/or extension)
- A special Discord category winner role
- Induction into the Automation April Category Hall of Fame (coming soon)
Best Mac ShortcutScan QR Code On ScreenFederico: In this year’s edition of the Automation April Shortcuts Contest, I’ve seen a lot of Mac shortcuts that were, effectively, shell scripts wrapped inside a single ‘Run Shell Script’ action. There’s nothing wrong with those, but, as a judge, I tend to gravitate toward shortcuts that blend the old world of Mac automation (AppleScript, shell scripts, GUI automation, etc.) with the modern reality of Shortcuts. As we’ll see below with the Best Overall Shortcut winner, that was one of our driving principles this year, which we also applied to the winner of the Mac category: Scan QR Code On Screen.
You probably don’t think about QR codes anymore: when you see one, you just grab your iPhone, point the camera at it, and tap the yellow link to open whatever link’s associated with it. The Mac, however, doesn’t have a camera to quickly recognize QR codes, which is why Aidan Maurin-Jones built a shortcut that grabs a QR code’s image in the most obvious way: by taking a screenshot of it.
Running Scan QR Code on macOS.
You don’t need to be precise with the screenshot you capture using Scan QR Code.
The beauty of this shortcut is that, on macOS, the ‘Take Screenshot’ action can display the native screenshot tool’s crosshair anywhere on the system, allowing you to capture any region of the screen in seconds. Once this shortcut has been assigned a keyboard shortcut, you’ll be able to quickly take a screenshot of the QR code – it doesn’t have to be precise – and, a few seconds later, its link will open in a new Safari tab. To make this possible, Aidan used the QR Code Generator API, which is free to use and allows you to decode the contents of a QR code by sending an image with a POST request.
The code behind Scan QR Code.
I’ve often found myself taking a picture of my Mac’s screen with my iPhone to scan QR codes, ending up with tabs in Safari for iPhone even though I’m using a different computer. It doesn’t have to be like that, which Aidan has shown with Scan QR Code On Screen – a well-designed, effective solution to a common problem that can be fixed with Shortcuts.
Congrats to Aidan Maurin-Jones for winning the following prizes:
- A 1-year subscription to Club Premier (or membership upgrade and/or extension)
- A special Discord category winner role
- Induction into the Automation April Category Hall of Fame (coming soon)
Best Overall ShortcutInline ConverterFederico: One of my favorite additions to iOS and iPadOS last year was inline unit conversion – the ability for the system to automatically and intelligently convert units in messages, selected text, notes, and other places inside apps. Built on top of Apple’s existing system for smart data detectors and integrated with Live Text across the system, the feature has quickly become one of my favorite quality-of-life improvements in recent years (alongside suggestions in the keyboard for one-time codes received on iMessage). The only problem: inline conversion wasn’t brought over to macOS.
That’s where Dillon Mok comes in. Dillon, who participated in Automation April last year and won the Best Everyday Shortcut category with Meme Maker, saw an opportunity for a macOS shortcut designed to replicate the inline unit conversion feature of iOS, and he got to work. The result is Inline Converter, a shortcut that is best experienced on the Mac – but which I also love to use on my iPad – that lets you select any text anywhere on the system and instantly converts recognized values for distance, volume, temperature, weight, and angles.
We loved the idea behind Inline Converter and, perhaps more importantly, the technical implementation and choice of actions behind the scenes. As Dillon explained in the shortcut, Inline Converter shines when used as a quick action on macOS. Select any text you want in any app you may be using, run Inline Converter and, if the text contains one of the supported units, you’ll get an alert right away showing you converted values for your selection. Simple and effective.
Running Inline Converter for selected text in Safari for Mac.
The output produced by Inline Converter for selected text shown above.
If no text is selected – or if you’re using Inline Converter on a platform that doesn’t support quick actions, like iPadOS – you’ll be asked to manually type some text you want to convert instead. Personally, I like doing this with Inline Converter pinned to my iPadOS dock since I find its unit recognition more reliable than Apple’s in Spotlight.
Inline Converter on iPadOS.
That’s because Inline Converter was built with a fascinating technique that combines Shortcuts’ native ‘Convert Measurement’ action with regular expressions that check for various possible ways to spell out degrees, length, weight, and more. Just looking at the shortcut’s code, we could tell this was a lot of work, and it’s been beautifully abstracted in a shortcut that never shows any of its underlying complexity to the user.
Some of the code behind Inline Converter.
Inline Converter isn’t the most intricate shortcut we ever judged for Automation April, but it achieves something rare: it combines a sound understanding of Shortcuts’ underpinnings with a clear vision for a feature that should “just work” with no additional setup necessary. Using Inline Converter feels like using something Apple built into its operating system: it’s the kind of automation that recedes into the background, saving you valuable time and making you more productive without demanding any attention or knowledge from you. For all these reasons, Inline Converter by Dillon Mok is the Best Overall Shortcut of the 2023 edition of Automation April.
Congrats to Dillon Mok for winning the following prizes:
- A 3-year subscription (or membership upgrade and/or extension) to Club Premier
- A Loupedeck Live S
- A CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt dock
- A special Discord contest winner role
- Induction into the Automation April Hall of Fame (coming soon)
Honorable MentionsLike last year, we wanted to share some of our other favorite shortcuts from the Automation April Shortcuts Contest. These shortcuts didn’t win their category but are nonetheless impressive demonstrations of what is possible. So, in addition to sharing the following Honorable Mention shortcuts, we’re providing each of their creators with a free three-month subscription to Club MacStories Premier.
Add Portrait Effect, A Shortcut to Add Background Blur to Any PhotoJohn: Add Portrait Effect by Om Chachad is a shortcut for taking a portrait photo or adding a bokeh-like blurred background to existing photos, even if they don’t officially support the feature. The shortcut takes advantage of the Remove Image Background action to separate the subject of a photo from its background, which allows it to apply a user-chosen amount of blur to the photo. There are a lot of other impressively complex steps in between, which show the kind of sophisticated image manipulations that are possible with Shortcuts. That said, the shortcut needs a well-defined separation between the subject and background to achieve the best results.
Advanced System Details, a Shortcut to Retrieve iPhone and iPad Hardware InfoAdvanced System Details.
Federico: I didn’t even know it was possible to do what Advanced System Details, a shortcut created by Dawson Reprogle, does. This shortcut parses the native JSON analytics file generated by an iPhone or iPad (located in Settings ⇾ Privacy & Security ⇾ Analytics & Improvements ⇾ Analytics Data) and shows you an alert with details for your device and battery info. These details include your battery’s charge cycles, which is not normally something you can find that easily on iOS or iPadOS.
Change File Date, a Hybrid Mac Shortcut to Edit File MetadataChange File Date.
Federico: Created by John Warne, Change File Date uses a hybrid scripting/Shortcuts technique to take a file selected in Finder and change its creation date to a different one. John accomplished this by mixing and matching native date pickers displayed by Shortcuts with the ‘Run Shell Script’ action, which uses variables generated by the shortcut to change the date attributed of the selected item in Finder. If you want to share a shortcut that revolves around a script, this is the way to do it.
New Music Time, a Shortcut to Quickly Play New Music ReleasesNew Music Time.
Federico: I loved this idea by FlohGro: New Music Time retrieves all your unplayed items from MusicBox and opens a random one in either the Music app or Marvis Pro (you can choose your favorite player when setting up the shortcut). This is a nice way to remove some pressure from having to choose which album you want to listen to next, and it integrates nicely with MusicBox and Marvis Pro, two of my favorite apps on iPhone and iPad.
Mature Breakfast, a Shortcut Designed to Maintain a Healthy, Varied DietJohn: Mature Breakfast by Jeff Maynard is perfect for anyone who is trying to ensure they eat a healthy, varied diet. As submitted, the shortcut is designed to generate a menu for a healthy breakfast from the Apple Watch, but you could just as easily adapt it to other meals with other foods. As you can see from the screenshot, the shortcut relies on a series of Dictionary actions to build a text view that includes details about the meal it generates, plus the current weather conditions.
Feedback to Markdown, a Shortcut for Those Who File Too Many RadarsFeedback to Markdown’s underlying code.
Federico: I was familiar with Antonio Bueno’s work before, and this time he’s outdone himself with something that is so geeky and specific it couldn’t win in any category, but it deserves a mention here because of the technical achievement of this shortcut. As the name suggests, Feedback to Markdown can convert the RTF files generated by the Feedback app for Mac when pressing ⌘E (this is something I learned from this shortcut) into readable Markdown files. To do this, Antonio did a lot of advanced work behind the scenes to clean up RTF, match special characters, remove cruft from the converted text, and present a plain text document with a structure that makes sense. I don’t think I’m going to use this shortcut on a regular basis, but I can still learn a lot from it.
Diceware Passphrase Generator, a Shortcut for Generating Secure PassphrasesJohn: The Electronic Frontier Foundation maintains a huge list of long words that can be used, along with dice, to generate a random passphrase as a password. Rolling physical dice and correlating the results to the EFF’s list is a pain, so Dan Irish created a shortcut that asks a few basic questions:
- How many words do you want to generate?
- How many numbers do you want?
- What separator do you want to use between words?
With that input from the user, plus whether you want to start words with a capital letter, Diceware Passphrase Generator handles the rest, creating a hard-to-guess passphrase for you automatically and coping it to the clipboard.
River Report, a Shortcut for Checking Hyrological ConditionsJohn: Nathan Ansel’s River Report shortcut shows how Shortcuts can be used to make important local information more readily available. Ansel lives near the Mississippi River in Minnesota, and the dog park where he walks his dog sometimes floods. River Report uses an API published by water.weather.gov that returns river height data as XML. The shortcut parses the API response and provides Ansel with a report of the height of the river and the parts of the dog park that might be unavailable with a single tap.
Thanks again to all our judges for helping us pick the Automation April Shortcuts Contest winners again this year. It’s always great to get on a Zoom call with the other judges and talk about Shortcuts as we wrap up the contest every year.
Also, thanks to all the participants in this year’s contest. We had a tremendous number of creative, clever shortcuts that have inspired us to do more with shortcuts ourselves. We were especially touched by the many contest participants who incorporated Alex Hay’s app Toolbox Pro into their shortcuts. Alex left an indelible mark on the Shortcuts community. He will not be forgotten.
Until next year, keep on building those shortcuts, and if you’re a Club MacStories member, swing by the Discord community. There’s always someone sharing a new shortcut and ready to help others who get stuck on theirs.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
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This week on AppStories, we explain the changes to watchOS and tvOS that we’d like to see made in 2023.
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On AppStories+, troubleshooting hardware and software issues.
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→ Source: appstories.net
Source: Apple.
Today, Apple has launched new Apple Maps and Music features for live music fans. Apple Maps has added more than 40 Guides highlighting over 10 venues worldwide. In addition to editorial content about the music scenes in the featured cities, users can learn more about each venue and its upcoming shows using features that the Shazam app incorporated last spring, using information from Bandsintown.
Apple Music Guides.
In the Music app, Apple has created a new category called Set Lists that offers information about major artists’ concerts, along with a playlist of songs they’re playing on tour. Apple’s press release says users can browse upcoming shows of the artists spotlighted in Set Lists using the same Shazam tools that power the similar Apple Maps feature too.
Set Lists. Source: Apple.
The new Apple Music Guides announced today include Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York City, San Francisco, Berlin, London, Paris, Vienna, Tokyo, Melbourne, Sydney, and Mexico City. To view the guides, you can visit apple.co/MusicVenues. Set Lists are beginning to appear in Apple Music, too, although as of publication, I’ve only been able to locate them via search. Later, you should be able to browse all Set Lists at apple.co/setlists too.
It’s fantastic to see Apple Music and Maps expanding into live music. These sorts of features are something that Federico and I have been hoping Apple would implement for years, and I hope with time, we’ll see more guides for more cities around the world as well as a growing collection of Set Lists.
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Thursday is Global Accessibility Awareness Day, and as in years past, Apple has previewed several new accessibility features coming later this year. This year, Apple is focusing on a wide range of accessibility features covering cognitive, vision, hearing, mobility, and speech, which were designed with feedback from disability communities. The company hasn’t said when these features will debut in its operating systems, but if past years are any indication, most should be released in the fall as part of the annual OS release cycle.
Assistive AccessAssistive Access. Source: Apple.
Assistive Access is a new customizable iPhone and iPad mode created for users with cognitive disabilities to lighten the cognitive load of using their favorite apps. Apple worked with users as well as their trusted supports to focus on the activities they use most, like communicating with friends and family, taking and viewing photos, and listening to music. The result is a distillation of the experiences of the related apps. For instance, Phone and FaceTime have been combined into a single Calls app that handles both audio and video calls.
Calls, Messages, Camera in Assistive Access mode. Source: Apple.
The UI for Assistive Access is highly customizable, allowing users and their trusted supporters to adapt it to their individual needs. For example, an iPhone’s Home Screen can be streamlined to show just a handful of apps with large, high-contrast buttons with big text labels. Alternatively, Assistive Access can be set up with a row-based UI for people who prefer text.
Live Speech and Personal VoiceLive Speech. Source: Apple.
Live Speech is a new feature that works with the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, allowing users who can’t speak to type responses that are spoken aloud on phone and FaceTime calls, as well as during in-person conversations. Common phrases can be saved and played back without the need to type too.
Apple also announced Personal Voice, which leverages the power of Apple silicon’s Neural Engine to assist users who are at risk of losing their ability to speak. The feature allows users to record 15 minutes of randomized text prompts on iPhone, iPad, or Apple silicon Mac, which Personal Voice uses to create a facsimile of their voice. The process takes place on-device using machine learning and can be synced to other devices using iCloud end-to-end encryption if users opt-in. At launch, Personal Voice will be English-only.
Setting up Personal Voice. Source: Apple.
Personal Voice is a very big deal for people faced with losing their ability to speak as a result of an ALS diagnosis or other disability:
“At the end of the day, the most important thing is being able to communicate with friends and family,” said Philip Green, board member and ALS advocate at the Team Gleason nonprofit, who has experienced significant changes to his voice since receiving his ALS diagnosis in 2018. “If you can tell them you love them, in a voice that sounds like you, it makes all the difference in the world — and being able to create your synthetic voice on your iPhone in just 15 minutes is extraordinary.”
Personal Voice also demonstrates the extent to which machine learning can be accomplished locally on iPhones and iPads. I’ve played around with speech synthesis myself using ElevenLabs’ tools, but those require you to upload samples of your voice, trusting that the company creating the voice will not misuse your voice data. Personal Voice achieves an important accessibility goal without compromising privacy, which is a big win for users. I haven’t heard enough examples of Personal Voice to evaluate how well it works compared to other options, but what I have heard was very good, so I’m optimistic that users like it.
Point and Speak in MagnifierPoint and Speak. Source: Apple.
The Magnifier app is a terrific accessibility tool and will be getting even better with Point and Speak. The feature is an extension of Detection Mode, which was introduced last year and helps blind and low-vision users find and navigate doors when they arrive somewhere. Like that feature, Point and Speak combines the power of camera hardware, LiDAR, and text recognition to help users interact with things in their environment, such as home appliances.
For example, as the video above shows, a user can hold an iPhone or iPad up to a microwave oven, and as they move their finger over each button, the Magnifier app will speak the text of the label on the button. It’s a remarkable coordination between several hardware and software technologies that boil down to one simple feature that promises to make everyday life easier for many users. Point and Speak will require an iPhone or iPad with a LiDAR scanner and will support English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Cantonese, Korean, Japanese, and Ukrainian at launch.
Other Features and EventsMac text resizing. Source: Apple.
Apple also announced a grab bag of other new accessibility features that are coming later this year:
- Made for iPhone hearing devices will work with the M1 and M2 Macs
- Voice Control is gaining phonetic suggestions for words that sound similar when a user is editing text in English, Spanish, French, and German
- A Voice Control guide will be added to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac to provide tips for using the feature
- Switch Control will add the ability to allow a switch to serve as a game controller
- Adjusting text size will be easier in Mac apps, including Finder, Messages, Mail, Calendar, and Notes
- Animations can be set so they will automatically pause in Messages and Safari for users who are sensitive to fast animations
- Siri voices will sound natural for VoiceOver users when played back between 0.8x and 2x speeds
To celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Apple is also rolling out SignTime to more of its stores. The program, which offers on-demand sign language for Apple Store and Apple Support customers, will expand on May 18th to Italy, Germany, Spain, and South Korea. In addition:
- Shortcuts is adding Remember This, a shortcut for users with cognitive disabilities that creates a visual diary in the Notes app
- Apple Podcasts will have a collection of shows about accessibility technology
- Apple TV is curating TV shows and movies from the disability community
- Apple Books is spotlighting the memoir of Judith Heumann, a disability rights pioneer
- Apple Music is featuring American Sign Language (ASL) music videos
- Apple Fitness+ trainer Jamie-Ray Hartshorne will highlight accessibility features of the service’s workouts
- The App Store will spotlight Aloysius Gan, Jordyn Zimmerman, and Bradley Heaven, three disability community leaders, and their experiences with augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) apps for nonspeaking people
Apple has made a tradition of announcing its upcoming accessibility features the week of Global Accessibility Awareness Day. It’s a great way to shine a spotlight on the company’s efforts to make its products available to everyone and how technology can make that a reality. This year even more than others, theres a lot of accessibility innovations to look forward to in upcoming OS updates.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Today, Funn Media released FitnessView Teams, a fitness-tracking app that allows coaches or personal trainers to track multiple team members or clients at once. I’m not a coach or a trainer, but I’ve been trying the app with demo data and like what I’ve seen a lot.
FitnessView Teams provides a home base for tracking the performance of multiple athletes.
FitnessView Teams, which builds on Funn Media’s FitnessView app for individuals, works on the iPhone and iPad, but it’s best on the iPad where you can see more data at once. From the main view, you can switch among multiple teams, browse data by team member, invite new team members, and invite other coaches to your team. Coaches and team members can both be added via a QR code or an invitation link that allows FitnessView Teams to access the data collected by a team member’s Apple Watch. You can also browse team member data by date using a calendar strip along the top of the iPad’s screen.
Tapping any of the home view’s tiles drills deeper into the details of each.
Most of the app’s main view is dedicated to health metric tiles that are fully customizable in the app’s settings. Tapping on any health metric brings up additional details, including a graph for that data over time, as well as daily averages and monthly progress. Reports for each athlete can be exported as a customizable PDF-formatted report too.
The app includes calendar and metric-based views of team data too.
Other data visualizations include a tab dedicated to a full month overview per athlete. There’s also a tab that breaks down a team’s progress by fitness metric, which allows coaches to easily compare the stats of one athlete compared to another on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. All of the same data is available on the iPhone, too, but the limited screen space requires more navigating between views and scrolling of data.
I’ve always been a fan of FitnessView for individuals. The app’s simple, clean design provides an excellent overview of core health metrics, with the ability to dive into each for more detail. FitnessView Teams takes the same approach and succeeds in organizing an even bigger set of health data for multiple people at once, which is an impressive accomplishment. If you’re a coach or trainer, FitnessView Teams is worth checking out.
FitnessView Teams is available to download for free. However, a subscription is required to add multiple team members or clients to the app, which starts at $59.99/month to track ten users.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings:
MacStories Weekly: Issue 368* Tips from Federico on using Things’ Shortcuts actions for Quick Entry and task selection on the iPad * A story on the complexity of app pricing and why it’s at the root of so much unhappiness about apps. * Plus: + App Debuts + Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord + Interesting links from around the web + A sneak peek at what’s next on AppStories + and more
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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SugarBot is an easy-to-use way to maintain a healthy diet by tracking sugar intake and other nutritional data from the maker of CardioBot. With SugarBot for the iPhone and Apple Watch, you can track your data and gain insights into trends from its in-depth graphs and recommendations to form healthier habits.
Getting started with SugarBot’s elegantly designed interface couldn’t be easier. The app comes with an extensive database of foods. Log your meals, and SugarBot does the rest, recording sugar and other information, including protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and fat for each meal. Everything tracked is measured against your goals, which can be set up in the app’s Settings. You can set up SugarBot according to a Keto diet or to lose, maintain, or gain weight. Individual nutrient goals can be set as well.
Each data point logged is immediately accessible from the app’s main screen giving you a quick view of today’s nutritional intake and the option to navigate back to prior days. There’s also an ‘All nutrients’ view for daily tracking your nutritional intake by category.
For longer-term trend analysis, SugarBot has a dedicated Insights tab that displays graphs of your intake of nutrients over time. It’s a fantastic way to ensure you’re on track with your goals and understand how your food consumption affects other areas of your health.
Download SugarBot today to start your journey to better health through tracking what you eat.
Our thanks to SugarBot for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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27:37
In this special episode of Unwind, Federico, who received The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom one day earlier than most people, shares his first impressions of the game, which has received rave reviews from critics.
First Impressions: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom* The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom * Trailers + The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Official Trailer #1 + The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Official Trailer #2 + The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Official Trailer #3 * Reviews + The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom changes the conversation + The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Review (IGN) + The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Review (Nintendo Life)
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Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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This week on AppStories, we continue our wish list series with our wishes for iPadOS 17.
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On AppStories+, stand-up lawn mowers and my struggles with social media.
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Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
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Raycast, the keyboard-driven launcher for the Mac, introduced a new subscription service today called Raycast Pro that adds AI, syncing, templating, and extended clipboard functionality to the app.
Raycast Pro, which is $8 per month when billed annually and is also included in Team plans, includes three artificial intelligence features:
- Quick AI, which is meant to provide one-off answers that can be copied and pasted into whatever you’re working on
- AI Chat, a chatbot window that floats onscreen, allowing for back-and-forth interaction
- AI Commands, which include built-in commands for things like spelling and grammar checking, along with customizable commands
According to Raycast’s FAQs, the app uses OpenAI’s GPT 3 and GPT 3.5-Turbo large language models “as well as some other models” for their AI features and does not offer an option to use your own OpenAI API key.
If you use Raycast on multiple Macs, a Pro subscription will allow you to flip a toggle to sync items like Extensions, Quicklinks, Snippets, and Hotkeys. Subscribers can customize Raycast with themes and build their own sharable themes in the app’s Theme Studio too. Finally, a subscription adds an unlimited clipboard history that is stored locally on your Mac and not synced as part of the app’s new sync features for security reasons. Free users are limited to a maximum of three months of clipboard history.
For anyone who relies heavily on AI for their work or has complex Raycast setups that they find hard to maintain across multiple Macs, a Raycast Pro subscription should be attractive. For everyone else, you can still take advantage of the free features, which haven’t changed. I’ve relied on Raycast for more than a year now and don’t need the Pro features myself, but I’m glad to see Raycast expanding its offerings and ways users can support the app’s continued development.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings:
MacStories Weekly: Issue 367Sending images to Shortcuts using Dropover.
- Federico explains how he’s using drag and drop to Dropover to trigger shortcuts.
- I shared some of the lesser-known features of Mona, the Mastodon client I reviewed last week.
- I explain why I returned to Overcast after a two week experiment on Apple Podcasts.
- A Timery giveaway.
- Plus:
- App Debuts
- Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord
- Interesting links from around the web
- A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts
- and more
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Source: Apple.
Today, Apple also announced its annual Pride Edition Apple Watch band, along with a similarly-designed watch face and iPhone wallpaper.
The band is a Sports Band model that Apple says is:
Inspired by the strength and beauty of the LGBTQ+ community, the new Sport Band design showcases the original pride flag rainbow colors and five others — black and brown symbolize Black and Latin communities, in addition to those who have passed away from or are living with HIV/AIDS, while light blue, pink, and white represent transgender and nonbinary individuals.
Source: Apple.
The watch face compliments the band using the same graphical elements around the edges of an analog clock. The iPhone wallpaper takes a slightly different approach blending the colorful elements of the watch band into a river-like stream of color.
The Pride Edition Sports Band will be available at Apple Stores and online beginning May 23rd for $49 for 41mm and 45mm Apple Watches. The watch face and iPhone wallpaper will be released next week, presumably with an update to watchOS and iOS.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Source: Apple.
At long last, Apple has announced Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for the iPad. Ever since the introduction of the iPad Pro, iPad power users have wondered where the ‘pro’ apps were. Third parties released pro-level creative tools, but Apple’s lineup of apps was conspicuously absent. That looks like it’s changing with today’s announcement that Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro are coming as subscription-based apps on Tuesday, May 23rd.
According to Apple’s press release:
Final Cut Pro for iPad introduces an all-new touch interface and intuitive tools — unlocking new workflows for video creators. A new jog wheel makes the editing process easier than ever and enables users to interact with content in completely new ways. They can navigate the Magnetic Timeline, move clips, and make fast frame-accurate edits with just the tap of a finger, and with the immediacy and intuitiveness of Multi-Touch gestures, push their creativity to new heights.
Source: Apple.
Apple says users with an M2 iPad Pro will be able to skim and preview footage using the Apple Pencil’s hover functionality. The app will also support keyboard shortcuts when connected to a Magic Keyboard.
According to Apple’s press release, Final Cut Pro will support single-device field recording, with the M2 iPad Pro supporting ProRes video. The app will also support multicam editing, which can be automatically synced together.
Auto-cropping of the subject of a video will be possible thanks to machine learning. The app will also use machine learning to assist users with cropping to common video sizes and isolating recorded voices.
Source: Apple.
Apple also says the app will come with a “vast library” of professional graphics, effects, audio, and animation that can be automatically adjusted to the length of a video. Finally, Final Cut Pro will be able to import from the Files and Photos app and supports iMovie projects. Plus, it will be able to export to Final Cut Projects that are compatible with the Mac version of the app.
Source: Apple.
Apple says that Logic Pro will take advantage of Multi-Touch gestures for manipulating a project as well as Plug-in Tiles that will provide convenient access to certain controls. The iPad’s microphones will also be available as an audio source.
Source: Apple.
The app will also debut a sound browser:
The sound browser displays all available instrument patches, audio patches, plug‑in presets, samples, and loops in a single location, and users can tap to audition any sound before loading it into a project to save time and stay in their creative flow.
Also included in the app are over 100 instruments and effects, synths, including one called Sample Alchemy for manipulating audio samples, and an extensive set of tools for creating beats. Logic Pro for iPad will work with compatible third-party hardware like microphones, instruments, and MIDI controllers too.
Source: Apple.
When it’s time to mix your creation, Apple says:
Multi-Touch enables creators to mix intuitively and move multiple faders at once, and the mixer meter bridge lets them quickly navigate an overview of track levels, all from iPad.
Finally, Logic Pro will support round-tripping to the Mac version of the app, GarageBand for iOS projects, and exporting in a variety of compressed and lossless formats or as individual track stems.
According to Apple:
Final Cut Pro is compatible with M1 chip iPad models or later, and Logic Pro will be available on A12 Bionic chip iPad models or later. Final Cut Pro for iPad and Logic Pro for iPad require iPadOS 16.4.
I’m glad to see Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro finally coming to the iPad. It remains to be seen how each stands up in comparison to their Mac siblings, but from Apple’s press release alone, these will clearly be more powerful and capable apps than either iMovie or GarageBand.
Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad will be available on the App Store beginning on Tuesday, May 23rd as subscriptions for $4.99/month or $49/year after a one-month free trial.
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It’s no secret that we’re big fans of Marcos Tanaka’s music apps at MacStories. MusicHarbor makes keeping up with new and upcoming releases a breeze, and MusicBox ensures you won’t lose track of music that you don’t have time to enjoy until later. The apps are indispensable for music fans who follow a long list of artists.
MusicSmart, which is available for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV, is a little different than Tanaka’s other apps. Instead of casting a broad net to track the entire range of your musical tastes, the app is about digging deeper into individual songs, albums, or artists’ catalogs. But follow the threads offered by MusicSmart, and the narrow focus that sets it apart from Tanaka’s other apps will paradoxically lead to new musical discoveries and, ultimately, broaden your tastes.
As Federico explained in his review of MusicSmart’s debut:
Whether by design or as a byproduct of our new habits, metadata and credits don’t play a big role in modern music streaming services. We’re frustrated when a service gets the title of a song wrong or reports the incorrect track sequence in an album, but we don’t consider the fact that there’s a world of context and additional information hidden behind the songs and albums we listen to every day. That context is entirely invisible to us because it’s not mass-market enough for a music streaming service. There have been small updates on this front lately, but by and large, credits and additional track information are still very much ignored by the streaming industry. And if you ask me, that’s a shame.
Despite stiff competition among music streaming services, the state of liner notes hasn’t improved since Federico wrote that. Fortunately, though, MusicSmart has only gotten better, adding new data sources, better organization, and more polish with each release. However, version 2.0 of the app combines its existing strengths with new features and an improved design in a way that transcends earlier versions, making this version 2.0 of MusicSmart feel more fully realized than ever before.
An example of the depth of information available on a per-song basis.
With the update, MusicSmart’s song credits have been organized into sections, pulling source material together into groupings like Songwriting and Composition, Performance and Recording, Instruments, and more. Within each of those new groupings is an explanation of each role or instrument, which is a great way to learn more about music production. For example, there are short explanations of what a Recording Engineer, a Mixing Engineer, and a Mastering Engineer do, which provides valuable context if you’re not familiar with those roles.
Digging deeper to discover other albums mixed by Jon Low.
As with prior versions of MusicSmart, you can tap on any of the people involved with a song to see their other work. As I write this, I’ve been poking around in the liner notes for The National’s latest album, First Two Pages of Frankenstein, where I learned that Once Upon a Poolside was mixed by Jon Low, who also worked on two of Taylor Swift’s recent albums, which I didn’t know.
Customizing MusicSmart’s sections (left) and new MusicBox integration and review sources (right).
MusicSmart offers a lot of information about songs by default. However, with the latest version, you can turn off any of the app’s nine sections in the app’s settings. Also, longer sections like editorial content are truncated, offering a ‘More’ button to expand the section, making it easier to navigate liner notes with long editorial sections.
MusicSmart now updates as new tracks start playing, making it an excellent companion.
I’m also a big fan of the app’s new dynamic ‘Now Playing’ screen. If you tap the headphones icon from the app’s default screen, it will show the liner notes for the currently-playing song, which will update when the next song starts. The new feature is especially useful when added to a Split View or a stage in Stage Manager on the iPad, so it can be used side-by-side with your music app.
MusicSmart 2.0 also adds:
- Trending and Top Albums sections on the app’s main screen to help you discover new music
- A unified search field that returns results for songs, albums, and artists
- Liner notes from MusicBrainz
- Two new album review sources: ‘Rate Your Music’ and ‘Album of The Year’
- The ability to add music to Tanaka’s other app, MusicBox
- Integration with Overcast for podcast data
MusicSmart on the Mac.
The Mac app has been updated with many of the features that the iPhone and iPad versions of MusicSmart have added, too, including new data sources and a refreshed design, but not the new dynamic ‘now playing’ or existing music recognition features. On the Mac, one feature I’d love to see in the future is a menu bar app that can be summoned by a global keyboard shortcut and uses ShazamKit to identify songs automatically.
I’ll be the first to admit that a lot of my music listening is a sort of background soundtrack to my day, whether I’m doing something like writing this review or cleaning up around the house. However, with my favorite albums – the ones I return to over and over – I love having MusicSmart by my side. The app allows me to learn more about the many people involved with my favorite albums beyond the performers themselves. Best of all, though, it’s browsing MusicSmart’s liner notes that leads to brand-new music discoveries.
MusicSmart is available on the App Store as a free update for existing users and for a one-time payment of $3.99 for new users.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Ulysses is an exceptional text editor for the Mac, iPad, and iPhone with an unrivaled set of advanced features and a beautiful design that is always being refined and improved. The winner of an Apple Design Award, Ulysses features a distinctive balance of power-user features that writers appreciate in a simple, elegant, distraction-free UI that makes the app a pleasure to use.
A terrific example of the power available in Ulysses is its publishing tools. Users can publish to the most popular blogging platforms from right inside Ulysses. The app includes deep integration with WordPress, Ghost, Medium, and Micro.blog, allowing you to publish directly to them, complete with images, tags, and excerpts. Most recently, Ulysses added the ability to copy and paste tables from Excel and Numbers with row sorting and sketching on the iPhone and iPad versions of the app. The Mac gained PDF and image annotation too.
Ulysses has built-in grammar and style checking for over 20 languages and a special dashboard in the sidebar that includes statistics, keywords, and footnotes. An outline of the headings in your writing provides a handy bird’s-eye view of your work and a way to navigate your document.
The app’s Library sidebar helps order your writing into groups that can be nested. Along with features like sync, powerful search and filtering options, keyword support, in-line images that can be stored locally or remotely on a server, and new customization options, Ulysses is as flexible as it is powerful. Ulysses includes support for Projects now too, allowing you to show only what’s most relevant to your current task and hiding everything else.
You can also set character, word, and other types of writing goals that can be attached to a single document or entire group, which, combined with deadlines, is a fantastic way to form good writing habits. Then, when you’re finished writing, Ulysses has abundant export options, including plain text, Markdown, TextBundle, rich text, DOCX, ePub, HTML, and PDF. To learn more about Ulysses, visit ulysses.app.
Ulysses is free to try before deciding whether to subscribe for $5.99/month or $39.99/year. MacStories readers can take advantage of a special extended one-month free trial for a limited time. It’s a terrific way to discover the app’s full capabilities, so be sure to check out Ulysses’ new features right away.
Our thanks to Ulysses for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Chance Miller published an excellent exposé on the downfall of Brydge, an iPad, Mac, and Microsoft Surface accessory maker. The company got its start with a Kickstarter campaign in 2012, and for a time, its keyboard accessories were a popular choice among iPad users, including me.
However, as Chance explains, Brydge’s fortunes took a turn for the worse as it was forced to compete head-on with Apple’s Magic Keyboard, later spiraling out of control as its cash flow ran out:
Brydge, a once thriving startup making popular keyboard accessories for iPad, Mac, and Microsoft Surface products, is ceasing operations. According to nearly a dozen former Brydge employees who spoke to 9to5Mac, Brydge has gone through multiple rounds of layoffs within the past year after at least two failed acquisitions.
As it stands today, Brydge employees have not been paid salaries since January. Customers who pre-ordered the company’s most recent product have been left in the dark since then as well. Its website went completely offline earlier this year, and its social media accounts have been silent since then as well.
From what former employees told 9to5Mac, it appears that a number of factors contributed to its downfall, but the saddest part of the story is how Brydge treated its employees, keeping them in the dark and, in many cases, unpaid to this day.
→ Source: 9to5mac.com
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This week on MacStories Unwind, we have important follow-up about potato chip flavors, an exploration of American dive bars, the art of winning an argument by shouting ‘Goat!’, and the record by boygenius.
Sponsored By:Unite 4 – Turn Websites into Apps on Your Mac.
Show NotesChip Follow-Up* Kettle brand Pepperoncini potato chips
Dive Bars* Wikipedia is a fan * Chicago dive bars + Cal’s Liquor closes + Stocks & Blondes * My old suburban dive bar + Belluomini’s
Vittorio Sgarbi* A Sgarbi capra montage * Italian lawmaker carried out of parliament after yelling insults + Video
Joint Pick* the record by boygenius + Apple Music + Spotify * Interview with Vogue * Pitchfork interview * Genius interview
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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It’s been a rough year for the tech industry as a whole. In the wake of a COVID-induced spending spree on computers and other gadgets, and faced with rising prices, consumer demand for tech products has taken a nose dive.
The lack of new hardware announcements has undoubtedly been another drag on Apple’s earnings. For several years, Apple held a spring press event to debut device updates but not in 2023.
Although the company has managed to avoid the massive layoffs that have occurred at many tech companies, today’s earning show that it’s not immune from falling consumer demand. For its second fiscal quarter of 2023, Apple reported total revenue of 94.8 billion, which is a 3% year-over-year drop that includes a reduction in Mac sales and a significant drop in iPad sales, dips that were slightly less severe than analyst expectations but still dips. The company also announced stock buybacks of $90 billion and a $0.24/share dividend, which is expected to calm market reactions to its lower sales.
Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, had this to say about the company’s earnings:
We are pleased to report an all-time record in Services and a March quarter record for iPhone despite the challenging macroeconomic environment, and to have our installed base of active devices reach an all-time high. We continue to invest for the long term and lead with our values, including making major progress toward building carbon neutral products and supply chains by 2030.
If there’s a silver lining in today’s earnings, it’s that services and iPhones served to mitigate weak sales in other areas of Apple’s product lineup. In any event, Q2 historically hasn’t been a very interesting quarter for Apple. With rumored AV/VR headset on the way at WWDC, it will be far more interesting to see how financial markets react later this year and next.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Source: Basic Apple Guy.
This week on AppStories, we covered our wishes for iOS 17. One of Federico’s wishes was for Split View on the iPhone. Split View is not the sort of feature that I think would work with every app, but the iPhone is powerful enough to handle it, developers are already experimenting with in-app versions of it, and you know what? It’s useful.
To get an idea of what an OS-level Split View would be like on the iPhone, check out Basic Apple Guy’s mockups. Home Screen landscape mode never really got much traction when it debuted in 2014, but with Apple’s renewed emphasis on sidebar-based design for iPad apps, I think Split View could translate nicely to the iPhone and has a shot at better adoption if it returned whether as part of a Home Screen redesign or not.
Be sure to check out the full post for additional mockups on how landscape mode would work with widgets, the Dynamic Island, and other Home Screen elements.
→ Source: basicappleguy.com
This week on AppStories, we kick off our annual OS wishes series with a long list of rapid-fire wishes for iOS 17.
Sponsored by:
- Hit The Island – Funn Media’s innovative, fun, and deceptively simple game for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, Federico and I share our thoughts on AI-generated music and my struggles with managing 200 betas in TestFlight.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
→ Source: appstories.net
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings:
MacStories Weekly: Issue 366Federico’s Mac mini server.
- A review of what sets Raindrop.io apart from other bookmark managers
- Saving text to Obsidian from an Apple Watch using a Mac mini, Hazel, and Shortcuts
- Managing AirDrop connections
- A MenuBar Stats giveaway
- Plus:
- App Debuts
- Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord
- Interesting links from around the web
- A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts
- and more
Monthly Log for April 2023Making iPad apps readable on the Mac.
- Federico on an app he’s using to improve the experience of using iPad apps on the Mac
- I share what I learned about Apple retail, support, AppleCare, and living the portable Mac lifestyle after my Mac Studio was fried by lightning
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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There’s a lot to like about Laya’s Horizon, the brand-new mobile game from Snowman that’s available today on iOS, iPadOS, and Android via Netflix. However, it’s the game’s control scheme that elevates it to unique heights. Laya is by no means the first game to employ a simple two-finger control scheme. But, it’s the best I’ve tried, enabling a surprisingly deep and intimate gaming experience. Combined with Snowman’s excellent taste and attention to detail, Laya’s Horizon is incredibly fun and a game you won’t want to miss.
I got an early glimpse of Laya’s Horizon in early 2019, sitting on the floor of a Marriott in San Francisco during the Game Developer Conference. That feels like a lifetime ago, but it should give you a sense of how much work that has gone into the game. What I saw in 2019 was a very early demo, but even watching someone else control the game, the sense of flight was palpable. With the game in my own hands, that sense became tangible instantly.
Laya’s Horizon is played in landscape orientation. You’re Laya, who has just earned her first cape for flying. The game kicks off with a tutorial that walks you through the mechanics of flying around its 3D map from a third-person perspective. Slide your thumbs down together to climb, up to dive, together for a boost of speed, apart to parachute down, and one up and the other down to bank left and right. It takes a bit of practice to get good at flying, but the tutorial does a nice job of walking you through the basics without overdoing it and becoming boring. As you play, if you seem to be struggling with a maneuver, on-screen reminders appear to help you along the path to mastering flight.
Opening up new areas of the map.
Those simple on-screen controls coupled with haptic feedback on the iPhone create a connection with what’s happening on the screen that’s remarkable. Before long, I found myself flying high over forests, diving into ravines, buzzing along the island’s shoreline, and bouncing off hot air balloons. There’s a lot more to Laya’s Horizon, but I expect that the simple act of flying around the game’s island will be more than enough of a hook to bring players back for more.
Aside from the joy of soaring through the sky, Laya’s Horizon offers a variety of challenges, races, and missions to level up your skills, collect new capes, and meet new islanders known as Windfolk. Alternating those activities with flying around the island, taking in the diverse scenery and enjoying the game’s excellent sound design and music, creates a soothing, relaxing experience reminiscent of Snowman’s Alto’s Adventure.
Diving down a mountainside.
What’s very different from a game like Alto’s Adventure is that Laya’s Horizon is an open, 3D environment. The island’s map is revealed in stages as you explore and complete missions, opening up areas like the top of a mountain from which you can reach any other point. There are no restrictions on where you can travel, but missions and other activities are clearly marked, so there’s always something to do within your field of view as you explore. In all, there are 50 missions, 40 levels, and over 100 collectibles to find along the way, which is more than enough to keep you enjoying Laya’s Horizon for quite a while.
Races are one of my favorite parts of Laya’s Horizon. You’re shown the path from the finish line to the start and then compete with NPCs. Along the way are checkpoints you need to fly through, which act as loose directional signposts to keep you on the correct path. Flying close to the ground, through tight spots, and other risky maneuvers lets you collect sparks, which can be used to temporarily boost your speed during races, rewarding you for doing more than just floating above the fray.
Laya’s Horizon is a real treat to play. The game maintains a careful balance that allows players to dip into it for a short mission or get lost in its beauty for longer stretches. The result is a delightfully relaxing, fun-filled experience that I expect a lot of people will enjoy.
Laya’s Horizon is free to download from the App Store and play for anyone with a subscription to Netflix.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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As useful as they are for finding misplaced belongings, AirTags and other item location trackers are also misused to track people. Today, Apple and Google announced a joint effort aimed at creating an industry standard to combat unwanted tracking. According to a press release from Apple:
Today Apple and Google jointly submitted a proposed industry specification to help combat the misuse of Bluetooth location-tracking devices for unwanted tracking. The first-of-its-kind specification will allow Bluetooth location-tracking devices to be compatible with unauthorized tracking detection and alerts across iOS and Android platforms. Samsung, Tile, Chipolo, eufy Security, and Pebblebee have expressed support for the draft specification, which offers best practices and instructions for manufacturers, should they choose to build these capabilities into their products.
Apple says that the spec, which has been submitted to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), incorporates input from device manufacturers as well as safety and advocacy groups.
Erica Olsen, the National Network to End Domestic Violence’s senior director of its Safety Net Project, said of the companies’ efforts:
This collaboration and the resulting standards are a significant step forward. NNEDV is encouraged by this progress. These new standards will minimize opportunities for abuse of this technology and decrease the burden on survivors in detecting unwanted trackers. We are grateful for these efforts and look forward to continuing to work together to address unwanted tracking and misuse.
The full specification is available on the IETF’s Datatracker website.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Mona is a brand new, highly customizable Mastodon client from Junyu Kuang, the developer of Spring, which is one of the few remaining third-party Twitter clients that still works and pioneered many of the features found in Mona. Mona, which is available on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, is a power-user app through and through. The app has a dizzying array of settings for customizing the entire Mastodon experience. If, like me, you enjoy the sort of tinkering that Mona enables, you’ll absolutely love this app.
A lot is going on with Mona across three OSes. It’s a lot of ground to cover, so I’ll focus on what makes it unique on each platform, leaving some of the details for readers to explore on their own.
First, though, it’s worth noting that all of the features you’ve come to expect from Mastodon clients are here. You can add multiple accounts, view your timeline, which syncs across each version of the app, view your local server, follow other server instances, monitor all notifications or just mentions, search for users and posts (subject to the search limitations inherent to Mastodon), reply, repost, star, bookmark, and edit your profile. Of course, you can also mute, block, and report accounts too. I consider all of that functionality table stakes for a Mastodon client, but it’s worth noting that Mona handles it all well because not all apps do.
Mona enables an epic level of customization in its settings.
What makes Mona unique, though, is the degree to which you can customize the experience. No two people use social networks the same. Some people are readers, relying on their home timelines or lists to read every post. Other people use Mastodon as a way to find and collect links or follow everyone on a server that caters to a specific community or topic. With Mona, it’s simple to set up the app the way that suits you best.
Mona’s tab bar settings.
Customization starts with the tab bar along the bottom of the app. There are 14 different tab options that can be arranged in any order you want and turned on and off at will from the app’s settings. You can even create custom tabs. I’ve got one for the indieapps.space server, which is a handy way to check up on what’s happening with some of my favorite apps. There’s even a separate tab for private, direct messages, which I prefer to deal with separately from public messages.
The tab bar’s customization options run even deeper. You can pick the number of tabs and whether the ones that don’t fit are accessed by swiping horizontally on the tab bar or by using a ‘More’ button. There are a handful of other visual options too. That’s a lot, but it means you’ll always have exactly what you want at your fingertips. The same sort of deep customization is available for the actions available beneath each post, which can also be assigned to swipe gestures.
Every aspect of a post’s layout can be adjusted.
You can also endlessly tweak the look of posts. The text size and spacing, shape and size of profile pictures, the size of thumbnails, the display of user names, fonts, and more can be adjusted. The app also has a wide variety of accent colors from which to choose, a theming system, and multiple alternative icons.
Quote posting with Mona.
Mona has built its own quote-posting system, too, which looks a lot what you are probably familiar with on Twitter. There are a few options for how quote posts are displayed, but it’s worth keeping in mind that this is not a feature that’s supported by the Mastodon API. As a result, people who view your quote post on other Mastodon apps will only see your comment and a link to the original Mastodon post instead of the content of the original post.
Mona and Shortcuts.
Mona has deeper support for Shortcuts than any other Mastodon client I’ve used. You can adjust settings, import and export them, get posts, users, and themes, publish posts, set themes, switch among accounts, open the app, open Mastodon links in Mona, and set a theme using Focus filters. The breadth of options opens up a lot of room for creativity that I expect will be especially handy for managing multiple accounts.
Other features include:
- The ability to view someone’s followers even if they use a different server, which isn’t possible with most Mastodon apps
- A full-screen view that hides UI elements
- Syncing of reading position, drafts, search history, themes, accent colors, and muted items
- Timeline search, which few apps offer
- Timeline filtering by a long list of criteria, which can even be saved as custom tabs
- Creation of a settings backup
- Post translation
- Giphy support
- Integration of the native iOS photo picker
- Polls
- Content Warnings
- Turning repost viewing on and off per account
- Per-account notifications
- Navigating the app with a game controller, because why not?
There’s more, and I could go down a rabbit hole of minutiae, but part of the fun is to explore, poking around in Mona’s settings to see what’s possible. If you’re into that sort of thing like I am, you know who you are. Enjoy.
Four views in one with Mona’s divide views.
Okay, there’s actually one more thing to cover that spans all three versions of Mona: divide views, which are easiest to think of as in-app split views. iOS doesn’t offer Split View, but in Mona, you can tap on the three-dot More button in the top corner of the screen and add a divide view that splits the screen horizontally into two parts allowing you to open two different views on your phone. For example, your home timeline and notifications. It’s not a view that will appeal to everyone, but on a Pro Max model phone, a divide view is surprisingly useful.
Ten divide views are possible on my Studio Display.
The iPad and Mac versions of Mona use divide views too. The iPad supports up to four vertical columns, each displaying a different view of any combination of the accounts you’ve set up. The Mac version goes even further into TweetDeck territory, allowing for 10 separate columns. That’s a lot, even for a guy who has 200 TestFlight betas. With Mona, I draw the line at a more modest five columns on my 27” display.
Most of the time, I limit Mona to four or five columns.
Just because you can pop open so many columns in Mona doesn’t mean you should, but I’m glad I can. Most days, all I need is a single column to periodically browse what people are talking about and publish a post or two. However, I manage four MacStories accounts in addition to my own, and when something big is happening on the site, it’s great to be able to keep tabs on all of them at once.
Multiple Mona windows in Split View with a Slide Over window.
The iPad version of the Mac supports other modern iPad technologies. In addition to divide views, you can open two instances of the app in side-by-side Split Views along with Slide Over. The compose window opens as a separate window, similar to how Apple Mail works on the iPad, but individual posts can be opened and interacted with in a separate window too.
Mona also makes good use of the iPad’s support for keyboard shortcuts. You can compose, filter, and find posts, navigate between a dozen views, and manage windows. Mona’s iPad and Mac versions also support scrolling your timeline in either direction by tapping the spacebar on your keyboard. Just visit the app’s Advanced settings to turn it on. Mona also extensively uses context menus on the iPad and iPhone, including nested context menus, which are supported by relatively few apps.
It’s a little too easy to trigger swipe gestures on the Mac.
On the Mac, any view can be opened in a separate window if you prefer that to divide views. Mona’s macOS app also supports the system share menu and the same extensive list of Shortcuts actions. My biggest criticism of Mona is that it’s too easy to trigger the swipe gestures when scrolling with a trackpad on the Mac, making the Mac app’s scrolling the clunkiest of the three versions.
And that’s really my only criticism of Mona. Sure, I like the design of Ivory more, and there are other Mastodon apps with features like AI post composition that Mona doesn’t have, but Mona more than makes up for those differences with the extent to which it can be customized and a long list of features that you just won’t find anywhere else.
The family resemblance between Spring (left) and Mona (right) is obvious.
In many ways, the story of Mona parallels Ivory’s. Both owe a lot to their developers’ Twitter clients and share a common approach to social media. Before the MacStories team abandoned Twitter, Spring had become my TweetDeck. I also used the official Twitter app to casually browse my timeline, but Spring, which Federico covered for Club MacStories, was where I’d go to research and managing our many MacStories accounts.
The same is true of Mona. I really like casually browsing Mastodon with Ivory. However, Ivory isn’t out on the Mac yet, and Mona has enough additional features and customization options that I’ve found myself increasingly drawn to it as I’ve spent more time exploring its settings. Mastodon’s open API has allowed clients for the service to flourish. There are many good choices, but just a few great ones, and Mona is right up there with the best.
Mona is free to download on the App Store, but many of its advanced posting and customization options require Mona Pro, a one-time payment of $9.99 for each version. Mona Pro Max includes the same pro features for all platforms, plus Family Sharing for a one-time payment of $15.99.
If you previously purchased Spring, you can get Mona Pro Max for a one-time payment of $8.99. Mona Pro for iPad, iPhone, and Mac are available for $9.99 each too. Also, if you purchased Mona Pro for iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you can upgrade to the Pro Max version of any of them for $6.99.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Are you tired of juggling multiple browser tabs while working on your Mac? Unite 4 for macOS revolutionizes your browsing experience by allowing you to transform any website into a tailor-made app for your Mac. Leveraging a lightweight, WebKit-powered browser as a backend, Unite 4 enables you to effortlessly create isolated, customizable apps from any site.
Unite 4 offers a multitude of features and customization options, making it a fantastic alternative to resource-intensive Electron apps or lackluster Mac Catalyst implementations. The apps you create are simple to set up, fast, isolated from your other browsing activity, and only limited by your imagination.
- Creating dedicated apps for your favorite streaming services like Netflix and Disney+
- Conserving your laptop’s battery by using Unite for Slack, Discord, and WhatsApp with full notification support
- Utilizing AI tools such as ChatGPT and MidJourney alongside your other macOS apps
- Streaming music through services like Apple Music or Spotify
- Tuning into podcasts with Overcast
- Organizing your notes in a dedicated Roam Research app
- Never losing your Figma design work amidst a sea of Safari tabs
- Restricting apps like Facebook from tracking you across sites
- Browsing your Instagram feed
- Monitoring your finances with Robinhood
This week only, MacStories readers can enjoy a 20% discount on Unite 4 by visiting bzgapps.com/macstories or using the promo code ‘MacStories’ at checkout.
Unite offers a 14-day free trial and is also available as part of a Setapp subscription.
Download Unite 4 today and transform your favorite websites into your favorite apps.
Our thanks to Unite 4 for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Vertical split view in Fiery Feeds.
A few weeks ago on Mastodon, I shared a simple feature request: a split-screen mode for iPhone RSS readers that would allow me to scroll headlines in the one half of the screen and preview actual articles in the other.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone: back in 2007, Steve Jobs demoed pretty much the same thing for the first version of the Mail app for iPhone OS 1.0. That layout mode never shipped, and probably rightfully so at the time given the limited screen real estate of the first iPhone.
The split screen mode for Mail that never shipped.
Still, over the years I’ve started revisiting this idea, and I’m convinced that a vertical split view mode for apps that display tables of content (such as RSS readers, email clients, or ~~Twitter~~ Mastodon apps) could work well – especially on larger iPhone models. At least another app developer agrees with me on this one: Spring, the Twitter client that is soon to be replaced by Mona from the same developer, shipped its own, in-app split view mode. It may not be the comfiest layout, but if you have a big iPhone and can afford to use a smaller text size, it can be a great solution for multitasking inside the same app and scrolling/previewing items without navigating into sub-pages.
(Personally, I believe that Apple should outright enable Split View multitasking for iPhone, but that’s a story for another time. Stay tuned for the next episode of AppStories and my iOS 17 wishes.)
The in-app split view mode in the upcoming Mastodon client, Mona.
In any case, after I published that post on Mastodon, I thought I would send a private note to Lukas Burgstaller, the developer of the excellent and highly customizable RSS reader Fiery Feeds. Lukas was kind enough to listen to my suggestion and I’m thrilled to see that the latest version of Fiery Feeds (2.9) has added the vertical split view mode I requested.
You can enable this layout in Fiery Feeds by visiting Settings ⇾ Layout ⇾ Vertical Split View; you can choose to always enable vertical split view or only activate it in portrait orientation, and you can even decide whether you want to see the article view above or below the list of headlines. Since Fiery Feeds is a modern, universal app, split view works on the iPhone (as seen in the screenshots at the top of this post) as well as the iPad and Mac. I can confirm it is particularly nice on an 11” iPad Pro.
Split View on the 11” iPad Pro.
Besides the fact that I’m grateful to Lukas for adding something I suggested, I have to say that this feature has been well implemented and turned out to be just as good in practice as I hoped it would be in theory. Vertical split view is now my default mode for Fiery Feeds on the iPhone: I keep the list of headlines at the bottom and the article view at the top. With my thumb, I can scroll and skim headlines at the bottom of the screen, and if something catches my eye, I can tap it to preview the story in the upper half of the screen. If the article’s text is truncated or I want to see the original webpage, I can simply tap the story’s title to open it with Safari View Controller. If I want to stay in article mode but feel like I need some extra space for a few seconds, I can grab the split view separator, make the view taller, then drag it back down when I want to go back to skimming headlines.
Adjusting the split view size.
Maybe you’re not a fan of this layout (great news: Fiery Feeds has plenty of settings and modes to tweak) but, for me, this is pure, one-handed RSS consumption bliss. Like I said above, I wish more iPhone apps offered this layout: I’d love to navigate my inbox and read individual messages with split screen in Spark, control what’s playing and browse around playlists in Marvis, split the UI into two conversations in Messages, and so forth. You get the idea.
Maybe Apple will announce native Split View and multiwindow for iPhone apps in iOS 17 at WWDC. A man can dream. But if they don’t – I just hope more third-party developers will consider an approach similar to Mona and Fiery Feeds. If you want to play around with this, you can find the latest version of Fiery Feeds on the App Store.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
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Welcome to the all-new MacStories Unwind+, a weekly extension of MacStories Unwind just for Club MacStories members that is ad-free, and delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
This week, Federico explains Unwind’s new format, and John introduces him to ‘The Crab Chip’ before moving on to this week’s picks, which include an update from Federico on How I Met Your Father and Pokémon Scarlet and from John, an un-pick, an electric grill, and The Last Thing He Told Me.
Links and Show NotesIntroducing the New Unwind and Unwind+* MacStories Unwind Expands to Club MacStories with Unwind+
The Crab ChipSource: Utz.
- Utz Snacks
- Order online
- Utz’s history
- Chesapeake Bay seasoning
- Maryland crab shacks
Source: Eater.
The Picks* Federico’s Pick Update: + How I Met Your Father, Season 2 - Trailer + Pokémon Scarlet * John’s Un-Pick + Ghosted - Trailer * John’s Picks + Weber Lumin electric grill + The Last Thing He Told Me - Trailer
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
I’ve been thinking about app scalability a lot lately – most recently in the context of TestFlight, which I find is incredibly frustrating to use, at best, and, on the Mac, often unusable. This isn’t a new problem for me, but I haven’t mentioned it much in the past because I’ve suspected that my experience is colored by the fact that I’m an outlier. But, outlier or not, the app deserves more attention than it’s been given.
You see, I test a lot of apps, so TestFlight is a little crowded. There’s no count in the app to tell you how many betas you’re on, so I never knew how many until I recently took the time to count them all. As it turns out, I’m currently testing 200 apps:
- 176 cross-platform apps
- 4 iPad-only apps
- 20 Mac-only apps
Of those, 93 have been updated within the past three weeks. The rest are somewhere closer to their 90-day expiration date.
I have automatic updates turned on for every beta, but except for once or twice, it has never worked.
Whether it’s that app load or something else that’s going on, I’ve had to contend with a lot of TestFlight usability issues and bugs for a long time. On the iPhone and iPad, it’s simply too hard to find an app to see whether I have the latest version installed. Why am I checking to see if an app is installed when TestFlight offers automatic updates of betas? Good question. You see, other than once or twice for short periods of time, automatic updates have never worked for me. They’re turned on for every beta, but unless I manually update each app, they refuse to download.
That’s a hassle in and of itself, but because TestFlight has no sorting, filtering, or search, finding a particular app can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Even if the app I’m looking for has an active beta, it gets buried in TestFlight’s reverse chronological list quickly because it’s not uncommon for me to get a dozen beta updates or more each day, even in relatively slow development periods like now. The situation is far worse in the fall as new OS releases approach. But no matter the circumstances, the only option I have is a lot of careful scrolling.
TestFlight needs a master switch to turn off all email alerts.
A related problem is TestFlight email messages. I once went to the trouble of turning off email notifications for every active beta I’m on, but they quickly reappeared. I’m not sure if that’s because email notifications are turned on by default for every new beta, or they’re rising from the dead somehow, but I was fighting a losing battle, so I gave up and created a Gmail rule to shuffle them off under a separate label where I periodically mass delete them instead. I get so many email messages alerting me to beta updates that I also had to create a separate rule to alert me to new betas to make sure I don’t delete new invitations by accident.
Most days, this is all I see in TestFlight for a few minutes before it suggests I try again later.
However, as painful as it is to use TestFlight on the iPhone and iPad, the situation on the Mac is exponentially worse, where the app refuses to load betas at all for long periods of time. That rules out quick checks to be sure I have the latest version of an app before I finish a review. Instead, I open the app and let it sit in the background, periodically checking to see if it’s loaded any content. The good news is that, eventually, the betas show up, although sometimes missing icons and often disappearing again later.
The good news is that betas eventually load on the Mac, but not always with icons.
I’ve always suspected that TestFlight isn’t built to handle anywhere near this many betas, and in one sense, why should it be? Who else out there is beta testing almost 200 apps? I’d wager not many. That’s not some sort of flex. There just aren’t that many people writing about apps regularly.
To test my theory, I asked around on Mastodon to see how many betas people were managing in TestFlight and whether they’d had any issues with the app’s performance. Several of the people who responded have between 20 and 40 betas installed, and one person had about 70. Of those people, most reported no issues with TestFlight, although a few mentioned that betas weren’t auto-updating reliably or that the Mac version was buggy. The issues people mentioned are in line with my experience, although my issues with TestFlight are worse by an order of magnitude, which tends to corroborate my theory that the app isn’t designed to handle the load of almost 200 betas.
Eventually apps appear in TestFlight for Mac without having to use the Try Again button, which as far as I can tell doesn’t do anything.
So let’s assume I’m correct. I’ve overloaded TestFlight, which is causing what is an objectively bad user experience. What should the result be? One common reaction in this kind of situation is to blame the user, telling them some version of ‘you’re holding it wrong.’
I’ll grant you that TestFlight would probably work better if I dropped off of a bunch of betas, but that’s not realistic. I don’t have every beta installed at all times, but my job is to stay on top of the apps we cover, and TestFlight is a big part of that. I read the beta release notes in TestFlight, which plays a significant role in whether I take a closer look and consider writing about an app. Also, if I drop a beta to make TestFlight work better, only to hear about a feature I want to try, now I’ve got to waste a developer’s time requesting a new invitation, assuming they even have free TestFlight slots available. So no, I’m not dumping betas to make TestFlight work better. Nor should I have to.
I generally agree with the notion that most Apple system apps can cater to 80% of the features users want, leaving 20% to be fulfilled by third-party developers. That works well with apps like Notes and Reminders, where alternatives are possible and plentiful. However, TestFlight is an extension of App Store Connect, which is the only way to get apps on the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, plus a significant but non-exclusive way to get them on the Mac. There is no good alternative, so TestFlight has to do better than 80%. I may be a weird outlier, but TestFlight should work for me too.
I like the TestFlight section in the App Library, but users should be able to turn it off.
So, as the self-designated App Store CTO (Chief TestFlight Outlier), I have some suggestions I’d like Apple to consider:
- Focus on performance first, starting with the Mac. My problems with the Mac version of TestFlight might be more severe than most people’s, but I’m not alone in my frustration. Betas should load quickly, scrolling should be smooth, and installing updates should happen without a hitch.
- Automatic installation requires some special attention on all platforms. It worked for me briefly after iOS 16 was released, which gave me enough of a taste of the good life that I want more. I’m not alone in this complaint either, so let’s make 2023 the year that automatic is, you know, automatic.
- Add an email notifications section to TestFlight’s settings, so I don’t have to adjust these settings app-by-app.
- Implement sorting by a beta’s release date from oldest to newest or newest to oldest, and alphabetically by name, developer, or app category.
- Implement search with filters for whether a beta has been installed or not.
- Offer folders inside TestFlight to allow me to organize betas based on whatever other criteria I want.
- Implement a versioning system that cross-checks against the App Store to let me know when the released version of an app has caught up to its beta version.
- I like the separate TestFlight section in the App Library, but make it optional, so, for example, that beta music app someone is testing will show up with their other music apps instead of a TestFlight group if that’s what they want.
- TestFlight should work better with factory resets of devices. I recently had to restore my Mac Studio from a Time Machine backup, and the process took a long time but worked well with one exception. When I logged into my newly restored Mac, I was greeted by messages of damaged or unavailable betas. Deleting and reinstalling betas or App Store versions of apps fixed things, but betas really should either be migrated smoothly to restored devices or not installed at all. A similar thing occurs on iOS and iPadOS, including when setting up a new device.
I could probably come up with even more ideas, but that should keep a few engineers busy for a while.
Source.
My first experience with TestFlight was at WWDC in 2013. I had been sitting in the cold outside the Moscone Center, waiting for the conference to kick off with Apple’s keynote. That’s the one where OS X switched to California destination names, Apple painted itself into a thermal corner, and we were introduced to a singing koala.
As the line began to move, a group of TestFlight employees walked up with t-shirts and breakfast burritos. The timing was perfect. I was starving and gratefully wolfed down a warm burrito, pulling the t-shirt on as an extra layer of insulation against the cool SoMa morning air. It was a great way to promote the already popular service to a bunch of cold and hungry developers.
Less than a year later, Apple acquired TestFlight, rolling it into their suite of developer tools. I don’t know what’s left of the TestFlight team that joined Apple, but I still think of that burrito and t-shirt now and then and wonder if the thoughtfulness that they represented got lost along the way somewhere. I hope not. Beta testing is an important part of the development process, and app developers and the testers who rely on TestFlight deserve better.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
MacStories Unwind began as an experiment that sprung from the 2020 pandemic lockdowns. It started as a recap of the week at MacStories paired with a couple of quick media picks for listeners who were stuck at home. Early last year, we refocused the show on the media picks, which has proven popular with listeners, so today, we’re pleased to announce an expansion of the show for both existing listeners and Club MacStories members.
If you’re already a listener, Unwind will continue to feature weekly media picks and be about a half-hour long. What we’re adding is a little more conversation and personality, which has been missing from the show. As is the case now, Unwind will also remain free to download on Fridays and be supported by ads and promotions for other things we’re doing at MacStories.
Listen to Unwind:
The bigger change is that today we’re also introducing MacStories Unwind+, an exclusive perk for Club MacStories members. Unwind+ will be released every week a day early on Thursdays, without ads, and in high bitrate audio. Both versions of the show also feature brand new artwork by our own Silvia Gatta.
With the expansion of Unwind, we’re also simplifying the Club MacStories podcast lineup, consolidating the monthly MacStories Unplugged and AV Club Town Halls into Unwind. The fun, quirky stories and explorations of the differences between Italian and American culture that Unplugged was known for will become a regular segment on Unwind.
Also, AV Club is continuing, but instead of being limited to the Club MacStories+ and Club Premier Town Hall feed, the monthly event will become an episode of Unwind for all Club members. Club MacStories+ and Club Premier members will still help pick the media for AV Club in our Discord community and have the chance to listen live during recording. We’re reorganizing and adding to the channels in the community Discord to make it easier for members to find and discuss the media they love too.
We’re excited to bring you this new edition of MacStories Unwind beginning this week. There was a lot of overlap among Unwind, Unplugged, and our AV Club podcast episodes, and by rolling all of our media picks together with the free-form, casual vibe of Unplugged, we hope you join us for what we think will be the best version of Unwind yet.
If you already listen to Unwind, there’s nothing you need to do to enjoy the new format because the podcast feed isn’t changing. The same goes for Club members who were subscribed to MacStories Unplugged. Unwind+ will replace Unplugged in that feed, so the next time you download an episode, you’ll see Unwind instead.
If you’re not listening to Unwind, we’d love it if you’d give it a try. You’ll find great recommendations for TV shows, movies, videogames, and music, along with the occasional book, podcast, and even media-related hardware. Plus, if you’ve never listened to Unplugged, you’re in for a treat with stories about things like acid-spewing vultures, retirees spectating at construction sites, and southern cooking. Yes, it’s a little weird, but it’s fun too.
Listen to Unwind:
If you want to level up your Unwind experience, we’d love it if you’d consider a Club MacStories membership. We offer three tiers of membership with perks like our active Discord community, exclusive discounts, special columns, and now, Unwind+. And, with Club Premier, you also get AppStories+, the extended, ad-free version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered a day early most weeks in high-bitrate audio. You can learn more about our Club plans using the buttons below.
Join Club Premier here:
Join Annual$120/yearJoin Monthly$12/monthTo compare every Club MacStories plan we offer, visit our Club plans page.
So, starting today, all members of Club MacStories will have access to MacStories Unwind+ weekly. And, to participate in deciding what we cover for on the monthly AV Club episodes and the live recordings of those episodes, join Club MacStories+ or Club Premier, which each come with a long list of other perks. We hope you enjoy the new format.
The support of Club members is the foundation of MacStories’ future, which is why we’re actively working on growing membership. The Club will celebrate its eighth anniversary this year, and by growing it deliberately each year since 2015, we’ve maintained the free ad-supported stories and podcasts we offer while giving readers and listeners an option that isn’t just ad-free but extends what we’re able to offer across every facet of MacStories.
We’ve got many plans for MacStories that have been in the works for a long time now, which we expect to be able to start sharing soon. We’re excited to share it all with you and would love it if you’d join the Club to help us make those plans a reality.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
This week on AppStories, Federico explains his return to the Mac, including his hardware setup and the apps he’s using, and I recommend some apps he should try.
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- Dropshare – The most flexible file-sharing solution for macOS and iOS that just works with your trusted file storage provider. 15% off for AppStories listeners with the code
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Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, we discuss the advantages of Raindrop.io over alternative bookmarking services, and I share a story from the past about the pitfalls of sharing shortcuts in the early days of Workflow.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
→ Source: appstories.net
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings:
MacStories Weekly: Issue 365Federico’s Dashboard note in Obsidian includes an ‘On My Mind’ section that he prepends notes to using Shortcuts.
- Moving windows on the Mac with a three-finger drag.
- Using Shortcuts to prepend text to a section of an Obsidian note.
- The benefits of breaking shortcuts up into smaller utility functions.
- Plus:
- A Tally giveaway
- App Debuts
- Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord
- Interesting links from around the web
- A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts
- and more
Club MacStories+ AV Club Town HallLast week, Federico and I were joined by Jonathan Reed to discuss the debut albums of Coldplay and Oasis live in the Club Discord. Club MacStories+ Discord members picked Coldplay’s Parachutes, and Federico picked Oasis’ Definitely Maybe in honor of MacStories’ anniversary last week. Club MacStories+ and Premier members can listen to the event in the Town Hall podcast feed.
Club MacStories+ Automation April Shortcuts Workshop, Part 2We threw a second live Automation April Shortcuts workshop in Discord last week with special guest Rosemary Orchard where we explained our approaches to building new shortcuts, when to build utility functions called from other shortcuts, our recent shortcuts experiments, and projects. The event is also available in the Town Hall podcast feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Streaks is one of the best-known habit-tracking apps on the App Store. In addition to linking to the Health app to help improve your health and wellbeing, you can use it for anything! Work, hobbies, exercise, timers, and more - it’s extremely customizable.
We’ve just released Streaks 9 with some great new features:
- An all-new Apple Watch app, now written in SwiftUI
- You can now record daily notes with your tasks
- New great-looking neon themes
Streaks has now been in the App Store for 8 years - if you haven’t tried it before, or it’s been a while since you used it, we hope you can check it out!
Our thanks to Streaks for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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16:49
This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico started watching How I Met Your Father, season 2, on Hulu, which in itself is a minor miracle from Italy, and picked up Pokémon Scarlet again, while I stumbled across Rabbit Hole, an action/thriller/conspiracy show on Paramount+ starring Keifer Sutherland.
Federico’s Picks:
- How I Met Your Father, Season 2
- Trailer
- Pokémon Scarlet
John’s Pick:
- Rabbit Hole
- Trailer
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Hyperduck is a recent utility from Sindre Sorhus for sending URLs from an iPhone or iPad to your Mac that has some very interesting applications. Hyperduck hasn’t replaced my use of AirDrop, Handoff, and other Apple technologies that move data between devices, but it has extended those features in meaningful ways and has quickly worked its way into my everyday computing life.
Hyperduck does just one thing very well. It sends URLs from an iPhone or iPad to a Mac using iCloud. That’s different than how AirDrop works, which has some advantages.
To work, you need to install Hyperduck on both your iPhone or iPad and Mac, where it runs headless. On an iPhone or iPad, Hyperduck is accessed using the ‘Send to Mac’ action extension from the share sheet or its single ‘Send URLs to Mac’ Shortcuts action. The action extension sends URLs one at a time from any app that can share a URL, while the Shortcuts action can send multiple URLs at once.
That’s about as simple as it gets with any utility, but it’s a simplicity that opens up interesting uses that aren’t possible with AirDrop. One advantage of Hyperduck is that it’s available when AirDrop isn’t. Our condo has three floors. If I’m reading on my iPad in bed at night on the third floor, I’m too far away from my Mac to use AirDrop, but with Hyperduck, I can still send a link to my Mac, so it will be waiting for me in the morning. Hyperduck also works if your Mac is offline. Because the app uses iCloud to sync between devices, the links you send when your Mac is unavailable will show up as soon as it comes back online. I don’t use Hyperduck this way a lot, but it’s a nice alternative to saving a URL in a read-later app or link organizer.
Even more interesting is Hyperduck’s ability to send non-http URLs to your Mac, which means you can use URL schemes to trigger actions remotely. The obvious example is shortcuts, which can be run using the following format:
shortcuts://run-shortcut?name=Hello%20World
It’s an excellent option for any Mac-only shortcut you’ve created. Just create a shortcut using Hyperduck’s sole action to send the Shortcuts URL to your Mac, and you’ll be able to run your Mac-only shortcut from an iPhone or iPad anytime you want.
Lots of apps have URL schemes that you can run using Hyperduck, but another one of my favorites is Raycast. Not long ago, Raycast added deep linking support – its own URL scheme that can execute built-in Raycast commands, plugin actions, and even scripts.
Combined with Shortcuts, you can use Hyperduck to run a URL scheme on your iPhone to trigger another URL scheme on your Mac. That sounds complicated, but it can actually simplify what would be a complex Mac-only shortcut while allowing it to be run remotely. For example, using Open App actions and the URL scheme for Raycast’s window management commands via a shell script, you can create a single-action Hyperduck shortcut on your iPhone that’s run automatically every morning as a personal automation, arranging your Mac apps to your liking.
Running Raycast’s URL scheme via a shell script on the Mac.
Triggering my Mac-only Window Setup shortcut remotely from an iPad or iPhone doesn’t get much simpler than this.
The shell script is necessary because without it, triggering Raycast switches the focus to Raycast instead of the app you want to arrange on your desktop. Using open with the -g option in the script, allows the Raycast URL scheme to do its thing without switching the focus to Raycast’s window. However, aside from that minor complexity, the shortcut couldn’t be easier. In the Window Setup shortcut above, I’ve centered my Obsidian window and moved Things to the leftmost quarter of my desktop. Because I’m using Raycast’s URL scheme, the shell scripts are super simple. So is the Hyperduck shortcut on my iPhone, which uses Shortcuts’ URL scheme to send the command to run the shortcut on my Mac.
Running Windows Setup on my Mac using Hyperduck places Things next to Obsidian on my desktop.
By tying the Mac Setup shortcut to a personal automation, the entire process is automated, but with a catch. There’s no way to make sure two or more apps are on the same Stage Manager stage. As a result, this shortcut works best if you don’t use Stage Manager or always keep the apps you want to arrange on the same stage, which isn’t easy to do. Still, it’s a nice demonstration of how URL schemes and third-party Mac utilities can simplify what would otherwise be a much more complicated shortcut.
Overall, I love Hyperduck. I don’t use it every day, but it does a great job bridging iOS and iPadOS to macOS, which Shortcuts doesn’t do very well yet. It’s also handy for setting up tabs in Safari or another browser for the next time you plan to use your Mac. In my testing, Hyperduck has been reliable but sometimes slow when I’m on a weak network connection. iCloud sync can also be erratic at times, too, but despite a few hiccups here and there, Hyperduck has become one of my primary tools for controlling my Mac remotely.
Hyperduck is available on the App Store as a free download.
You can also follow MacStories’ Automation April coverage through our dedicated hub, or subscribe to its RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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This week on AppStories, we dig into third-party apps with excellent shortcuts support.
Sponsored by:
- Viso – Beautiful minimal image viewer for macOS.
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, My Mac Studio is in the shop, so Federico and I are both using MacBook Airs.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
→ Source: appstories.net
Last spring, I reviewed Bike, Jesse Grosjean of Hog Bay Software’s excellent outlining app for the Mac. The app’s simple, elegant design keeps the focus on the outline you’re creating, while its rich, keyboard-driven set of features enable ideas to be organized quickly and efficiently. Advanced features, like versioning, linking and grouping rows, and a long list of ways to view, navigate and edit your outlines, make Bike one of the best ways to create outlines on the Mac.
Bike has 14 Shortcuts actions.
Bike’s focus on efficiency and extensive support for keyboard shortcuts and AppleScript make it the perfect candidate for Shortcuts support, which was added to the app today. Version 1.11 of Bike adds 14 Shortcuts actions to the app:
- Create Outline
- Open Outline
- Open Row
- Get Rows
- Fold Rows
- Focus Row
- Edit Rows
- Import Rows
- Export Rows
- Find Rows
- Create Row
- Delete Rows
- Move Rows
- Get Selection
The actions cover a lot of the functionality of Bike with a focus on outlines, text and row selections, and rows. Outlines can be created from scratch or existing ones opened, and Get Selection returns any selected text and its outline row.
Exporting all rows as plain text.
The remainder of Bike’s Shortcuts actions apply to rows, the building blocks of outlines. Rows can be opened in-app or retrieved in a variety of ways, such as by their root, row ID, focus, selection, ancestor rows, child rows, and descendant rows by using the Get Rows action. There’s also a Find Rows action that uses predicate filtering to allow rows matching multiple criteria to be located and sorted. Rows can be imported and exported in Bike, OPML, and plain text formats too.
Rows can also be created, edited, deleted, and moved within an outline with precision, thanks to a detailed set of action parameters. Actions for focusing on particular rows and folding and unfolding rows round out the available actions by allowing users to use Shortcuts to prepare their outline work environment automatically.
I’ve only just begun experimenting with Bike’s new Shortcuts integration, but it’s clear that thanks to extensive parameter and predicate filtering, the automation opportunities are extensive. Especially if you work with big outlines that require frequent, repetitive edits, Bike’s new Shortcuts integration could save you a lot of time.
Bike 1.11 is available on the App Store and directly from Hog Bay Software as a free download. Some features, including Shortcuts support, require a $2.99/month or $19.99/year subscription from the App Store or a one-time license purchase directly from Hog Bay Software, which comes with one year of updates.
You can also follow MacStories’ Automation April coverage through our dedicated hub, or subscribe to its RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings:
The Making of S-GPT, Part 1: Using the ChatGPT API with Apple’s Shortcuts App to Have Conversations with OpenAI’s AssistantLast week saw the return of Federico’s Automation Academy column for Club MacStories+ and Premier members. The latest edition dug into the techniques Federico used to build S-GPT, his shortcut that integrates OpenAI’s Chat-GPT with Apple’s OSes.
Federico’s column is a deep dive into working with web APIs in shortcuts, navigating JSON dictionaries, and the clever way S-GPT stores its ongoing conversation in a variable. Whether you’re working with ChatGPT’s API or another web API, the column is a great place to learn how to to hook your shortcuts up to web APIs.
Automation April: Shortcuts Workshop, Part 1Last week we also held our first Automation April workshop where Federico and I were joined by Jack Wellborn, who won Best Overall Shortcut in last year’s Automation April Shortcuts Contest, to talk about tips for coming up with shortcuts ideas, our recent shortcuts experiments and projects, incorporating AppleScript and other techniques into Mac-based Shortcuts, and more.
Alerty: A New Club-Wide DiscountIn MacStories Weekly 364, we announced a new Club-wide discount from our friends at Alerty, a push notification service. Alerty’s incredibly easy-to-use web API allows you to generate rich push notifications to any of your Apple devices. They can be used to extend Shortcuts’ notification system, triggered by server events, and more.
Members can get 50% off on a monthly or annual subscription by visiting the Club Discounts page.
MacStories Weekly: Issue 364* A review of Button Creator for Stream Deck * Apps to extend your Shortcuts experience on Mac * A GoodLinks giveaway * A tip on how to read the contents of Markdown files in Shortcuts * Plus: + App Debuts + Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord + Interesting links from around the web + A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts + and more
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
MenuBar Stats is a suite of 9 menu bar modules for monitoring your Mac developed over the course of 10 years of listening carefully to customer feedback. The app tracks your Mac’s:
- Battery
- Bluetooth
- CPU
- Disk
- GPU
- Memory
- Network
- And, with a helper app, your Mac’s temperature and fan speed
The app, which is highly customizable, provides essential details, with even more extensive information just a click away. Modules can be combined into a single window, displayed as individual windows, and anchored to always be visible. The stats monitored are available as a collection of more than 10 widgets and accessible through MenuBar Stats’ Shortcuts actions. The app has been extensively tested on and tuned for Apple’s latest M1 and M2-based Macs and includes a tool to clean your Mac’s memory too.
MenuBar Stats goes beyond monitoring and reporting with the ability to set up notifications to alert you of the details that matter most to you and even run shortcuts from them. Whether that’s when your battery reaches a certain level or when there’s a process that is monopolizing your CPU, MenBar Stats can alert you, so you’ll know the moment your Mac needs your attention.
Acting on those notifications couldn’t be simpler. MenuBar Stats can take you to a long list of Mac system utilities from your menu bar or using global keyboard shortcuts that you define. There’s also backup and restore functionality, so you can recreate your carefully-crafted setup anywhere.
It’s easy to see why MenuBar Stats has an average rating of 4.5 stars worldwide. Download MenuBar Stats today to see for yourself why so many people rely on it to monitor their Macs.
Our thanks to MenuBar Stats for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
As we head into the weekend, we wanted to let everyone know that we’ve extended the Automation April Shortcuts Contest to Friday, April 21st, at 5:00 PM Eastern US time. That gives you four extra days to finish your shortcuts and submit them.
Remember:
- You can submit up to two shortcuts for consideration in any of the six categories
- You can edit your submissions until the deadline on April 21st
- Shortcuts do not have to be complex to win the contest; originality and utility are key factors in the judges’ decisions
- We have tons of great prizes, including a Loupedeck Live S and CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 4 for the winner of the Best Overall Shortcut, plus Club MacStories memberships
For the complete rules, be sure to read our post from last week.
Good luck, and use the extra time wisely!
You can also follow MacStories’ Automation April coverage through our dedicated hub, or subscribe to its RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
0:00
18:04
This week on MacStories Unwind, I explain iced coffee to Federico, who has a new Logitech Lift mouse and has been playing Tchia, while I spent hours at the theater enjoying John Wick, Chapter 4.
Iced Coffee* John’s jug of Calafia Farms Cold Brew + A recipe for Federico
Federico’s Picks:* Logitech Lift Vertical Mouse * Tchia + Launch Trailer
Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom* A brief Tears of the Kingdom aside because we couldn’t help ourselves.
John’s Pick:* John Wick, Chapter 4 + Trailer
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
A core perk of a Club MacStories+ or Club Premier membership is the wide variety of discounts on our favorite apps and services we offer in partnership with developers. Our app discount program brings Club members a long list of deals that regularly rotate, so there’s always something new to try. That makes it easy to save hundreds of dollars on some of the best apps out there when you sign up and to keep on saving month after month.
On top of discounts, a Club MacStories+ membership includes exclusive columns, access to our Discord community, podcast events recorded live for members, exclusive giveaways, and more. Join Club Premier, and you get AppStories+, too, our extended, ad-free version of our flagship podcast that’s published a day early and in high-bitrate audio.
Join Annual$120/yearJoin Monthly$12/monthTo compare every Club MacStories plan we offer, visit our Club plans page.
We’re fortunate to work with so many great developers, many of whose apps are rarely discounted. Because the lineup of apps changes regularly and has seen some notable additions lately, we wanted to take a moment to recap the current lineup and thank the developers who have worked with us to build such a great collection of discounts.
Members can visit the Club discounts page to take advantage of these deals and learn more.
Club MacStories+ and Club Premier Member DiscountsCurrently, Club MacStories+ and Club Premier can take advantage of the following deals:
1Password for Families (6 months free for new users)1Password Families is a subscription plan that offers full access for up to 5 family members to the 1Password apps across all platforms, including iOS, Mac, the web, Windows, Linux, and Android. It also includes 1GB of secure document storage for your family.
AirBuddy (20% off)AirBuddy is the AirPods utility for the Mac from Guilherme Rambo that lets you check the battery status of your AirPods and many models of Beats headphones just like you can on an iPhone or iPad, but on your Mac. Gestures and automation make it easy to connect, change listening modes, adjust volume, and more without opening System Preferences.
Clean Email (30% off)Clean Email is an email screening and inbox cleaning service that helps you manage mailbox overload efficiently while keeping your data safe and respecting your privacy.
CleanShot X (20% off)CleanShot X is the premier Mac utility for capturing your Mac’s screen, with over 50 features for capturing, editing, annotating, and sharing screenshots.
HazeOver (30% off)HazeOver is the Mac utility that automatically highlights your frontmost window by fading out all the background windows. It’s a terrific way to boost your productivity on the Mac.
Keyboard Maestro (20% off)Keyboard Maestro is among the most powerful automation tools available for the Mac. You can automate virtually anything on your Mac with Keyboard Maestro on a schedule or using a keyboard shortcut. The productivity gains that are possible by automating apps, text and image manipulation, controlling websites, and performing other tasks are only limited by your imagination.
Lingon X 9 (20% off)Lingon X 9 is a powerful app to run things automatically on your Mac that is also easy to use. Lingon can start an app or run a script, shortcut, or a command whenever you want. You can schedule it to run at a specific time, regularly, or when something special happens.
Lunar (30% off)Lunar is the intelligent adaptive brightness app for your Mac’s external displays. Lunar can control the brightness of any Mac’s display thanks to the Display Data Channel. The app goes far beyond the settings you’ll find in System Preferences, allowing you to manually or automatically control your display’s brightness, black out distracting screens, and even help light your FaceTime calls.
Marked (30% off)If you write in Markdown, you need Marked. The Mac app is a Markdown previewer that shows you exactly what your rendered Markdown will look like, updating your preview every time you save. Marked can preview your document as you work in your text editor, and when you’re finished, export in a wide variety of file formats.
Recurrence (3 months free)Recurrence is a task manager for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac to track the repeating tasks in your life. Perfect for chores, bill payments, and much more. Recurrence puts history at the forefront, allowing you to see when something was last done and accompanying notes.
Red Sweater Software (20% off all apps)Club members can take advantage of discounts on all of Red Sweater’s apps, including:
- MarsEdit: If you’re writing for the web, you need a desktop blog editor. And if you’re lucky enough to have a Mac, nothing is more powerful or more elegant than MarsEdit.
- Black Ink: Black Ink 2 offers a deluxe crossword-solving interface on your Mac. It’s packed with features that streamline the process for solvers of all skill levels, from beginners to world-class pros.
- FastScripts: Beloved by Mac automation experts for nearly 20 years, FastScripts puts all your scripts at your fingertips.
- FlexTime: A versatile timer for repetitive activities.
- Clarion: Improve your musical ear training with a simple interface and customizable learning experience.
Rogue Amoeba (20% off)Club members can take advantage of discounts on all of Rogue Amoeba’s apps, including:
- Airfoil: Use Airfoil to stream audio to a long list of devices connected to your home network, including Macs, iOS devices, HomePods, Apple TVs, Sonos speakers, Bluetooth speakers, and more.
- Audio Hijack: Record any app’s audio, including VOIP calls and Safari streams, plus audio from hardware like microphones connected to your Mac. Audio Hijack’s block-based UI makes building complex audio workflows simple.
- Farrago: Farrago is a soundboard app that’s perfect for quick access to sound effects and other sound bites. The app includes a large library of built-in effects and the ability to add your own for use in podcasts, live theater settings, and more.
- Fission: Fission is a fast, lossless sound editor for the Mac. The app makes it easy to quickly edit audio files losslessly, convert between formats, batch convert files to MP3, AAC, Apple Lossless, FLAC, AIFF, and WAV formats, and more.
- Loopback: Loopback is an audio routing app that makes it easy to pass audio among multiple apps with an intuitive wire-based interface, making sophisticated studio mixing board functionality available right on your Mac.
- Piezo: Piezo is the simplest way to capture audio on your Mac. With virtually no setup, you’re up and running, recording audio from apps and external devices like microphones immediately.
- SoundSource: SoundSource is the premier Mac menu bar app for controlling audio on your Mac. From inputs like apps and microphones to output devices like speakers, you can adjust, filter, and control sound on a per-app and device basis.
Screens (20% off)Screens allows you to control any computer from your Mac, no matter where you are. Compatible with Big Sur and Apple’s new M1 Macs, you never have to worry about leaving a file on another Mac ever again. With Screens, you can connect to whichever Mac you left the file on and work on it in place or transfer it from one Mac to the other.
TextSniper (25% off)TextSniper for Mac allows users to extract text from images and other digital documents in seconds with TextSniper. The app instantly captures non-selectable text from YouTube videos, PDFs, images, online courses, screencasts, presentations, webpages, video tutorials, photos, and more. It’s as simple and easy as taking a screenshot.
Ulysses (50% off the first year of new subscriptions)Ulysses is a text editor for iPhone, iPad, and Mac with powerful features and a pleasant, focused writing experience combined in one tool, made for people who love to write and write a lot.
Club-Wide DiscountsMacStories Pixel (15% off)In addition, all Club members can get a 15% discount on the icon sets offered by MacStories Pixel, our design brand curated by our longtime designer Silvia Gatta, including:
- MacStories Perspective Icons, the ultimate set of custom perspective icons for OmniFocus Pro users, which includes 400 unique glyphs in 25 colors for a total of 20,000 variants.
- MacStories Shortcuts Icons, Classic and Color editions, which are perfect for customizing the icons of shortcuts saved to your Home screen, which includes 400 glyphs in four variants and can be purchased separately or as a bundle for an additional 30% off.
And for those of you who have read to the very end of this post, stay tuned. We’ll have another Club-wide discount to announce later today in MacStories Weekly.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Source: furbo.org.
Yesterday, Craig Hockenberry announced a free Apple TV app he created called Blank. The app blanks out your TV screen until you press a button on the Apple TV remote. That way, you can listen to music or a podcast through an Apple TV without also watching the album art or screensavers.
Blank is a clever solution to something that’s been a problem ever since the second-generation Apple TV, which ditched its dedicated audio out port in favor of HDMI. How do I know that? Well, I tackled the same problem myself in 2016 in a far hackier way than Hockenberry, which I shared more than 300 issues ago in MacStories Weekly 25. As I said then, when the Apple TV’s flyover screensavers, and even HDMI, were brand new:
I enjoy the new flyover screensavers on the Apple TV, but whether you have a current generation Apple TV and use those, or use a different screensaver with any model of the Apple TV, the screensavers are a distraction when you throw a party and want to use the Apple TV for music. In my experience, people are drawn to the screensaver like moths, focusing on it instead of socializing.
My solution? Create a Photos album with a single 1080p image of a black rectangle and use it with the Apple TV’s ‘Sliding Panels’ screensaver. Blank is a far more elegant solution and even offers an inspirational quote that appears onscreen before the screen goes blank.
You can download Blank from the App Store for free.
→ Source: apps.apple.com
S-GPT 1.0.2.
I just published version 1.0.2 of S-GPT, the shortcut I released last week to have conversations with OpenAI’s ChatGPT and integrate it directly with native features of Apple’s OSes. You can find the updated download link at the end of this post, in the original article, and in the MacStories Shortcuts Archive; before you replace version 1.0.1 of S-GPT, save your existing OpenAI API key somewhere as you’ll have to paste it again in the shortcut later.
I’m going to include the full changelog for S-GPT 1.0.2 below, but long story short: S-GPT is now aware of the current date and time, and I’ve heard all the requests about improving interactions with the HomePod and Siri, so I made that part much better. S-GPT can now perform a variety of date/time calculations with natural language, and you can end a conversation by saying “no” or “stop”.
Here are the full release notes for S-GPT 1.0.2:
- Added support for current date and time in the System message. (Thanks, Leon.)
- S-GPT is now aware of the current date and time, which allows you to perform various date/time calculations (“How long until Christmas”, “If it’s 5 PM for me, what’s the time in NYC”, “How many days left this year? Give me a completion rate for the year”), ask about historical events (“Give me some events for today in history”), and more.
- S-GPT now works better with HomePod and other Siri-enabled devices.
- You can simply say “No” or “Stop” to end the conversation when S-GPT asks if you want to follow-up with another question.
- Added support for asking follow-up questions with dictation enabled by default on Apple Watch.
- Passthrough mode: S-GPT can now accept input text from any other shortcut, extension, or app that can pass some text to it.
- This allows you to integrate S-GPT as part of an existing workflow and turn it into a “feature” of other automations.
- Further improved the logic for summarizing articles from Safari webpages without “hallucinating” results.
- S-GPT can now detect articles from Safari for Mac as well.
- Integration with Services and Quick Actions on macOS: you can now run S-GPT for selected text using macOS’ Services menu and Quick Actions. The selected text will be passed to S-GPT as input.
As you can see from the examples above, support for date and time calculations means S-GPT has gained a whole new layer of flexibility for natural language queries, which I find myself using on a regular basis to convert time zones or check specific dates in the year. Additionally, if you’re a Mac user, don’t underestimate the potential for integrating S-GPT with any shortcut, app, or text field via the Services menu: as long as you’re sharing some text with S-GPT, the shortcut will read it as input and make a request to the ChatGPT API for you.
Triggering S-GPT from the Services menu on macOS.
On a similar note, passthrough mode means that S-GPT can now easily accept text input from any source and use it as the text for a request to ChatGPT. In the example below, you can see how I was able to hit the Tab key in Raycast to type my question for S-GPT directly from the launcher’s UI:
Typing questions for S-GPT from Raycast.
Better support for Siri interactions is also something I’ve heard from users a lot over the past week. In this version of S-GPT, I’ve made it easier to end a conversation while using a HomePod or Siri on the iPhone, but I wish I could do something about Siri being too fast when speaking its response and immediately dismissing the alert. Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t provide any tools at the moment to check whether a shortcut is running inside Siri. Ideally, I should be able to add a time delay only if a shortcut is being used in a Siri context. I’ll have to figure something out here.
The response to S-GPT has been incredible, and I’m now working my way through a long list of feature requests and ideas, trying to prioritize what I would like to build for the next major updates to this shortcut. If you have ideas, you can reach out on Mastodon or find me on the Club MacStories Discord server.
I also wanted to share two videos by Stephen Robles and Brandon Butch showing S-GPT in action and how you can integrate the shortcut in vastly different workflows:
S-GPT Extras: Additional Personalities and ‘Making Of’ ClassIn addition to the main S-GPT shortcut (which is and will continue to be free for everyone), I also created some paid extras for Club MacStories members over the past week.
In MacStories Weekly (available with a Club MacStories plan at $5/month or $50/year), I shared a set of prompts to infuse S-GPT with different personalities. There’s an evil one; there’s a personality that is modeled after Steve Jobs’ speech style and drops Apple references everywhere; there’s even one inspired by Roy Kent. You can sign up for a Club MacStories account and check out all the other perks it offers here, or by using the buttons below.
Roy-GPT.
Join Annual$50/yearJoin Monthly$5/monthToday for Club MacStories+ and Premier members (the Premier tier is $12/month or $120/year and it’s the all-access pass for everything we go, including a longer, ad-free version of AppStories and a Discord server), I published an in-depth ‘Making Of’ post about S-GPT. Think of this as a masterclass about working with the ChatGPT API in Shortcuts, dealing with web APIs and Shortcuts in general, plus other advanced techniques that you can study and reuse in your automations. I’m already working on Part 2 for this series that will focus on the native integrations of S-GPT and how I built them.
My latest Automation Academy class.
You can read more about Club Premier here and sign up using the buttons below.
Join Annual$120/yearJoin Monthly$12/monthDownload S-GPT 1.0.2That’s all for now. You can download version 1.0.2 of S-GPT and S-GPT Encoder below or via the MacStories Shortcuts Archive. The original story has been updated with new links as well; remember to save your existing OpenAI API token somewhere since you’ll have to paste it again into S-GPT 1.0.2 at setup.
If you have ideas and requests for S-GPT, you know where to find me.
S-GPTS-GPT is a shortcut to have conversations with OpenAI’s ChatGPT assistant on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The shortcut supports both text conversations as well as voice interactions when used inside Siri. S-GPT comes with native system integrations on Apple platforms including the ability to process text from your clipboard, summarize text found in photos, export conversations to Files and Finder, and even create playlists in the Music app. The shortcut requires an OpenAI API token and a helper shortcut called S-GPT Encoder that needs to be downloaded separately.
Get the shortcut here.
S-GPT EncoderThis is a helper shortcut for S-GPT that needs to be downloaded and installed separately. Without this shortcut, S-GPT won’t work.
Get the shortcut here.
You can also follow MacStories’ Automation April coverage through our dedicated hub, or subscribe to its RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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In 2021, I reviewed the Loupedeck Live, a programmable control panel for the Mac and Windows PCs for Club MacStories members as part of my Macintosh Desktop Experience column. It’s an excellent device, but its price put it at a disadvantage to a similarly-sized Elgato Stream Deck despite several other advantages that I explained in the review.
Last year, Loupedeck released the Loupedeck Live S, a smaller, more affordable Loupedeck that retains the core experience of the Loupedeck Live, but dispenses with a handful of physical buttons and dials. The new device retails for $189 compared to the Loupedeck Live, which is $269. That’s still $40 more than the 15-button Stream Deck MK.2, but a significantly narrower difference for a device that offers a wider range of functionality, making it worth another look if you were put off by the Loupedeck Live’s price.
Before digging into the details, I want to note that Loupedeck are providing us with a Loupedeck Live S free of charge as one of the prizes that we’ll be awarding to the winner of the Best Overall Shortcut as part of the Automation April Shortcuts Contest. However, this is not a sponsored post and reflects my options about the Loupedeck Live S, which I think you’ll find are in line with my previous reviews of Loupedeck products.
Like the Loupedeck Live, the Live S has the same number of LCD buttons in the center of the device. There are three rows of five buttons for 15 in total that can be assigned a variety of actions. What’s changed is that instead of six dials, the Live S has two, and instead of eight physical buttons, the Live S has four.
One advantage of the reduced number of buttons is the Loupedeck Live S’s size. At 150x110x30mm, 5.9” (150 mm) × 4.3” (110 mm) × 1.18” (30 mm), it’s comparable in size to an iPhone 14 Pro Max and about 10 grams lighter. The Live S can sit flat on a table or propped up at a fixed angle using the included stand that snaps into place along the top edge of the device. There are rubber feet on the back, which help keep the device from sliding on your desk too.
The removable stand is one of my favorite features of the Loupedeck Live S. When it’s removed, the stand is flat, making it far easier to take with you on the go. In contrast, the Stream Deck has a removable stand, but it’s a chunky v-shaped piece of plastic that isn’t easily packed in a bag.
Going mobile with the Loupedeck Live S.
A $15 solution to carrying the Live S with you.
One of my first purchases after Loupedeck sent me the Live S to test was an inexpensive portable hard drive case. On one side of the hard-shell case’s interior, there’s an elastic strap that holds the Loupedeck Live S in place, and on the other side, there’s a mesh pouch that holds the stand and a short USB-C cable for connecting the device to my MacBook Air. I’ve never considered taking a Stream Deck or the Loupedeck Live with me in my backpack, but the diminutive size and light weight of the Loupedeck Live S make it an excellent travel companion.
The Live S has fewer buttons and dials than the Live, but I don’t miss them. The dials are great for incremental adjustments like applying slider-based effects and filters to photos, controlling volume and brightness, or zooming in and out of a Logic Pro X timeline. The dials can also be pressed to execute an action, which makes them the most versatile controls on the device. However, only having two is not a major compromise if, like me, your primary use of a Loupedeck is to run shortcuts, macros, and other automations. If you’re doing the sort of photo or video editing where more dials would be an advantage, I’d suggest looking at the Loupedeck Live, Loupedeck+, which I reviewed in 2019, or CT, which are more focused on those sorts of workflows.
On the Loupedeck Live, there are eight buttons along the bottom edge of the device for switching between workspaces, which I’ll cover more in depth below, or triggering actions. The Live S’s physical buttons are along the sides of the LCD buttons, which enables the smaller form factor. The buttons include a circular LCD element, which can be customized too.
Building images for the Loupedeck Live S with Button Maker.
What the Live and Live S have in common are the fifteen full-color LCD buttons in the center of the device. The buttons, which trigger customizable actions, are touch sensitive and feature haptic feedback. Although the Live S’s buttons display color, I prefer to use black and white images for them, so the device fades into the background of my desk setup instead of drawing my attention. The icons I use are a combination of SF Symbols and the MacStories Shortcuts Icons by Slivia Gatta that I adapted for the Loupedeck Live S using Button Creator. You can also set up multiple pages of LCD buttons that are accessed with a swipe across the screen.
Sitting outside with the Loupedeck Live S.
The build quality of the Loupedeck Live S is excellent. The physical buttons and dials are clicky when pressed, and the dials have a satisfying incremental click as you twist them. I’m a fan of the LCD buttons too. Icons and text are sharp and can be set at a brightness that works with your environment. It’s a design that’s head and shoulders above the Stream Deck, which is chunky and uses concave buttons that distort the images beneath them. In contrast, the Loupedeck Live S is far sleeker, which is important for something that’s going to sit on your desk every day.
Loupedeck’s setup utility.
Setting up the Live S’s buttons and dials is accomplished from the Loupedeck app, which has evolved since I reviewed the Loupedeck Live. The app isn’t going to win any awards for following conventional Mac metaphors; you don’t have to look farther than the keyboard shortcut to invoke the app’s Preferences, which is ⌘P, to see that. However, it’s also not an app you’ll be using day in and day out. You’ll use it a lot initially as you set up actions, but once you have a configuration you like, you’ll only use it now and then to add new actions or modify your existing setup, so I can’t get to worked up about it.
That said, the app itself has improved quite a bit since I last reviewed it. The bulk of the app’s window is dominated by an image of your Loupedeck Live S. To the right is where you can add OS, device, custom, and plugin-based actions, and, at the very top of the window, is where you choose between devices and switch between profiles and workspaces.
Working with Photoshop’s profile.
My main profile is my macOS Default profile, which is a set of actions that appears whenever I’m using an app for which I haven’t created a specific profile. Loupedeck comes with a bunch of predefined profiles for apps like Ableton Live, Adobe apps, and Capture One, and there’s also a marketplace you can browse for more. Alternatively, you can build your own profiles for other apps. I’ve been working on an Obsidian profile, for example.
Switching profiles.
What’s interesting about profiles is that they can be assigned to buttons or activated dynamically when you switch to an app. Dynamic switching is great if you work in a single app for long periods of time and have set up multiple pages of actions you rely on. That way, as soon as you open the app, your Loupedeck Live S switches to the controls you set up for that app. Because I use multiple apps at the same time so frequently, I haven’t used profiles a lot. Instead, I mostly stick to my macOS Default profile and manually switch to other profiles as needed.
For example, my Obsidian profile is tied to the purple button on the right side of my Live S. Pressing it switches me to a dedicated page of Obsidian actions that I’m in the process of building out, and it stays there until I tap the green button on the left side of the Live S to return to my default profile.
A Loupedeck workspace.
Workspaces are similar to profiles and can be composed of unique combinations of actions that you switch between for different tasks. However, workspaces don’t include the physical round buttons of the Live S, allowing those buttons to be used to switch between workspaces. The conceptual difference between profiles and workspaces can be difficult to grasp until you use them, but at the same time, I expect most people can get a lot out of the Loupedeck Live S just by sticking to profiles.
Once you get beyond the organizational structure of the Live S, it’s worth poking around to see the actions you can assign to buttons. There is a series of OS-level actions, including:
- Clipboard actions
- Time and date actions
- Actions for controlling all the keys on your Mac
- Media and mouse controls
- System app controls for Finder, Activity Monitor, and System Settings
There are also built-in actions for navigating and controlling the Loupedeck Live S itself.
Loupedeck’s Custom actions offer AppleScript, keyboard shortcut, macro, and other support.
However, the actions I think most MacStories readers will use the most are the Custom actions for:
- AppleScript
- Keyboard shortcuts
- Opening apps
- Opening webpages
- Playing sounds
- Inserting Text
- Executing multiple actions
- Triggering Multi-toggle actions
- Adjusting the device’s dials
- Launching executable files or URLs
Most of the actions are self-explanatory, but it’s worth considering the difference between multi-toggle actions and multi-actions. Multi-toggle actions execute up to five separate actions sequentially, whereas multi-actions execute individual actions simultaneously or in sequence, allowing for some very powerful automations.
I, however, use the Keyboard Shortcut action more than any other. That’s because most of what I trigger from the Loupedeck Live S are features of apps that have predefined keyboard shortcuts or shortcuts built using the Shortcuts app. Some of the shortcuts I’ve built could be constructed, in part, using Loupedeck Multi-toggle or Multi-actions, but then they wouldn’t be available when I’m not using the Live S, which is why I assign them keyboard shortcuts to everything that can be accessed with a press of a Live S button, by their keyboard shortcut, or using Raycast.
I use Raycast for shortcuts that require text input like S-GPT, but others work better as buttons on the Live S.
This brings me to a broader point about automation on the Mac and how my use of control panels like the Live S has changed since I reviewed the Loupedeck Live. Raycast has cut down on my use of control panels a lot because it’s always available, and I never have to take my hands off the keyboard to trigger actions. That makes a lot of automations faster to trigger with Raycast.
Still, I’ve found that I like the Live S for activating menu bar apps without searching for their tiny and potentially hidden, icons, controlling apps I keep hidden like Sleeve, and activating shortcuts for activities such as web browsing when my hands are less likely to be on the keyboard.
My current, work-in-process default setup.
Even these things could be handled by something like Raycast, but sometimes it just feels easier to tap a single button. For me, that’s meant using the Loupedeck Live S to primarily do things like:
- Quickly checking my calendar or the time in Rome using Dato’s menu bar app
- Activating Dato’s quick event entry window
- Revealing Sleeve’s playback controls
- Loving a song I’m listening to in Music
- Sending links to Raindrop.io or Matter
- Generating Markdown-formatted and plain links from webpages I’m reading
- Toggling between Obsidian’s source and preview modes
- Putting my Mac to sleep when I’m finished working
I’ve also got my Mac’s system volume and music volume connected to the Live S’s dials and profiles dedicated to Obsidian and Logic Pro X.
I like what Loupedeck has done with the Live S a lot. The device retains the excellent design and versatility of the Loupedeck Live that I reviewed previously in a more affordable and smaller package. That makes it fit better with use cases like mine. I’m not streaming video or working in photo or video editors all day. Instead, I want a subset of my automations and app features available to me at the press of a button or twist of a dial. With the Loupedeck Live S, you get exactly that in a package that easily fits in a bag, making it a terrific Mac companion on your desk or on the go.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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This week on AppStories, I explain my new link management workflow, combining a series of apps and shortcuts, and Federico shares more about his S-GPT shortcut that integrates ChatGPT with Apple’s OSes.
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On AppStories+, a behind-the-scenes look at the first week of Automation April.
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Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings:
MacStories Weekly: Issue 363Evil-GPT
- A tip from Federico on how to ensure the Apple Watch defaults to dictation for text input when running a shortcut.
- Customizing S-GPT with personalities, including Evil-GPT, a Steve Jobs bot, a Mario bot, and a Roy Kent bot.
- A MusicBox giveaway.
- I cover how I’m using email utilities to fill in the gaps from shortcomings in email automation on Apple’s platforms.
- Interviews with Automation April judges Christopher Lawley and Jack Wellborn
- Plus:
- App Debuts
- Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord
- Interesting links from around the web
- A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts
- and more
Up NextOn Wednesday, April 12th at 11:30 AM Eastern US time, we’ll be holding a special Automation April workshop for Club MacStories+ and Premier members where we’ll cover a range of Shortcuts topics, including how to come up with new automation ideas for Shortcuts on Apple’s latest platforms, some of the new actions you should consider in the Shortcuts app, and some of the shortcuts we’re working on. We’ll also be taking member questions about Shortcuts from members.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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BetterTouchTool is an essential Mac application that has stood the test of time since it was one of the first to be covered by MacStories back in November 2009. In its early days, BetterTouchTool was a simple application primarily designed for adding customizable gestures to MacBook trackpads and Magic Mouse.
Today, BetterTouchTool has evolved to become a powerful tool that enables users to configure customizable gestures for Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad (1-3), customize the Touch Bar and map keyboard shortcuts, bind mouse buttons, create custom mouse gestures, and customize the Siri Remote. Additionally, BetterTouchTool can connect and configure MIDI devices, works great with the Shortcuts app on macOS Monterey & Ventura, and comes with a plethora of predefined actions that can be combined to perform virtually any command on your Mac.
Recently, “Generic Devices” support has been added, enabling advanced users to add support for many devices on their own using simple JavaScript. For example, users have already created scripts even for exotic devices like the Griffin Power Mate, a Philips Foot Control, or the Microsoft Adaptive Controller.
Moreover, a fantastic feature that is currently being finalized and set to release by the end of April is the “Floating Widget Menus.” These menus are scriptable and customizable and can be placed anywhere on the screen, attached to particular windows, or shown upon demand. With a unique plugin system in place, these menus can integrate custom SwiftUI-based widgets and will even work seamlessly with BTT Remote on iPhone and iPad in the future.
Also, check out the new “Transform & Replace Selection With ChatGPT” predefined action that lets you use ChatGPT directly in any of your apps.
BetterTouchTool comes with a 45-day trial, after which you can choose between a license that includes all updates for 2 years and a lifetime license.
For a limited time, MacStories readers can purchase BetterTouchTool for 20% off by using the coupon code MACSTORIESBTT_2023 at checkout. So, don’t delay. Go to folivora.ai to learn more about this fantastic Mac app and take advantage of the special limited-time, 20% discount on BetterTouchTool.
Our thanks to BetterTouchTool for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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25:27
This week on MacStories Unwind, mini topics on Phoebe Bridgers and Mario, plus John picks the new Apple TV+ movie Tetris, and Federico loves Shrinking.
Links and Show NotesJohn’s Pick:
- Tetris on Apple TV+
- Trailer
Federico’s Pick:
- Shrinking on Apple TV+
- Trailer
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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I just released a small bug fix update for S-GPT, my shortcut to integrate OpenAI’s ChatGPT large language model with the Shortcuts app on all Apple platforms.
Version 1.0.1 of S-GPT is a relatively minor update that comes with an initial round of improvements based on early feedback I’ve received for the shortcut, including:
- A proper error-checking alert that tells what went wrong with a request to the ChatGPT API;
- A better summarization of Safari webpages passed from the share sheet that no longer “hallucinates” results but actually summarizes text extracted via Safari’s Reader technology from any web article;
- A new behavior for text input on watchOS, which now defaults to dictation rather than keyboard input. I’ve covered this more in detail in today’s issue of MacStories Weekly for Club members.
Additionally, I also realized that the usage tips that S-GPT was displaying every time it asked you to enter some text may have been nice the first three times you used the shortcut, but became annoying very quickly. That was especially true when using S-GPT with Siri in a voice context since they would be read aloud every time. For these reasons, I removed tips and simplified the shortcut’s questions to “What do you want to ask?” and “Want to follow up?”.
In case you missed my introduction of S-GPT earlier this week, you can read the original story here and find out more about how the shortcut works and what it does. I updated the links to the S-GPT and S-GPT Encoder shortcuts in the story to the latest version; you can also find the updated shortcuts in MacStories Shortcuts Archive.
S-GPTS-GPT is a shortcut to have conversations with OpenAI’s ChatGPT assistant on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The shortcut supports both text conversations as well as voice interactions when used inside Siri. S-GPT comes with native system integrations on Apple platforms including the ability to process text from your clipboard, summarize text found in photos, export conversations to Files and Finder, and even create playlists in the Music app. The shortcut requires an OpenAI API token and a helper shortcut called S-GPT Encoder that needs to be downloaded separately.
Get the shortcut here.
S-GPT EncoderThis is a helper shortcut for S-GPT that needs to be downloaded and installed separately. Without this shortcut, S-GPT won’t work.
Get the shortcut here.
→ Source: macstories.net
S-GPT for Shortcuts.
It’s the inaugural week of the second annual edition of Automation April, and to celebrate the occasion, I’ve been working on something special: today, I’m introducing S-GPT, an advanced conversational shortcut for ChatGPT that bridges OpenAI’s assistant to native system features of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS.
S-GPT (which stands for Shortcuts-GPT) is free to use for everyone, but it requires an OpenAI account with an associated pay-as-you-go billing plan since it takes advantage of OpenAI’s developer API, which has a cost. S-GPT was built with the latest ChatGPT API, and it can be used both with the existing ChatGPT 3.5 model or – if you have access to it – the ChatGPT 4 API.
While the shortcut is free for MacStories readers, I will be publishing a detailed, in-depth Automation Academy class soon for Club MacStories Plus or Premier members to explain the techniques and strategies I used to build this shortcut. I genuinely think that S-GPT is, from a technical perspective, my best and most advanced work to date; I hope my Academy class will help others learn some useful tips for Shortcuts and, in return, make even better automations for our contest.
With that said, let’s look at what S-GPT is and what you can do with it.
Getting Started with S-GPTAs I noted above, the first thing you should do if you want to use S-GPT is create an OpenAI account and make sure you have billing set up with pay-as-you-go; you’re going to pay very little for what you’re actually using with the ChatGPT API. The shortcut uses the native ChatGPT API, and that costs money for every call to the API; since my shortcut is free to use, you’ll have to provide your own API key.
Setting up S-GPT with your own API key.
Thankfully, since S-GPT was built with the new ChatGPT API, the cost of those API calls is going to be extremely small: the new model used by the ChatGPT API is very cost-efficient, as you can read here. To give you some context, I’ve been testing S-GPT extensively for the past month, and my usage is up to $1.50 so far. (The actual cost for the GPT 3.5 model: $0.002 / 1K tokens.)
My recommendation is to not upgrade to ChatGPT Plus but instead set up a pay-as-you-go billing method with a spending limit. You can do so from the Billing page. Once you’ve done that, head over to the API Keys page, create a new secret key for your account, and copy it. You’ll be asked by S-GPT at setup to paste your API key, and that’s it.
The Billing page on the OpenAI website.
If you get an error from S-GPT without any response, it’s likely that you haven’t set up a billing method or are trying to use an old API key. I strongly recommend generating a new API key from scratch if you just set up a billing method on the OpenAI website.
After pasting in your secret key, you’ll no longer have to see any other ChatGPT code or special syntax. I designed the shortcut to be intuitive, visual, and as native as possible on Apple platforms.
There is one optional setting you can change in S-GPT: if you have access to the ChatGPT 4 API (which is invitation-only at the moment), you can replace the default model used by S-GPT with the updated one.
If you have access to the ChatGPT 4 API, this is where you can replace which model to use in the shortcut.
Toward the beginning of the shortcut, find the ‘Text’ action that contains gpt-3.5-turbo and replace it with gpt-4. Again: you should only do this if your account has access to the ChatGPT 4 API. If not, you should continue using the default ChatGPT 3.5 model, which is fast, inexpensive, and accurate. In my tests, I haven’t noticed meaningful performance improvements in the GPT 4 model compared to 3.5.
S-GPT and Conversational ModeAt a high level, S-GPT is a shortcut that lets you ask ChatGPT questions from an input box on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac; answers are returned by ChatGPT and displayed in an alert on your devices. You can ask whatever you want, wait a couple of seconds, and get a response back from the assistant. S-GPT only supports text, and there are no limits in terms of question length.
Conversations with S-GPT.
There are several aspects of S-GPT, however, that set it apart from similar shortcuts you may have seen in recent months. Let me start from the underlying foundation of this shortcut.
S-GPT uses the new chat API released by OpenAI, which is more cost-efficient than the previous text completion API and can produce high-quality results. More importantly, S-GPT supports conversational mode: as you talk to ChatGPT and ask follow-up questions in the same “session”, S-GPT retains the context of your previous questions and the assistant’s series of answers. In fact, you can stop the shortcut at any point and export a full log of an entire conversation as a single transcript.
A full conversation saved to a text file.
The ability to hold a back-and-forth conversation, as we’ll see later, brings some terrific advantages over using, say, Siri for certain tasks. Unlike other shortcuts for ChatGPT, your conversations are only ever sent to the OpenAI API: by default, the shortcut does not keep a log or cache of your chats unless you manually ask it to export a transcript.
S-GPT was designed to provide users with concise and clear answers that can be read in just a few seconds. I did this because S-GPT can be used both as a shortcut launched from the Shortcuts app, an icon on the Home Screen, or a widget, or as a shortcut running inside Siri. When S-GPT runs inside Siri, it’s also running with more memory constraints and I’m guessing you wouldn’t want Siri to speak an answer that takes two minutes to be read in full. So, thanks to the ChatGPT API, I was able to assign a specific “personality” and role to S-GPT. This is the system prompt that controls S-GPT’s default behavior:
You are S-GPT, a fork of ChatGPT created by Federico Viticci. You have all the capabilities of ChatGPT but you run inside Apple’s Shortcuts app and Siri.
Your responses should be informative and clear, but not excessively long. You have to help users quickly.
Users need to be able to listen to your answers in 15 seconds. Never go longer unless I ask you to be more detailed.
At any point, you can ask S-GPT to be more detailed or to tell you more about a specific topic; whenever possible, S-GPT will prioritize brevity and short, informative responses.
You can always ask S-GPT for more detail about any topic.
As I will explain in the Automation Academy class for Club Plus and Premier members, S-GPT requires an additional helper shortcut to be installed. The shortcut, which you can find at the end of this article, is called S-GPT Encoder and it’s a helper utility that runs as a sub-module. The shortcut helps S-GPT properly encode and decode information; it was necessary to offer the ability to ask a single question or have an entire conversation with S-GPT.
The defining feature of S-GPT, however, is its native integration with Apple’s platforms.
With S-GPT, I wanted to start building a bridge between ChatGPT and Apple’s OSes. I know that this is a lofty goal, and there’s only so much I can do with Shortcuts, but I look at how Microsoft is integrating ChatGPT with Windows, and I’m jealous that the same isn’t true on Apple’s platforms (and likely will never be).
So, more than a simple bot to have a conversation with ChatGPT in Shortcuts, I set out to create a tool that would connect ChatGPT responses to native iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS functionalities. I wanted to create a ChatGPT-based utility that would help you process your data and make things happen on your computer rather than simply answer trivia questions or write poems.
I wanted to create a ChatGPT-based utility that would help you process your data and make things happen on your computer.
The most powerful aspect of S-GPT is how Shortcuts becomes the glue between ChatGPT and your devices with a local, on-device, privacy-conscious approach. There are several native integrations in S-GPT already, and I have a long list of future ones to add in subsequent updates.
Let’s take a look.
The Native Integrations of S-GPTIn this first version of S-GPT, the shortcut supports the following integrations on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS:
- Safari share sheet. If you share a webpage with S-GPT, it’ll try to summarize it for you;
- Clipboard. If you ask S-GPT to do anything with text in the clipboard, ChatGPT will process the contents of your system clipboard. Try asking “Check my clipboard for grammar mistakes” or “Summarize what’s in the clipboard”.
- Trigger word: “clipboard”
- Reminders and Calendar. S-GPT can look at your upcoming schedule and tell you which days are too busy with the help of ChatGPT. Try asking “Help me with my schedule”.
- Trigger phrase: “my schedule”
- Live Text. You can use S-GPT to summarize text extracted from any image in your photo library via Apple’s Live Text technology. Your photo will not be sent to OpenAI – just the text extracted from it locally, on-device. Try asking “Use Live Text.”
- Trigger phrase: “live text”
- Safari and URLs. If ChatGPT returns web URLs as part of its responses, S-GPT will offer you the ability to open those links – even multiple at once – in Safari as tabs.
- Quick Look, Files, Finder, Translate, and other export actions. When you want to end your conversation with S-GPT and do something with it, you can say “export chat” to be presented with a list of actions. These include the ability to copy the full chat to the clipboard, save it to a text file, and even translate it to a different language using Apple’s own Translate feature. By default, responses exported to text files will be saved in iCloud Drive/Shortcuts.
- Music. This is the big one: S-GPT can make a playlist in Apple’s Music app for any list of songs returned by ChatGPT. As long as there’s a list of songs provided by S-GPT, you can ask it to turn it into a playlist and you’ll end up with a brand new, actual playlist in the Music app. Try asking “Make me a playlist with 10 emo songs from the late 2000s” or “I want a playlist with the top 15 songs by the members of boygenius”.
- Trigger word: “playlist”
S-GPT integrations.
As you can see from the list above, I tried to come up with a series of features for version 1.0 of this shortcut that would appeal to a wide range of users on different platforms, and I have more planned for future updates. The integrations are triggered by a set of prebuilt words or sentences (which I listed above) and, right now, S-GPT only supports the English language.
Now, allow me to dig a little deeper into a few examples of the integrations supported by S-GPT and what you can do with this shortcut.
By far my favorite feature of S-GPT is the ability to ask ChatGPT for a list of songs and turn that into an actual playlist in the Music app via Shortcuts’ playlist actions. What’s amazing about this is that the command can be issued immediately with details of the kind of playlist you’re looking for or later in a conversation, retaining the context of what was discussed before.
For instance, if you ask S-GPT this:
Make me a playlist with 20 popular songs by Oasis and Blur
ChatGPT will use its intelligence to understand what you mean, it’ll pass back a list of songs to S-GPT, and you’ll be asked to enter a name for the playlist. Wait a few moments, open the Music app, and boom:
Making a playlist with S-GPT.
To me, this is incredible: ChatGPT can turn a moderately complex natural language query into a list of songs; the engine I created in S-GPT translates that into a playlist inside Apple’s Music app. But we can do better than this.
One of the perks of ChatGPT is that it can go multiple levels deep into the meaning of a query. So, imagine this prompt:
I want a playlist with the top 15 songs by the members of boygenius
Ask this, and S-GPT will create a playlist with the top songs by Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus. ChatGPT knows how to search for “the members of boygenius” and it returns songs from the individual artists who are members of this supergroup.
ChatGPT knew what I meant, and S-GPT created the playlist for my query.
Siri, by comparison, has no idea what to do with this query.
Oh, Siri.
This is still the surface. ChatGPT can find and recommend songs by vibe, release date, mood, and more. Imagine this:
I’m feeling nostalgic. Make me a playlist with 25 mellow indie rock songs released between 2000 and 2010 and sort them by release year, from oldest to most recent.
The natural language prompt in S-GPT.
That prompt will take a while to execute (more on why in the Automation Academy), but it’ll work, and it’ll generate this playlist:
You can’t go wrong with Death Cab and Modest Mouse.
You may notice that not all songs returned by ChatGPT can be added to a playlist. Unfortunately, this is due to Apple’s non-existent implementation of Apple Music search in Shortcuts. The Shortcuts app doesn’t have a real ‘Search on Apple Music’ action; instead, I have to use an iTunes Store search action, which is often unreliable. I hope we’ll see native Apple Music search actions in iOS 17.
The list of mind-blowing music examples could go on forever, and even though ChatGPT isn’t perfect at music recommendations, it’s pretty good, and I just love the ability to quickly and dynamically make a new playlist based on a set of arbitrary commands. This integration reminds me of the never-forgotten Sentence feature from Beats Music.
The last thing I’d point out is that S-GPT can hold the context of the current conversation, which works by asking it to generate a playlist later in the chat too. So, if S-GPT returns a list of songs and you then decide to turn that into a playlist, that flow will also work. Check out the screenshots below for an example of this:
From a conversation to a playlist in the Music app, all thanks to ChatGPT and Shortcuts.
The other integration I’d like to call out is the clipboard one. By simply asking S-GPT to do “something” with the clipboard, the shortcut will be able to access the text contents of your system clipboard and pass that to ChatGPT for processing. For example, this command…
Check the paragraphs of text in my clipboard for grammar mistakes. Provide a list of mistakes, annotate them, and offer suggestions for fixes.
…will allow S-GPT to access multiple paragraphs of text you’ve previously copied to the clipboard, and it’ll ask ChatGPT to process them for grammar mistakes based on its language model.
An example of S-GPT checking text in my clipboard for errors.
The flexibility of this integration is only limited by your imagination. Want to quickly summarize an article from Safari? Open an article’s Safari Reader view, copy all text in it, then ask S-GPT…
Summarize the text in my clipboard
…and you’ll have a summary, ready to be copied or saved somewhere.
As long as the article isn’t too long (don’t try and give 5,000 words to ChatGPT via the API), this will work.
How about asking for a list of adjectives and adverbs contained in your clipboard? Sure thing:
Adverbs and adjectives as scanned from my iPad’s clipboard.
And what about going back to the original text and asking to also translate it to Italian? That also works.
Context retention and translation in S-GPT.
Speaking of copying and saving chat transcripts: S-GPT comes with a series of actions that you can perform to save or export the conversation you had with it. To invoke the list of actions, simply say…
Export chat
…and you’ll be presented with the following menu:
S-GPT’s list of export actions.
As you can see, S-GPT offers buttons to copy the full chat log to the clipboard, save it as a text file, copy the last response from ChatGPT only, or even translate everything to a different language using Apple’s own Translate feature for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. At any point during a conversation, you can say “export chat” to launch this menu and choose what you want to do.
Like I said, I don’t want to get too deep into the technicalities of S-GPT: I intentionally designed this shortcut to be intuitive and flexible so that everyone can find their own use cases and have a unique experience with it.
As Apple often likes to say about its products, I can’t wait to see what you make with this shortcut.
Coming Soon for Club Members: More Personalities and an Automation Academy ClassBut wait, there’s more!
Coming this Friday in MacStories Weekly for all Club members, I designed a series of special “behavioral” prompts to unlock different personalities in S-GPT. There is one, for example, in which the AI is extremely evil, unkind, and malevolent towards you, which was inspired by CARROT Weather. There is another flavor of S-GPT that talks like Steve Jobs and is obsessed with Apple references and fun facts. In MacStories Weekly, I will share some of these prompts so you can infuse S-GPT with different personalities and have some fun with it.
Additional personalities for S-GPT.
For Club Plus and Premier members, I’ve been working on the grand return of my Automation Academy series (it’s been too long, and I apologize) with a deep dive into the making of S-GPT and how the ChatGPT API works in Shortcuts behind the scenes. S-GPT is the most advanced and complex shortcut I’ve ever created. It employs several high-level techniques for data processing, encoding, exceptions, and system integrations that tap into some of the most esoteric advanced options for Shortcuts power users.
Whether you’re interested in building shortcuts for ChatGPT or just want to learn some advanced Shortcuts techniques that will help you during Automation April, this lesson is for you. I’m working on it now, and it’s going to be ready soon. To get access to it, my recommendation is to sign up for a Club Premier account, which includes everything from the base tier of the Club, plus:
- Discord access
- Extra original content
- More Club web app features, including custom RSS feeds
- AppStories+
You can sign up using the buttons below.
Join Annual$120/yearJoin Monthly$12/monthDownload S-GPT for FreeThe 1.0 version of S-GPT I’m releasing today is just the beginning for this shortcut.
In the weeks I’ve spent building S-GPT, it has turned out to be a transformative shortcut that is altering my idea of chatting with an assistant on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. I’m happy with the system integrations the shortcut has so far, but I’m working on a lot more for future updates – including the ability to run Terminal commands and scripts on macOS or ways to let ChatGPT process the contents of text documents from Files and Finder. Once I realized the potential for a large language model combined with Shortcuts’ native OS integrations, I knew this shortcut could be something special.
I’m only just getting started with S-GPT, and there’s a lot more to come in the near future. If you’re intrigued by the idea of blending Apple’s OSes and ChatGPT using Shortcuts, you can follow me for updates on Mastodon, and get started today with the first version of S-GPT.
S-GPTS-GPT is a shortcut to have conversations with OpenAI’s ChatGPT assistant on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The shortcut supports both text conversations as well as voice interactions when used inside Siri. S-GPT comes with native system integrations on Apple platforms including the ability to process text from your clipboard, summarize text found in photos, export conversations to Files and Finder, and even create playlists in the Music app. The shortcut requires an OpenAI API token and a helper shortcut called S-GPT Encoder that needs to be downloaded separately.
Get the shortcut here.
S-GPT EncoderThis is a helper shortcut for S-GPT that needs to be downloaded and installed separately. Without this shortcut, S-GPT won’t work.
Get the shortcut here.
You can also follow MacStories’ Automation April coverage through our dedicated hub, or subscribe to its RSS feed.
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Jack Wellborn, one of our Automation April Shortcuts Contest judges, has a great post on his website that’s perfect for Automation April.
As Jack explains, apps built for a general audience require some features to make way for the ones that most people use. While the approach is understandable from a design standpoint, it can be frustrating if any of those semi-hidden features are ones you rely on. However, as Jack explains, there’s a solution:
This is where personal automation comes in. Personal automation gives individuals the ability to choose which of their features should be most easily accessed. I used Shortcuts and AppleScript to elevate star ratings using dedicated keys on my Stream Deck. Now I can rate songs regardless of what app I am currently using, and in one step instead of five. Using personal automation, I have also changed how Time Machine works, streamlined pasting links from Safari, and made joining Zoom meetings practically effortless.
Personal automation doesn’t need to involve expensive third party hardware, or require scripting. It can be something as simple as customizing keyboard shortcuts or defining text replacement macros. Apple’s Shortcuts app is completely drag-and-drop, and makes building personal automation easy enough for even basic users. On top of the many automation apps and features included with Apple’s platforms, there are also a slew of great third party apps that unlock even more possibilities.
I love Jack’s perspective on automation. He was the winner of our Best Overall Shortcut in last year’s Automation April Shortcut Contest. It wasn’t the most complex shortcut we received, but it had the perfect combination of originality, thoughtful design, and everyday utility that our judges look for. As Jack points out, personal automation is about making your devices work for you and not the other way around, which is what Automation April is all about.
To learn more about how to submit a shortcut to the Automation April Shortcuts Contest, be sure to check out my story with all the details that was published on MacStories yesterday.
You can also follow MacStories’ Automation April coverage through our dedicated hub, or subscribe to its RSS feed.
→ Source: wormsandviruses.com
Links are the currency of information overload and distraction. There’s more media available than we could ever get to in a lifetime, and more things we might want to buy, places may want to visit, and other things to explore online than can be fit into a day.
The same problem exists in our work lives. That’s especially true for the kind of work I do. Links are part of everything. Whether I’m researching, writing, or preparing to record a podcast, I’m collecting, managing, and sharing links. I could follow all those trails as they cross my path, but I’d never get anything done.
Instead of flitting from one online discovery to the next with no plan, wasting precious time, I save links for later, putting them aside until I have time for them. I’ve been doing this forever, but I’ve also never been happy with my system. So, it was inevitable that I’d begin tinkering with my setup again, both with the apps I use and the shortcuts that support them.
Whether it’s work or pleasure reading, most of my reading happens in Matter these days.
After thinking about past experiments, I realized that those setups were over-complicated. I had tried to create a system where every link was magically saved and organized the moment I came across it. That was a mistake because it didn’t reflect how I actually work.
With those old setups, there was also tension between the apps I wanted to use and my desire to automate my link collecting. The more I complicated my automation setup, the more I limited the apps I could use.
This time, I decided to put the apps first and automation second. Shortcuts and AppleScript are still important parts of the system I’ve built, but they’re the glue that holds it together, not the system itself. Instead, my primary focus has been on creating something that works the way I do and with the apps I want to use.
Where I Find LinksLinks come from a lot of sources, including iMessage.
For starters, it’s worth sharing where I find most of the links I save because that has the biggest impact on the process of saving and managing them. RSS is by far the most important source of the links I save. I have roughly 150 feeds divided into topics like Apple, General Tech, Music, and Videogames, which I spoke about in more detail on a recent episode of AppStories. Other links come from social media, in iMessage conversations, via email, and old-fashioned web browsing.
The trouble with any system is trying to account for all those contexts in a single shortcut or other automation that has to work across multiple platforms. Things get messy quickly, especially if you add organizing and managing the links into the mix too. So, instead, I decided to break the process into three parts: collection, management, and use.
Collecting LinksCatching up on the latest news in Reeder using Feedly to sync my RSS feeds.
When I started this journey, I knew I wanted to use Reeder by Silvio Rizzi (iOS/Mac) for RSS. It’s been one of my favorite apps for a long time, but I was skeptical that I could get it to work the way I wanted on the Mac. You see, sharing from Reeder on the Mac is bound to the share menu, which isn’t great. iOS and iPadOS are a different story. With the share sheet, it’s simple to send links from Reeder to any app that accepts URLs.
Raindrop for Mac.
On the Mac, though, I immediately ran into trouble. I’d decided that I wanted to use a combination of Raindrop.io (iOS/Mac) and Matter to collect my links. I chose Raindrop.io because it’s web-based and has an API. That means its sync is solid, and it can be integrated with apps like Obsidian whether or not the developer directly supports it. I chose Matter because I like its balance between design and functionality. It’s not as full-featured as Readwise Reader, which I know a lot of people love, but I prefer Matter’s more focused approach and reading environment.
I primarily use Matter in a pinned Safari tab on my Mac.
I toyed with the idea of using only Raindrop.io or only Matter, but I’m better off using both. Matter is reserved for articles that I want to save for later. In my current system, the only things that go directly to Matter are pleasure reading that is unrelated to my work. MacStories-related materials may end up in Matter, too, but not in this link collection phase. Everything else goes to Raindrop.io because it’s designed to handle more than just articles.
For my purposes, Matter’s one Shortcuts action was enough, but I’d like to see more added in the future.
The biggest hurdles my app choices posed are that Raindrop.io doesn’t support Shortcuts or the share menu, and Matter offers a single ‘Add to Matter’ Shortcuts action. Also, even though Matter works on M-series Macs, its share menu extension only seems to work with some apps, but not Reeder. It’s at this point that I started to think I might have to pick a different set of apps for collecting links, which Federico and I touched on in the latest episode of the Club MacStories podcast, MacStories Unplugged. However, despite the limitations, I’ve come up with a workflow that includes those apps plus a set of four shortcuts that tie everything together nicely.
Because most of my link collection starts with Reeder on the Mac, that’s where I concentrated my automation efforts. It’s also where saving links can be surprisingly clunky compared to the iPhone and iPad’s superior share sheet. As a result, my Mac system was historically no system at all. If I found something in Reeder I wanted to save, I’d open it in Safari, where I could use the Matter and Raindrop.io browser extensions to save articles. However, that resulted in a cluttered mess of tabs and articles I forgot about and never saved. Plus, it was slow compared to saving links on iOS and iPadOS. The solution to integrating Raindrop.io and Matter with Reeder was Shortcuts.
Reeder -> Matter.
The shortcuts called Reeder -> Matter and Reeder -> Raindrop begin by grabbing the URL of a post I want to save. Reeder has a built-in ‘Copy Link’ action that can be assigned a keyboard shortcut, which makes it possible to copy the link with Shortcuts even though Reeder doesn’t offer that as a Shortcuts action itself. To get the link, my Reeder -> Matter shortcut first runs a simple AppleScript that simulates the pressing of the keyboard shortcut for copying a Reeder link.
A nice side benefit of the fact that Matter works with M-series Macs is that its Shortcuts action is available, making it easy to pass the link from the clipboard to a “Save to Matter” action. The final step of the shortcut sends a notification, so I know the link has been saved.
What makes saving links to Matter fast with this shortcut is that I’ve tied it to a keyboard shortcut in Raycast and a button on the Loupedeck Live S, the automation accessory that we’re giving away as part of the Automation April Shortcuts Contest. That way I can trigger the shortcut with Raycast, which supports Shortcuts, using a keyboard shortcut, or the Loupedeck Live S, depending on whichever is easiest. I could bind Reeder -> Matter to a keyboard shortcut directly in Shortcuts, but I’ve found that’s unreliable, so I use Raycast instead.
Reeder -> Raindrop
My Reeder -> Raindrop shortcut is similar but a little more involved than the Matter one. The Raindrop version starts off the same by invoking my Reeder keyboard shortcut for copying a link using AppleScript. Next, the shortcut pastes the link from the clipboard into Raindrop.io’s URL scheme, which opens a Safari page populating the URL field with the copied link. The shortcut waits three seconds to make sure the Raindrop.io webpage fully loads and then uses AppleScript to close the tab. Finally, an Open App action reopens Reeder.
What I like about both of these shortcuts is that they use simple actions that historically haven’t been buggy, which means they should be reliable. They also work quickly, so they don’t interrupt my RSS reading in a meaningful way.
You may wonder why I don’t bother filling out any other Raindrop.io fields that are available when using the app’s URL scheme. I’ll get to that more below, but it comes down to speed and staying in the flow of scanning RSS. The point of these shortcuts is to avoid context switching while saving links by reducing the process to a single keyboard shortcut or tap of a button.
lire is another option worth considering.
Another option I considered when exploring better ways to collect links was switching my RSS reader to lire, another excellent RRS client. The advantage of lire is that it supports Raindrop.io directly, and for whatever reason, Matter’s share menu extension works with it on the Mac. Switching would have eliminated the need for Shortcuts entirely, but when it comes to reading, I’m very picky, and I prefer Reeder. Thanks to Shortcuts, I didn’t have to compromise on the apps I like using most.
You can download Reeder -> Raindrop here and Reeder -> Matter here.
Reeder -> RaindropTo use this shortcut with Reeder, first assign the keyboard shoortcut ⌥↑c to Reeder’s Copy Link action. The Apple Script will simulate that keyboard shortcut for the item you’re viewing in Reeder and then send it to Raindrop.io’s URL scheme, which will open a tab in Safari, save the link to Raindrop.io, close the tab, and return to Reeder after a 3 second wait.
Get the shortcut here.
Reeder -> MatterTo use this shortcut with Reeder, first assign the keyboard shoortcut ⌥↑c to Reeder’s Copy Link action. The Apple Script will simulate that keyboard shortcut for the item you’re viewing in Reeder and then send it to the read-later app Matter, confirming that the save has occurred with a notification.
Get the shortcut here.
Managing LinksRaindrop on the iPad.
One of the insights I had while reevaluating my link workflow was that managing links was getting in the way of saving them. No matter what app I used, whether it was Raindrop.io, GoodLinks, Anybox, or something else, filing and tagging was an interruption in the reading process that slowed me down and was distracting. That’s why I save links without any tags in the initial collection step.
Just two Unsorted links so far today because I’ve been editing.
Instead, I take advantage of Raindrop.io’s Unsorted category, which is a folder where links go if they haven’t been assigned a category or tag yet. GoodLinks has a similar concept of read/unread that could be used the same way. At least once a day, I review the links I’ve saved, categorizing them and adding tags.
I do most of this link review and management on an iPhone or iPad because Raindrop.io’s new iOS and iPadOS app is a cut above its Mac app, making it easy to move quickly. Some links remain in Raindrop.io for future reference, and others are sent to Matter for reading more carefully.
I try to keep my tags list simple.
I don’t have an elaborate filing or tagging system because Raindrop.io’s full-text search works well. Instead, I use tags to assign links to areas of my life. Links get tagged ‘Weekly’ if I’m going to include them in the Interesting Links section of MacStories Weekly, our weekly Club newsletter. Others are tagged with ‘Post’ for linking on MacStories or ‘AS’ for adding to the show notes of an upcoming AppStories episode. I also use tags for specific projects, travel ideas and plans, and things I am considering buying. Using tags that mirror many of the projects I use in my task manager also makes it easier to work with tasks and links together.
The one thing that no amount of process or automation can solve, though, is my own behavior. The weak spot in this workflow is the need to review links regularly. That hasn’t been a problem yet, but I know at some point I’ll get busy, and it will be. I’ve tried to counter that inevitability by being thoughtful about the number of links I save, but also by creating what I call the Link Lost and Found. It’s a Raindrop.io collection where I drag links that I can’t get to in a timely way. Maybe I’ll get to them when I free up, or perhaps they’ll sit there forever, but at least they’ll be searchable if I remember something I saved and want to find it again. That keeps my Unsorted collection manageable because it only ever stores recent materials.
Using LinksMy shortcuts for formatting my links are available from the share sheet, but on the Mac, I usually trigger them with Raycast.
Once you’ve collected and sorted links, the idea is to use them. Sometimes that just means reading an article in Matter or opening a site from Raindrop.io and buying something, but for me, it often means pasting a Markdown-formatted version of the link in a story I’m writing or adding a plain link to podcast show notes in Notion.
I began building this last piece of the puzzle over a year ago with a shortcut that took the URL and name of a Safari page and created a Markdown-formatted link using regular expressions to trim extraneous text from the page’s name. That shortcut was good but too limited, so I expanded it and built another for when I’m not using Safari.
By the time I’m ready to copy a Markdown or plain link, I’m usually using Raindrop.io or Matter. For those apps, it’s easy to copy a URL. Once the link is on the clipboard, I use a shortcut called Clip Link to create a Markdown formatted link.
Clip Link.
First, Clip Link checks whether there is a URL on the clipboard using a regular expression that’s stored in a dictionary. If not, the shortcut ends and alerts me of the problem. Otherwise, the shortcut uses a ‘Repeat with each item’ action to iterate over each URL that was found pulling the title of the page using the app Actions and the URL to create a Markdown link. The final step copies the results to the clipboard.
Safari Link.
Because I use Raycast’s clipboard manager, the result is that I have both the Markdown and plain links sitting on my clipboard, ready to paste elsewhere. Safari Clip is similar, but because I’m already on a webpage, I don’t need to check the clipboard, and I can simply use the name and URL of the active tab to create the Markdown and plain link.
Because I don’t have the benefit of a clipboard manager on iOS or iPadOS, I always make the Markdown version of the link the last thing copied to the clipboard. I could send both versions to an app for temporary storage when I’m using my iPhone or iPad, but the plain version of a link is usually so easy to copy anyway that I decided it wasn’t worth the additional overhead.
You can download Clip Link here and Safari link here.
Clip LinkClip Link uses regex to verify there’s at least one URL on the clipboard. If it finds one or more, it takes each and coverts them into Markdown links using the Actions app, which is a dependency of this shortcut.
Get the shortcut here.
Safari LinkSafari Link uses the active browswer tab to create a Markdown link using the Actions app, which is a dependency of this shortcut.
Get the shortcut here.
Get the shortcut here.
[/ms_download_workflow_box]
Saving HighlightsObsidian for Mac’s beta bookmark sidebar.
Aside from saving URLs, I’ve begun experimenting more with saving highlights from articles. This is the newest part of my system and one I’m currently using exclusively with Matter since that’s where most of my reading occurs. I haven’t historically highlighted a lot of what I read because it doesn’t have a long shelf life. However, Matter, its Obsidian plugin, and Obsidian for Mac’s new beta bookmarking feature gave me an idea.
I collect links every week to publish in an Interesting Links section in MacStories Weekly. My process for collecting those links has always involved saving links and tagging them with ‘Weekly’ but not much more. Now, I’m sending those links to Matter where I read them throughout the week, tagging and highlighting them as I go. Matter’s Obsidian plugin automatically syncs the highlights to a folder in my Obsidian notes vault.
A search that combines the path to my Matter highlights and the tag ‘weekly.’
Obsidian search has special parameters for searching the path to a specific folder and tags. The new bookmarking feature, which is currently in beta on the Mac only, lets you bookmark searches. That means I now have a saved search of highlights from Matter articles that are tagged ‘Weekly’ that I can access at any time with one click. I’ve only been using this highlights workflow for a short time, but I can already see it coming in handy for research-intensive projects like writing my annual macOS review.
Also, Raindrop.io supports highlighting, and Readwise can sync those highlights to Obsidian, but I haven’t gone down that path yet. Anything that is part of my writing eventually ends up in Matter, so it’s good to know that functionality is there in Raindrop.io, but for now, I’m sticking to syncing my Matter highlights only.
This new multi-phase workflow has been far better than my past overly-complex or haphazard efforts. The differences are links stashed in fewer places and a staged approach that separates collecting links from processing and using them. With a sprinkling of Shortcuts on top to make the apps I want to use work better together, it’s a much more efficient system than I was using before.
Will my latest link workflow stick? I think so.
The lesson I’ve taken from redoing my link workflow is that it really pays to think about how you work before you set out to streamline it. Too often, I’ve wound up trying to fit my work habits to a system instead of creating a system that works the way I do. It also helps to start with modest goals and figure out how to balance built-in app functionality with automation solutions like Shortcuts and Obsidian plugins. Only after breaking down a workflow into its component parts can you make the call about where automation fits into the setup you need. Sometimes the right solution is to build everything in an app like Shortcuts, and other times automation works better as the glue that holds other apps together, but you’ll never know which will work best until you really understand what you need first.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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This week on AppStories, we check in on the shortcuts we use the most and the types of tasks we get the most bang for the buck from by automating.
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, Federico tours the world of wireless earbuds and shares his favorite AirPods Pro replacement tips, while I ship a single AirTag halfway around the world.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
→ Source: appstories.net
We’re very excited to announce the second annual Automation April Shortcuts Contest, which, along with all of Automation April is dedicated to the memory of Alex Hay, the developer of Toolbox Pro and other apps.
As we had hoped when we introduced Automation April last year, the Automation April Shortcuts Contest became the centerpiece of Automation April. Last year, we had over 200 contest submissions across six categories of shortcuts. We received some remarkable shortcuts that showed just how creative and clever this community can be. But best of all, we saw the automation community come together to help each other when they got stuck and share the shortcuts they made.
Like last year, we encourage to you build a shortcut and submit it to the contest whether you’re a Shortcuts expert or just starting out. Shortcuts do not need to be complex to win in one of contest’s categories. That’s true for all the categories, but especially true for the Best Everyday Shortcut category, which we created because we know from experience that some of our most valuable and frequently-used shortcuts are among the simplest.
Our panel of judges will be evaluating submissions based on originality, performance, design, user experience, and usefulness. Pushing the boundaries of what is possible with Shortcuts is certainly a factor that will be considered in originality, but, at the same time, usefulness doesn’t require complexity, which is something we’ve emphasized often in our writing about Shortcuts. So, no matter your level of experience, we’d love to see what you build.
Entries must be submitted by 5:00 PM Eastern US time on April 17, 2023, so let’s dig into the details.
[table_of_contents]
The ContestAs you have probably gathered from the name, the Automation April Shortcuts Contest is limited to shortcuts built with the Shortcuts app. As I’ll detail more below in the rules, that doesn’t preclude you from using actions that take advantage of scripting and web APIs, but the automation must be a shortcut.
The reason for that is scope. The field of automation is simply too broad to include every type of automation possible and judge them equally well. Plus, Shortcuts is automation on the iPhone and iPad and, as Apple has said, the future of automation on the Mac, so that’s the focus of our contest too.
The CategoriesWe’ve chosen six categories of shortcuts we’ll be honoring this year:
- Best Overall Shortcut
- Best HealthKit Shortcut
- Best Productivity Shortcut
- Best Media Shortcut
- Best Mac-specific Shortcut
- Best Everyday Shortcut
The one category change we’ve made from last year is replacing Best HomeKit Shortcut with Best HealthKit Shortcut, which was a practical choice, since it can be difficult to judge HomeKit shortcuts based on hardware to which some of our judges may not have access.
The JudgesWe’ve been fortunate to have recruited another fantastic group of Shortcuts experts to help us pick the winners in each of the shortcuts categories.
In addition to Federico and I, our judges are:
- Matthew Cassinelli: Matthew teaches automation with Shortcuts and curates a Shortcuts Catalog at matthewcassinelli.com, and runs a membership program for Shortcuts users.
- Christopher Lawley: Chris is a YouTube creator covering the iPad and iOS automation and productivity and a photographer, and writes at The Untitled Site.
- Rosemary Orchard: Rosemary is the co-host of Relay FM’s Automators, Nested Folders, and iOS Today on TWiT, as well as the author of Take Control of Shortcuts and Build Your Own OmniFocus Workflow.
- Jason Snell: Jason is the founder and editor-in-chief of Six Colors, co-host of Relay FM’s Upgrade, founder of The Incomparable, and columnist at Macworld.
- Simon Støvring: Simon is a developer of apps that enhance the use of Shortcuts, including Data Jar, Scriptable, and Jayson, as well as the text editor Runestone.
- Jack Wellborn: Jack is a developer and writer at Worms and Viruses who won Best Overall Shortcut in the 2022 Automation April Shortcuts Contest with his shortcut Join Zoom Meeting.
We’re excited to be working with such a talented group to help us with picking the winners of this year’s contest. Of course, judges may not participate in the Automation April Shortcuts Contest themselves.
The Submission ProcessTo help us manage the shortcuts submissions process, we’ve built a web app that builds on the membership system we introduced with the relaunch of Club MacStories.
To get started, visit shortcuts.macstories.net. If you’re a Club MacStories member, you can use the ‘Sign In’ button to log into your existing Club account and start the submission process.
If you’re not a Club MacStories member, but you signed up for a free Club account last year to participate in the contest, you can use those credtentials again this year.
Finally, if you’re not a Club MacStories member and are submitting a shortcut to the contest for the first time, you’ll need to sign up for a free Club account using the ‘Sign Up for Free’ button, providing your name and an email address. Submissions received any way other than via the Automation April Shortcuts Contest webpage will not be considered by the judges.
Once your account is set up and you sign in, you’ll see the Automation April Shortcuts Contest rules. Please read through the rules because they address many of the questions that we’ve received from readers. To submit a shortcut for the contest, you’ll need to agree to the rules by selecting the button on the bottom of the page.
Agreeing to the rules will take you to a page with a form for submitting your shortcuts. There are fields for the name of your shortcut, an iCloud link to the shortcut, a list of any third-party actions your shortcut uses, and a description of what your shortcut does and why it’s unique, which is limited to 500 words.
Although you are limited to submitting two shortcuts, your shortcuts can rely on calling other shortcuts that you use to provide blocks of functionality within the shortcut you submit. So, if your main shortcut relies on the Run Shortcut action, please link those subsidiary shortcuts in the description of your shortcut, so the judges can install them and properly test your shortcut.
After you submit a shortcut, you’ll be taken to a page that lists your shortcuts submissions. If you want to edit one of your submissions, you can do so until the close of the contest by selecting the shortcut on this page. However, once the deadline passes, shortcuts cannot be revised.
The deadline for submitting shortcuts is 5 PM Eastern US time on April 17, 2023. Any submissions received after that time will not be considered by the judges.
The RulesAs explained above, your submissions must be shortcuts, although they can incorporate scripts, web APIs, and actions from third-party apps. All scripts, web APIs, and third-party actions on which your shortcut relies must be listed in the space provided in the contest submission form. Please note any special installation requirements in the description of your shortcut submission. Also, your submissions must run on the currently released versions of Apple’s operating systems and must be submitted as iCloud links.
All shortcuts submitted must also respect the privacy, security, and data of users. For example, shortcuts that upload user data without their knowledge and consent will be disqualified.
As you’ll see from the submission form, we ask that you provide a brief description of your shortcut, along with an iCloud link, and a list of any script, web API, and third-party action integrations. You’ve got 500 words to explain to the judges what your shortcut does and what makes it special. Among other qualities, our panel will evaluate submissions based on originality, performance, design, user experience, and usefulness. If you submitted a shortcut last year that didn’t win, you can resubmit it this year if you’d like.
It should go without saying, but all submissions must be your own original work in their entirety. It’s fine if your shortcut was inspired by a technique you saw somewhere else, but shortcuts that copy the work of others will be disqualified. For the same reason, your shortcut should not use the Run Shortcut action to call another shortcut that you didn’t create. If available, please provide links to any blog post, Reddit thread, or other material that supports the originality of your work.
All materials you submit to us in connection with the Automation April Shortcuts Contest are subject to the MacStories Privacy Policy, which was recently updated to address the contest and free Club MacStories accounts. At the conclusion of the contest, winners will be announced on MacStories.net and contacted to arrange delivery of prizes. Within 90 days after that announcement, we will discard all contest submissions.
If you create a free Club MacStories account to participate in the contest, it will remain active after the contest concludes. You’ll be able to use that account to enter future contests and events, and it can always be upgraded to a paid Club MacStories account if you wish. We don’t spam our Club MacStories members and won’t do so if you sign up for a free Club account either, but we will contact you periodically about what’s happening at MacStories. Of course, you’ll be able to unsubscribe from those messages if you choose.
The PrizesWe’ve got some fun prizes for the winners of each category of the contest.
Winner of the Best Overall Shortcut award will receive a Loupedeck Live S and CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 4
Best Overall Shortcut* A 3-year subscription (or membership upgrade and/or extension for existing Club members) to Club Premier * A Loupedeck Live S * A CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 4 * A special Club Macstories+ Discord contest winner role * Induction into the Automation April Hall of Fame
Best HealthKit Shortcut, Best Productivity Shortcut, Best Media Shortcut, Best Mac-specific Shortcut and Best Everyday Shortcut* A 1-year subscription to Club Premier (or membership upgrade and/or extension for existing Club members) * A special Discord category winner role * Induction into the Automation April Category Hall of Fame
We hope you enjoy participating in this year’s Automation April Shortcuts Contest as much as we’ve enjoyed putting it together. Thanks in advance to our panel of judges for participating in this event, and good luck to everyone.
Enter the contest now through April 17, 2022 at shortcuts.macstories.net.
You can also follow MacStories’ Automation April coverage through our dedicated hub, or subscribe to its RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings:
MacStories Weekly: Issue 362* Federico shared a shortcut that uses the web-based notification service Alerty * I shared thoughts on where I’d like to see the MacBook Air lineup head * An all-new episode of MacStories Unplugged, our Club-only podcast, was released, covering Philips Hue lighting, saving links for later, and email utilities * Plus: + App Debuts + Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord + Interesting links from around the web + A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts + and more
Monthly Log, March 2023This month:
- Federico covered the exciting potential of Obsidian bookmarks
- I check in after 90 days on the ‘Don’ aka Mastodon
Automation April ExclusivesWe’ve teamed up with the developers of some of our favorite apps for exclusive Club MacStories giveaways during Automation April.
This week, we’ve got two:
In the Club MacStories+ and Premier Discord:
- Book Tracker by Simone Montalto.
For all Club members in MacStories Weekly this Friday:
- MusicBox by Marcos Tanaka.
To get in on the giveaways, you can join Club MacStories at plus.club.
Coming SoonOn April 20, 2023, at 11 am Eastern US time, which happens to be on the anniversary of MacStories’ founding, we’ll be holding another live AV Club audio event in the Club MacStories+ Discord Town Hall. This month, we’re listening to two debut albums:
- Parachutes by Coldplay
- Definitely Maybe by Oasis
We’d love to have you join us live, but we’ll also record the festivities for release later in the Town Hall podcast feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Today, Charlie Chapman released Dark Noise 3.0, his iOS, iPadOS, and macOS ambient noise app, with a new business model, some remastered sounds, and other updates.
The biggest change to Dark Noise 3.0 is its new business model. Historically, Dark Noise has been a paid-up-front app, but with 3.0, the app is now free with an optional subscription that unlocks certain features.
The free version of Dark Noise includes eight sounds, continuous sound looping, Shortcuts support, Siri integration, and a timer. The Pro subscription increases the number of sounds to over 50 and adds custom sound mixes, alternate app icons, themes, and Family Sharing. The Pro features are also available as a one-time purchase.
Alternative icons and sound mixing are two of the features available to Dark Noise Pro subscribers.
If you previously purchased Dark Noise, which included many of the features that are now part of a Pro subscription, you’re covered. Anyone who bought Dark Noise prior to the release of version 3.0 gets all of the features included in the Pro subscription. Pro subscribers may get new features in the future, but as of the release of version 3.0, existing users and subscribers have access to the same features, which I think is a fair way to transition to a subscription model.
I’m also glad to see that the core features of Dark Noise will be available for free for the first time. There are a lot of ambient sound apps on the App Store, but a lot aren’t very good. Dark Noise is excellent, and I expect having a free tier to show off what the app can do to new users will result in more paid users in the long run. I’m also a fan of the one-time payment option, which is a nice option for fans of the app who just don’t like paying subscriptions.
Dark Noise has a new green theme called Aurora.
Version 3.0 also introduces remastered Rain, Beach, Airplane Interior, and Thunderstorm sounds that sound better when used with stereo speakers. The app’s icons have been tweaked a little, and there’s a new theme that uses shades of green called Aurora.
For more on everything Dark Noise can do, be sure to check out our reviews of version 1.0 and 2.0.
Dark Noise 3.0 is available as a free download on the App Store. The Pro subscription unlocks the features described above, for $2.99/month or $19.99/year with a three-day trial. Dark Noise 3.0 is also available as a one-time purchase for $49.99.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
SaneBox is the all-in-one solution to email clutter and overload, so you can spend less time managing email and more time on what matters. It works with any email client or service, and any device - literally anywhere you check your email. Oh, and there’s nothing to download or install. It just works.
SaneBox is like having a personal email assistant that automatically organizes your inbox, so you don’t have to, saving valuable time. SaneBox works in the background, so your most important messages always reach your inbox. The rest of your messages are carefully organized into designated folders like SaneLater and SaneNews for later. You can snooze emails, too, setting them aside to deal with when you have the time.
Better yet, if there’s something you never want to see again, drag in into the SaneBlackHole folder. It’s far easier than the hit or miss process of unsubscribing from email lists.
Recently, SaneBox added Deep Clean, the perfect tool for cleaning out old emails from your inbox, which will keep you more organized than ever before. The feature will clean out the old messages automatically, so you won’t need to pay your email provider for more stoarage and can enjoy a completely unclutterred inbox. Just run Deep Clean and review messages, which are organized by sender, making it easy to decide which to delete and which to keep.
Sign up today and save $25 on any subscription. You’ll see big benefits immediately as the message count in your inbox drops, and you’ll be able to maintain control going forward with SaneBox’s help.
Our thanks to SaneBox for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Today, the Steve Jobs Archive said it will publish a digital book called Make Something Wonderful: Steve Jobs in his own words on April 11th. The Archive, an online repository of historical material from Steve Jobs’ life, was announced at the Code Conference last fall.
According to the Archive’s website, the book will include:
A curated collection of Steve’s speeches, interviews and correspondence, Make Something Wonderful offers an unparalleled window into how one of the world’s most creative entrepreneurs approached his life and work. In the pages of this book, Steve shares his perspective on his childhood, on launching and being pushed out of Apple, on his time with Pixar and NeXT, and on his ultimate return to the company that started it all.
Featuring an introduction by Laurene Powell Jobs and edited by Leslie Berlin, this beautiful handbook is designed to inspire readers to make their own “wonderful somethings” that move the world forward.
The title of the book is drawn from a Jobs quote of something he said in 2007 at an internal Apple meeting that’s featured on the Archives’s website:
One of the ways that believe people express their appreciation to the rest of humanity is to make something wonderful and put it out there.
According to an email sent by the Archive to subscribers to its mailing list, the book will include familiar sources as well as photos and quotes that have never been published before.
News of Make Something Wonderful was a great way to start a Saturday morning. I’ve always found Jobs’ musings on art and building things inspiring, so I can’t wait to read this book.
→ Source: stevejobsarchive.com
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This week on MacStories Unwind, I recommend Tracers in the Dark: The Global Hunt for the Crime Lords of Cryptocurrency by Andy Greenberg, and Federico has two hardware picks: the 8BitDo Ultimate Controller and the Microsoft Audio Dock.
Links and Show NotesJohn’s Pick:
- Tracers in the Dark: The Global Hunt for the Crime Lords of Cryptocurrency by Andy Greenberg
Federico’s Picks:
- 8BitDo Ultimate Controller
- PC, SteamOS, Apple, and Android model
- Nintendo Switch, PC and SteamOS model
- Microsoft Audio Dock
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Too often, media tracking apps feel like work. There’s too much effort involved in adding and browsing items, which makes them feel more like task managers than an inviting place that helps you decide how you want to spend your precious free time.
Apps in this category seem to take one of a couple of different approaches. Some apps specialize in one type of media, which can be great if you’re a huge book or videogame fan, for instance. As much as I like the media-specific approach of some apps, I’ve found that lately, I just want an app that’s easy to use, so ‘past me’ can recommend ‘tired and lazy me’ something to watch, play, read, or listen to. And, for the past couple of months, the app that has fit my needs the best has been Sequel 2.0 by Romain Lefebvre.
Sequel can organize five types of media.
Sequel 2.0 is an easy-to-use media wishlist and tracking app for the iPhone and iPad that pulls off tracking five types of media elegantly. The app works with movies, TV shows, videogames, books, and audiobooks and starts with a single view that collects each of the media categories you’re tracking, integrates a unique search field, and has a single button for adding new items.
The buttons at the top of the search results filter results by media type.
There are a couple of ways to add new media to Sequel. The big plus button at the bottom of the app’s main view opens with a search field selected that works across all categories by default. Search for ‘The Last of Us,’ and you’ll get results for the videogame and HBO Max series, for example. If that generates more results than you want to scroll through, there’s a handy set of buttons beneath the search field that lets you filter the results by media type.
An item’s menu button makes it easy to move it to another list.
Tap the blue and white plus button next to a search result, and it’s added to your media list for the category to which it belongs. After an item is added to a list, the plus button turns into a three-dot menu button that opens a context menu with multiple options that depend on the media type. For instance, tapping the menu button next to The Last of Us videogame offers to move it from my default Wishlist to my Backlog, Playing, Abandoned, or Played lists, which are all predefined lists for the videogame category. There’s also an option to remove the item altogether.
Browsing the Movies category.
If you’re not sure what you want to add, you can also browse upcoming and trending media by tapping on any of the buttons for the five media categories. I haven’t used this feature a lot, but it’s a nice option to have when you don’t have something specific in mind.
Search cuts across media types and can optionally search online too.
The other way to add new items is from search results on the app’s main page. Sequel’s search cuts across all media types here too. Unlike the search field summoned by the big plus button, the primary purpose of the search field on Sequel’s main view is to find media you’ve already added to the app. However, Sequel also offers a Search Online button at the bottom of the results that returns media not in any of your lists, creating a handy alternative way to add new media.
That’s the sort of versatility you don’t see very often in apps, and I like it a lot. It’s also the sort of thoughtful design that gives users options without pushing a variety of features too hard, which might be confusing if all you were looking for was something you recently added to one of your lists. Another nice touch is that Sequel doesn’t populate its main view with categories until you add an item from that category. It’s a small thing, but it’s nice that hiding unused categories isn’t a chore placed on the user.
Each category includes multiple lists.
Tapping into each category opens your lists for that category, featuring thumbnail artwork for each item. The lists, and design of each category, are a little different because they’re tailored to each kind of media. However, there’s an overriding design aesthetic for each category that holds the app together nicely.
Tapping on an item opens a view that’s dominated by its artwork, along with a few basic details about the media and two buttons. The three-dot menu button allows you to add the item to a collection, which is a group of multiple media items of the same type, rate the media, or remove it from the app. The other button’s name reflects the name of the list it’s in and allows you to move it to another list or remove it from the app.
Sequel offers details about media like ratings, where to stream TV shows and movies, trailers, and more.
Scrolling down reveals additional information about each item that depends on the media type. TV shows and movies include ratings, where the media can be watched, a summary of the plot, trailers, and for movies, cast information that can be tapped to reveal other movies and TV shows the cast members are in. TV Shows also list seasons and individual episodes with buttons to check off individual episodes or all episodes as you watch them. Games include information about how long a game takes to complete, which can be important when deciding what to play next, and books include additional titles by the author.
Sequel also allows you to identify the services you subscribe to, so only relevant ones are displayed for TV shows and movies. The order of media categories and the app’s icon are customizable from the app’s settings too. If you want notifications of new TV show episodes or content as it becomes available, you can specify the time of day they will be delivered.
Examples of Sequel’s widgets.
Finally, Sequel comes with a nice set of small and medium size Home Screen widgets, plus Lock Screen widgets. The Home Screen widgets include countdowns to upcoming media releases, your TV Up Next list, a quick access widget that can open specific categories in Sequel or kick off an in-app search for media, and widgets for media that is upcoming or out now. The Lock Screen widgets include countdown options in two sizes and a small widget that opens Sequel.
I’ve seen so many media tracking apps on iOS and iPadOS that I didn’t think there was room to improve on what already exists. I was wrong. Sequel is an impressive balance of genuinely useful features presented in an intuitive way that doesn’t overwhelm you with clutter. I think the only things I’d like to see added would be Shortcuts actions to allow information from the app’s lists to be sent to other apps and collections that can cut across media types, which isn’t currently possible. That said, those are small wishes for an app that I’ve gotten a lot from since I joined the beta a couple of months ago. If you’ve struggled to keep track of the media in your life, Sequel is a great option to try.
Sequel is available as a free download on the App Store. Some features including:
- ‘Where to watch’ information
- Release reminders
- Many of its widgets
- Video game ‘time to beat’ data
- Unlimited collections, and
- Alternative icons
require a Sequel+ subscription that costs $2.99/month or $19.99/year for individuals and $4.99/month or $34.99/year for Family Sharing support. There are also one-time payment options, which cost $99.99 for individuals or $174.99 for Family Sharing.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
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Kirk McElhearn has been writing about classical music on Apple platforms for nearly 20 years, which makes his Apple Music Classical review on TidBITS a must read for classical listeners.
As McElhearn explains, searching for classical works is more complex than pop music:
You may want to listen to a specific work by a given composer, but also by one of your favorite performers. And, as you can see with the example of the Schubert sonata, work names are not always as simple as Bach’s Goldberg Variations. Metadata is the key to managing classical music.
Although McElhearn discovered some metadata oddities when browsing the Apple Music tracks from his library that showed up in Apple Music Classical, the company seems to have done a good job overall with curating the metadata for its new app.
Also, although the UI and experience of using Apple Music Classical is similar to Apple Music, there are important differences, including:
One useful feature is the ability to search within search results. After you’ve searched for something, pull down on the screen to reveal a search field. You can enter keywords in this field to further narrow your search. You can also access this search field in other lists. For example, go to Browse, tap Instruments, then tap Violin. Tap one of the options—Latest Releases, Popular Artists, or Popular Works—and you’ll see a list of results. Pull down, and you can search within that list.
If you’re just starting out with Apple Music Classical, I recommend reading McElhearn’s entire story, which does a fantastic job covering what works well and what doesn’t. Like a lot of people, though, McElhearn is left wondering why the app is iPhone-only:
The most perplexing thing about the Apple Music Classical app is how completely it is siloed. It’s only available for the iPhone, though you can install it on an iPad and zoom it to 2x. Not only is it not available on the Mac—the iPhone app isn’t even available for M-series Macs—but the enhanced metadata, using work and movement tags, is not visible in Apple Music on the Mac nor in the Apple Music app on the iPhone and iPad. It seems Apple is using two separate databases, which makes no sense. If the metadata is available—and work and movement tags are available on many albums in Apple Music already—why not let the other apps access them?
All this makes the Apple Music Classical app seem like an experiment. It’s quite polished for a 1.0 release, and, despite the issues that I’ve mentioned above that will irritate classical music fans, it’s a generally successful attempt to provide a better way to access classical music. Apple should be praised for paying so much attention to a genre that represents only 2–3% of the overall music market.
The unique needs of classical music listeners have never been well-served by the biggest streaming services. I’m with McElhearn in wondering about the limited roll-out of Apple Music Classical, and there are rough edges that are noticeable even for people who aren’t classical music fans. However, that doesn’t change the fact that Apple Music Classical is a step in the right direction. I hope Apple listens to the feedback from McElhearn and other classical music lovers and continues to improve the app.
→ Source: tidbits.com
Apple has announced that WWDC will be an online-only event this year, running from June 5-9, 2023, but with a corresponding limited in-person event for developers, students, and press like last year. The company also opened submissions for the Swift Student Challenge from now through April 19.
In a press release issued by today, Susan Prescott, Apple’s Vice President of Worldwide Developer Relations and Enterprise and Education Marketing, said:
“WWDC is one of our favorite times of the year at Apple because it’s an opportunity to connect with the talented developers from around the globe who make this community so extraordinary. WWDC23 is going to be our biggest and most exciting yet, and we can’t wait to see many of you online and in person at this very special event!”
Apple also had this to say about events that will be held at Apple Park during the conference:
Along with announcements shared from the keynote and State of the Union presentations, this year’s online program will include sessions, one-on-one labs, and opportunities to engage with Apple engineers and other developers. Developers and students will also have the opportunity to attend a special day at Apple Park on June 5 to watch the keynote and State of the Union, alongside the global online community. Space for this in-person event will be limited, and details on how to apply to attend can be found on the Apple Developer site and app.
I’m glad to see Apple is evolving the format that debuted last year because everyone I spoke to thought it was a big success. The vibe was different because people were more spread out, but I know that the developers I talked to were grateful for the opportunity to get together for the first time since 2019, as was I. I’m looking forward to returning this year, but this time with Federico and Alex along for the fun.
Of course, MacStories readers can expect the same kind of comprehensive WWDC coverage we do every year. We’ll have extensive coverage on MacStories and AppStories, which will extend to Club MacStories too.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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CleanMyMac X has been updated, expanding its utility beyond the borders of your Mac by tracking the battery status of connected devices and adding management of outboard storage.
The new features, collectively called Connected Devices, are part of CleanMyMac X’s menu bar app. Click the app’s icon in the menu bar, and you’ll find a new summary tile that includes information about the charging status of Bluetooth devices, as well as information about connected drives, memory cards, and flash drives. Click on the tile, and it expands to the side of the menu bar app’s main window to display additional details.
Devices like iPhones and iPads don’t need to be connected to your Mac with a wire to show up in CleanMyMac X’s menu bar app. As long as they’ve been connected once and confirmed as trusted devices, they’ll show up in the app and display the remaining charge (but not whether they are currently charging) and available storage. It can sometimes take a while for a device to show up in CleanMyMac X’s menu bar app, but if you’re impatient, you can always grab a cable, plug your device into your Mac, and it will show up immediately. Beneath the storage information for each device, there’s also a ‘Reclaim Space’ link that opens a ‘How to free up iPhone storage’ page on MacPaw’s website.
CleanMyMac X works with wireless headphones like the AirPods Pro and some wireless game controllers.
CleanMyMac X supports other Bluetooth devices like the Magic Trackpad, Magic Keyboard, and at least some game controllers. I tried the app with 8BitDo’s Bluetooth Ultimate Controller and an Xbox controller, but only the 8BitDo model showed up in the app. CleanMyMacX’s menu bar app displayed my left and right AirPods Pro buds but not their case. Also, it’s worth noting that the app doesn’t seem to support Apple Watches.
For anyone who’s using CleanMyMac’s menu bar app, its new ability to monitor the charge status of devices is a nice addition. It has some limitations, but for my core devices, I’ve found that it gets the job done, just not quite as well as a dedicated Bluetooth device utility like AirBuddy.
CleanMyMac X’s menu bar app works with external drives like this 500GB Samsung T3 drive too.
The other feature of Connected Devices is external storage monitoring and management. CleanMyMac X displays any external drives, memory cards, and flash drives and their storage capacity. The app also shows how much space is available, and if it determines after a scan that some of the data is junk, the app will list the amount of junk too. There’s an Organize button beneath each drive that opens the full CleanMyMac X app to the app’s Space Lens tab, which lets you drill through the drive’s folder structure, eliminating any junk or other unnecessary files. Drives can be ejected individually or all at once with the app too.
CleanMyMac X has come a long way from the days when it was primarily a tool for freeing up space on your Mac’s built-in drive. It’s still that and does an excellent job, but with tools like its menu bar app, CleanMyMac X is a far more robust way to monitor your Mac’s performance and fine-tune it for maximum speed and efficiency. With its new suite of Connected Devices functionality, CleanMyMac X has taken an important step towards extending beyond your Mac to the other devices and peripherals that you use with it.
CleanMyMac X is available directly from MacPaw as a $39.95 annual subscription or a $89.95 one-time payment. The app is also included as part of a Setapp subscription.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Cabel Sasser thinks Apple should build a standalone password management app, and he’s right. Here’s what Cabel suggests:
In my dumble opinion, Apple should:
- Break Passwords out into a standalone app, with an actual fully resizable window (!!), and full, proper UI for most of its features
- Make Passwords a toolbar item in Safari for easy access and to be top-of-mind for the user
- Stick to a basic feature set, but do that well
I’m not the first to link to Cabel’s post, which isn’t surprising because Apple’s password management tools are excellent from a technical standpoint and sufficiently extensive to justify a dedicated app.
The problem is that Apple’s password tools are too hard to find and use, sprinkled across Settings, Safari, and app login APIs. As a result, you have features that are perfectly aligned with Apple’s privacy mission but a UI that isn’t. That’s too bad because, regardless of their technical excellence, Apple’s password tools are ultimately only as good as they are discoverable, and a separate app would go a long way toward encouraging more users to follow better password practices.
→ Source: cabel.com
This week on AppStories, we each pick two apps we’ve been enjoying recently and explain why.
Sponsored by:
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On AppStories+, I dive into VR and explore whether AI can convincingly replace me or Federico as hosts of the show.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
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→ Source: appstories.net
Source: CMYE.
CYME announced today that its app Peakto has added Pixelmator Pro integration. Peakto is a Mac app that uses AI to organize your photos from numerous sources, including Apple Photos, Lightroom Classic, Luminar, Capture One, and more. The app handles multiple file types and offers navigation by keywords, location, and other metadata too.
Today’s announcement adds Pixelmator Pro documents to the mix. As with other image sources, Pixelmator Pro files will be organized and viewable in Peakto. For Pixelmator Pro users, the announcement today means new ways to explore their image collection alongside images from other apps. The integration with Peakto also allows Peakto users to access Pixelmator Pro as an editing destination with one click.
I haven’t had a chance to try Peakto’s new Pixelmator Pro integration yet, but it looks like a good combination for users of both apps. Peakto gains another source of photos to organize, and Pixelmator Pro users have a new way to manage their images.
Both Pixelmator Pro and Peakto are available on the Mac App Store. Peakto is also available directly from CYME.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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I enjoyed this explanation by The Verge’s Tom Warren on how Microsoft’s Phone Link app – which has long allowed Android users to connect their smartphones to a Windows PC – has been updated to support iOS notifications and sending texts via iMessage. From the story:
The setup process between iPhone and PC is simple. Phone Link prompts you to scan a QR code from your iPhone to link it to Windows, which automatically opens a lightweight App Clip version of Phone Link on iOS to complete the Bluetooth pairing. Once paired, you have to take some important steps to enable contact sharing over Bluetooth, enable “show notifications,” and allow system notifications to be shared to your PC over Bluetooth. These settings are all available in the Bluetooth options for the device you paired to your iPhone.
And:
Microsoft’s Phone Link works by sending messages over Bluetooth to contacts. Apple’s iOS then intercepts these messages and forces them to be sent over iMessage, much like how it will always automatically detect when you’re sending a message to an iPhone and immediately switch it to blue bubbles and not the green ones sent via regular SMS. Phone Link intercepts the messages you receive through Bluetooth notifications and then shows these in the client on Windows.
I got access to the updated version of Phone Link on my PC today, and this integration is pretty wild and it actually works, albeit with several limitations.
First, the setup process is entirely based on an App Clip by Microsoft, which is the first time I’ve seen and used an App Clip in real life. Essentially, my understanding is that this works similarly to how an iPhone can pair with an old-school Bluetooth car system: the iPhone and PC pair via Bluetooth, and you can then provide the PC with access to your notifications and contacts from iOS’ Bluetooth settings. This is the same UI I have for my KIA Sportage’s system, which uses regular Bluetooth to pair with my iPhone and can also display contacts and missed calls.
The setup process based on an App Clip.
The difference between my car and Phone Link, of course, is that with Phone Link you can type text messages from a PC and they will be sent as iMessages on iOS. This bit of dark magic comes with a lot of trade-offs (check out Warren’s full story for the details on this), but it works for individual contacts. I’ve been able to start a conversation with John, reply to his messages from Windows notifications, and even send him URLs1, and they were all correctly “intercepted” by iOS and sent over as iMessages. I’ve also been impressed by the ability to clear notifications from a PC and have them go away on iOS’ Lock Screen immediately.
The Phone Link app paired with my iPhone.
This was then sent as an iMessage.
The limitations of Phone Link for iPhone users mean you’ll always have to fall back to the actual iOS device for something – whether it’s posting in an iMessage group or sending a photo or acting on notifications – but for quick messages, glancing at notifications, and clearing them, I think this integration is more than good enough.
- Fun fact: raw URLs sent from Windows are delivered as rich links from iMessage, but the card’s preview doesn’t load by default on the recipient’s device. ↩︎ → Source: theverge.com
iOS 16.4 brings new emoji, push notifications for web apps on the Home Screen , Mastodon link previews, and more.
Today, Apple is releasing iOS and iPadOS 16.4, the fourth major updates to the OSes that introduced support for the customizable Lock Screen and Stage Manager last year, respectively.
Ahead of the debut of Apple Music Classical tomorrow and just a few months before a WWDC that’s rumored to be focused on the company’s upcoming headset and a relatively small iOS 17 update, 16.4 is comprised of two big additions to iOS and iPadOS (new emoji and push notifications for web apps on the Home Screen) alongside a variety of smaller, but notable improvements such as some new Shortcuts actions, Mastodon link previews in iMessage, some tweaks to Podcasts and Music, and more.
Let’s take a look.
21 New EmojiEver since our usual guessing game on the Connected podcast, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the ginger and goose emoji in iOS 16.4. Those are just two of the new emoji introduced with today’s update, with other notable additions including the likes of moose, new colored hearts, and a donkey.
Some of the new emoji in iOS 16.4.
That’s some realistic ginger.
While I’m partial to the goose, I’m also happy about the addition of a pink heart (finally) and a proper wireless symbol, which I look forward to using in some of my shortcuts that display emoji in menus and alerts.
Push Notifications for Web Apps on the Home Screen, with Focus IntegrationIn what is likely part of a pre-emptive strategy ahead of the requirement to allow third-party web browsers on iOS and iPadOS later this year, Apple shipped a series of useful additions for web apps and the existing, WebKit-based alternative browsers in iOS 16.4. Regardless of the underlying motivation behind these additions just a couple of months before WWDC, these are solid enhancements to the web experience for iPhone and iPad, with one particular feature that I plan to explore more in depth later this week for Club MacStories members.
For the first time since the iPhone’s introduction in 2007, web apps added to the Home Screen now support push notifications and badges. What I like about Apple’s implementation of this feature is that notifications from web apps are managed just like the ones from any other native app: you’ll be prompted to grant notification permissions to a web app on the Home Screen with the usual system dialog; you can manage the web app’s notification options from Settings; and since these are “regular” push notifications, you can manage them from Notification Center as well as tie them to specific Focus modes.
As far as the notifications themselves go, iOS 16.4 doesn’t make any distinction between those originating from a native app compared to those coming from web apps previously saved to the Home Screen. The technology behind all this is the same Web Push API that Apple added to Safari 16.1 in macOS Ventura last year.
I was able to test notifications for web apps added to the Home Screen using Alerty.dev, a web service I recently discovered whose sole purpose is to let users program their own notifications to deliver via an API to all their devices. Alerty is similar to Pushcut and Pushover, but instead of requiring a native app to be installed on the user’s device, it can just deliver real-time push notifications via a web browser (on desktop) or a web app on the Home Screen in iOS and iPadOS 16.4. This was a perfect opportunity to sign up for the service and try it out with some of my shortcuts.
When in Safari, you cannot enable push notifications for web apps. You’ll have to add them to the Home Screen first.
After creating an Alerty account, I saved the web app to my Home Screen from Safari. I opened the web app, I was prompted to log in again (more on this below), and only at that point I was asked to give Alerty permission to display push notifications. This is an important technical detail: while I was in Safari, Alerty couldn’t ask me for notification access since iOS and iPadOS do not support notifications in Safari; it was only when I saved Alerty as a web app on the Home Screen that I could.
Once added to the Home Screen, I was able to grant Alerty the ability to send me push notifications.
Once I gave Alerty access to notifications, I could see those changes reflected in Settings, and of course I was also able to pick the app for one of my Focus modes. I put together a sample shortcut to send an instant alert via the Alerty API, ran it, and a second later I saw a regular push notification from Alerty appear on both my iPhone and iPad. It looked like another notification from any other app, but it was actually coming from a web app.
Later this week for Club members, I plan to share my shortcut for interacting with the Alerty API as well as some strategies for integrating this service with HomeKit and other types of automation.
Notifications for web apps have the same notification settings as native apps on iOS 16.4.
Notifications aren’t the only change coming to web apps in iOS and iPadOS 16.4. Also for the first time, third-party web browsers can add web apps to the Home Screen, which will reopen them directly in the browser that created them when tapped. As you can see in the example below, I was able to add MacStories to the Home Screen as a Microsoft Edge bookmark.
Adding a web app from Microsoft Edge to the Home Screen.
While it’s good to see Apple progressively give more and more functionalities and system integrations to third-party browsers, their usefulness is still largely impacted by the fact these browsers are reskins of the Safari web engine. If you delete the browser that created one of these web apps on the Home Screen, then try to reopen the web app, it’ll fall back to Safari instead.
One of the highly anticipated changes of iOS 17 is the possibility of Apple having to relax its stance on disallowing alternative browser engines on iOS, and third-party browser makers are getting ready for that potential future. Once that happens, I’m sure that the ability to add full-on PWAs to the Home Screen will prove more useful than creating a saved boomark for a glorified Safari shell. We’ll see.
The last thing I’ll point out about web apps on the Home Screen is that users can now add multiple instances of each and rename them, which makes sense in the context of multiple Focus modes and creating different versions of the same web app, perhaps logged into different accounts. While I haven’t found a use case for this feature myself, I think it’s the right approach.
New Shortcuts Actions and Focus FiltersContinuing the trend from last year, there are some new actions in Shortcuts for iOS and iPadOS 16.4. Unfortunately, rather than moving the app forward in meaningful ways for power users, these actions mostly revolve around exposing app settings and various toggles to Shortcuts. I’m not saying these are not welcome additions, because they are; I’m only arguing that Shortcuts hasn’t been substantially improved for its most loyal and dedicated users in a while now.
In any case, the new actions in Shortcuts are:
- Auto-Answer Calls
- Intercom (requires a HomePod; cannot be run on a Mac)
- Lock Screen
- Set AirDrop Receiving
- Set Always-On Display
- Set Announce Notifications
- Set Night Shift
- Set Stage Manager
- Set True Tone
- Set VPN
- Shut Down (includes option for Restart)
- Silence Unkown Callers
Like I said, I’m a bit disappointed that the new actions added to Shortcuts in the past year mostly involve the ability to control on/off settings with no deeper controls. These are nice actions to have, but I was hoping for more controls made available to advanced users, especially on iPad.
Case in point: the Stage Manager action in Shortcuts only allows you to either turn Stage Manager on or off with two toggles for choosing whether you want to see the dock and recent apps or not. These are the same settings you can find in Control Center for Stage Manager. As I argued last year, if Apple cared at all about making Stage Manager more palatable for power users, one of the (many) things they should do is bring support for the Mac’s ‘Find Windows’ and ‘Resize Windows’ Shortcuts actions to iPadOS. Instead, while Mac users can leverage Shortcuts to fine-tune their workspaces with two excellent Shortcuts actions, in iPadOS land all we can do with Shortcuts is turning Stage Manager on or off.
There is one great change I want to point out in Shortcuts for iOS 16.4, however: the Ask for Input action now lets you enter multi-line text instead of one line at a time only. As an advanced user of the app, I’m glad I can now – checks notes – enter multi-line text in a dialog.
I’ll also note that the ‘Set Always-On Display’ action is a brand new system Focus Filter in iOS 16.4 now. As I explained last year, Focus Filters are based on the same intent technology that powers Shortcuts actions, which makes it possible for developers to expose the same functionality in both Settings and the Shortcuts app. I’ve long argued that users should be able to set their Always-On display preferences depending on Focus modes, so I’m happy to see this option be supported in both Shortcuts and Settings now.
The ability to control the Always-On Display is both a Shortcuts action and system Focus Filter in iOS 16.4.
In practical terms, this change means you can now disable the Always-On display when you’re at work, or if you’re out and having dinner with friends, or at the movie theater. Whatever your use case may be, this is a good option to have and it can be accessed both from Focus in Control Center as well as with Shortcuts automations.
Other Changes in iOS 16.4Here is a list of all the other changes in iOS and iPadOS 16.4 worth mentioning.
The page-turn animation is back in the Books app. In a flip-flop that would make Stephen Hackett proud, the page-turn animation – which had been previously removed in iOS 16 – is returning in iOS 16.4. The first time you’ll open the Books app in 16.4, you’ll see an alert inside the reader view that tells you about the new options you can find in Books’ somewhat-hidden Themes & Options menu. One of the new options is ‘Curl’ for page turn, which restores Books’ glorious, real-time 3D effect for turning pages.
Welcome back, buddy.
As someone who thought the removal of the page-turn animation was a mistake, I’m very happy to see this feature return. Props to whoever inside Apple convinced their manager that this feature was worth restoring.
The Home Screen wallpaper is no longer blurred in Stage Manager. Of all the improvements and features that Stage Manager for iPadOS potentially needs, Apple chose to ship one in iPadOS 16.4: when you’re using Stage Manager, your Home Screen wallpaper is no longer blurred behind. That’s it, that’s the feature. Let’s move on.
There are Mastodon link previews in Messages, Mail, and Notes. Ever since I decided to embrace Mastodon and leave Twitter behind months ago, I’ve missed the ability to easily share and preview links to posts on iMessage. That’s changing with iOS 16.4, which comes with native support for Mastodon link previews inside the Messages app as well as Notes and Mail.
Mastodon link previews in Messages, Notes, and Mail.
In iMessage, Mastodon links will be automatically converted to a rich snippet with support for images and video attachments when sent in a conversation. They look just like Twitter rich links, but a) they have a gray background and b) thanks to the superior Mastodon API, these rich links tell you how many media attachments are included in a post. In Notes and Mail, you can get Mastodon rich links by saving them via the Notes share sheet extension or pasting them in the message composer and using the new link conversion option of iOS 16, respectively.
It’s great to see Apple ship support for Mastodon previews so quickly, and I’m glad I no longer have to take screenshots of posts if I want to share them easily with my friends on iMessage.
Interface tweaks for Apple Music and Podcasts. In iOS 16.4, Apple brought a series of small, and relatively unimportant, changes to the Music app.
Your profile picture (which you can use to open your Apple Music profile) is now displayed at the top of the Library page too; artwork in the Playlists page is smaller, making for a denser view of your playlists; there is a new and less obtrusive design for in-app alerts such as songs added to the library or queued in your Up Next. The latter is the most interesting addition in my opinion: these are new compact “bubbles” that are temporarily displayed at the bottom of the screen rather than in the middle of it. I wonder if Apple will make this style of alert1 an official API for developers in the future.
The new in-app alerts for Music (left).
Changes to the Podcasts app are more substantial and useful than the ones seen in Music. Channels, such as the MacStories one in Apple Podcasts, will now appear in Library tab if you’re subscribed to them; when you open a channel, you’ll see all the shows from it that you’re already following at the top of the page. Additionally, the Up Next queue in the app now includes episodes saved to the library as well as episodes played from shows you’re not following (a nice feature that’s been available in third-party podcast apps for a while).
I continue to be intrigued by Apple’s Podcasts app, particularly because of its clean design, integration with the Apple Watch, and performance in refreshing podcast feeds. However, until Apple adds the equivalent of a ‘trim silence’ feature to save me some time when listening to podcasts, I can’t switch to it as my podcast player.
Voice Isolation for cellular phone calls. Following in the footsteps of FaceTime and VoIP apps, you can now enable Voice Isolation for cellular phone calls in iOS 16.4. This audio effect, which you can activate from Control Center, will prioritize your voice and block ambient noise around you.
Enabling voice isolation for a cellular call.
I tested this feature with my mom, who told me I “sounded good but metallic”. Your mileage may vary.
Find duplicate photos and videos in a shared photo library. Lastly, if you’re a user of iCloud shared photo libraries, you’ll be happy to know the new duplicate detection and removal feature of iOS’ Photos app now works for that type of library as well.
iOS and iPadOS 16.4iOS and iPadOS 16.4 aren’t huge updates, yet most people will likely rush to install them because of the new emoji included in these releases. The nerdier among us will probably do the same to get native Mastodon link previews in iMessage, which are very nicely done. I continue to be let down by the poor execution and limitations of Stage Manager, and, at this point, I’m fully prepared to see iPadOS 17 go by without any major changes to iPadOS multitasking, which would be concerning.
iOS and iPadOS 16.4 are likely the last major updates before Apple’s attention turns to WWDC, the headset, and whatever may be in store for iOS 17. Worst case scenario, even if we won’t be getting any more iOS 16 updates and if iOS 17 turns out to be a smaller release this year, know this:
We’ll have always the goose emoji.
Honk.
- Apple has been experimenting with this pill-shaped alert design for a few years at this point. ↩︎
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings:
MacStories Weekly: Issue 322A cube is always the answer.
- Ulysses joined the list of discounts available to Club MacStories+ and Premier members, with 50% off a first year’s subscription for new users.
- The Automation April Discord channel was reactivated for Club members to share their shortcuts and help each other with the upcoming Automation April Shortcuts Contest.
- I shared a collection of my favorite Mac utilities.
- Federico wrote about two simple tricks for remembering to start time tracking.
- Plus:
- App Debuts
- Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord
- Interesting links from around the web
- A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts
- and more
Club MacStories+ AV Club Town Hall, Slow HorsesThis month, we were joined by Club member David to break down Seasons 1 and 2 of the Apple TV+ Britsh spy drama Slow Horses and compare it with the novels by Mick Herron.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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I have some sad news to share with the MacStories community. Recently, Alex Hay, the developer of Toolbox Pro and other apps, passed away after a battle with cancer.
I can’t tell you how hard it is to write those words, and I can only imagine what those closest to Alex are going through. However, it’s also important to us here at MacStories to take a moment to reflect on Alex’s impact on our community and honor his memory.
One of the greatest privileges of running MacStories has been getting to know the developers behind the apps we love. Over the years, Federico and I have gotten to know hundreds of developers. They are the artists of our time, and their imagination, creativity, and passion are what inspire us.
In any creative field, though, there are always some people who stand apart from the pack. You don’t notice them because they’re especially good at self-promotion. No, they stand out because their raw talent is simply impossible to ignore. That was Alex Hay.
I don’t recall how Alex first appeared on my radar, but it was undoubtedly a text from Federico along the lines of “Hey, you gotta check out the crazy stuff this guy in the UK is doing with Shortcuts. You’re going to love this.” Nobody has an instinct for up-and-coming developers and apps like Ticci, but honestly, anyone could see Alex’s immense talent after just a few minutes with his apps. They are that good.
Toolbox Pro.
No app exemplifies Alex’s talent as much as Toolbox Pro, an app that simplifies complex APIs by making them accessible through Shortcuts. Toolbox Pro provides access to features of apps like Apple Music that even Apple hasn’t built by translating MusicKit APIs into Shortcuts actions. For Shortcuts power users, Toolbox Pro became the bridge between the worlds of iOS development and Shortcuts creation, allowing Shortcuts to be extended further than ever before.
Toolbox Pro was just one of Alex’s apps. He built a logger for Shortcuts that made debugging complex shortcuts infinitely easier. He also released Nauromate, an app that translated Notion’s APIs into Shortcuts actions making that app immensely more accessible to Shortcuts users.
What all of Alex’s apps have in common is that they opened new doors for Shortcuts users to take control of their iPhones, iPads, and Macs in new and exciting ways. Instead of building apps that fulfilled a specific need, Alex’s talent was building apps that let users tap into their own creativity to make what they wanted for themselves with Shortcuts.
The news of Alex’s passing reached us just as Federico and I were finalizing our plans for Automation April, leaving us shaken. Our reactions were the same: to use Automation April, an event that brings all corners of the Apple automation community together to remember and honor Alex’s memory.
So, with his family’s blessing, we’re dedicating Automation April 2023 in memory of Alex Hay, a brilliant and beloved member of the automation community who was taken from us far too early at the age of 36. MacStories is also making donations to the American Cancer Society and Cancer Research UK in Alex’s name, and we’d love it if you would join us in making a donation using the links above too.
The Apple automation community is a close-knit group of talented, creative people, and no one exemplified that more than Alex Hay. We’re grateful for the chance we had to get to know Alex and the apps he built that opened up so many new possibilities for Shortcuts users around the world. Our hearts go out to his family and friends, and we hope you’ll join us in thinking of him and his loved ones throughout Automation April.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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We asked ChatGPT to write a sponsorship post for MindNode, and this was the result:
“Looking for a powerful and intuitive mind mapping app that will help you organize your thoughts and ideas on your Mac and iOS devices? Look no further than MindNode!
MindNode is a versatile and easy-to-use mind mapping app that offers an array of features to help you visualize and develop your ideas. With its clean and intuitive interface, you can easily create complex mind maps with ease, and collaborate with others in real-time.
Whether you’re a student looking to organize your notes, a business professional preparing a presentation, or just someone looking to brainstorm new ideas, MindNode has everything you need to take your creativity to the next level. You can add text, images, and even links to external resources to your mind maps, making it easy to keep all of your ideas in one place.
With MindNode, you can also export your mind maps in a variety of formats, including PDF, OPML, and plain text, so you can share your ideas with others easily. And with the ability to sync your mind maps across all of your devices using iCloud, you can access your ideas anytime, anywhere.
So why wait? Download MindNode today and start organizing your thoughts and ideas like never before!”
We couldn’t have said it better. If you are a procrastinator as we are, why not use our Shortcut to generate your mind maps with ChatGPT.
Our thanks to MindNode for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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23:32
This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico is a fan of what Square Enix has done with Octopath Traveler II and I enjoy a tour of Dublin and one of my favorite bands in Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming with David Letterman.
Sponsored by: Kolide – Ensures only secure devices can access your cloud apps. It’s Zero Trust, tailor-made for Okta. Book a demo today.
TopicFederico’s Pick:
- Octopath Traveler II
- Trailer
- Game
- Octopath Traveler
- Podcasts mentioned:
- Triple Click
- Into the Aether
John’s Pick:
- Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming with David Letterman
- Also Mentioned
- U2’s latest album revisiting their back catalog
- Songs of Surrender
- Frank Turner Interview on Dialog
- Part I
- Part II
- U2’s latest album revisiting their back catalog
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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We are back with another edition of Automation April. Last year’s kickoff event was a big success. We published a wide variety of automation stories, released special podcast episodes, held online automation events, and capped off the month with a Shortcuts contest. But best of all, we saw tremendous excitement and participation throughout the automation community. It was amazing to see the community come together to share their love of automation and learn from each other all month long.
Great automation is about more than efficiency. It’s also about making your devices your own, so they suit your needs better than off-the-shelf apps can by themselves. The spirit of tinkering, customization, and building something better is what Automation April is all about, which is why we’re pleased to be spending April showcasing automation on Apple platforms alongside developers and MacStories readers again this year.
If you joined us for Automation April last year, you’ve got a head start on what to expect this year. For everyone else, you can expect special Automation April stories on MacStories.net, special episodes of AppStories, themed issues of our Club MacStories newsletters, and events in the Club MacStories+ Discord community. Along the way, MacStories will turn 14 on April 20th, which makes this month all the more special for us. We’ve got a lot planned, so let’s dig into things in a little more detail:
The ContestLast year’s winner of Best Overall Shortcut.
Last year, we started the Automation April Shortcuts Contest as a way to showcase the best shortcuts from the automation community. Shortcuts creators bring unique ingenuity and passion to all corners of the automation community. Over the years, we’ve had the privilege to get to know many through MacStories, Reddit, social media, and elsewhere. With the Automation April Shortcuts Contest, we’re excited to bring everyone together to show off the very best this thriving community has to offer.
We’ll post the full set of rules and instructions on how to submit your shortcuts when the contest kicks off on April 3rd, but here’s an overview of what to expect:
Like last year, submissions are open and free to all and will include four slightly reworked categories:
- Best productivity shortcut
- Best media shortcut
- Best HealthKit shortcut
- Best Mac-specific shortcut
There will be prizes for winners of each category that we’ll reveal on April 3rd.
Our judges will also pick a Best Overall Shortcut winner for the shortcut that impresses our panel the most. Like last year, we’ll have a special set of prizes for the winner of the best shortcut too.
We have an excellent lineup of judges to help us with the contest again this year, all of whom bring unique perspectives and strengths to the panel:
- Chris Lawley
- Federico Viticci
- Jack Wellborn
- Jason Snell
- John Voorhees
- Matthew Cassinelli
- Rosemary Orchard
- Simon Støvring
We’re especially excited to welcome Jack Wellborn to the panel for this year’s contest. Jack is the creator of Join Zoom Meeting, the shortcut that last year’s panel of judges picked as the Best Overall Shortcut for the inaugural Automation April Shortcuts Contest.
Like last year, you’ll be able to submit your shortcuts from our dedicated Automation April web app, which is built on the same Calliope foundation as Club MacStories and AppStories. Because the technology underlying the Club and AppStories is the same, Club members and AppStories+ subscribers will be able to use their login credentials to sign into the Automation April website.
But the contest is open to everyone, whether you’re a Club member or AppStories+ subscriber, which is why we launched a new free MacStories account for last year’s contest. If you signed up for a MacStories account last year, you can use those credentials to submit shortcuts to the contest again this year. If you’re new to the contest, you’ll be able to set up a free account on the Automation April website for the contest and upgrade it to a Club MacStories account at any time if you want.
MacStories and Club MacStoriesThroughout April, Federico and I will be publishing all-new shortcuts and stories on every aspect of automation. I won’t spoil everything we have in store, but you can expect stories from us about home automation, email and writing automations, app and hardware reviews, and more.
Of course, we’ve got special stories and events planned for Club MacStories too. We’ll have special automation-themed issues and columns for members throughout the month. We’ve also teamed up with indie developers for giveaways each week during April.
AppStories and AppStories+We’ve also got special episodes of AppStories planned covering Shortcuts and other automation topics and interviews. AppStories will allow us to expand our coverage beyond the stories on the site and update listeners on what’s coming up with Automation April throughout the month.
That expanded coverage will encompas the exclusive pre-show segments of AppStories+ too. AppStories+ is a premium version of AppStories that is ad-free, extended, and released in high-bitrate audio one day early for members. You can subscribe to it standalone or get it as part of the all-access pass that is a Club Premier subscription.
Club MacStories+ Discord CommunityLast year’s live audio Town Halls were a big hit with Club members. We’ll be doing a couple again during April, where we’ll cover our approaches to automation, answer questions, and provide tips and strategies for building your own automations live in our Discord Town Hall audio channel. The Town Halls will also be released as separate podcast episodes in the Club MacStories+ Town Hall podcast feed.
The Discord community will also feature a special Automation April channel. Last year the channel became a hub for members to share tips and shortcuts throughout the contest and help each other with tricky automation problems. It was great to see Club members working together last year, and we’re looking to spend a lot of time in the channel ourselves again this year.
Finally, we’ll be doing Discord-only app giveaways too. These were a big hit last year, so keep an eye out in the giveaway channel all month long. If you’d like to join and be part of our Discord community, you can sign up for or upgrade your existing Club MacStories account to Plus or Premier here.
More MacStories, More OftenClub MacStories and AppStories+Club MacStories
Launched in 2015, Club MacStories has provided members with more of the content they know and love from MacStories.net every week for the low price of $5/month or $50/year, including 60 newsletters, a Club-exclusive podcast, eBooks of our annual OS reviews, giveaways, and more.
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Club MacStories+ and Club Premier
With a Club MacStories+ or Club Premier subscription, you’ll get access to even more year-round perks. You can join Club MacStories+, which starts at $10/month or choose the best value by subscribing to Club Premier, which starts at $12/month and adds AppStories+, the extended, ad-free of our flagship podcast, to a long list of other perks like our Discord community, exclusive columns from Federico and John, advanced web search and filtering of Club content, and much more.
Join Club MacStories+:
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AppStories+
If you’re a fan of AppStories, you can get ad-free, extended versions of the show one day early in high-bitrate audio every week with AppStories+ or as part of a Club Premier plan, your all-access pass to everything we do at MacStories.
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See You in AprilLast year, Federico explained that our goal was to turn Automation April into an annual month-long tradition that celebrates the best of automation on Apple’s platforms. Another year has rolled around, and that’s exactly what this year is all about. We learned a lot about what worked best last year and are leaning into those lessons for 2023.
It’s going to be a big month across everything we do at MacStories, and we’re excited to have the automation community, developers, and our esteemed panel of judges along for the ride. Come back on April 3rd as we kick off Automation April 2023 and the Second Annual Automation April Shortcuts Contest.
You can also follow MacStories’ Automation April coverage through our dedicated hub or subscribe to its RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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This week on AppStories, we revisit RSS to talk about how syncing services and apps have changed and share how our use of RSS has evolved.
Sponsored by:
- Kolide – Kolide ensures only secure devices can access your cloud apps. It’s Zero Trust tailor-made for Okta. Book a demo today.
- Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
- Setapp: More than 230 powerful apps. Try it free for 7 days.
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, I am dipping my toe into co-working but wonders if I’m more into the idea of it than it is useful.
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To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
→ Source: appstories.net
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings:
MacStories Weekly: Issue 360* MarkEdit, an open-source, extensible Markdown editor from the maker of Taio * Federico’s newfound appreciation for Safari for iOS * Plus: + App Debuts + Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord + Interesting links from around the web + A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts + and more
Up Next: AV Club, Featuring Slow HorsesAV Club is a monthly event held in the Club MacStories+ Discord community. Club members vote on a movie, TV show, videogame, book, or music to enjoy as a group. It’s like a book club but for all kinds of media.
Join us Thursday at 11 am Eastern US time in the Club MacStories+ Discord community for a live AV Club discussion of the Apple TV+ British spy drama Slow Horses. Federico, Jonathan, and I will record the conversation and release it in the Town Hall podcast feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Source: 8BitDo
8BitDo, a popular maker of game controllers, announced today that six of its products now officially support Apple hardware:
- 8BitDo Ultimate Controller 2.4g
- 8BitDo Pro 2
- 8BitDo SN30 Pro +
- 8BitDo Pro
- 8BitDo SN30 Pro for Android
- 8Bitdo Lite SE
The controller firmware update, which can be applied using the company’s Upgrade Tool, will allow gamers to use 8BitDo’s supported controllers wirelessly with any iOS, iPadOS, macOS, or tvOS game that has adopted Apple’s game controller APIs. Playing wired is also supported on iPads and Macs with USB-C ports.
According to 8BitDo, up to four controllers can be connected at once for games with multiplayer support, but rumble and motion control are not supported “for the moment,” suggesting that a future update may support those features. Links to detailed directions and illustrations of how to connect 8BitDo’s controllers are available by hovering over the images of the controllers on the company’s dedicated Apple device webpage.
I have a bunch of the controllers for which Apple device support was announced, and I can’t wait to try them. A couple of the controllers I have already have some basic support for Apple devices, thanks to compatibility with Sony and Microsoft controllers. However, the firmware update should extend the functionality of the controllers to the full set of features that Apple now supports.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Two pieces of mobile gaming news caught my eye this morning.
The first was an interview that Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, gave to the Financial Times. The annual Game Developer Conference began today, and Spencer wants developers to know that Microsoft intends to publish games on mobile devices:
We want to be in a position to offer Xbox and content from both us and our third-party partners across any screen where somebody would want to play.
He continued:
Today, we can’t do that on mobile devices but we want to build towards a world that we think will be coming where those devices are opened up.
Spencer is banking that the EU’s Digital Markets Act will force Apple and Google to open up their devices early next year. Microsoft is having troubles of its own with US, UK, and EU regulators over its proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Part of Spencer’s strategy to win regulators over appears to be the prospect of bringing competition to mobile gaming with its own store and a native Game Pass app that isn’t relegated to streaming via a browser, which is the case for it and services like NVIDIA’s GeForce Now under current App Store rules.
The second piece of news comes from Netflix, which says it has 40 mobile games coming to iOS in 2023, which will join the 55 already available. Working within the constraints of the App Store’s guidelines, Netflix’s games are released as separate App Store downloads that Netflix subscribers can download and play at no additional cost. I’ve been impressed with the quality of the games released by Netflix, which include titles like TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, Kentucky Route Zero,Reigns: Three Kingdoms, Oxenfree, and Lucky Luna.
However, perhaps even bigger than the news of Netflix’s growing catalog is that the first two Monument Valley games are coming to the company’s mobile game catalog in 2024. That’s a big deal because both games are currently part of an Apple Arcade subscription, as well as being available as separate App Store purchases. It’s not clear whether the games will remain part of Arcade after they’re published by Netflix, but even if they are, it will provide another avenue to play the games at no additional cost, which will dilute the value of an Arcade subscription.
Microsoft and Netflix are already competing with Apple in mobile gaming to a degree, but their hands are tied by App Store guidelines. Microsoft has settled on streaming games, which is clunky and constrained, while Netflix has launched dozens of individual games without a good way to organize and market them under their brand.
What Microsoft and Netflix have done so far demonstrates that a little competition is a good thing. Developers have more avenues for publishing their games, and consumers have more choices. The Digital Markets Act has the potential to be the catalyst that opens the door to competition even wider, which I expect will create all sorts of new opportunities for developers and consumers alike.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Right now, “Zero Trust” is in serious danger of becoming an empty buzzword. The problem isn’t just that marketers have slapped the Zero Trust label on everything short of breakfast cereal–it’s that for all the hype, we don’t seem to be getting any safer.
At the heart of Zero Trust is a good idea, but the way most companies execute that idea is incomplete. Specifically, most security practitioners forget that device compliance is a crucial element of Zero Trust.
Think about it: your identity provider can ensure that only known devices access your company’s apps, but just because you recognize a device, doesn’t mean it’s in a secure state. A malware-infected laptop running an outdated OS can’t exactly be “trusted.” And you can’t count on MDMs to achieve total compliance. Things like unencrypted access credentials are out of their reach, not to mention Linux devices writ large.
Kolide solves the device compliance element of Zero Trust for companies that use Okta.
Our premise is simple: if an employee’s device is out of compliance, it can’t access your apps.
Kolide’s unique approach works with Okta to make device compliance part of the authentication process. If a device isn’t compliant, users can’t log in to their cloud apps until they’ve fixed the problem. And instead of creating more work for IT, Kolide provides instructions so users can get unblocked on their own.
Kolide works across your Mac, Windows, and even Linux devices, with mobile support coming soon. Our lightweight agent complements your existing tools, brings a lot of compliance issues into scope and under control, and can complete your Zero Trust picture.
To learn more and see our product in action, visit kolide.com.
Our thanks to Kolide for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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0:00
24:33 Sponsored by: Kolide – Ensures only secure devices can access your cloud apps. It’s Zero Trust tailor-made for Okta. Book a demo today.
This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico and John recommend the premiere episode of Ted Lasso, Season 3: Smells Like Mean Spirit
Show NotesLinks and Show NotesFederico and John’s Pick:
- Ted Lasso, Season 3 Premiere: Smells Like Mean Spirit
- Season 3 trailer
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Jason Snell, in an excellent column for Macworld:
Sometimes I look back at all the effort Apple has made with the iPad Pro and wonder if it was worth it. All the additions of Mac-ish features have added complexity that’s probably lost on most users of iPadOS, and the power users for whom they were intended are probably well aware of all the ways they don’t really match up the Mac features they’re duplicating.
I want to see what happens when the walls come down. Today’s iPad Pro is powered by the same chip that’s in the MacBook Air. Would it be such a cataclysm if I could simply reboot that iPad into macOS or run macOS inside a virtual machine?
Likewise, what if the Mac had a touchscreen and Apple Pencil support and came in shapes that weren’t the traditional laptop? What if the Mac began to offer the ergonomic flexibility that iPadOS is so good at? What if I ripped the keyboard off a MacBook and had the option to switch to a touch-based mode that was essentially iPadOS?
I love this story, which I recommend reading in its entirety, because it feels as if Jason stared directly into my soul and wrote about something I’ve been feeling for the past several months.
From my perspective, Stage Manager’s failure to reinvent multitasking and iPadOS’ perennial lack of pro features (Jason mentions a proper audio subsystem in his story, and I agree; I wrote this four years ago, and nothing has improved) were the final straw that convinced me to start looking elsewhere for a convertible computer in my life. I could buy a MacBook Air, but I don’t want to be stuck with a laptop that doesn’t have a touchscreen and whose keyboard you can’t detach.
I fear that I’m going to have to wait a couple of years for the Apple computer I want to exist, and I’m not sure anymore that iPadOS can evolve in meaningful ways in the meantime.
→ Source: macworld.com
Brian Chen, Nico Grant, and Karen Weise of The New York Times set out to explain why voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant seem primitive by comparison to ChatGPT. According to ex-Apple, Amazon, and Google engineers and employees, the difference is grounded in the approach the companies took with their assistants:
The assistants and the chatbots are based on different flavors of A.I. Chatbots are powered by what are known as large language models, which are systems trained to recognize and generate text based on enormous data sets scraped off the web. They can then suggest words to complete a sentence.
In contrast, Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant are essentially what are known as command-and-control systems. These can understand a finite list of questions and requests like “What’s the weather in New York City?” or “Turn on the bedroom lights.” If a user asks the virtual assistant to do something that is not in its code, the bot simply says it can’t help.
In the case of Siri, former Apple engineer John Burkey said the company’s assistant was designed as a monolithic database that took weeks to update with new capabilities. Burkey left Apple in 2016 after less than two years at the company according to his LinkedIn bio. According to other unnamed Apple sources, the company has been testing AI based on large language models in the years since Burkey’s departure:
At Apple’s headquarters last month, the company held its annual A.I. summit, an internal event for employees to learn about its large language model and other A.I. tools, two people who were briefed on the program said. Many engineers, including members of the Siri team, have been testing language-generating concepts every week, the people said.
It’s not surprising that sources have told The New York Times that Apple is researching the latest advances in artificial intelligence. All you have to do is visit the company’s Machine Learning Research website to see that. But to declare a winner in ‘the AI race’ based on the architecture of where voice assistants started compared to today’s chatbots is a bit facile. Voice assistants may be primitive by comparison to chatbots, but it’s far too early to count Apple, Google, or Amazon out or declare the race over, for that matter.
→ Source: nytimes.com
Tripsy is more than just an app for storing details about your upcoming trips. It does that and does it well, but it’s also a great way to revisit old trips and get inspired about places you want to visit in the future. We’ve covered Tripsy before, so for more on what the app can do, I recommend checking out our reviews of version 2.10 and version 1.0. With version 2.15, which debuted this week, Tripsy is focused on trip itineraries, adding several ‘quality of life’ features along with better organization for multi-location trips, and improved customization.
Nothing can spoil a trip activity you’ve planned like bad weather. Tripsy’s update adds a 10-day forecast for your destination inside your itinerary. That way, if bad weather is on the horizon, it’s easier to adjust your plans. You’ll find the forecast for each location at the beginning of each day of your itinerary, with an icon showing the predicted conditions alongside the forecast minimum and maximum temperatures. Temperatures are displayed in the units selected in the Settings app by default, but can be changed in your itinerary’s settings.
Tripsy has made it easier to keep track of time changes as you travel.
When you’re traveling, it’s also easier than usual to get tripped up by time zones. Tripsy’s update deals with those changes for each location of a trip by showing how many hours ahead or behind your destination is from your starting point. Tapping the time zone entry in your itinerary pulls up a card interface with your current time zone and last time zone, with the time indicated for both.
Tripsy also numbers the days of your trips using ‘1st,’ ‘2nd,’ ‘3rd,’ and so on, which I like because it’s how I think of a multi-day trip when I’m planning it. Also, if you’re going to be in more than one location during your trip, Tripsy will organize your lists of activities by location, making it easier to find the restaurant or other activity at a glance.
Tripsy has added flight arrival and departure info, along with directions for your next activity.
Flight information has been expanded, too, with takeoff and landing times along with terminal and gate information. Plus, if you’ve got a connection to make, your itinerary will show you how long you’ll be at the airport and the city you’re in. Tripsy’s flight data won’t replace a dedicated app like Flighty for people who want every possible detail about their flights, but it does fill an important gap, offering a more complete picture of your plans than before. Tripsy has also added a button to the map for your next itinerary activity that will generate directions using Apple Maps, Google Maps, Uber, Waze, Lyft, or CityMapper.
There are more ways to customize your trip dashboard and itinerary than before too.
Finally, it’s worth noting that you can turn off these new itinerary data points can be turned off if you prefer. There are options to turn off some of the information included on your trip’s separate dashboard too.
I don’t currently have a trip planned, so my testing of Tripsy’s new features was for imaginary trips. Although the testing environment was artificial, I expect the app will hold up well under real-world use. I’ve used Tripsy for a lot of my past travels and love it because it’s the sort of app that keeps getting better with each iteration. This week’s update is no exception. Version 2.15 focuses on the fundamentals, providing a meaningful improvement to the itinerary for your next trip.
Tripsy 2.15 is available as a free update on the App Store. Some features, including weather forecasts and time zone support, are only available to subscribers to Tripsy Pro.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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This week on AppStories, we answer listener questions about apps, automation, podcasting, tattoos, and more.
Sponsored by:
- Kolide – Kolide ensures only secure devices can access your cloud apps. It’s Zero Trust tailor-made for Okta. Book a demo today.
- Squarespace – Make your next move. Enter offer code APPSTORIES at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, we cover Untitled Goose Game’s rejection from the Mac App Store, and the curious case of Apple Music Classical.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
→ Source: appstories.net
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings:
MacStories Weekly: Issue 359Arc by The Browser Company.
- Federico is experimenting with Readwise Reader as his RSS client and explains what’s worked well and where the weak points are
- I explain why it’s okay to use just a few features of a complex app, cobbling together a workflow from several apps that works best for you
- App Debuts
- Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord
- Interesting links from around the web
- A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts
- and more
The Macintosh Desktop Experience: My 2023 Mac-Centric Office SetupIn the latest installment of my Club MacStories+ and Club Premier column, I share my new office setup
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Last night, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced at the 95th Annual Academy Awards ceremony that it had picked The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse for Best Animated Short Film.
The Apple TV+ film, which also recently won a BAFTA Film Award and four Annie Awards, is based on a book by Charlie Mackesy. According to Apple’s press release:
The poignant journey follows the unlikely friendship of a boy, a mole, a fox, and a horse traveling together in the boy’s search for home. The film, featuring Mackesy’s distinctive illustrations brought to life in full color with beautiful hand-drawn animation, stars Tom Hollander as The Mole, Idris Elba as The Fox, Gabriel Byrne as The Horse, and newcomer Jude Coward Nicoll as The Boy.
Zack Van Amburg, Apple’s head of Worldwide Video, commented on the Oscar win:
We are so proud of Charlie and the brilliant team who brought The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse to the screen and we sincerely thank the Academy for tonight’s recognition. This powerful story has deeply affected audiences around the world and has shown that no matter what age you are or where you live, it’s never too late to spread more compassion, empathy, and kindness in our daily lives. Congratulations to everyone involved, including our teams across the globe. We are all celebrating with you tonight.
Last year, Apple TV+ was the first streaming service to ever win the Best Picture Oscar for CODA.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Here’s an uncomfortable fact: at most companies, employees can download sensitive company data onto any device, keep it there forever, and never even know that they’re doing something wrong.
Kolide’s new report, The State of Sensitive Data, shines a light on an area of security that is often ignored, but is nevertheless a massive hole in many companies’ Zero Trust fortress.
These findings are particularly alarming given the overall state of device security. IT teams routinely struggle to enforce timely OS updates and patch management, meaning that end users are storing your most sensitive data–things like customer records, confidential IP, and plain-text access credentials–on devices that are vulnerable to attack.
This problem has gone unaddressed because until now there hasn’t been a good solution for it. MDM solutions are too blunt an instrument for dealing with sensitive data, and DLP tools are too extreme and invasive for most companies. After all, you’re not trying to ban downloads together, nor regard every download as suspicious. You’re just trying to make sure employees aren’t keeping data for longer than they need or keeping it on an unmanaged or unsecure device.
Kolide offers a more nuanced approach to setting and enforcing sensitive data policies.
Our premise is simple: if an employee’s device is out of compliance, it can’t access your apps.
Kolide lets admins run queries to detect sensitive data, flag devices that have violated policies, and enforce OS and browser updates so vulnerable devices aren’t accessing data.
Our unique approach makes device compliance part of the authentication process. If a device isn’t compliant, users can’t log in to their cloud apps until they’ve fixed the problem. But instead of creating more work for IT, Kolide provides instructions so users can get unblocked on their own.
To learn more and see our product in action, visit kolide.com.
Our thanks to Kolide for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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0:00
17:21 Sponsored by: Kolide – Ensures only secure devices can access your cloud apps. It’s Zero Trust tailor-made for Okta. Book a demo today.
This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico recommends Kirby Ferguson’s final video, Everything is a Remix, Part 4 and I have been relaxing to Blanc on the Nintendo Switch.
Links and Show NotesFederico’s Pick:
- Everything Is a Remix, Part 4 by Kirby Ferguson
- Website featuring the entire series as well as This Is Not a Conspiracy Theory
John’s Pick:
- Blanc
- Trailer
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Source: App Store.
On March 28th, Apple will launch Apple Music Classical, a free app that’s already available for pre-order that will offer a catalog of over 5 million classical recordings to Apple Music subscribers at no additional cost.
The app, which will be iPhone-only at launch, has been anticipated for months. Apple acquired Primephonic, a classical music streaming service in August 2021, and said at the time that it would release an Apple-branded classical music streaming service the following year. 2022 came and went without a new app, but references to the new service began appearing in iOS beta releases, leading observers to believe that a release was imminent.
Apple says that Classical’s 5 million tracks, which include thousands of exclusives, is the largest in the world and has “complete and accurate” metadata. The company also says in the app’s release notes:
Apple Music Classical also makes it easy for beginners to get acquainted with the genre thanks to hundreds of Essentials playlists, insightful composer biographies, deep-dive guides for many key works, and intuitive browsing features.
Classical’s search will also be optimized for the genre, include editorial content, and be streamed at up to 192 kHz/24-bit Hi-Res Lossless, with thousands of tracks supporting spatial audio with Dolby Atmos.
Users can pre-order the free app today from the App Store, which will be downloaded to their iPhones on March 28th when the app goes live.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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This week on AppStories, we cover the increasing competition among web browsers and the emerging features we find most useful.
Sponsored by:
- Kolide – Kolide ensures only secure devices can access your cloud apps. It’s Zero Trust tailor-made for Okta. Book a demo today.
- Fitbod – Get stronger, faster with a fitness plan that fits you. Get 25% off your membership.
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, I struggle with security cameras, Federico’s desk setup continues to evolve, and we share our theories on the popularity of web-first apps.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
→ Source: appstories.net
Source: david-smith.org.
100 million of anything is a lot, and 100 million downloads on the App Store are rare. Rarer still, and perhaps unprecedented, is 100 million downloads of an app made by one person.
When it comes to apps, I can’t think of a single app made by an indie developer that has reached the milestone that David Smith did today with Widgetsmith. The app, which was released in September 2020 alongside iOS 13, lets users create personalized Home Screen widgets using photos, text, weather data, and more. Since its release, the array of customization options has continued to expand, and last fall, Lock Screen widgets were added to the mix. Most recently, Widgetsmith was updated with gradient backgrounds.
The latest update of Widgetsmith adds gradient backgrounds.
It’s been remarkable to watch Widgetsmith take the app world by storm. Thinking back to the summer of 2020 when Federico and I were testing Widgetsmith, I remember liking it, but I know neither of us had the slightest inkling that it would go viral the way it did not long after its release. Congratulations, Dave. Widgetsmith’s success is well-deserved.
Don’t miss Dave’s post on his website about Widgetsmith’s milestone. Also, the latest gradient background update to the app is available now as a free update on the App Store.
→ Source: david-smith.org
Source: Apple.
A new spring iPhone color has become an annual tradition for Apple. Today, the company announced that a pale yellow model is joining the midnight, starlight, (PRODUCT)RED, blue, and purple versions of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus.
Apple also said that its Emergency SOS service is coming to six new countries later this month:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Italy
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
- Portugal
The new yellow iPhone will be available for pre-order beginning at 5 am Pacific time in the US on Friday, March 10th, with availability beginning Tuesday, March 14th.
Apple also released four new Apple Silicone Cases for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. Source: Apple.
In a footnote to today’s iPhone announcement, Apple said that new canary yellow, olive, sky, and iris Silicone cases will be available for the iPhone and iPhone 14 Plus too.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Yesterday, Microsoft announced that Outlook, its email and calendar app, is now free on the Mac App Store and doesn’t require a Microsoft 365 subscription, which has been the case for a long time on iOS and iPadOS.
That’s great news for Mac users. Outlook has been optimized for Apple silicon Macs and supports iCloud, Gmail, Outlook, IMAP, and other email systems. And, because it’s native, Outlook supports features like widgets, Handoff between devices logged into the same Apple ID, and rich notifications, plus it includes a menu bar app for quickly checking your calendar. In its announcement, Microsoft also said it is working on support for Focus modes through an Outlook feature called Profiles.
Source: Microsoft.
Microsoft’s move came as something of a surprise and in the midst of rebuilding the Windows version of Outlook. The company is also experimenting with a progressive web app version of the app but told The Verge that it is committed to native apps on Apple’s platforms.
Microsoft Outlook is available to download free on the Mac App Store.
→ Source: techcommunity.microsoft.com
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings:
MacStories Weekly: Issue 358Ascend
- MacStories Recommends: Ascend
- Running the Apple Frames shortcut from the Command Line and enabling its new Passthrough Mode
- Plus:
- App Debuts
- Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord
- Interesting links from around the web
- A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts
- and more
The Monthly Log: February 2023* I explain how I use Focus modes and personal automations primarily to customize my Home and Lock Screens and watch faces by times of day * Federico shows how he’s been using WhatsApp’s new self-messaging feature as a cross-platform scratchpad.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Right now, “Zero Trust” is in serious danger of becoming an empty buzzword. The problem isn’t just that marketers have slapped the Zero Trust label on everything short of breakfast cereal–it’s that for all the hype, we don’t seem to be getting any safer.
At the heart of Zero Trust is a good idea, but the way most companies execute that idea is incomplete. Specifically, most security practitioners forget that device compliance is a crucial element of Zero Trust.
Think about it: your identity provider can ensure that only known devices access your company’s apps, but just because you recognize a device, doesn’t mean it’s in a secure state. A malware-infected laptop running an outdated OS can’t exactly be “trusted.” And you can’t count on MDMs to achieve total compliance. Things like unencrypted access credentials are out of their reach, not to mention Linux devices writ large.
Kolide solves the device compliance element of Zero Trust for companies that use Okta.
Our premise is simple: if an employee’s device is out of compliance, it can’t access your apps.
Kolide’s unique approach works with Okta to make device compliance part of the authentication process. If a device isn’t compliant, users can’t log in to their cloud apps until they’ve fixed the problem. And instead of creating more work for IT, Kolide provides instructions so users can get unblocked on their own.
Kolide works across your Mac, Windows, and even Linux devices, with mobile support coming soon. Our lightweight agent complements your existing tools, brings a lot of compliance issues into scope and under control, and can complete your Zero Trust picture.
To learn more and see our product in action, visit kolide.com.
Our thanks to Kolide for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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0:00
21:45 Sponsored by: Kolide – Ensures only secure devices can access your cloud apps. It’s Zero Trust tailor-made for Okta. Book a demo today.
This week on MacStories Unwind, rewatches Ted Lasso in preparation for season 3 and John binges his way through Eugene Levy’s new travel series, The Reluctant Traveler.
Links and Show NotesFederico’s Pick:
- Ted Lasso, Season 1 and 2
John’s Pick:
- The Reluctant Traveler
- Trailer
- Eugene Levy profile and show overview in The New York Times
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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The ‘Shortcut Result’ variable, used as an image variable in a shortcut that calls Apple Frames.
I just released a small update to Apple Frames 3.1, which came out earlier this week, with a new output command: &passthrough. With this output command for the Apple Frames API, you’ll be able to generate a framed image (from whatever source you like) and simply pass its result to the next action in a shortcut as a native image variable.
I wrote about this as part of my Extension column in MacStories Weekly today, where I also covered the ability to run Apple Frames from the command line on macOS. Here’s the excerpt about version 3.1.1 of Apple Frames and the new passthrough mode:
As I was researching this column for Weekly, I realized there was an obvious candidate for an output command I did not include in Apple Frames 3.1: a passthrough command to, well, pass framed images along as input for the next action of a shortcut.
Here’s what I mean: when you run Apple Frames from a helper shortcut using the ‘Run Shortcut’ action, that action produces an output variable called ‘Shortcut Result’. If you’re running Apple Frames as a function, thus turning it into a feature of another workflow, it can be useful to take the framed images it produces and use them as a native variable in other actions of the shortcut. The problem is that the output commands I launched with Apple Frames 3.1 all involved “storing” the framed images somewhere, whether it was Files or the system clipboard.
This is no longer the case with the
&passthroughoutput command I added to Apple Frames 3.1.1, which you can redownload from the MacStories Shortcuts Archive or directly from this link. If you run the Apple Frames API with this command, framed images will be passed along as native output of the shortcut, which you can reuse as a variable elsewhere in a shortcut that’s invoking Apple Frames.
And:
Any shortcut or longer workflow that involves running Apple Frames in the background and retrieving the screenshots it frames can take advantage of this method, allowing you to bypass the need to store images in the clipboard, even if temporarily. Essentially, passthrough mode turns Apple Frames into a native action of the Shortcuts app that returns a standard image variable as its output.
This is the only change in version 3.1.1 of Apple Frames, and I’m excited to see how people will take advantage of it to chain Apple Frames with other shortcuts on their devices. You can download the updated version of Apple Frames below.
Apple FramesAdd device frames to screenshots for iPhones (11, 8/SE, and 12-13-14 generations in mini/standard/Plus/Pro Max sizes), iPad Pro (11” and 12.9”, 2018-2022 models), iPad Air (10.9”, 2020-2022 models), iPad mini (2021 model), Apple Watch S4/5/6/7/8/Ultra, iMac (24” model, 2021), MacBook Air (2020-2022 models), and MacBook Pro (2021 models). The shortcut supports portrait and landscape orientations, but does not support Display Zoom; on iPadOS and macOS, the shortcut supports Default and More Space resolutions. If multiple screenshots are passed as input, they will be combined in a single image. The shortcut can be run in the Shortcuts app, as a Home Screen widget, as a Finder Quick Action, or via the share sheet. The shortcut also supports an API for automating input images and framed results.
Get the shortcut here.
→ Source: club.macstories.net
This week on AppStories, we compare notes on the Apple Watch Ultra, including what makes it special and what frustrates us, and share the apps we’re using regularly.
Sponsored by:
- Kolide – Kolide ensures only secure devices can access your cloud apps. It’s Zero Trust tailor-made for Okta. Book a demo today.
- Squarespace – Make your next move. Enter offer code APPSTORIES at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, we dig into HomeKit-enabled blinds, shades, and shutters and explain our Nintendo Switch HDMI upscaling experiments.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
→ Source: [This week](https:
Usually, when a big company shuts down an API, they give customers time to prepare. It’s the right thing to do regardless of what any terms of service say. That’s not how things went down with Twitter. Instead, as I wrote in January, Twitter eliminated access to its API for many third-party apps, including Tweetbot by Tapbots and Twitterrific by The Iconfactory, with no notice at all and then made up an excuse for why they did so after the fact. One moment the apps worked; the next, they didn’t.
The ramifications of Twitter’s actions are unlike anything we’ve ever seen before on the App Store. Tweetbot and Twitterrific were both subscription-based apps. Because they had no notice, neither company had a chance to suspend new subscriptions or take other actions to deal with a change that, under the best of circumstances, would pose massive challenges to their development teams. As a result, both Tapbots and The Iconfactory are faced with refunding the 70-85% of subscription revenues that they received on a pro-rated basis. That’s how the App Store works, and it’s potentially devastating to both companies given how events played out.
To try to mitigate the damage, both Tweetbot and Twitterrific were updated this week with new interfaces. Now, both apps give subscribers the option to indicate that they don’t want a refund. Tweetbot also offers to transfer a user’s Tweetbot subscription to Tapbots’ new Mastodon app, Ivory, which Federico recently reviewed and is excellent. If users do nothing, they’ll receive a refund that will be credited to their App Store account automatically by Apple.
Tapbots and The Iconfactory have played an important part in the Apple developer community for a very long time, and their Twitter clients were two of the best ever created. It’s been hard for us at MacStories to watch as the makers of two of our favorite apps have been treated with such callous disregard by Twitter, which owes no small portion of its past success to both apps.
If you were a subscriber to either or both apps, you’re absolutely entitled to a refund, but we’d ask that you open the app you use and tap the button to decline a refund as a final act of support for their developers instead.
The App Store’s success is built on many things, but its cornerstone is the developers who care enough to make apps like Tweetbot and Twitterrific. Many of us have moved on from Twitter, but let’s not leave behind the developers who made it a place where we once enjoyed hanging out.
If you’ve already deleted either app from your devices, both Tweetbot and Twitterrific can still be downloaded from the App Store.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Source: david-smith.org
David Smith announced the release of Pedometer++ 5.0 today, and it looks like a big one. Smith says 5.0 has been rewritten from the ground up using SwiftUI and includes:
- Dynamic Type support
- Workout tracking, which was previously Watch-only, is now available on the iPhone too
- Live Activities that display distance and duration data or a map and distance preview are available in multiple styles
- Map-based routes can be added by transferring GPX files to the iPhone app using the iOS share sheet, which then syncs them to your Apple Watch
- Saved and favorite routes can be added to the Apple Watch too
- Once on the Watch, routes can be used in a new maps-based workout tracking mode, which displays them live
- The Apple Watch Ultra’s Action button can be used to start a walk quickly or to switch between map and metric views in the Watch app
I’m looking forward to giving this update a try. I’ve enjoyed using Footpath’s map integration as I explore North Carolina, and I’m curious to see how the apps compare.
Pedometer++ 5.0 is available as a free download on the App Store. Some features, including workouts, require a subscription.
→ Source: david-smith.org
Source: Apple.
Today, Apple introduced new analytics for app developers designed to reveal how their apps are performing compared to peer apps. The developer site says that:
With data from the entire catalog of apps on the App Store, peer group benchmarks provide accurate, relevant, and privacy-preserving comparisons for apps across categories, business models, and download volumes. Learn how to take advantage of these insights to improve your app’s performance.
Apple defines an app’s peer group by its App Store category, business model, and download volume, providing metrics that shows where a developer’s app falls within the range of similar apps. Data is aggregated and uses differential privacy to ensure that the analytics do not reveal the identity of the apps against which a developer’s app is compared. The developer site also offers suggested actions that developers can take to improve their performance, including product page optimization tests, app events, pricing strategies, and more.
From the examples shared, the new tools look as though they will fit in nicely with existing analytics and other analytics available to developers. Providing insights into how an app is performing compared to its peers should help point developers in the direction of areas where adjustments can have the greatest impact on the success of their apps, saving them time and guesswork.
→ Source: developer.apple.com
Apple Frames 3.1 comes with a lightweight Apple Frames API to extend its automation capabilities.
Today, I’m happy to introduce something I’ve been working on for the past couple of months: Apple Frames – my shortcut to put screenshots captured on Apple devices inside physical device frames – is getting a major upgrade to version 3.1 today. In addition to offering support for more devices that I missed in version 3.0 as well as some bug fixes, Apple Frames 3.1 brings a brand new API that lets you automate and extend the Apple Frames shortcut itself.
By making Apple Frames scriptable, I wanted to allow power users – such as designers and developers who rely on this shortcut to frame hundreds of images each week – to save valuable time without compromising the accessible nature of Apple Frames for other people. This is why all of the new advanced features of Apple Frames are optional and hidden until you go look for them specifically. Furthermore, even if you do want to use the Apple Frames API, you’ll see that I designed it in the spirit of Shortcuts: it does not require any code and it’s entirely powered by simple, visual ‘Text’ actions.
I’m incredibly excited about what Apple Frames can do in version 3.1, so let’s dive in.
Installation and UpdateTo download Apple Frames 3.1, you can click the download link at the end of this article or find it in the MacStories Shortcuts Archive. If you already have an older version of Apple Frames installed, you will be prompted to replace it while setting up the shortcut. As with version 3.0, during setup you’ll be asked to pick a folder in iCloud Drive that will serve as the destination folder for the ‘Quick Save’ functionality; in version 3.1, you’ll be asked to pick a source folder too.
The new setup flow of Apple Frames 3.1. You can now choose a destination folder for framed images (like in version 3.0) and, for the first time, a source folder that you can use with the Apple Frames API.
Given that this version of Apple Frames includes support for more devices, you’ll also be prompted to download a new Frames.zip file from the MacStories CDN. You can just click ‘Allow’ here without worrying about anything else. The shortcut will extract the necessary assets, save them in iCloud Drive/Shortcuts, and continue automatically. You’ll only be prompted to do this once.
New Devices and FixesApple Frames 3.1 re-introduces support for the following devices, which I missed in the transition to version 3.0 last year:
- iPhone 8 Plus
- Apple Watch Series 7/8 in the 41mm size
- MacBook Pro 13”
Additionally, I fixed an issue with Apple Frames 3.0 that was causing screenshots taken on an iPad Pro 11” in portrait orientation with the ‘More Space’ display scaling mode enabled to not be framed properly. My apologies to all those who tried running Apple Frames on their 11” iPad Pros and couldn’t get it to work over the past few months. I ended up buying an 11” iPad Pro myself so I could debug the issue and figure out what was going on.
Introducing the Apple Frames APIThe big change in Apple Frames 3.1 is the availability of a lightweight API that lets you control the shortcut’s behavior with simple text commands. It may seem silly to make an “API” for a shortcut running on your iPhone or Mac, but this is, after all, a little programming interface for Apple Frames, so I think it’s only fair to call it that.
Here’s the gist: you can now script Apple Frames with commands that tell it where to take images from (input commands) and where to save the framed images (output commands). You can still run Apple Frames manually like you’ve always done; however, if you want to save even more time, you can also program Apple Frames 3.1 to get screenshots from a specific source and perform a specific action with the output without having to manually pick images or options from a list.
Helper shortcuts for the Apple Frames API on my iPad Pro.
The Apple Frames API is entirely optional and designed for advanced users of the shortcut who want to take their usage of Apple Frames to the next level.
The new Apple Frames API is comprised of input commands and output commands. These are bits of text that you can pass to the shortcut to tell it where to get images and what to do with them. And here’s my favorite part: you can mix and match input and output commands however you like, creating diverse “recipes” for automating Apple Frames in different contexts. For example, you can create an Apple Frames automation to get the most recent screenshot, frame it, and save it to the Photos app with no manual interactions; or you can automate Apple Frames to get the 10 most recent screenshots from your library, frame them individually without merging them, and save the results in a folder of the Files app.
When I refer to the ability to “pass” commands to Apple Frames 3.1, I mean it. The Apple Frames API was designed to be as simple as giving Apple Frames a ‘Text’ action to use as input, as shown in the image below:
All you need to get started with the Apple Frames API are the ‘Text’ and ‘Run Shortcut’ actions.
Of course, if you’re an advanced user, you have other options too. You can pass commands to Apple Frames 3.1 via the URL scheme or, if you’re a Mac user, via the shell. Any input method that can pass some text to Shortcuts will work.
Input CommandsWith that being said, here are the input commands supported by Apple Frames 3.1:
pickPick images manually. (This command is mandatory if you don’t want to use any other input command, but still want an output command later.)clipboardGet an image from the system clipboard.latestGet the latest screenshot.number(n)Pass a numeric value to Apple Frames that tells it how many recent screenshots to retrieve from the photo library. e.g.number(5)will tell Apple Frames to get the five most recent screenshots.captureAsk Apple Frames to capture a screenshot and frame it immediately. Best used on macOS, where you can trigger shortcuts with the keyboard without a UI shown.folderGet images from a specific folder in Files or Finder.
These input commands should be fairly self-explanatory: they tell Apple Frames where to get images, giving you more flexibility than having to select images manually every time.
The only input command that needs to be configured is the folder one: in the shortcut, you’ll find a ‘Folder’ action that determines the folder in Files/Finder that you want to use as the source of images for the Apple Frames API. You can change this to whatever you want.
You can configure the source and destination folders in the shortcut.
You can use an input command without an output one. For instance, you can get images from the clipboard, and then be presented with Apple Frames’ classic menu of actions at the end. However, if you use an output command, you’ll always have to include an input command too. You can’t pass &quickLook without an input command before it, for example.
Output CommandsSo those are the input commands. Here is the list of output commands you can use in Apple Frames 3.1:
&quickLookPreview images with Quick Look.&photosSave framed images to the Photos app.&quickSaveSave framed images to a specific folder of your choice in Files/Finder.©Copy framed images to the clipboard.&airDropInstantly AirDrop framed images.&uploadIf you have a shortcut that uploads images to your own server or other places, this is the output command that can trigger it.
Output commands, as I noted above, can be chained after an input command; using an output command automates the process of saving a framed image somewhere, and it lets you bypass the final menu of actions that gets shown by Apple Frames at the end of the shortcut. By combining input and output commands, you’ll be able to fully automate the image generation process of Apple Frames, from source files to the resulting framed image, with zero user interaction in the middle. Make sure to check out the list of examples I prepared in the next section to get a sense of how you can combine these.
Merge ModeLastly, Apple Frames 3.1 comes with an option that has been requested dozens of times by advanced users: the ability to frame images individually, without merging them in a single composite image at the end. This option is available as a shortcut-wide toggle as well as a flag in the API.
For starters, toward the beginning of the shortcut, you’ll see a new Merge Images variable that is set to ‘True’. This means that, by default, Apple Frames will merge multiple framed screenshots into a single image, as it’s always done. If you want to alter the default behavior of Apple Frames, you can change this variable to ‘False.’
The new variable that controls the merging behavior in Apple Frames 3.1 (left) and images that have been framed individually (right).
If you want to keep Apple Frames’ default merging behavior but override it every once in a while when needed, you can use the Apple Frames API. By passing +mergeImages=False to Apple Frames (alongside at least one input command), you’ll temporarily override the merging behavior of Apple Frames and tell it to save images individually if it normally merges them, and vice versa. For example, this…
pick+mergeImages=False
…will let you pick screenshots to frame, then save the results as individual images at the end.
With this new merge option in the Apple Frames API, you’ll be able to temporarily override the merging behavior of Apple Frames.
Examples of the Apple Frames API with Helper ShortcutsSince the Apple Frames API is based on passing some text input to the shortcut, you can put together “helper shortcuts” to perform specific actions in Apple Frames and rely on them as standalone utilities. These are simple, two-action shortcuts that send specific commands to Apple Frames.
Helper shortcuts designed for the Apple Frames API.
If you’re a Mac user, the Apple Frames API opens a world of possibilities: not only can you create all the helper shortcuts you want and assign a global hotkey to each one of them, but you can even trigger these dedicated utilities from the menu bar, via scripts, or via utilities like Raycast and Alfred.
Let me give you some practical examples of how you can use these commands and chain them together.
The first helper shortcut I created for Apple Frames 3.1 tells it to get the latest screenshot from the Photos app, frame it, and immediately copy the framed image to the clipboard. This lets you go from a screenshot to a framed image ready to be shared in iMessage or other apps in two seconds, especially if you trigger this shortcut from a widget on your Home Screen or Siri. Here’s how easy it is to put together:
Framing the latest screenshot I’ve taken with this helper shortcut so I can quickly paste it in iMessage.
Frame Latest and CopyFrame the most recent screenshot from the Photos app and copy it to the clipboard. This shortcut is based on the Apple Frames API and requires Apple Frames 3.1 or above.
Get the shortcut here.
What if you have a screenshot in your clipboard and want to quickly save it to a predefined folder in the Files app or Finder? Easy: using the clipboard&quickSave commands with the Apple Frames API, you can put together a helper shortcut to do exactly that in seconds:
Copy a screenshot, frame it, and save it into a Files folder in two seconds.
Frame ClipboardFrame an image from the clipboard and save it into a specific folder of Files or Finder. This shortcut is based on the Apple Frames API and requires Apple Frames 3.1 or above.
Get the shortcut here.
How about getting all images from a folder, framing them, and deciding what to do with them at the end? Not a problem: with the Apple Frames API, you can omit an output command and just tell Apple Frames to work with a folder as an input command, like so:
Take all images from a folder, frame them, and present a list of actions.
Frame FolderFrame all images from a specific folder in Files or Finder. This shortcut is based on the Apple Frames API and requires Apple Frames 3.1 or above.
Get the shortcut here.
Let me get a bit fancier now. Let’s say you want to frame a specific number of recent screenshots, save them in a predefined folder, and override Apple Frames’ merging behavior so that you get a bunch of standalone framed images instead of a single composite one. By chaining together multiple commands, the Frame Number helper shortcut does it: it’ll ask you for a number, get those screenshots, frame them individually, and save them.
Given a number of recent screenshots, frame them individually, and save them into a folder in Files.
Frame NumberGet a specific number of screenshots, frame them as individual images, and save them in a specific folder of Files and Finder. This shortcut is based on the Apple Frames API and requires Apple Frames 3.1 or above.
Get the shortcut here.
The next one is a request I’ve heard multiple times: you have a folder full of screenshots and want to frame them all at once, saving the results to another folder as individual images. With the Frame Folder helper shortcut, you can fetch screenshots from a specific location in Files/Finder, frame them, and save them as standalone, framed images in a different location.
Take a folder full of images, frame each individually, then save the results to another folder.
Frame Folder and Save As Individual ImagesGet all images from a specific folder, frame them as individual images, and save them in another folder of Files and Finder. This shortcut is based on the Apple Frames API and requires Apple Frames 3.1 or above.
Get the shortcut here.
Lastly, let’s say you want to use Apple Frames on macOS and put together a helper shortcut that instantly captures what you’re looking at, frames it, then puts the framed image in your system clipboard. With Frame Capture and Copy, you can do just that. Assign a keyboard shortcut to this helper utility, and you’ll be able to instantly frame whatever you’re looking at on your Mac with a single keystroke.
Capture what’s onscreen, frame it, and copy it immediately to the clipboard.
Frame Capture and CopyCapture what’s onscreen, frame it, and copy it to rhe clipboard. This shortcut is based on the Apple Frames API and requires Apple Frames 3.1 or above.
Get the shortcut here.
By creating helper shortcuts based on the ‘Text’ and ‘Run Shortcuts’ actions, you now have the power to fully automate Apple Frames regardless of whether you’re using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Download Apple Frames 3.1A custom menu I created for Apple Frames 3.1.
I’m incredibly excited about the Apple Frames API as a tool to help people save even more time with Apple Frames. You don’t have to use this advanced feature; if you don’t need it, just go ahead and install Apple Frames 3.1 below, and keep using it like you’ve always done. You can entirely ignore what I just described and just enjoy support for more devices and bug fixes.
If you seek more power and flexibility in Apple Frames, however, the barebones API I created will let you control the input and output behavior of the shortcut. My hope is that these new options will help you fit Apple Frames into different and more elaborate workflows, allowing you to generate and share better-looking screenshots with fewer interactions than before.
I had fun creating this new flavor Apple Frames, and I hope you’ll find it as useful as I do. You can download Apple Frames 3.1, with full support for the new Apple Frames API, below.
Apple FramesAdd device frames to screenshots for iPhones (11, 8/SE, and 12-13-14 generations in mini/standard/Plus/Pro Max sizes), iPad Pro (11” and 12.9”, 2018-2022 models), iPad Air (10.9”, 2020-2022 models), iPad mini (2021 model), Apple Watch S4/5/6/7/8/Ultra, iMac (24” model, 2021), MacBook Air (2020-2022 models), and MacBook Pro (2021 models). The shortcut supports portrait and landscape orientations, but does not support Display Zoom; on iPadOS and macOS, the shortcut supports Default and More Space resolutions. If multiple screenshots are passed as input, they will be combined in a single image. The shortcut can be run in the Shortcuts app, as a Home Screen widget, as a Finder Quick Action, or via the share sheet. The shortcut also supports an API for automating input images and framed results.
Get the shortcut here.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings:
MacStories Weekly: Issue 357* Federico takes a lighter approach to Focus Modes and his Apple Watch Ultra * I share my iPhone Home Screen for the first time in years * Plus: + App Debuts + Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord + Interesting links from around the web + A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts + and more
Club MacStories+ AV Club Town Hall* This month’s AV Club Town Hall in the Club MacStories+ Discord community featured the movie Glass Onion, directed by Rian Johnson. * Club MacStories+ and Club Premier members can listen to the event in the Town Hall podcast feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Here’s an uncomfortable fact: at most companies, employees can download sensitive company data onto any device, keep it there forever, and never even know that they’re doing something wrong.
Kolide’s new report, The State of Sensitive Data, shines a light on an area of security that is often ignored, but is nevertheless a massive hole in many companies’ Zero Trust fortress.
These findings are particularly alarming given the overall state of device security. IT teams routinely struggle to enforce timely OS updates and patch management, meaning that end users are storing your most sensitive data–things like customer records, confidential IP, and plain-text access credentials–on devices that are vulnerable to attack.
This problem has gone unaddressed because until now there hasn’t been a good solution for it. MDM solutions are too blunt an instrument for dealing with sensitive data, and DLP tools are too extreme and invasive for most companies. After all, you’re not trying to ban downloads together, nor regard every download as suspicious. You’re just trying to make sure employees aren’t keeping data for longer than they need or keeping it on an unmanaged or unsecure device.
Kolide offers a more nuanced approach to setting and enforcing sensitive data policies.
Our premise is simple: if an employee’s device is out of compliance, it can’t access your apps.
Kolide lets admins run queries to detect sensitive data, flag devices that have violated policies, and enforce OS and browser updates so vulnerable devices aren’t accessing data.
Our unique approach makes device compliance part of the authentication process. If a device isn’t compliant, users can’t log in to their cloud apps until they’ve fixed the problem. But instead of creating more work for IT, Kolide provides instructions so users can get unblocked on their own.
To learn more and see our product in action, visit kolide.com.
Our thanks to Kolide for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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21:39 Sponsored By SaneBox – Clean up your inbox today and keep it that way forever with SaneBox
John loves the horror/sci-fi movie Nope from Jordan Peele, and Federico discovers the joys of videogame streaming service GeForce NOW paired with the Razer Kishi iPhone controller.
John’s Pick:
- Nope, directed by Jordan Peele
- Steaming on Peacock
- Trailer
Federico’s Pick:
- GeForce NOW Ultimate
- John’s related story: The Best Mac Gaming Experience Is a PC Sitting in a Dallas Data Center
- Razer Kishi v2 iPhone controller
- John’s related story: iPhone Gaming with the Razer Kishi V2 and Backbone One
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Gentler Streak, the fitness app for the Apple Watch and iPhone that takes a holistic approach to training and recovery, has been updated to version 3.0 to incorporate additional health metrics, so users can get a broader picture of their overall wellbeing. I’ve had less than a day to test-drive the new features, but what I’ve seen so far looks promising.
Gentler Streak uses trend analysis to help guide your workouts. Your daily and 10-day activity trends are plotted within a band of intensity to help guide whether you should work harder or rest. The app also tracks individual workouts, your activity over time compared to previous periods, and includes insights and tips for maintaining a healthy life.
Gentler Streak tracks seven statistics drawn from Apple’s Health app.
With today’s update, Gentler Streak is adding a new tab to the iPhone that tracks seven health metrics: sleeping heart rate or resting heart rate when SHR is unavailable, sleep duration, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and wrist temperature. The app then uses that data to help guide your workout plans. For example, I didn’t get as much sleep as usual last night, so Gentler Streak suggested I take a break from working out today.
Each statistic in the Wellbeing tab is presented as a card-like widget that includes the current data, a 10-day trendline, and an indicator of whether the measurement is within normal ranges. Tapping on a card expands it for a bigger view that offers more information about what’s being measured and your results.
I’ve been using Gentler Streak for about a month and have found that its approach has kept me more motivated than closing my Fitness app Activity rings has. I still track those, too, but Gentler Streak is where I go to ensure I’m on track with my fitness goals while remembering to give myself a break now and then. It’s too soon to say what the Wellbeing tab will mean to my overall experience with the app, but I like what I’ve seen so far and plan to write more about Gentler Streak soon.
Gentler Streak is free to download from the App Store but requires a subscription to unlock some features.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Angry Birds was a defining game of the first decade of the App Store, so fans and game preservationists applauded Rovio in 2021 when it announced that it was rebuilding the 2012 version of the game and relaunching it on the App Store and Android as Angry Birds Classic.
The game was relaunched last spring, after a three-year absence from the App Store with an emphasis on the game preservation angle:
“While we were rebuilding Angry Birds, we took great care to preserve the feeling of the original Angry Birds game,” says executive producer, Sami Ronkainen. “We know our fans are a discerning bunch and will be able to pick out even small differences. Matching the gameplay, and appearance of the game next to the original was crucial.”
Now less than a year later, it’s hard to read that as anything more than empty marketing copy in light of Rovio’s tweeted announcement yesterday in which it said:
We have reviewed the business case of Rovio Classics: Angry Birds, and due to the game’s impact on our wider games portfolio, we have decided that Rovio Classics: Angry Birds will be unlisted from the Google Play Store on Thursday, February 23. Additionally, the game will be renamed to Red’s First Flight in the App Store pending further review. Rovio Classics: Angry Birds will remain playable on devices on which the game has been downloaded, even after it has been unlisted.
We understand that this is sad news for many fans, as well as the team that has worked hard to make Rovio Classics: Angry Birds a reality. We are extremely grateful to the Angry Birds fans who have shown their love of the brand and this game from the beginning. We hope those fans can continue to bring that passion to our live Angry Birds slingshot games such as Angry Birds 2, Angry Birds Friends, and Angry Birds Journey, where our goal every day is to craft the best possible experience for players.
It’s not clear what Rovio means by Angry Birds Classic’s impact on its other platforms. If I had to guess, though, I’d bet that the $0.99 price of Classic was cannibalizing sales of more recent versions built around In-App Purchases. But why not pull the iOS version completely instead of changing its name? By removing ‘Angry Birds’ from the name of the game, it will be harder to find on the App Store but remains available, which may have been deemed necessary politically given Rovio’s involvement with Apple Arcade. Speculation aside, though, it’s a shame to see a culturally important mobile game pulled from one platform and hidden on the other.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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I’ve seen the future of Mac gaming, and it’s not Metal 3 or Apple silicon. It’s a PC sitting in a Dallas data center with an NVIDIA 4080 GPU. That’s the data center my Mac connects to when I log into GeForce NOW Ultimate, the top tier of NVIDIA’s videogame streaming service. NVIDIA has data centers like it across the US and in Europe, streaming the latest, most demanding titles to a wide range of devices, including the Mac.
GeForce NOW is a technological marvel that turns traditional computing expectations on their head, offering Mac users a world where your Internet connection and display are more important than the computing power of the device on which a game is played. For Mac users, GeForce NOW is an opportunity to finally play the most advanced games available on the computer they love, which is exciting. However, for Apple, which has begun to market Macs as capable of playing modern games, GeForce NOW and services like it may end its AAA gaming ambitions before they leave the gate.
The State of Gaming on the MacLast week, Apple held an invitation-only press event to show off games coming to its platforms. Based on reports, the event featured a mix of five titles that, with the exception of one previously-released title, are expected to be released later this year.
Of those, the game that caught my eye was The Medium, a PC and console game that’s coming to Apple silicon Macs later this year, taking advantage of the latest Metal frameworks. What struck me about The Medium is its similarity to another 2021 title that Apple has showcased several times since last summer: Resident Evil Village.
At WWDC last year, Apple dedicated a section of its keynote presentation to gaming on the Mac. The message delivered was clear. The power of Apple silicon and Apple’s new Metal 3 framework, plus the popularity of the Mac and other devices, is an opportunity for developers. To emphasize the point, the company announced that three games would be coming to the Mac by the end of 2022:
- No Man’s Sky
- Resident Evil: Village
- GRID Legends
Resident Evil Village was announced during WWDC 2022.
I was initially excited by the news at WWDC. The Mac has been a part of Apple’s Arcade service since the start, but the games announced at WWDC were traditional AAA console and PC titles, a rarity on the Mac. It felt as though Apple silicon might open the Mac to the high end of the videogame market.
Apple has a firm foothold in mobile gaming and family-friendly Mac and Apple TV titles, but AAA games are almost nonexistent.
However, in the months since, my enthusiasm for Apple’s rekindled interest in Mac gaming has waned a bit. Of the three games announced at WWDC, only Resident Evil: Village debuted before the end of the year. No Man’s Sky and GRID Legends are now expected in 2023, and neither has a specific release date.
No Man’s Sky was originally set to release in 2022.
But my skepticism has been fueled by more than a couple of delayed games. There’s still a lot that needs to fall into place before the Mac is a meaningful alternative to a gaming PC.
First, there’s the cost factor. Digital Foundry ran a series of tests comparing a fully-loaded $8,000 Mac Studio with an M1 Mac Ultra SoC to a desktop PC with an RTX 3090 GPU. Although they came away impressed by the M1 Ultra’s performance, Digital Foundry concluded:
For PC users, however, I don’t think this particular Apple system should be particularly tempting. While CPU performance is in line with the best from Intel and AMD, GPU performance is somewhat less compelling.
The other issue Digital Foundry had was finding modern games available on both the Mac and PC to compare. Since then, Resident Evil Village has been released on the Mac, but that’s it, as far as I can tell. Even if Apple’s latest GPUs were more compelling, the anemic library of games would still be a problem.
Digital Foundry’s findings are echoed in Monica Chin’s January review of the M2 MacBook Pro for The Verge:
I think — put the pitchforks away, I know these are totally different things and there are all sorts of problems with this comparison — that the simplest way to think of the MacBook Pro with M2 Max is as the addition of an RTX 3070 GPU. It’s not quite providing the frame rates that we’ve seen from the biggest RTX 3070 computers out there (MSI’s GS76 gave us 114fps, for example) but it’s not too far off, and it’s well above what we’d expect to see from an RTX 3060 gaming machine. The M2 Pro Mac Mini, which only put up 62fps on Tomb Raider, is closer to RTX 3050 territory.
At $4,300, that MacBook Pro Chin reviewed is nearly double the price of the MSI GS76 that it nearly beat.
Apple silicon is a new beast that, along with Metal 3, requires game developers to do more work to bring their games to the Mac.
Another issue is Apple’s chip architecture and graphics frameworks. In an interview with TechCrunch, Apple’s vice president of Platform Architecture and Hardware Technologies Tom Millet said:
Game developers have never seen 96 gigabytes of graphics memory available to them now, on the M2 Max. I think they’re trying to get their heads around it, because the possibilities are unusual. They’re used to working in much smaller footprints of video memory. So I think that’s another place where we’re going to have an interesting opportunity to inspire developers to go beyond what they’ve been able to do before.
I have no doubt that there are interesting things game developers could do with a big pool of unified memory, but it’s also part of the problem. Apple silicon’s unique architecture requires developers to get on board with a brand new development approach.
The M2 Max MacBook Pros have potential as gaming laptops if developers adapt their games for the system.
Moreover, the 96 GB of memory Millet described is part of the M2 Max SoC found in the latest MacBook Pro. That’s a powerful system, but certainly not the Mac most users buy today. It’s going to be a while before that sort of power trickles down to the MacBook Air and iMac. In the meantime, the hardware demands of modern games will continue to march ahead.
So, if you’re a Mac user and want to play the latest PC games today, what do you do? The obvious answer is ‘buy a Windows PC.’ That’s a perfectly valid solution and one I’ve considered many times myself. However, what’s stopped me from getting a PC and kept me looking for another solution is that I really don’t have a place for or the energy to add a computer dedicated to gaming to my life. Maybe that will change in the future, but it’s a bridge I haven’t been willing to cross yet.
NVIDIA GeForce NOWGeForce NOW’s Mac app.
That’s what led me to GeForce NOW, NVIDIA’s game streaming service. I’ve streamed games locally on my WiFi network, over the Internet using Xbox Cloud Gaming, and have followed NVIDIA’s service for a while, but what tipped the balance was Valve’s Steam Deck.
I got a Steam Deck last fall and, over the past several months, have begun building a library of modern games. I love that the Steam Deck makes games that you’d normally have to play in front of a computer or TV available on a handheld device. However, the Steam Deck also left me wishing I could play the games in my library on whatever screen I had available. With GeForce NOW Ultimate, my wish has become a reality.
The Steam Deck is what pushed me toward GeForce NOW intially. Source: Valve.
GeForce NOW is a little different from other videogame streaming services you may have tried. First, it doesn’t have a built-in store. GeForce NOW is just a streaming service that works with other third-party online stores, including Steam, Epic Games, Ubisoft, and Gog.com. Not every game in those stores is available via GeForce NOW, but new games are added every week. The current roster of games exceeds 1,500 titles, and just yesterday, the company announced a 10-year partnership with Microsoft to bring Xbox PC games to GeForce NOW. The service offers a free tier that’s limited to one-hour gaming sessions, a Priority Tier that ups the session limit to six hours at 1080p and 60fps for $9.99/month, and Ultimate with eight-hour sessions, 4K resolution, and 120fps for $19.99/month.
Just as my Steam library had begun to grow, and I started to feel confined by the Steam Deck, NVIDIA announced at CES that it was rolling out its 4080 GPU to the servers in its data centers that power the Ultimate tier of its service:
With GeForce RTX 4080 performance, Ultimate members will be the first to experience true PC gaming — streaming at up to 240 frames per second from the cloud with full ray tracing and DLSS 3, in hit games like Portal With RTX. With the addition of NVIDIA Reflex, GeForce NOW achieves click-to-pixel latency below 40 milliseconds — another first in cloud gaming.
The final piece fell into place earlier this month when I saw that AT&T was offering six months of GeForce NOW Ultimate for free to its unlimited 5G mobile customers, which includes me. I jumped on the deal and began playing my library of games on every screen I have.
GeForce NOW works with Safari for iPhone and iPad, Macs, Android devices, Windows PCs, Chrome OS, Shield, Android TV, and some smart TVs. What makes that wide range of compatible devices possible is the fact that the speed of their CPUs and GPUs isn’t that important. The computing is handled in NVIDIA’s data centers. Instead, your GeForce NOW experience is dictated first and foremost by the quality of the screen you use and your Internet connection. That takes some getting used to because it turns so many long-held expectations on their head.
For example, I went into testing GeForce NOW, expecting that my Mac Studio would outperform my M1 MacBook Air. However, the differences were negligible when both were connected to the Internet with an Ethernet cable. Instead of chip speeds and memory constraints, the limitations on streaming to my Mac have been wired versus WiFi and things like display refresh rates and whether they support standards like HDR. Other devices have different limitations, too, but the flexibility to use either of my Macs interchangeably has been a nice plus that I didn’t consider initially. For a complete list of system requirements and supported resolutions, be sure to check out NVIDIA’s website.
As nice as game streaming’s hardware independence is, though, it comes with one big downside. You need a fast, reliable Internet connection above all else, which can be expensive or completely unavailable depending where you live. NVIDIA has done impressive work with compression to reduce the bandwidth needs of GeForce NOW, but the top combination of resolution and frame rate requires at least a 45 Mbps connection, which is not an option for everyone.
As between my two Macs, by far, my favorite way to stream has been on the Mac Studio because it’s got a dedicated 2 Gbps wired Internet connection and is connected to the Studio Display, which is the best display I own. The Studio Display is limited to a 60 Hz refresh rate and doesn’t support HDR, but even though GeForce NOW supports higher refresh rates and HDR, games look gorgeous on the Studio Display. And thanks to the RTX 4080 running in NVIDIA’s data center, I can run games like Cyberpunk 2077 at the highest graphics settings and still play at 60 fps.
Cyberpunk 2077 running on my Mac Studio.
Cyberpunk 2077 is a good game to showcase what GeForce NOW can do because it’s a relatively recent, demanding title that supports ray tracing. With the graphics and video settings set to the highest levels possible, you can see from the stats in the screenshots that the game runs consistently at 60 fps, the limit of the Studio Display, even though it was running around 90 fps in the data center. A higher local refresh rate would be nice, but the level of detail and vibrancy of the colors are nonetheless a treat compared to playing handheld on the Steam Deck.
Set to Ray Tracing Ultra, Cyberpunk’s neon skyline looks amazing on the Studio Display.
The other game I’ve been playing for these tests is Shadow of the Tomb Raider. The game is nearly five years old at this point, but it still looks great and happens to be one of the few PC games available on both the Mac App Store and Steam. Before Resident Evil Village, Shadow of the Tomb Raider was the game that Apple regularly demoed to show off the Mac’s gaming graphics.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider running via GeForce NOW.
I started by turning up the settings as far as I could on Shadow of the Tomb Raider. As with Cyberpunk, the limiter was my screen, not the game. Using GeForce NOW Ultimate, Shadow of the Tomb Raider ran consistently at 60 fps locally and much higher in NVIDIA’s data center.
The Mac App Store version of Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
In contrast, the Mac App Store version of Shadow of the Tomb Raider struggled to maintain 50 fps in some scenes. The game hasn’t been optimized for Apple silicon, which means it’s running in Rosetta 2, so the comparison to the Steam version of the game isn’t apples to apples. Still, I think it’s a fair comparison given that I don’t believe any AAA titles are currently available on the Mac and optimized for Apple silicon other than Resident Evil Village.
Cyberpunk 2077 synced with my office lights using the Hue Sync app.
I’ve spent the lion’s share of my time streaming games via GeForce NOW to my Mac Studio because the Studio Display is my best screen. Plus with Hue Sync, I can sync my office lights to with whatever game I’m playing. In my limited time streaming to my MacBook Air, though, the experience with GeForce NOW has been comparable to my desktop Mac. Even though the laptop has a slower Ethernet port, Cyberpunk 2077 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider held up well. Both were solid when I switched to WiFi too.
It’s worth noting, though, that WiFi can be tricky with GeForce NOW. I’ve got Linksys Atlas WiFi 6E routers in my house, but I’ve found that having a consistent signal is just as important as speed. My original WiFi setup wasn’t ideal. The WiFi worked fine for every other task I threw at it, but I occasionally saw significant frame rate drops when I first tried GeForce NOW on a WiFi connection. I tweaked the location of my routers, which eliminated the dips in wireless speeds, fixing the problem.
Browsing GeForce NOW-compatible games in its Mac app.
As for other devices, I don’t plan to play much using my iPhone, at least when I’m home and have my Steam Deck nearby. Still, it’s nice to have the option since the iPhone is a significantly smaller package to take with you than a Steam Deck. The iPad Pro is a great option too. With its 12.9-inch display and high-capacity battery, it’s been an excellent way to play games in a wide variety of places around our house.
GeForce NOW works well streamed to an iPad, but the resolution is capped because Apple restricts game streaming to Safari.
The biggest downside to using GeForce NOW with an iPhone or iPad is that you’re capped at 1080p resolution. As with Xbox Game Pass, GeForce NOW has to run as a web app using Safari, and as I understand it, the resolution cap is a limitation of the browser. It’s also a limitation that’s entirely of Apple’s own making.
In 2020, while Microsoft was testing its Xbox Cloud Gaming service, Apple made it clear that game streaming services weren’t welcome in the App Store. In a statement to Business Insider an Apple spokesperson said:
The App Store was created to be a safe and trusted place for customers to discover and download apps, and a great business opportunity for all developers. Before they go on our store, all apps are reviewed against the same set of guidelines that are intended to protect customers and provide a fair and level playing field to developers.
Our customers enjoy great apps and games from millions of developers, and gaming services can absolutely launch on the App Store as long as they follow the same set of guidelines applicable to all developers, including submitting games individually for review, and appearing in charts and search. In addition to the App Store, developers can choose to reach all iPhone and iPad users over the web through Safari and other browsers on the App Store.
That’s why if you want to stream a game from Xbox Cloud Gaming or GeForce NOW, you have to do so through a browser, which works, but would be a better experience if Microsoft and NVIDIA could offer a native app, which NVIDIA does on the Mac, where there aren’t the same sort of restricitons.
Cyberpunk 2077 streaming to an iPhone in 1080p.
About the only silver lining here is that on smaller screens like the iPhone, the lower resolution is less noticeable, and games stream better over a slower mobile network connection. However, that doesn’t excuse forcing an inferior experience on users. The restrictions on game streaming have attracted the attention of the UK’s Competition and Markets Authorities and others. It’s unclear whether regulartory pressure will result in changes, but Mark Gurman has reported for Bloomberg that Apple is preparing to permit third-party app stores and app side-loading, which would be boon to game streaming.
Loading a GeForce NOW game on the Mac.
The only other device I’ve used to play games with GeForce NOW is directly on my TV. There’s a GeForce NOW app for recent LG and Samsung TVs. LG TVs like mine are limited to 1080p, but Samsung TVs support 4K. I don’t expect I’ll play many games this way. Running apps from LG’s webOS is clunky, requiring a trip through the settings to pair a controller and then poking around the GeForce NOW app using LG’s remote control. There’s just enough friction there that if I’m sitting down in front of my TV to play a game, I’ll reach for an Xbox for PS5 controller instead.
After a few weeks with GeForce NOW, I love this service. At $20/month, the Ultimate tier isn’t cheap, but the math is a lot easier to swallow when the alternative is buying a dedicated gaming PC for $3,000-4,000.
GeForce NOW’s current data centers with RTX 4080 GPUs. Source: NVIDIA.
Playing on a PC in your home still has its advantages over streaming, but the fact that a game like Cyberpunk is even playable over a streaming connection is remarkable. NVIDIA is in the midst of working on East Coast data centers that aren’t that far from where I live, which I’m sure will become my default connection. However, the fact that I can connect to a server in Dallas, Texas, 1,000 miles away, and my most demanding games are playable is astounding.
Apple silicon is a marvel in its own right. Most of my day is spent working on my Mac Studio, which barely breaks a sweat, no matter what I throw at it. It sits quietly on my desk, sipping electricity and throwing off barely any heat. That’s a far cry better than my fully-spec’d Intel-baed 2018 Mac mini, which now sits in a closet as a server making noise and warming the closet, so that it’s often the warmest spot in our house.
Resident Evil Village is a good start, but the Mac has a long way to go before it’s on par with PCs and consoles.
There’s no doubt that Apple silicon has ushered in a new era of computing on the Mac. Still, PC gaming remains an open question that one Metal 3-optimized game can’t answer. The hardware appears headed in the right direction, but by now, there were supposed to be at least two other games available. That’s not a good sign, and it makes me wonder how things will go with The Medium, a notoriously resource-hungry game that PCs with the RTX 3090 GPU couldn’t run at 1080p and 60 fps when it debuted in 2021.
The Mac may get there, but top tier titles are already available thanks to streaming.
Even though my optimism for gaming on the Mac has been supplanted by skepticism, I hope Apple will get there. It shouldn’t be necessary to buy a second computer or consider alternative solutions to enjoy the most technically demanding games. From my time with Resident Evil Village, the hardware has the potential, and the macOS frameworks are getting there. A critical mass of AAA games could drive demand for Apple’s top-end Macs, too, but that will require developer adoption, which, so far, has been thin.
Ultimately, though, whether all the pieces fall into place for the Mac to become the sort of gaming platform that Apple seems to want it to be may be beside the point. Real-time videogame streaming is here, it’s expanding, and 4K, high frame rate, ray-traced games are available today on the Mac and every other screen you have with GeForce NOW Ultimate. By the time locally playable, native Mac games catch up to where GeForce NOW is today, Mac gamers may have already moved on, embracing the world of streaming.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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This week on AppStories, we conclude our mini-series on artificial intelligence with a conversation about the apps we’ve used that include AI features.
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On AppStories+, Federico shares his KNX home automation setup.
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→ Source: appstories.net
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings:
MacStories Weekly: Issue 356A Twitter advanced search converted to an RSS feed.
- Apps to make controlling HomeKit devices easier
- A Sofa giveaway
- Using Twitter advanced search with Inoreader to create RSS feeds of specific users
- A shortcut for adding temperature sensor data to your Mac’s menu bar
- A brand-new episode of our Club podcast, MacStories Unplugged featuring HomeKit, the PSVR 2, HDMI upscalers, and more.
- Plus:
- App Debuts
- Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord
- Interesting links from around the web
- A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts
- and more
Up NextTomorrow at 11:30 am Eastern US time, we’ll be hosting a live audio Town Hall in the Club MacStories+ Discord community to discuss the movie, Glass Onion. If you can’t join us live, you can catch up later with the podcast version of the event.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
SaneBox is the all-in-one solution to email overload, so you can spend less time managing email and more time on what matters. It works with any email client or service, and any device - literally anywhere you check your email. Oh, and there’s nothing to download or install. It just works.
SaneBox is like having a personal email assistant that automatically organizes your inbox, so you don’t have to, saving valuable time. SaneBox works in the background, so your most important messages always reach your inbox. The rest of your messages are carefully organized into designated folders like SaneLater and SaneNews for later. You can snooze emails, too, setting them aside to deal with when you have the time.
Better yet, if there’s something you never want to see again, drag in into the SaneBlackHole folder. It’s far easier than the hit or miss process of unsubscribing from email lists.
SaneBox has a built-in reminders system too. SaneReminders are a terrific way to stay on task. Send yourself a reminder to do something later, or get a reminder when someone hasn’t responded to one of your messages. SaneReminders is perfect for making sure that nothing falls through the cracks.
Also, because SaneBox works with your existing email setup, there’s no app to download or new email account to set up. You can use any email service and client you want.
Sign up today and save $25 on any subscription. You’ll see big benefits immediately as the message count in your inbox drops, and you’ll be able to maintain control going forward with SaneBox’s help.
Our thanks to SaneBox for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
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This week, Federico’s dream comes true with the release of Metroid Prime Remastered, and John has fallen hard for Shrinking, an Apple TV+ comedy from the makers of Ted Lasso.
Links and Show NotesFederico’s Pick:
- Metroid Prime Remastered
- Trailer (2023)
- Original Metroid Prime trailer (2001)
- Triple Click Podcast, Triple Play: Metroid Prime Remastered
John’s Pick:
- Shrinking on Apple TV+
- Trailer
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Source: Apple.
Apple has released betas of iOS and iPadOS 16.4 with new features and its version of new emoji approved by the Unicode Consortium last summer.
Some of the biggest changes coming to iOS and iPadOS later this spring will be to Safari. Many of the biggest user-facing features relate to web apps. Apple has supported saving web apps to the iPhone and iPad’s Home Screen since the earliest days of those devices, but today’s announcements put web apps on a more even footing with native apps than before.
According to a post by Brady Eidson and Jen Simmons on WebKit.org:
- Safari will support Web Push with iOS and iPadOS 16.4, which will work like other notifications on the system. Once a user authorizes a web app to send notifications, they will be sent and managed just like notifications from native apps.
- Users will be able to associate notifications from web apps with Focus modes, too, allowing or filtering them out based on the options picked when setting up a Focus mode.
- Web app icons on your Home Screen will gain the ability to display badges.
- Third-party browsers will be able to add web apps to the Home Screen for the first time from the share sheet.
- Multiple web apps can be added to the Home Screen and renamed by users allowing them to be part of different Focus filters.
There are many other interesting additions and changes to the WebKit framework for developers that they can check out on the WebKit site.
Last summer, the Unicode Consortium announced its draft candidates for new emoji. The betas of iOS and iPadOS 16.4 include Apple’s renderings of those emoji, a handful of which are in the image at the beginning of this story. Included among the new emoji are a shaking face, three new colors of hearts, left and right pushing hands in multiple skin tones, a moose, a donkey, a blackbird, a goose, ginger, a hair pick, a flute, peas, and more.
Apple Podcasts includes changes in the betas too. Channels are Apple Podcasts’ collections of shows from a single publisher. In iOS and iPadOS 16.4, Channels will be included in the library, allowing users to access the ones they follow and subscribe to more easily. Up Next is adding the ability to resume episodes, start saved episodes, and remove any you want to skip. Plus, episodes you’re listening to in the app that you don’t follow or subscribe to will live in Up Next until you finish or remove them. Users will also be able to access their Up Next and Recently Played queues from CarPlay, which should add a lot more flexibility than before. For more detail on these changes, which are also coming to the Mac, check out Apple’s post on the Apple Podcasts for Creators website.
Wallet’s new package tracking widget.
There are a bunch of other smaller changes coming too:
- Messages is gaining Mastodon post previews.
- Focus modes will be able to turn the iPhone’s Always-On display on and off.
- Shortcuts will gain actions to turn Stage Manager and the Always-On display on and off.
- The ability to upgrade your HomeKit architecture has returned to the Home Settings of the Home app.
- Anyone with a paid developer account can install the iOS and iPadOS can now install the betas without first installing a developer profile on their iPhone or iPad.
- Wallet has gained a package tracking Home Screen widget.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Yesterday, Primate Labs released Geekbench 6, the suite of benchmarking tools for Apple and other vendors’ hardware. According to the company:
Geekbench tests have always been grounded in real-world use cases and use modern. With Geekbench 6, we’ve taken this to the next level by updating existing workloads and designing several new workloads, including workloads that:
- Blur backgrounds in video conferencing streams
- Filter and adjust images for social media sites
- Automatically remove unwanted objects from photos
- Detect and tag objects in photos using machine learning models
- Analyse, process, and convert text using scripting languages
In addition to updating benchmark workflows, Primate Labs says Geekbench includes modern file types and file sizes that reflect current computing tasks on Macs, iPhones, iPads, and other devices. The company also changed its multi-core benchmark to include tasks that span multiple cores to align the tests with how modern devices typically tackle a job.
My time with the new benchmark apps has been limited, but running them on my Mac and iPhone went smoothly. It’s worth noting that the apps are significantly larger, and it take longer than before due to the changes made to the underlying benchmark tests. However, it’s great to see Primate Labs working to make its tests reflect modern usage patterns and hardware.
Geekbench 6 for Mac is available as a direct download from Primate Labs. The iOS and iPadOS versions of the app are available on the App Store.
→ Source: geekbench.com
This week on AppStories, we begin a new series on the impact of artificial intelligence on apps and the world around us. This week’s episode sets the stage with a look at chatbots, image-generation tools, and issues and opportunities they raise.
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On AppStories+, we share our experiments with Whisper, OpenAI’s audio to text engine, and their very different approaches to it.
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→ Source: appstories.net
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings:
MacStories Weekly: Issue 355* I reviewed MassReplaceIt, a text replacement utility for Mac * Federico combines two Sonos Roam speakers, MusicHarbor, and Spotify, using Shortcuts and Soro * Plus: + App Debuts + Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord + Interesting links from around the web + A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts + and more
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Start a fully-featured free 15-day Backblaze trial with no credit card required today by going to Backblaze.com/macstories. Once you give it a try, you’ll see why so many users swear by Backblaze to protect their data.
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Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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16:12
This week on MacStories Unwind, John recommends Bullet Train, a Brad Pitt action movie, and Federico loves Hi-Fi Rush, an action, rhythm game for Xbox and PC.
Links and Show NotesJohn’s Pick:
- Bullet Train
- Trailer
Federico’s Pick:
- Hi-Fi Rush
- Thank You, Hi-Fi Rush, For Coming Out Of Nowhere
- Hi-Fi Rush: How the Films of Edgar Wright Inspired Tango Gameworks’ New Game
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Today, 1Password announced that it’s moving to a passkey-based system for unlocking its password manager app. Using a password manager like 1Password already means not having to remember passwords for every site and service you use because it locks your passwords behind a single, hard-to-guess password. With passkeys, that single password approach will become a thing of the past, allowing users to access their passwords through biometric-based passkeys generated locally on their devices.
1Password’s new passkey feature is coming this summer. The company explains how passkeys differ from the way the app works today:
Now, unlocking 1Password without a password is nothing new. It’s something we do every day using biometrics. 1Password was the first third-party iOS app to offer Touch ID, all the way back in 2014, and since then we’ve added support for Face ID, Windows Hello, Android Fingerprint, and more.
But as convenient as biometrics are today, they don’t actually replace the password; they only mask it. That’s why 1Password asks you to type in your password periodically in order to ensure that you have it memorized.
Passkeys also use biometrics, but they allow us to go farther and eliminate the underlying password entirely.
By replacing passwords with passkeys, 1Password will be able to preserve the benefits of biometrics while eliminating the need to ever use a password to access the app’s data, no matter what platform you use.
Passkeys are a big deal for security. The apps, sites, and services you use may not adopt passkeys for a while, but with 1Password doing so, the passwords you still need to use will be protected better than before. I know I’ll be switching to this system as soon as it’s available.
→ Source: blog.1password.com
This week on AppStories, we conclude our look at Mastodon apps with web and Mac clients, plus Mastodon utilities.
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On AppStories+, I have a complaint to lodge with Federico and explain why the second generation HomePod is so disappointing.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
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Last week, I wrote about the Sonos Move in MacStories Weekly. I love the Move’s portability and rich, warm sound, which make it perfect for use in multiple places around my house and outside. In fact, I’ve enjoyed the Move so much that I’d begun looking at Sonos soundbar and subwoofer options, anticipating that the original HomePods I use with my living room media setup would eventually need to be retired.
Then, Apple released the HomePod (2nd Generation), which iterates on the original version. I had hoped that Apple would make a soundbar of its own, so when all we got was a HomePod, I was disappointed. That pushed me further into the Sonos camp, but with my original HomePods going strong, my window shopping has been just that: window shopping.
However, after watching Stephen Roble’s latest video comparing the new HomePod to its predecessor and the Sonos Beam and Arc soundbars paired with subwoofers, my interest in soundbars has waned. Robles evaluates the HomePods from a bunch of different angles, from music and movies to smart home integration, making a compelling case for a pair of the new HomePods as the best value for someone who wants a multipurpose device.
When I think about it, that’s exactly my use case. My pair of original HomePods are the only speakers on the main floor of our house. I AirPlay podcasts and music to them, use them to control HomeKit devices, and for watching TV and playing games on my PS5 and Xbox.
I’m still disappointed Apple didn’t announce more than a new HomePod last month. I’d like to see the company explore new home-centric devices that address use cases beyond speakers. Still, for audio, it’s hard to argue against the HomePod.
→ Source: youtu.be
For the past eight years, Six Colors’ Jason Snell has put together an ‘Apple report card’ – a survey that aims to assess the current state of Apple “as seen through the eyes of writers, editors, developers, podcasters, and other people who spend an awful lot of time thinking about Apple”.
The 2022 version of the Six Colors Apple Report Card was published yesterday, and you can find an excellent summary of all the submitted comments along with charts featuring average scores for different categories here.
Once again, I’m happy Jason invited me to share some thoughts and comments on what Apple did in 2022. MacStories readers know that last year didn’t exactly go as planned. While iOS 16 delivered a meaningful update to the Lock Screen for people who care about customization and the iPhone 14 Pro came with substantial improvements to the display and camera tech, the iPad story was disappointing and confusing. This is reflected in my answers to Jason’s survey, and it’ll be a recurring topic on MacStories in 2023. At the same time, I was also impressed by Apple’s performance on services, concerned by the evolution of the Shortcuts app, and cautious about the company’s newfound approach to HomeKit.
I’ve prepared the full text of my answers to the Six Colors report card, which you can find below. I recommend reading the whole thing on Six Colors to get the broader context of all the participants in the survey.
MacHow would you rate Apple’s performance in the Mac in 2022? ⇾ 4/5
Comment on the MacIn 2022, I rediscovered the pleasure of working with macOS and having the freedom to install any app I want without judgement or limitations.
Ultimately, there are two reasons why I can’t fully embrace Macs and, in particular, MacBooks as my main computing devices: I like convertible computers (like iPads) too much, and Macs don’t have a touchscreen.
My question for 2023 and beyond is: can Macs become iPads sooner than iPads can become as capable as Macs? Rumors are unclear at this point, but it sounds like we’re entering a transitional phase that’s going to last a few years. For now, I can’t use a Mac full-time because I don’t want to be always be forced into the laptop form factor.
iPhoneHow would you rate Apple’s performance on the iPhone in 2022? ⇾ 5/5
Comment on the iPhoneAs part of my yearly theme for 2023, I’ve been playing around with Android lately, mostly to get familiar with the platform again and know what I’m talking about. I purchased a Google Pixel 7, used it for a couple of weeks, and returned it. The reason? This experiment confirmed to me that the iPhone still is my original love, that I like iOS too much compared to Android, and that the degree of focus and refinement Apple puts on the iPhone platform is vastly superior compared to the Mac and iPad (not a surprise, given how much money the iPhone makes them).
The iPhone is Apple’s crown jewel, and it showed in 2022. I love my iPhone 14 Pro Max and how the iOS 16 UI is optimized for it. The Dynamic Island is Apple at its best: instead of trying to hide an even larger sensor cutout, they outright embraced it, turning it into an innovative interface element that combines hardware and software to achieve the unique interplay of distinct components Apple is well known for. We’ve seen the examples of third-party developers getting creative with the Dynamic Island; personally, I mostly rely on it for timers, shortcuts, and music or podcast playback controls, and those use cases alone justify its existence for me. I hope Apple does even more with it in iOS 17.
The always-on display has been a success for me too, allowing me to more easily keep an eye on music playback and incoming notifications in a way that wasn’t possible before. I like to keep the Lock Screen dimmed without the wallpaper shown behind it when the screen is locked. When I’m working at my desk, being able to glance down at the time or see a Live Activity for Timery has also been a great help in my everyday work.
The one aspect of the iPhone experience I’m still not fully convinced by is photography. More specifically, how iOS processes the images captured by the iPhone’s camera. For the past few years, iPhone photos have had that particular iPhone “look” that often feels kind of boring and muted, and I’d like Apple to improve this aspect of the experience.
On balance, and especially after having tried Android again, it’s apparent to me that it doesn’t get any better than iOS and iPhone when it comes to Apple’s focus, design ethos, and innovation on mobile devices. This is where Apple never drops the ball.
iPadHow would you rate Apple’s performance on the iPad in 2022? ⇾ 1/5
Comment on the iPadSpeaking of dropping the ball: I’m sorry to say this, but that’s exactly what the company is doing with iPad and the iPadOS platform. Unless the company course-corrects its decisions with Stage Manager in the near future, shows they can still innovate in terms of hardware, and, more importantly, starts listening to the concerns of power users, I’m afraid even the most die-hard iPad users like myself will have to accept reality and consider other options.
My comments here are going to focus on the iPad Pro line. 2022 was supposed to be a huge year for pro iPad users, who expected Apple to finally show how the powerful M1 hardware of the 2021 iPad Pro could be put to good use. Instead, we got another half-baked narrative in both hardware and software that orbits a confusing lineup with a muddled collection of accessories and a variety of mixed signals.
On the hardware front, we saw yet another revision of the same iPad Pro hardware we’ve had since 2018: no second Thunderbolt port, no changes to Apple Pencil, no mini-LED display on the smaller iPad Pro, no front-facing camera on the landscape side, and, of course, no new screen sizes. The iPad Pro is a beautiful piece of hardware, and it’s an absolute joy to use as a tablet. But when I’m working with a keyboard on it, the lack of a landscape camera for Zoom calls or a second Thunderbolt port stings.
The biggest problem for the iPad in 2022 was its software story. I don’t think I need to get into the details of Stage Manager again or how Apple shipped an incoherent, confusing multitasking interface that gets in the way of getting work done more than facilitating it. I’ll say this: I think it’s great that I can now use my iPad Pro with an external display and have a separate set of app windows on it. The problem is everything else: in practical terms, aside from more concurrent windows onscreen, iPadOS 16 doesn’t let me get more things done on a daily basis compared to iPadOS 15. I can’t stop using macOS if I want to record my podcasts with Audio Hijack. There are still websites and web apps that don’t work well in Safari for iPad. Mail is not as advanced as its Mac counterpart. Due to the closed nature of the App Store for iPadOS, there are way too many utilities that can’t exist on iPadOS because Apple won’t allow them. And, of course, there’s the fact that iPadOS got a brand new multitasking system (yay!)…that doesn’t trust to know what I’m doing, constantly tries to re-arrange windows for me, and added yet another layer of UI to an already overcrowded iPadOS. Sigh.
I want to continue loving the iPad, but, at the end of the day, I also need to get my work done and I’m tired of having to rely on separate machines (an iPad Pro and Mac mini) to do all the things I need to do. At the moment, the iPad seems to be stuck in this limbo of “more than a tablet but not quite a desktop-class computer”, and I think it’s time for Apple to do some soul-searching and make up its mind. The device is called “iPad Pro”, but this gray area surely doesn’t help pro users at all.
Apple WatchHow would you rate Apple’s performance on the Apple Watch in 2022? ⇾ 4/5
WearablesHow would you rate Apple’s performance in Wearables overall in 2022? ⇾ 4/5
Comment on WearablesNot giving this category 5 stars only because I continue to think Apple should make a new version of the AirPods 2 for people who dislike the redesigned third-generation AirPods. Maybe that’s what the rumored AirPods Lite (AirPods SE?) are. Otherwise, the second-generation AirPods Pro are incredible and I have no complaints.
Apple TV (Hardware/OS)How would you rate Apple’s performance on Apple TV hardware and tvOS in 2022? ⇾ 3/5
Comment on Apple TVI continue to be somewhat mystified by the Apple TV as a physical product you can buy. Sure, they made the remote nicer in recent years and the tvOS UI exhibits all the best traits of Apple software (easy to use, smooth, consistent with other platforms), but at the same price point (if not lower), competition from Amazon and Google is matching (and, in some classes, going beyond) Apple’s offerings with features such as better integration with TV sets (Fire TV Cube) or a better remote (the Alexa Voice Remote Pro, which supports finding the remote via voice and has backlit keys at night). I think the Apple TV is overpriced for what it does, but, at the same time, the tvOS interface is nice and the Apple TV doubles as a HomeKit hub on my local network, which is a good enough reason to continue to use it and upgrade it over time. I just wish Apple was a little more creative with it; maybe I just need to wait a couple of years.
ServicesHow would you rate Apple’s performance in services in 2022? ⇾ 5/5
Comment on ServicesI’m very happy with Apple’s expansion as a services company in the past few years. In fact, I hope Apple does even more and continues to grow in this field. Offering native apps for their services on different platforms is key to attracting customers who may like Apple’s service offerings without actually using Apple hardware. The company has long offered native apps for Apple Music and Apple TV on Android and smart TVs, but as of this month, they’ve even rolled out native Windows clients for Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Devices (not to mention the previously announced iCloud integration for Windows). I applaud this decision as it shows an understanding (and acceptance) of the fact that people may like Apple’s content but, at the same time, prefer non-Apple hardware. I’d go even further and say that Apple should make a native Apple Music app for Amazon’s Fire TV devices (there isn’t one at the moment, which surprised me while setting up my Fire TV Stick). Looking ahead at the future, I’m very optimistic that Apple’s services division understands the importance of integration across different types of hardware, and I think we’ll continue to see similar announcements in 2023.
HomeKit/HomeHow would you rate Apple’s performance in HomeKit/home tech in 2022? ⇾ 3/5
Comment on HomeKit/HomeAs a new homeowner, HomeKit and, broadly speaking, home automation have been on my mind a lot over the past few months. And “by a lot”, I mean I’ve spent weeks researching every single accessory, bridge, and otherwise connected device I want to install in our new home.
After years of renting, we finally own a place and we want to do things right in terms of using the latest home automation standards while also future-proofing our apartment as much as possible. As it turns out, I couldn’t have picked a better time to buy a house: 2022 marked the official arrival of the Matter automation standard, which Apple (one of the companies behind it) embraced with a twofold approach: a redesigned Home app, and the rollout of a new home architecture to improve wireless communication between devices and accessories. Except a few things here didn’t quite go as planned, which is why I’m taking a wait-and-see stance here.
The mysterious “underlying architecture” for Home that was rolled out with iOS 16.2 recently has been already pulled by Apple as several users reported it bricked their HomeKit setups and caused all kinds of accessories to stop responding. It’s unclear what happened here: I’m one of those people who took a leap of faith and clicked the ‘Upgrade’ button and nothing happened, so consider me lucky, I guess? Still, it surely looks like Matter support for the HomeKit framework was going to need a little more time in the oven, and this whole situation isn’t ideal. I’m excited about Matter and its promise of interoperability between devices, and I’ve been trying to purchase new accessories from companies that have implemented Matter or have officially confirmed that they will work with Matter. But I would have expected Apple to have a smoother rollout on their side of things.
Then there’s the Home app, which received a substantial redesign in 2022 that made it easier to use, faster, more compact, and nicer to look at. I like it. I think Apple has done a good job slimming down the experience while making different accessories easier to recognize with new icons and key data points (such as security status or temperature) quicker to see at a glance. In my opinion, the best aspects of Home’s native integration with iOS remain Siri and Control Center: they’re both incredibly fast ways to control accessories and scenes with some visual feedback shown onscreen, which is not something I can say about Alexa (which we also use as we went with two Amazon Echos as a surround system for our TV).
What disappoints me about the Home app is that we still don’t have interactive Home Screen widgets for it. Clearly Apple has a private API for making interactive widgets that third-party developers still can’t access (as seen in the Shortcuts and Contacts widgets for the Home Screen), but if you want to have quick access to some of your accessories from the Home Screen, you’re stuck with some third-party options based on hacks and workarounds to “control” devices from the Home Screen. Perhaps Apple is waiting to release a brand new version of WidgetKit with support for inline interactions on the Home Screen before they revamp their widget offerings, but still, the absence of these control methods sticks out.
Overall Reliability of Apple’s HardwareHow would you rate the overall reliability of Apple’s hardware in 2022? ⇾ 4/5
Apple Software QualityHow would you rate the overall quality of Apple’s software, including operating systems, bundled apps, and sold apps, in 2022? ⇾ 2/5
Comment on Software QualityMost of my concerns about Apple’s software quality this year are about the poor, unfinished, confusing state they shipped Stage Manager in. I’m not going to rehash all that. Instead, I’d also point out that I was hoping to see more improvements on the Shortcuts front in 2022, and instead the app was barely touched last year. It received some new actions for built-in apps, but no deeper integration with the system. I continue to experience crashes and odd UI glitches when working on more complex shortcuts, and I’d like to see more polish and stability in the app.
Developer RelationsHow would you rate the overall relationship between Apple and its third-party developers this year? ⇾ 4/5
Social/Societal ImpactHow would you rate Apple overall in terms of social impact? Consider anything you deem appropriate, including education and green initiatives, commitment to accessibility, corporate diversity and treatment of the work force, and political/policy stances. ⇾ 3/5
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings:
MacStories Weekly: Issue 354The Sonos Move.
- Sequel, the media tracking app for iOS, joined our Club MacStories+ Beta Beat Discord channel
- I reviewed the Sonos Move, the sort of speaker that Apple should have made
- Federico shared the cross-platform apps and services he’s using for work
- Plus:
- A packed collection of App Debuts
- Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord
- Interesting links from around the web
- A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts
- and more
Monthly Log: January 2023* Federico explained how he’s been using Pocket Casts and SwiftKey Keyboard * I take a ‘no hype allowed’ look at artificial intelligence tools, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Whisper
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Interesting comparison of macOS and iPadOS interface elements by Matt Birchler:
I will say that there are certainly some macOS UI elements that could be tricky to use with touch, but I think they’re the exception, not the rule. Still, Apple will certainly make some UI changes to accommodate touch as an officially-supported input method on the platform.
And:
There’s a narrative out there that touch is just so incompatible with macOS and that in order to make it work, the macOS UI would have to get blown up to comical proportions, but I don’t think that’s the case. Changes will be made, but I think macOS is more touch-friendly today than many people give it credit for.
I don’t disagree, and count me among those who think Apple should consider bringing touch support to the Mac.
I’ve seen this argument regarding the concern of “blowing up” the macOS UI in recent years too, and I think it’s shortsighted. Look no further than the iPad Pro: in a single device, Apple was able to let touch, pointer, and now even hover interactions coexist. Even without display scaling, I don’t think iPadOS has a comically large interface, as some believe.
There is a lot of work to be done to achieve a similar kind of input balance on macOS (think of all the elements that haven’t been redesigned in recent years, like drag controls for windows; the list is long), but it is possible, and I hope Apple gets there in the near future.
→ Source: birchtree.me
When Apple released macOS Monterey in 2021, it introduced a new extension point for its Mail app. At the time I wrote my Monterey review, there were no Mail extensions on the Mac App Store. Over a year later, there is still only a handful. That’s why I was intrigued when Kriss Smolka of Funn Media contacted me about ReplyCube, the company’s first Mail extension.
Funn Media is best known for its health and fitness apps like WaterMinder, Calory, and FitnessView, but they’ve also made a Dynamic Island game called Hit The Island, and a note-taking app. With several apps on the App Store, the company gets a lot of customer support messages from users via email, which is why they built ReplyCube. Those are the sorts of inquiries that require responses with clear FAQs, how-tos, and illustrated instructions, and because the same kinds of issues come up repeatedly, having a way to reuse those carefully crafted responses saves time.
Setting up a project in ReplyCube.
ReplyCube does exactly that. It’s a standalone app for creating and organizing reusable messages that can be accessed from inside Apple Mail via the app’s extension. ReplyCube is a single-window app that’s divided into three panels. On the far left is a sidebar divided into categories. You can view ‘All’ of your snippets at once or by Projects that you add to the sidebar. The second column lists the snippets themselves, along with a short preview of their text. There’s also a copy button to add the snippet to your clipboard. The final panel is the editing panel, where you can compose formatted snippets with bold, italics, underlining, checkboxes, bullet lists, and indentation. You can also include images and attach files to your snippets.
Snippets you save can include images and files.
ReplyCube supports other ways to view and navigate and manage your snippets, too, including:
- Search
- Filtering by most recent, most copied, title, and project
- A three-dot menu button for copying, deleting, or moving a snippet.
Snippets can also be moved from one project to another or added to a Mail message using drag and drop.
The process of creating pre-built messages couldn’t be easier and more intuitive. In my testing, I ran into just one bug that crashed ReplyCube when I pasted a URL into its editor. Funn Media has already fixed the issue, which will be out as soon as App Review approves the update.
Enabling the ReplyCube Mail extension.
ReplyCube’s Mail extension icon can be found in the toolbar of a message’s compose window.
Once your reply snippets are set up in the main app, you’ll probably spend more time using ReplyCube’s Mail extension, which you can enable in the Extensions tab of Mail’s Settings. Once the extension is set up, ReplyCube’s icon will show up in the toolbar of Mail’s Compose window. Click it, and ReplyCube’s familiar UI appears in-line for picking a snippet to add to a message.
This is the first time since Monterey’s release that I’ve had a Mail extension installed. I don’t do a lot of support-style messaging, but for developers or anyone whose work involves sending out checklists, how-tos, FAQs, files, and other information repeatedly, ReplyCube is a great tool. There are other apps that save and manage text snippets on the Mac, but ReplyCube has the advantage of being baked into the structure of Mail itself because it’s an extension. Plus, the formatting of the responses you create in the app maps perfectly to Mail’s rich formatting, which isn’t always the case if you copy and paste something from somewhere else.
ReplyCube is free to download on the Mac App Store. A $1.49/month or $9.99/year subscription unlocks unlimited project creation and the app’s Mail extension.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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22:33
This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico recommends The Last of Us on HBO Max, and I suggest replaying 2022 remaster of The Last of Us Part I.
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The Last of UsFederico’s Pick:
- The Last of Us on HBO Max
- Trailer
John’s Pick:
- The Last of Us, Part I
- Trailer
- Behind the scenes videos
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The past quarter has not been kind to Apple. Today the company announced its first revenue drop since 2019 with total revenue of $117.2 billion, a 5% year-over-year drop. Going into today’s earnings call, the consensus of Wall Street analysts was that Apple would log $121.19 billion of revenue or $1.94/share.
Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, had this to say about the company’s earnings:
As we all continue to navigate a challenging environment, we are proud to have our best lineup of products and services ever, and as always, we remain focused on the long term and are leading with our values in everything we do. During the December quarter, we achieved a major milestone and are excited to report that we now have more than 2 billion active devices as part of our growing installed base.
The year-over-year decline was driven by multiple factors, including:
- Shortages of iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max caused by COVID lockdowns in China
- Soft consumer demand resulting from worldwide inflationary pressure
- Adverse effects caused by foreign currency exchange rates
Although Apple did not forecast results for Q1 2023 during its last earnings call, the company warned in November that production disruptions would impact shipments, so the declines today should not be a shock.
Despite Apple’s unusually poor showing today, it’s also important to put it in perspective. The entire technology sector has seen significant declines with Microsoft, Meta, Google, and Amazon all laying off thousands of workers. To date, Apple has avoided widespread layoffs and there were bright points in its earnings including the continued growth of its services, which icreaased to a record $20.8 billion.
With the entire tech industry experiencing substantial financial pressures, the question going forward is how quickly can Apple bounce back? Will the company be able to meet iPhone demand, and how will its rumored bet on a mixed reality headset play out? With turmoil in the markets at large and a major new product in the wings, Apple’s 2023 should be one of the more interesting years in a long time both for its investors and fans of its products.
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Raycast, the app launcher and command utility that was our MacStories Selects Best Mac app of 2022, introduced URL scheme support for its extensive collection of built-in and third-party commands. The app’s existing system of hotkey and alias triggers is still the best way to send a command to Raycast in most circumstances, but with deeplinks, Raycast has opened up new automation possibilities.
The structure of a Raycast deeplink is:
raycast://extensions/<author-or-owner>/<extension-name>/<command-name>
However, you don’t need to find each of those components yourself because Raycast has made it easy to copy deeplinks to commands inside Raycast itself. Just invoke Raycast, search for the command you want, and press ⌘K. One of the options in the menu will be Copy Deeplink, which also uses the keyboard shortcut ⌘⇧C.
You’ll be prompted by macOS to allow Raycast commands to be triggered with a deeplink.
To test a newly copied URL, paste it into Safari and hit Return to launch the command. The first time you use a deeplink, you’ll be prompted to allow it to trigger the command once or always.
What I love about Raycast’s URL scheme is that it can be used to fill in gaps in Shortcuts. With Ventura, Apple didn’t expand the system-level actions available in Shortcuts. There’s not even a Shortcuts action to toggle Stage Manager. However, with Raycast’s URL scheme, you can do just that, as well as toggle light and dark mode, sleep your Mac, and shut it down, none of which is possible with a Shortcuts action unless you resort to scripting.
CleanShot X doesn’t support Shortcuts, but with Raycast’s URL scheme, it does now.
Raycast’s URL scheme also adds actions for Mac apps that don’t support Shortcuts yet. With an extensive catalog of commands for popular Mac apps and services, that opens a lot of new options. For instance, I love CleanShot X, but it doesn’t support Shortcuts. However, it does have an excellent Raycast extension. That made it simple to create a shortcut that lets me select an area of an image and copy unselectable text from it using CleanShot X’s ‘Capture Text (OCR)’ command.
In my initial testing, not every deeplink works when opened from Shortcuts. I had hoped to create a shortcut to open a set of apps and place them on different parts of my screen using Raycast’s ‘Window Management’ commands, but the deeplink changes the focus from a newly-opened window to Raycast, making that impossible. Of course, there are other ways to accomplish the same thing, but they’re not as simple as opening a URL.
Still, I highly recommend thinking about Raycast the next time you’re working on a shortcut. It was already a great way to launch shortcuts, but now, it’s also one of the many third-party utilities that extends Shortcuts.
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I’ve been following with great interest this series of articles by John Gruber (and Matt Birchler’s related story) about the chasm between iOS and Android apps. I have some thoughts since expanding my app knowledge beyond iOS and iPadOS is one of my goals for 2023.
About a month ago, during my holiday break, I purchased a Google Pixel 7 as a way to re-familiarize myself with Android.1 To say that I found the ecosystem worse than I remembered would be an understatement. It’s not just about the fact that – as Gruber and Birchler noted – most Android apps suck compared to their iOS counterparts; it’s that the entire OS lacks cohesiveness.
Google has been focusing on visual customization and Google Assistant-based improvements over the past few years, which I think is a reasonable strategy. And, objectively speaking, I do appreciate the greater freedom Android grants power users who care about aspects such as split-screen multitasking, total control over default apps, or theming. But the whole experience feels fragmented, and as a result crude, when it comes to using your phone with apps in everyday life. The general baseline of quality for design and expected system features is simply higher on iOS.
This is why every year in my annual iOS reviews I make a big deal about the latest design changes and developer APIs coming to iOS: the rising tide of Apple’s developer and design tools raises all boats on the iOS platform. When you’re using an iPhone months later with the new OS on it, everything feels consistent at a base level and then developers and designers can infuse their craftsmanship in the apps they make. By lacking that baseline and the developer craftsmanship, using apps on Android feels like installing free apps from GitHub repos. Sometimes they get the job done, and at some point they will receive updates, and good for you if you just want to use that kind of software. But personally, those apps don’t make me happy I spent $1000 on a phone. Visually and functionally, they are subpar.
I have a feeling that most critics of Gruber’s latest story on art in software will focus on this part, which is, in fact, my favorite takeaway from the piece:
Art is the operative word. Either you know that software can be art, and often should be, or you think what I’m talking about here is akin to astrology. One thing I learned long ago is that people who prioritize design, UI, and UX in the software they prefer can empathize with and understand the choices made by people who prioritize other factors (e.g. raw feature count, or the ability to tinker with their software at the system level, or software being free-of-charge). But it doesn’t work the other way: most people who prioritize other things can’t fathom why anyone cares deeply about design/UI/UX because they don’t perceive it. Thus they chalk up iOS and native Mac-app enthusiasm to being hypnotized by marketing, Pied Piper style.
As part of my platform explorations lately (you may have noticed I recently wrote about Apple’s apps for Windows), I’ve been thinking about this a lot: where do you draw the line when it comes to the artistic value of a piece of software versus the practicality of having to use software because you need to get your job done?
If your job depends on it, can you use something that isn’t necessarily well-designed – that doesn’t ”make your heart sing” – but that makes you more efficient and, ultimately, pay the bills? In simpler terms: what happens if you prefer the Apple ecosystem for UI and UX but you’re feeling hamstrung by it at the same time?
This has, of course, been on my mind lately because of iPadOS 16. I fundamentally dislike Stage Manager, and every time I sit down at my desk with my beautiful Studio Display and elegant Magic Trackpad and Keyboard accessories, I feel conflicted about an operating system that looks great, feels nice – much, much nicer than Windows 11 – but doesn’t work the way I want.
This is where, I believe, the conversation around art applied to software gets murkier. Historically (and I’m going to oversimplify here, but bear with me – this is a blog), the debate surrounding the role of “art” in society has been largely split between those who only perceive the aesthetic value of an artistic creation and those who believe a piece of art should also contain social, political, and economical commentary to push our species forward. You can go to the Louvre and just enjoy the Mona Lisa for what it is, or you can listen to American Idiot and find meaning in the lyrics. You can play Call of Duty and just have a good time, or understand how Celeste isn’t just about climbing a mountain.
In bringing this back to software, it’s evident that – again, historically – Apple doesn’t believe in art as a veneer to make something “look good”. Art – whereby “art” we refer to the human care behind the design of software – is intrinsically tied to the technology that powers the computer. It’s the intersection of technology and liberal arts: skew toward one side more than the other, and you risk of losing the balance many of us like about Apple. Art in Apple’s software isn’t some secret ingredient that can just be added at the end of the process, like a spice: great design is the process itself. Case in point: the Dynamic Island.
There is no doubt in my mind that the essence of iPadOS – how menus appear, lists scroll, buttons are tapped, heck, even what a pointer should look like – has been designed with more taste, thought, and care than anything in Windows 11. There is no checklist that can quantify when an interface “feels” nice. The iPadOS UI, particularly in tablet mode, feels nicer than any other tablet I’ve tried to date.
The problem is that an iPad, at least for people like me, isn’t supposed to be a companion to work that happens somewhere else. It is the work. And ultimately, I think it’s fair to demand efficiency from a machine that is supposed to make you productive. I feel this every time Stage Manager doesn’t let me place windows where I want on an external display; every time I can’t place more than four windows in a workspace; every time I can’t record podcasts like I can on a Mac; every time a website doesn’t work quite right like it does on a desktop; I feel it, over a decade into the iPad’s existence, when developers like Rogue Amoeba or Raycast can’t bring their software to iPadOS.
We can’t talk about art in software in a vacuum. As a computer maker or app developer, you have to strike that balance between the aspirational and the practical, the artistic and the functional – the kind of balance that, by and large, Apple is achieving on the Mac. Unfortunately, when it comes to iPadOS, I feel like Apple has been prioritizing the artistic aspect over the functional, and it’s not clear when that will be rectified.
So, you see, I’m struggling with this. Over the past year I’ve realized that the computer for me is a convertible: a tablet that can transform. The more I explore other platforms, the more I believe that iPadOS looks and feels nicer, but it’s also getting in the way of me being able to get my work done. Maybe this has been true for a while and Stage Manager was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. You can’t separate art from the technology, but, at the end of the day, there’s also work to be done. Pragmatism kicks in. I’m conflicted, and I keep going back to this question:
What’s worse? Being begrudgingly productive or happily inefficient?
- The last time I used an Android phone, I believe it was a Nexus 5. ↩︎
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This week on AppStories, we cover the iPhone and iPad Mastodon apps we’ve been testing and share what we like and don’t about each.
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→ Source: AppStories, Episode 314 – Mastodon Clients for iOS and iPadOS
One of the things I immediately missed when I moved to Mastodon was the ability to schedule posts. This isn’t something I do a lot. However, with a busy editorial calendar at MacStories, I’ve used a variety of services over the years, including Buffer, to allow me to set up draft posts in advance when we’ve got a big story or episode of AppStories coming up. Losing that convenience wasn’t the end of the world, but it introduced friction I hadn’t had to deal with in years.
That’s why I’m glad to see Buffer has added Mastodon support to its web and iOS apps today. I’ve been testing Buffer’s beta for the past day, and the best part of the update is that there’s not much to say about it because it’s so easy to use. If you’ve used Buffer before, the process is similar to any other scheduled post you’d create: draft the post, add any media and hashtags you want, and then schedule it. If you want, you can also use Buffer to cross-post to other services.
Scheduling a Mastodon post with Buffer.
Managing posts for multiple accounts has always been the sort of thing that can disrupt my other work. It’s too easy for me to get distracted and wind up browsing my timeline after I post something from one of our company accounts. With Buffer’s new Mastodon integration, I’m looking forward to creating those posts as part of our production workflow and avoiding getting sucked into my timeline when I have more pressing tasks.
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In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings:
MacStories Weekly: Issue 353* Federico shares a shortcut that converts a multi-page PDF into a single JPEG * More Things shortcuts that take advantage of the app’s new shortcuts actions * An all-new episode of MacStories Unplugged with Federico’s latest app experiments and my days behind the mic as a radio DJ * Plus: + App Debuts + Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord + Interesting links from around the web + A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts + and more
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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SaneBox is the all-in-one solution to email overload, so you can spend less time managing email and more time on what matters. It works with any email client or service, and any device - literally anywhere you check your email. Oh, and there’s nothing to download or install. It just works.
SaneBox is like having a personal email assistant that automatically organizes your inbox, so you don’t have to, saving valuable time. SaneBox works in the background, so your most important messages always reach your inbox. The rest of your messages are carefully organized into designated folders like SaneLater and SaneNews for later. You can snooze emails, too, setting them aside to deal with when you have the time.
Better yet, if there’s something you never want to see again, drag in into the SaneBlackHole folder. It’s far easier than the hit or miss process of unsubscribing from email lists.
SaneBox has a built-in reminders system too. SaneReminders are a terrific way to stay on task. Send yourself a reminder to do something later, or get a reminder when someone hasn’t responded to one of your messages. SaneReminders is perfect for making sure that nothing falls through the cracks.
Also, because SaneBox works with your existing email setup, there’s no app to download or new email account to set up. You can use any email service and client you want.
Sign up today and save $25 on any subscription. You’ll see big benefits immediately as the message count in your inbox drops, and you’ll be able to maintain control going forward with SaneBox’s help.
Our thanks to SaneBox for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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This week on MacStories Unwind, John takes listeners to the coast of Ireland for The Banshees of Inisherin, and Federico adds some song and dance to everyone’s day with Matilda the Musical.
Links and Show NotesJohn’s Pick:
- The Banshees of Inisherin
- On HBO Max
- Trailer
Federico’s Pick:
- Matilda the Musical on Netflix
- Trailer
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Things 3.17 is out for iPhone, iPad, and Mac with greatly expanded support for Shortcuts. That opens up a much wider variety of possible automations than ever before. It’s a lot to take in at once, but I’ve been playing with these actions since the end of last year, so I thought I’d highlight what each does and share a few shortcuts that I’ve built with them.
At the highest level, these are the kind of Shortcuts actions I like best. They work across all of Apple’s platforms and include parameters and predicate filtering, which allow users to build fine-tuned shortcuts that either weren’t possible before those features were added to Shortcuts or would have required users to jump through many more hoops to achieve.
When you start exploring Things’ Shortcuts actions keep in mind that they operate on more than just tasks. When you see ‘items’ referred to in the actions, that could any of the primary components of the app, including projects, headings, tasks, areas, or checklists. Not all actions support all item types, and each item has a unique set of properties that can be accessed depending on the action, so it’s worth experimenting to understand everything that can be accomplished.
A great place to start is with ‘Create To Do,’ which I expect readers will use most often. On the surface, there’s not much to the action except a field for the title of a task. However, when you expand the action, you’ll immediately see why Things’ new actions are a big deal. In addition to titling your task, you can pick its parent list, the heading under which it will appear, a start date, deadline, tags, and status. You can also add notes and a checklist. That’s every property available when you’re creating a new task by hand and more than was available before the update.
Things includes actions to create tasks, headings, and projects.
Things 3.17 includes three other actions for creating items:
- Create To Do with Quick Entry
- Create Heading
- Create Project
Quick Entry is the window that can be summoned with a global hotkey from anywhere on your Mac. The advantage of this action over simply using Things’ global hotkey is that like ‘Create To Do,’ you can pre-fill certain parameters for the task like the title, parent, dates, tags, and other information. For a Mac shortcut that involves multiple actions or apps, it frees you to quickly fill out a subset of a task’s details without opening the full app. On the iPhone or iPad, however, the lack of global hotkey support on an OS level means this action will have to open Things, but it will still benefit from any pre-filled details.
Projects are the lists into which Things organizes tasks and Headings are labels that can be added to a project’s page to further organize tasks. Both are simple actions that do what you’d expect.
Things includes a powerful Find action that uses predicate filtering along with ways to get items.
‘Find Items’ shows off the power of pairing Things with predicate filtering, which is fancy shorthand for saved searches based on as many filters as you’d like. With ‘Find Items,’ you can find items you’ve created in Things by 21 different kinds of metadata, including Type, Title, Parent, Is Inbox, Is Not Inbox, various dates, tags, item ID, and more. Filters can be stacked to combine multiple layers of conditions that must be met, and you can specify whether all of the conditions must be matched or any of them will satisfy the query. The action also supports sorting by eight parameters and limiting the number of items that are returned.
The other two actions for fetching items already in Things are ‘Get Item’ and ‘Get Selected Item.’ ‘Get Item’ lets you pick one or more Areas (Things’ top-level organization layer where projects live), projects, headings, or tasks and pass them to the next action. ‘Get Selected Item’ is similar but operates on any item selected in the app’s frontmost window. On the Mac, running a shortcut on selected items can be accomplished multiple ways, including with a keyboard shortcut, Spotlight search, or using an app like Raycast. On the iPhone or iPad, shortcuts that use this action are limited to being triggered using a Spotlight search or Siri.
Editing, duplicating, and deleting with Things Shortcuts actions.
Things has added three new actions for editing items too:
- Edit Items
- Dupilicate Items
- Delete Items
‘Editing Items’ exposes 11 properties of tasks for changing, while ‘Duplicate Items’ copies an existing item like a project, heading, or task. ‘Delete Items’ supports deleting tasks, projects, and headings. There’s also an option to delete the items immediately, which bypasses Things’ trash.
URL schemes are still a thing.
Things has an updated ‘Open List’ action that opens a specified list and can optionally filter the list by tags. ‘Show Items’ can be used with Things’ Find and Get Items actions to display a custom list of tasks. Finally, Things has retained its ‘Run Things URL’ action, which ties into the app’s extensive URL scheme. There’s a lot of overlap between the new Shortcuts actions added in Things 3.17 and what could only be done with a URL scheme before, but for backwards compatibility and edge cases where a URL scheme might be a preferable approach to Things’ new actions, ‘Run Things URL’ is good action to keep in mind.
I’ve been experimenting with these new actions since early December and thought I’d share a few shortcuts I’ve built that show off some of the practical uses of them. Still, as much as I like Things’ actions, I’ve been cautious to avoid over-automating my task management. That’s because it’s already too easy to dump random ideas, links, and half-baked thoughts into Things (or any task manager for that matter), which creates a mess quickly. Instead, I limit Things to clearly defined tasks all of which are given a date whether it’s a hard deadline or aspirational date. Even with that limitation, though, I’ve found several excellent ways to incorporate Things’ Shortcuts actions, including the three below and two more that I’ll share this Friday with Club MacStories members.
Tomorrow List
Tomorrow List
Things has a built-in list for tasks due today and another for the days ahead, but sometimes all I want to see is what’s coming up tomorrow. For that, I created a simple shortcut that calculates tomorrow’s date, uses Things’ ‘Find Items’ action to filter tasks by that date, and then displays them using Things’ ‘Show Items’ action.
This shortcut is about as simple as they come, but it fills a gap for me. When I get to the end of the day, I like to see what’s in store for me tomorrow. With Raycast’s Shortcuts integration, running Tomorrow List to open my custom task list is as fast as switching to the app to view one of its built-in lists.
You can download Tomorrow List here and from the MacStories Shortcuts Archive.
Flag/Unflag
Flag/Unflag
When I have a long list of things to do of varying urgency, I like to flag my most important tasks to be sure that I get to whatever absolutely needs to be finished before I call it quits. Things doesn’t have a built-in flagging feature, but it’s easy enough to create one yourself with Shortcuts.
The Flag/Unflag shortcut I created works with the Get Selected Items action. The first step is to select the tasks you want to flag or unflag in Things. The shortcut asks if you want to flag or unflag the tasks and then uses the Edit Items action to add or remove a tag to fake task flagging. The flag you use is up to you, but flag emoji work really well here. I’ve also experimented with using the flag in Apple’s SF Symbols collection, which looks nice on the Mac, but unfortunately isn’t supported by Things on iOS or iPadOS, where the flag symbol is rendered as a box with a question mark in it.
You can download Flag/Unflag here and from the MacStories Shortcuts Archive.
Kick It
Kick It.
I’d like to pretend that I finish all of the tasks in my Today list every day, but I don’t. Kick It finds unfinished tasks with today’s date and add one day to their deadline date, allowing me to clear my Today list as soon as I finish working for the day. Then, I usually open Things’ Upcoming list to eyeball what I’ve got in store for myself the next day and drag tasks around to other days as necessary to balance out the load. Things would push unfinished tasks to the next day for me, but with Kick It, I can do it immediately as part of my planning for the rest of the week.
You can download Kick It here and from the MacStories Shortcuts Archive.
More Things shortcuts coming Friday in MacStories Weekly.
As you may have gathered from these shortcuts, I don’t really use Things the way it’s designed. I’m not a fan of start dates and deadlines. I’d rather just assign one date to my tasks and check them off as they’re completed, so I set a start date for every task and treat it as the due date, rarely setting deadlines.
However, the constraint built into Things that I find most difficult to deal with is how it handles recurring tasks. Things doesn’t allow a recurring task to be checked off early. About half of my tasks are weekly recurring tasks, but many don’t have hard deadlines and even more can be completed early if I have the time to start them earlier than usual. To deal with the frustration of being unable to check off a recurring Things task early, I’ve abandoned Things’ system of repeating tasks altogether and have built my own using Shortcuts and template tasks, which I’ll share this Friday in MacStories Weekly for Club MacStories members.
Also on Friday, I’ll share another shortcut that appends items to a checklist attached to an existing task that’s great for adding items to an agenda, a shopping list, or other things for which you’re probably already keeping lists.
Cultured Code has done an outstanding job with its new Shortcuts actions. It’s not hyperbole to say that you could automate your entire task management system with its new actions if you want. As I’ve said, I don’t think that’s a good idea, but that doesn’t take away from the power of Things’ Shortcuts actions at all. The app’s new actions maximize its flexibility, allowing you to find those spots where automation will have the greatest impact on the way you work.
The new actions also allow a level of customization that hasn’t been possible before. Things doesn’t have saved searches, but with the new Find Items action, you can build them yourself in Shortcuts. The same is true with task flagging and template project and task creation. Shortcuts allows you to build exactly what you want regardless of whether it’s part of the default Things feature set, which makes Things more useful than ever.
Things 3.17 is a free update for existing users and is a separate purchase for the iPhone/Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac versions.
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In 2014, for the 30th anniversary of the Mac, Apple celebrated with a mini site featuring the stories of the people behind the computer and its users. As part of that event, Apple created a special font of line-drawn versions of every Mac from its introduction on January 24, 1984 through 2014.
Robb Knight, my co-host on the Ruminate podcast, has had that font sitting on his Mac for years until yesterday when he released it as a series of downloadable SVG images with the help of friends Keir Ansell and Josh Calvetti.
The Mac’s 30th anniversary website.
I love this sort of project. The line drawings of these Macs look great and, as SVGs, are suitable for a wide range of projects. Robb has a long list of other interesting projects worth checking out on his website, including Alfred workflows, a Mastodon bookmarklet, a Mac utility to eliminate trackers from URLs, and a set of tools for Micro.blog to name a few.
→ Source: rknightuk.github.io
Saving an article from Unread to Readwise Reader.
Unread, the elegant RSS reader by Golden Hill Software that we’ve covered before on MacStories, received its 3.3 update today, and it’s an interesting one I’ve been playing around with for the past week. There are two features I want to mention.
The first one is the ability to set up an article action to instantly send a headline from the article list in the app to Readwise Reader. As I explained on AppStories, I decided to go all-in with Reader as my read-later app (at least for now), and this Unread integration makes it incredibly easy to save articles for later. Sure, the Readwise Reader extension in the share sheet is one of the best ones I’ve seen for a read-later app (you can triage and tag articles directly from the share sheet), but if you’re in a hurry and checking out headlines on your phone, the one-tap custom action in Unread is phenomenal. To start using it, you need to be an Unread subscriber and paste in your Readwise API token.
The second feature is the ability to save any webpage from Safari as an article in Unread, even if you’re not subscribed to that website’s RSS feed. Essentially, this is a way to turn Unread into a quasi-read-later tool: the app’s parser will extract text and images from the webpage, which will be then be saved as a ‘Saved Article’ in Unread Cloud, Local feeds, or NewsBlur, or as a ‘Page’ in Feedbin.
If you’re a new Readwise Reader user, I recommend checking out Unread 3.3, which is available on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.
→ Source: apps.apple.com
This week on AppStories, we imagine the kinds of apps that may emerge for an Apple VR headset.
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Editor’s Note: Every now and then, we like to share some of the writing we’ve published for Club MacStories members with the broader MacStories community to give readers a feel for what we offer in case they’re thinking of joining themselves.
The Club has grown to encompass far more than just our writing. There’s the Discord community, AV Club events to discuss community-chosen media, Club-only columns, podcasts, and more.
But, at the heart of the Club are our two regular newsletters available via email and the web. MacStories Weekly, which is packed with new app discoveries, tips, shortcuts, columns, and more, is published roughly 48 times a year, and the Monthly Log, which features longer-form columns, comes out every month for a total of 60 newsletters a year.
Today we’re sharing the November 2022 issue of the Monthly Log, featuring two columns. The first, by Federico, is an in-depth look at how he’s used Universal Control to achieve the iPad Pro setup he’s always wanted. In the second story, John reflects on some lessons he’s learned since joining MacStories.
We hope you enjoy these stories and consider joining the Club. MacStories wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of its readers, so thank you to all of you who are already members or were in the past, and welcome to those of you just joining now. Your support means a lot to us.
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Join Annual$120/yearJoin Monthly$12/monthAchieving the Universal Control DreamBy: Federico Viticci
For the past month or so, I’ve been talking on AppStories and Connected about my new desk setup, which involves an iPad Pro and Apple Studio Display. Here’s a quick recap for those who don’t listen to the shows and may be new to this whole saga:
After buying a house earlier this year, I was convinced I wanted to find a monitor for my new office that would serve both as a work and gaming monitor. My original plan was to set up my gaming PC in the office, have a single monitor for both work and play, and switch a Thunderbolt cable between the PC, iPad Pro, and MacBook Pro, depending on what I wanted to do. Over the past few weeks, however, I’ve realized that I prefer playing videogames on my new couch with a 55” (now 65”) OLED TV (an LG C2), which in turn helped me understand that I didn’t need a gaming monitor for my office after all. I wanted a display that would look nice and easily connect to either the Mac and iPad with as few complications as possible. It became clear very quickly that what I wanted was a Studio Display, so I purchased one.
As I’ve documented at length on Twitter, AppStories, and Connected, I soon faced another problem: I wanted to use the Apple Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad for both my MacBook Pro and iPad Pro, but those accessories do not support multi-device pairing with the ability to switch between them like, say, AirPods do. If I wanted to keep using the Apple keyboard and trackpad instead of third-party options (which I tried and didn’t like), and if I wanted to make them switch seamlessly between a MacBook Pro in clamshell mode and an iPad Pro, the only solution was to keep them wired into the CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt dock I’m using in conjunction with my Studio Display. If you know me and how much I despise visible cables on my desk, you know that it was doable, but not an ideal solution for me.
There was an alternative: using Universal Control to keep the accessories paired to a Mac while retaining the ability to wirelessly move them over to the iPad Pro. That way, I could have kept the iPad plugged into the Studio Display, leave the Mac turned on, and move the keyboard and pointer over to the iPad thanks to Universal Control. That could have worked, as Jason Snell also wrote in a Macworld article recently after running some tests with his Mac Studio. Except I didn’t have a Mac Studio – all I had was a MacBook Pro that, when the lid is closed and the Thunderbolt cable is disconnected from it, becomes inaccessible from the iPad Pro. After a conversation with Jason behind the scenes, I realized there was only one way to achieve my dream setup powered by Universal Control.
Last week, I bought a refurbished base model M1 Mac mini. It’s the model from 2020 with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. I set it up as a “headless” machine that’s always accessible via VNC (I like using Screens) and connected it to Ethernet, my new Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 (a compact white model that looks great on my desk), and a 1 TB Thunderbolt drive from OWC I got last year. I enabled Universal Control and, as I hoped, I was able to achieve what I wanted: I can keep using the Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad without any wires on my desk thanks to Universal Control. Even better, my iPad Pro can always remain plugged in via Thunderbolt and paired with the Studio Display: when I need to use macOS, I can use my Mac mini “as an app” thanks to Screens.
My new setup, powered by Universal Control.
I’m going to have more to say about my new setup over the coming weeks and months, and I know that what I have today is just a first draft of this new approach that I needed to get done in time for this issue of the Monthly Log and this week’s episode of Connected. For instance, I haven’t done any cable management yet; I still need to actually buy a new desk, and most of this equipment will be hidden and mounted underneath it; I’m not sure I want to keep the USBPre2 audio interface you can see above the Mac mini; I’ve barely scratched the surface of what I want to do with the Stream Deck (stay tuned for more on this in upcoming issues of MacStories Weekly). However, I can confidently say that this technique works for me and is optimal for the kind of person I am: I use my Mac just a few times a week to record podcasts; I like the freedom of using my iPad as a tablet or desktop workstation by just plugging in a cable; and Universal Control lets me keep using the accessories I like without seeing a mess of wires on my desk.
The Mac mini, USB audio interface, Thunderbolt dock, and Thunderbolt drive. All of this stuff will eventually be hidden.
I do have a few notes I can share today about the experience I’ve had for the past few days running this setup.
With a Mac mini in headless mode, you have to “imagine” you’re dragging the pointer toward an invisible edge of a “display” until it appears on the iPad. I positioned the iPad on the left side of the Mac mini in macOS’ System Settings, so when I move the pointer to the left from my Mac’s desktop, it then appears on the iPad’s Home Screen; then, I can move it between the iPad’s display and the Studio Display running Stage Manager. It all works beautifully. With Universal Control on my Wi-Fi 6 network, the pointer appears immediately on the iPad Pro, but the Magic Keyboard takes a few seconds to switch; it’s not a big deal. In terms of performance, the only difference I’ve noticed between using a trackpad natively paired with the iPad versus a trackpad via Universal Control is that context menus take a split-second more to appear when I click with two fingers on the trackpad. None of this is a dealbreaker and I’ve been able to write and take notes and use my iPad Pro with Universal Control without any major problems.
Using macOS via VNC through Screens is obviously not as smooth as using the real thing plugged into the Studio Display, but it’s fine for what I do. There is latency, occasional graphical artifacts, and jittery animations due to VNC’s compression and wireless communication between the iPad and Mac. I am, of course, open to suggestions if anyone has any tips on how to improve this experience. For now, what I can say is that it’s amusing and ridiculous at the same time how I can “use” macOS as any other window alongside my other iPad apps in Stage Manager. For example, here is how I am typing this very sentence right now on my Studio Display:
That’s macOS as another window in iPadOS Stage Manager.
As you can see, due to Stage Manager’s preset window sizes, I cannot make the Screens window 16:9 to hide the black bars around the macOS interface. I’m guessing the solution would be to change the aspect ratio of a headless Mac mini from 16:9 to 4:3 or something like that, but I don’t know how to do it yet. In any case, I recorded an entire episode of Connected “on my iPad” by controlling macOS as a window in Stage Manager, and it totally worked. It’s a bit of a mind trip when you consider how I am controlling a Mac from an iPad that I’m controlling via accessories originally paired with that Mac, but hey: Apple built this technology; I’m simply taking advantage of it.
Working on my iPad Pro with Stage Manager on the Studio Display. The Mac is just another app here.
Lastly, I know that I’ll need to spend some time thinking about the fact that I have an always-on Mac mini once again in my house. For starters, I’ve already turned the Mac mini into a Roon core by moving my offline music library from a drive connected to the Intel NUC to the OWC Thunderbolt drive (I can sell the NUC now). I’ve played around with the new Roon Arc on my iPhone and it worked right away with the Mac mini as a media server and the new Shanling UA5 portable DAC I purchased last week. Given the Mac mini’s storage constraints, I’ve installed Dropbox on the external drive, which is going to be plugged into the Mac mini all the time.
I’m thinking, however, about other things I can do with a Mac mini server in my home now. Maybe I could look into running shell scripts via SSH from Shortcuts on the iPad again? Maybe I could consider running Signals for HomeKit and pair that with executing shortcuts by pressing physical buttons? Since I started MacStories in 2009, I never had the ability to have a Mac mini turned on 24/7 and plugged into Ethernet; I’m very excited about the things I can do with this machine going forward.
So that’s how I achieved the dream of Universal Control for my ideal desk setup: by giving Apple more money and buying a desktop Mac instead. It’s kind of ironic that in order to have the perfect iPad setup I had to get a Mac mini, which is why I chose to go for a cheaper, refurbished model. I don’t know what the future holds for me here, but as I’m typing this in Obsidian for iPad running on a Studio Display controlled by a Magic Keyboard and Trackpad via Universal Control, I finally know this: I love this setup, and I’m happy.
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Eight Years InBy: John Voorhees
Eight years ago today, I published my first story on MacStories. As anniversaries go, the eighth isn’t usually celebrated. For me, though, 2022 has been the year I finally cleared the last item off an important checklist that’s been sitting in the back of my head since 2015.
I don’t typically spend a lot of time dwelling on the past. It’s not in my nature or all that useful to my work. I’m much better off looking ahead to where I should be heading than where I’ve been. Hopefully, though, there’s some benefit to others in sharing my story, even those who have heard parts of it before.
Although the first article I published on MacStories is a good place to start, the beginning really stretches back almost a decade now, when I realized I needed to move on from my career as a lawyer. There were times before that I wanted to move on, but as I explained when MacStories became a full-time endeavor, I knew in my gut by 2013 that I had to make a change.
I have forgotten more about Apple’s affiliate program than most people ever knew.
When I wrote my first article for MacStories, I had no idea what I was doing. What I did know, though, was that it was an opportunity I didn’t want to screw up, so I worked on that story endlessly, refining it until it felt polished. Then, because I was unsure of myself, I hired a copy editor to review and edit my work, which was the first and last time I did that. The story came back with virtually no changes, but it was money well spent as far as I was concerned because it gave me a bit more confidence that I could make this writing thing work.
I didn’t expect to write full-time at MacStories, but it just sort of happened organically over the course of 2016. Then, in 2017, I took over sponsorship sales for the site. I had no experience selling ads, but I knew a lot of developers, kept at it, and over time, got pretty good at it. 2017 was also the year we started AppStories, and, in the fall, I finally left my old job. That was a lot for one year, but necessary to transition my MacStories work from a side gig to full-time.
In many ways, 2022 has been the bookend to 2017. Breaking with my old profession was only part of what I wanted to do. I also wanted to get out of the Chicago area. Jennifer and I don’t have family in Chicago, but it’s where I got a job after law school, and for the kind of legal work I did, it was better than the alternatives.
Once I began writing at MacStories full-time, the Chicago area looked even less attractive. I could work anywhere, but I was paying the taxes and high cost of living of a big city that I no longer needed. It didn’t make much sense, except that I didn’t want to disrupt my family by moving on the heels of changing careers. So I waited.
This year, housing prices and my youngest son’s graduation from high school perfectly aligned. We knew it was time, so we moved quickly, selling our house within a couple of weeks, discarding the cruft that comes with living in the same place for more than 20 years, and renting an apartment in North Carolina.
I’ve swapped snow and suburbia for a little more nature in my life.
People ask, why North Carolina? It’s funny, but it started with a listicle Jennifer found of nice places to live in America. However, we were also familiar with the area because we both went to college here. Plus, we have family nearby, and the Charlotte area is one of the few places with access to an international airport with flights to Europe that are not cold. So, instead of overthinking it, we rented an apartment for a year and spent the summer house-hunting.
Now, we’re fully moved into a new house we found after just a few months of looking, and we’re exactly where I’d hoped we’d be when I was still casting about for what to do next in 2015. This year has probably been the hardest since 2017, with two moves in six months, and I’ve spent too much fretting about things that have slipped while my personal life overtook my work, but it’s been worth it.
Writing apps was fun, but ultimately, not my thing.
Everyone’s story is uniquely their own, but I wanted to revisit mine mainly to pass along a few ideas to anyone in a similar situation. My first bit of advice is to be honest with yourself. When I started writing at MacStories, I had a modestly successful app, but I knew that I’d mostly brute-forced that app into existence. App development wasn’t my strength, but writing was, and writing about apps ultimately scratched the same itch and more.
Second, be patient. This is incredibly difficult and doesn’t come naturally to me. When I started at MacStories, readers regularly complimented Federico on stories I wrote because they didn’t notice the byline and assumed he wrote everything on the site, which he did years ago. Readers didn’t know who I was. I wanted that to change, but more than the recognition, I wanted to do and be good at everything immediately, which is unrealistic. Instead of spreading myself thin, I forced myself to focus on one or two things at a time, only taking on new things gradually, which was hard, but the right move.
Ambition isn’t bad, but it’s not a good look when it comes across as overly thirsty. People can sense that from miles away but will never tell you. You need to prove yourself through your work, and that takes time.
Closely related to patience is keeping at it. I never realized what a bad writer I was as a lawyer. The problem was that I didn’t write nearly as much as I thought I did. After publishing hundreds of articles on MacStories, I had made huge strides, and I’m still improving. Whatever you’re transitioning to, do it a lot. Practice pays off.
Third, keep learning. I would have thought this would be universal for people writing or making other content for the Internet, but it’s not. It’s human nature, I guess, so I count myself lucky that I don’t have it in me to sit still. If anything, I have to consciously put my curiosity on hold to keep it out of the way of being productive at busy times of the year. Whatever you do, though, keep learning, exploring, and trying new things. Getting comfortable has the benefit of, well, being comfortable, but it’s the surest path to obsolescence there is.
Yes, that’s me in the front row balcony at a Frank Turner show in 2013 refusing to sit down, shut up, and grow up.
Finally, know who to listen to and who to ignore. When I was starting out, many people told me I was crazy, or at a minimum, I should keep working as a lawyer as a hedge against ‘the whole Internet thing’ not working out. Much of the noise felt like a version of the ‘stay in your lane’ attitude common on Twitter. There were more ‘you’re nuts’ people in my life than ‘go for it’ people, but I’d learned long before who to listen to, and they were the ones saying ‘go for it,’ so I did. When the stay-in-your-lane crowd was loudest and caused me to second guess what I was doing, my antidote was the chorus of Photosynthesis by Frank Turner:
I won’t sit down
And I won’t shut up
And most of all, I will not grow up
Stubborn defiance is sometimes a virtue.
I’m not much for giving unsolicited advice, but there you have it: some lessons from the past eight years that I think are applicable beyond my own circumstances. Of course, none of this would have been possible without the support of my family and friends, the backstop of savings from my time as a lawyer, and a lot of other advantages that I’ve had that others don’t. However, whatever your situation is, I hope there’s something in my story that resonates with whatever it is that your goals are.
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Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Manton Reece has a fantastic explanation of the underpinnings of Micro.blog and Mastodon and how they work with third-party clients like Ivory, which Federico reviewed yesterday.
Manton’s post is in response to questions about why Micro.blog work with Tapbots’ Ivory since both Micro.blog and Mastodon implement the ActivityPub standard. The answer is that ActivityPub is primarily a service-level server-to-server API that allows Micro.blog and Mastodon servers to interact with each other. However, clients like Ivory use a different Mastodon API for reading and writing Mastodon posts that doesn’t match up feature-for-feature with Micro.blog. Manton explains the problems that causes:
Could Micro.blog implement the Mastodon API, thereby allowing Ivory to connect to Micro.blog as if it was a Mastodon server? Technically yes, but doing so would introduce a couple problems. By design, Micro.blog does not have exactly the same features as Mastodon. We left out boosts, trends, and follower counts, and added other things that are outside the scope of Mastodon.
If Micro.blog worked with Ivory, what would the UI look like when the features didn’t exactly match up? It would be confusing. Ivory would appear broken and it would disrupt the experience we’re going for with Micro.blog’s community.
That isn’t to say that signing into Micro.blog from Ivory to read and post to Micro.blog in the future is impossible. However, as Manton points out, it will require further experimentation and, ultimately, coordination with third-party apps while keeping an eye on preserving Micro.blog’s identity. Because, after all, Micro.blog and Mastodon are two distinct services that approach social media with different philosophies that are reflected in their designs. Interoperability is appealing on the surface, but not if it comes at the expense of the unique features that users of Micro.blog or any other service have come to expect and rely on.
→ Source: manton.org
Ivory for Mastodon.
There’s an intangible, permeating quality about Tapbots apps that trascends features and specs: craftsmanship. With Ivory, launching today on the App Store for iPhone and iPad, you can instantly appreciate that level of care and refinement that the Texas-based duo is well known for after more than a decade on the App Store. But there’s something else, too: for the first time in a few years, it feels like Mark and Paul are having fun again.
Ivory is a Mastodon client, and it’s tricky to evaluate it right now because its version 1.0 is launching under extraordinary circumstances.
As we’ve documented on the MacStories, Twitter’s idiotic new “leadership” recently decided to unceremoniously and crassly put an end to third-party clients such as Tweetbot with no warning, which forced Tapbots to scramble and figure out a solution on how to discontinue Tweetbot while dealing with subscription renewals while also accelerating the timeline for the launch of Ivory, which they’d been working on for months. I’ve been following the development of Ivory very closely (I’ve been using the app as my main Mastodon client since its first alpha in late November), and I know that the Ivory 1.0 launching today isn’t the debut version Mark and Paul were envisioning. By Tapbots’ own admission, there’s still a lot of work to do on Ivory, but given how the Twitter situation evolved, they had to ship something. There is already a roadmap on Tapbots’ website for Ivory, if you’re curious to know what the developers are planning for the foreseeable future.
As I was saying above, however, there’s something else about Ivory that, in many ways, makes today’s release an important milestone in our community worth documenting and celebrating. Ever since we at MacStories decided to abandon Twitter, we’ve gone all-in on Mastodon and, broadly speaking, we want to embrace the idea of decentralized and federated social media. Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen hundreds of other people I used to follow on Twitter do the same. I believe we’re witnessing the beginning of a new social networking era, and even though Mastodon has been around for a few years, many of us (myself included) are only realizing now that we should have paid attention to this kind of technology years ago.
For the second time since I started MacStories in 2009, I can observe developers imagining what interfaces for reading and posting status updates on the web should look like. New conventions are being created as we speak, and we are, once again, witnessing the rise of a vibrant ecosystem of third-party apps designed for different needs, platforms, and people. Only, this time, there is no single company that controls the fate of all this.
So that’s the something that makes the release of Ivory a special one in the Apple community. More than a reactionary “what if Tweetbot, but for Mastodon” move, Ivory marks a new beginning for Tapbots in a way that Netbot never was. (If you know, you know.) We’re living in new and exciting times for indie apps, and I think that you can feel it when the creator of an app feels the same way. Ivory exudes enthusiasm. Even though it’s not the most feature-rich client I’m testing right now, it’s the one I’m constantly drawn towards. Ivory is going to establish a baseline for quality and polish on iOS and iPadOS; it’s the app future Mastodon clients for iPhone and iPad (and, hopefully soon, Mac) will have to measure up against.
Ivory is the start of a new chapter for one of the most beloved indie studios in our community. So let’s take a look.
The Design of IvoryGiven Tapbots’ pedigree, it’s no surprise that Ivory is an elegant, tasteful take on displaying Mastodon posts in a reverse-chronological timeline. And considering how most client experiences right now are mimicking a Twitter-like design (not just on iOS), it’s no surprise to see Ivory 1.0 rely on the core structure and layout of Tweetbot. At a glance, the app looks very similar to its dearly departed avian cousin: on iPhone, you have a set of customizable tabs at the bottom of the screen; on iPad, there’s a narrow set of tabs on the left edge of the screen with the ability to display a secondary column for another view on the right. In both apps, you can tap a title bar element to switch between timeline views; in Ivory, unlike Tweetbot, you don’t switch between lists but you cycle through the home, local, and federated timeline of a Mastodon instance instead.
Ivory, like Tweetbot, supports mute filters, which are accessed from the ‘Filter’ button on profiles. (I did not filter you, Simon.)
Ivory lets you choose whether you want to see buttons to interact with posts in an action drawer on tap (center) or as inline buttons (left and right). You can also choose to hide counts for favorites and boosts (right). Personally, I still prefer the action drawer.
Using the existing layout and navigation hierarchy of Tweetbot makes sense as a starting point for Ivory: it’s the easiest way to market for Tapbots, and it’s also a familiar structure for users who are migrating away from Twitter. This is where I’ll immediately mention this, though: in the future, I’d love to see Tapbots go beyond this approach we’ve known and used for years.
Everything is up for grabs: Ivory for iPad doesn’t support a Spring-like true multi-column view; you cannot create custom tabs (again, like Spring or the upcoming Mona from the same developer); Tapbots could consider allowing you to switch between “pinned” local timelines from different instances, which is something that both Ice Cubes and Toot already support. My hope is that Mark and Paul feel free to experiment with features and designs that wouldn’t have made sense for Twitter, but which could work for Mastodon. As Craig Hockenberry pointed out, there is potential for a “universal timeline” powered by technologies like Mastodon and ActivityPub; I hope Ivory will be able to support different types of experiences down the road.
Although Ivory for iPad does not support more than two columns at once, it supports multi-windowing, so you can open multiple views at once as multiple Ivory windows in Stage Manager or Split View.
In any case, familiar structure notwithstanding, it genuinely feels like Tapbots designer Mark Jardine found a new kind of inspiration and enthusiam for Ivory. Every little detail in the app has been thought through and beautifully implemented. It starts with the onboarding flow, which features a series of splash screens explaining the app and featuring Ivory, the app’s namesake mascot. Free of the “-bot” monicker in the app’s name, Mark created a cute 3D elephant that guides users through the Ivory setup and can be found (in two distinct versions) in the app’s icon as well. The elephant character adds a lot of personality to the app; I wouldn’t mind seeing more of it in the app’s settings or perhaps in a wallpaper pack.
The delightful setup screens of Ivory.
Elephant aside, what stands out in Ivory is the iconography. For Ivory, Jardine has drawn an entirely new set of icons for the tab bar, compose window, action drawer, and other areas of the app. These icons are lovely: they have a unique line style I haven’t seen anywhere else in iOS; they’re fresh, instantly recognizable, and legible in both light and dark mode. It’s funny how a simple icon set can make Ivory feel so different from Tweetbot, but that’s exactly what I noticed in this first version of the app.
Some of Mark Jardine’s icons in Ivory.
Speaking of themes, Ivory comes with more options than Tweetbot here. You can choose between four different themes (low contrast, default, OLED, and high contrast) and 10 different accent colors. The OLED option will make the background pure black in dark mode; personally, I like using the high contrast theme and alternate between blue, yellow, and purple accent colors.1
Some of the theme options in Ivory.
It wouldn’t be a Tapbots app without a series of delightful touches that enrich the experience, and I’m pleased to see Ivory continuing the studio’s tradition here. If a post that exceeds 500 words appears on your timeline, Ivory will display a helpful ‘Read More’ button that hides additional content until you click through to read the post in its entirety. The compose button to create a new post (the trumpet icon) can be dragged around: long-press it, then move it and fling it wherever you want; the button will playfully bounce and dock itself to the nearest corner of the UI.
Design is not just about good looks, of course, which is why Paul Haddad’s work on Ivory’s performance deserves a mention in this review. Ivory is, by far, the smoothest, most responsive Mastodon client I’ve tried on my iPhone and iPad yet. The app’s animations are incredibly fluid on ProMotion displays, and the timeline scrolls quickly with no stutters or other glitches, which I’ve seen in other clients.
Another delightful detail: in the Statistics page, the charts animate as you open them and the selected data type is highlighted as you swipe horizontally to switch between chart views.
The folks at Tapbots have been honing their craft for over 10 years at this point, and you can tell that’s the case in Ivory. It’s the most polished 1.0 of anything I’ve used in a while.
Using IvorySeveral aspects of Ivory are reminiscent of Tweetbot: performing actions on posts is similar (thanks to the action drawer); swipe actions are the same; you can long-press on posts to bring up a context menu. Given the nature of Mastodon, however, there are some obvious differences between Tweetbot and Ivory worth examining.
One of the features supported by Mastodon is the ability to attach content warnings to posts. Ivory supports content warnings both when crafting a post and when viewing posts in the timeline. If there’s a content warning, you’ll have to tap the post to read it in its detail view. In the app’s settings, you can tweak this behavior to always ignore content warnings (posts will be shown in full within the timeline by default) or always show media that’s been marked as sensitive.
Writing a post with a content warning (left, center) and viewing one in Ivory.
Next up is sync. Ivory, like Tweetbot, supports syncing your timeline position via a custom iCloud integration. This has been working very well for me, but as I posted recently, I hope Tapbots will consider implementing Mastodon’s native sync marker API as well. One of the great aspects of this new scene is the ability to try and switch between a variety of clients (I’ve been using Elk on Windows and Tusky on Android); if each of them uses its own, proprietary sync method, well, that’s not a great experience for users who want to jump between multiple clients.
As I noted above, Ivory isn’t as customizable as Spring/Mona at the moment: although I don’t expect this app to lean toward heavy customization as much as Mona will, there are some aspects I’d like Tapbots to consider. I’d like to be able to choose which options appear in the context menu that shows up when long-pressing posts, for example, or to pin specific local timelines for quick access from the title bar of Ivory.
Beyond the general sense of fluidity and reliability I mentioned in this review, there are two functionalities of Ivory 1.0 that deserve a special mention.
The first one is the compose window. There’s a lot you can do in this screen. If you tap on the visibility indicator, you can choose to make your post public or unlisted, restrict it to followers only, or make it a “private” post for mentioned people only. (Don’t call these DMs.) You can then attach content warnings, images and GIFs (from Giphy), insert hashtags and pick usernames, and even create polls. It’s nice to see Ivory get immediate access to these features thanks to the developer-friendly ecosystem of Mastodon; after more than a decade of Twitter’s guessing games with the developer API, it’s a welcome change of pace.
The compose screen in Ivory.
I saved the best for last: timeline filters. Ivory gives you the ability to filter your timeline to show media, links, or boosts only. Tap the search icon in the upper right corner, then pick one of the three icons and content types, and your timeline will be filtered accordingly.
Filtering the timeline in Ivory. In a nice touch, when the timeline is filtered, the search icon (top right corner) gets a different filled state.
The hidden power of filters, however, lies in the ability to create your own with a surprisingly advanced interface. When creating a custom filter, you can include or exclude keywords, then choose to match any or all filters from a selection of the following criteria:
- Media
- Links
- Mentions
- Hashtags
- Boosts
- Replies
- People You Follow
- People That Follow You
The combination of these filters gives you a ton of freedom when it comes to finding ways to filter your timeline however you want. I’ll give you some examples. In my ‘Links from Mutuals’ filter, I set up a rule that shows me links, except videos from TikTok, from people in my timeline that also follow me. This way, I’ve got a nice filter that usually shows me articles or YouTube videos from my mutuals:
Custom filters in Ivory.
I also created separate filters called ‘No Replies’ and ‘No Boosts’ that hide those types of posts from my timeline (useful when catching up after a while) and another called ‘Mutuals’ that’s a subset of people I follow that also follow me in return.
Custom filters to hide replies and boosts from the timeline.
I like the filtering feature of Ivory a lot, and it has helped me manage my timeline and find links on numerous occasions already. In the future, I’d like the ability to pin specific custom filters to the main filtering toolbar as well as an option to activate individual filters with a keyboard shortcut. Also, custom filters don’t sync with iCloud at the moment, and I think they should.
Tips for IvoryBelow, I’ve compiled a series of tips to get the most out of Ivory on your iPhone and iPad.
Long-press the photo icon in the compose window. If you do that, you’ll be able to snap a new picture with the camera instead of picking an existing one.
Switch between multiple accounts. Like in Tweetbot, you can switch between multiple accounts in Ivory either when viewing the timeline or composing a new post. In both cases, long-press on your profile picture and, if you’ve configured multiple accounts in the app, you’ll be able to quickly switch between them.
Hold down the boost button. Speaking of long-pressing and switching between accounts: if you hold down the boost icon (boosts are the Mastodon equivalent of retweets), you’ll get the option to boost a post from a different account than the one currently viewing the timeline. I use this to boost my posts from the MacStories and Club accounts, for instance.
Use Shortcuts to open different views of Ivory. Ivory 1.0 comes with three native Shortcuts actions:
- Open Ivory
- Open Fediverse URL
- Post Status
The last one is fairly self-explanatory as it allows you to send a post from Shortcuts with a specific account. I’ll cover the Fediverse one below since it also relates to the built-in action extension for the share sheet. The Open Ivory action is interesting since it can be used to set up simple, but useful launchers for specific views of the app. For instance, you can set up the action’s parameter to quickly open your bookmarks, or your notifications view, or your mentions.
Ivory actions in Shortcuts.
Use the Ivory extension for profiles and posts. One of the confusing aspects of the fediverse for newcomers is the fact that, in order to follow someone or interact with a post from a different instance, you have to “remote-view” that item in your own instance. I created a shortcut called Masto-Redirect to try and improve this very issue, but Ivory has a better, easier solution: an action extension for the share sheet called ‘Open in Ivory’.
The Open in Ivory extension.
The next time someone sends you a link to a post or profile on iMessage, click the ‘Open in Ivory’ extension in Safari and you won’t have to use my shortcut or a bookmarklet to be redirected to that item on your Mastodon instance.
Use keywords to filter domain names. I was playing around with custom filters in Ivory and wondered if I could find a way to make a filter that would only show me posts from a subset of domains. That’s totally doable in Ivory, as it turns out. As you can see in the screenshots below, I used domain names as keywords, and I separated them with the OR operator so that the filter would match links from MacStories, Six Colors, or 512 Pixels. Then, I excluded mentions from the filter and that was it. The result is a nice, filtered view of my timeline that only shows me links from the best blogs around.
My custom filter for the best blogs.
Change how rules are matched in custom filters. When you’re putting together a custom filter, remember that you can have it match any or all rules from the filter. To change the matching method, tap the ‘Match All Rules’ button at the bottom of the list of rules and you’ll be able to alternate between Any and All.
Ivory 1.0Maybe it didn’t happen in the best possible way or how we anticipated, but I feel like we’re being granted the opportunity to rethink our approach to social media, online presence, and ownership of content shared with a network thanks to Twitter’s implosion and Mastodon’s sudden growth. Sure, Mastodon is only one piece of a bigger, and much more exciting puzzle, but regardless: it’s the Twitter alternative millions of people – especially in the tech community – are seeking out these days. For all those people, a high-quality, native, well-designed app for their iPhone or iPad can make or break the experience. This is where Ivory comes in.
Ivory is not a “finished” product. It’s not the most customizable client around (be on the lookout for Mona on that front) and it’s lacking several Mastodon features that can be found in other existing clients. I would have liked to see support for pinned local timelines in this version, as well as the ability to render links to posts as “fake” quoted items, and a better multi-column view on iPad. And I’ll add this: I’ve been reviewing Tapbots apps for over a decade on MacStories, and, if you exclude the context around it, Ivory isn’t as revolutionary as Tweetbot was when it debuted in 2011. By and large, Ivory isn’t inventing anything new, nor does it drastically differ from Tweetbot at a glance. But that line of thinking misses the bigger point.
You can’t ignore the context and the current landscape surrounding Ivory. Until a few months ago, no one would have expected that Tapbots would be given the opportunity to start over and bring their expertise to a brand new social network – let alone one that isn’t controlled by a single entity anymore and is actually welcoming third-party developers. And that they would have to do this in just a few months, with a rushed deadline at the very end.
Ivory is a 1.0 that’s been refined for over a decade.
What Ivory accomplishes goes deeper than a bland comparison with Tweetbot: the app makes Mastodon friendlier and more palatable to people who, like myself, are approaching the network for the first time now. Tapbots is setting up a sustainable business model for the app (a basic Ivory subscription will cost $14.99/year), and I’m certain that will give them the resources needed to continuously iterate on the app going forward.
Ivory raises the bar for what a Mastodon client on Apple platforms can be; it’s providing thousands of potential new Mastodon users with a better, more elegant way to get started with the service. Thanks to Ivory, thousands of iPhone and iPad users will have a better, more consistent first-run experience with Mastodon than they would with Mastodon’s website or native apps alone.
Ivory is a new app, but it’s got the style and confidence of a veteran of the App Store. It’s a 1.0 that’s been refined for over a decade. Ivory makes Mastodon a joy to use, but more than that, it shows that Tapbots are back. And like 12 years ago, I want to be along for the ride.
- How nice would it be if iOS allowed you to pick a system-wide accent color this way, like on macOS? ↩︎
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January 28th is Data Privacy Day, and Apple is marking the occasion with educational resources, including a short film starring Nick Mohammed called “A Day in the Life of an Average Person’s Data” and a Today at Apple session called “Taking Charge of Your Privacy on iPhone.”
The short film featuring Mohammed, who plays Coach Nate in the Apple TV+ show Ted Lasso, illustrates how personal data can be misused in a variety of humorous scenarios, highlighting how users can protect themselves using features built into Apple devices. The Today at Apple session is designed for users of all experience levels to take control of their privacy. According to Apple, the Today at Apple session will:
explore features including Mail Privacy Protection, Safety Check, Location Services, and passkeys. In this session, attendees will learn how they can customize each feature based on their individual privacy preferences.
Signups for the session are open starting today on the Today at Apple website.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings:
MacStories Weekly: Issue 352Episode 98 of AppStories transcribed by Whisper.
- Two Whisper AI audio-to-speech conversion shortcuts
- Scrobbling Apple Music to Last.fm from Windows
- The benefits of controlled chaos
- A beautiful, minimalistic reader setup
- Plus:
- App Debuts
- Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord
- Interesting links from around the web
- A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts
- and more
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Source Apple
Reviews of the new M2-based Mac minis and MacBook Pros are out, and of the two computers, the mini is the one that I find the most interesting. With Apple silicon no longer limited to the entry-level mini, it’s now possible to spec the tiny desktop so it rivals some configurations of the M1 Mac Studio, leading The Verge’s Chris Welsh to dub the higher-end mini configuration the ‘Mac Studio junior.’
That’s a great way to look at that model, but it also fills many more roles than just the slot immediately beneath the Mac Studio. As Dan Moren of Six Colors explains:
It’s hard to argue that the mini’s versatility isn’t the biggest part of why the product is still going strong, nigh on two decades after its debut. If the iMac, the Mac Studio, and the still-waiting-in-the-wings Apple silicon Mac Pro are the bricks of Apple’s Mac lineup, the Mac mini is the mortar, with its various configurations filling the gaps in between.
Welch strikes a similar note:
But remember that there’s no such thing (yet) as an iMac with an M2 Pro inside. So for anyone who wants a Mac desktop but finds the Mac Studio to be overkill — and it’s exactly that for many use cases — this M2 Pro Mini could make a ton of sense. And it doesn’t cost anywhere near as much.
I’ve owned the 2009 and 2014 Mac minis, as well as a fully-spec’d 2018 Mac mini, which I’m still running as a home server. I’ve also tested the M1 version of the mini. It’s safe to say that I’m a big fan of Apple’s tiniest desktop machine, which started as a way to attract Windows users into the Mac universe with a modestly-powered and priced desktop. That original mini has morphed into a Mac that now fulfills a remarkably broad spectrum of use cases. I’m sure that if I weren’t using an M1 Max Mac Studio, I’d have an M1 Pro Mac mini with 32 GB of unified memory, a 4 TB SSD, and 10 Gigabit Ethernet on my desk instead.
Source: Apple.
The M2 MacBook Pro is less interesting than the mini, not because it’s a less capable computer, but because the design is identical to the M1 version of the laptop and the speed gains are incremental over those models. Of course, as Jason Snell points out on Six Colors, most users won’t be upgrading from an M1 MacBook Pro to the M2 model, and for them, the jump will be significant and worthwhile:
The fact remains, though: If you want the very best laptop Apple has to offer, the MacBook Pro will not disappoint you. The M1 models were great in late 2021, and these new M2 models are even better—albeit incrementally so.
I’m fascinated with Apple’s gaming narrative. Ever since WWDC, Apple has touted Metal 3 and the M1, and now, M2’s videogame performance. There aren’t a lot of games that take advantage of Metal 3 yet, so it’s still hard to judge how Apple’s computers stack up to their PC counterparts, so I was particularly intrigued by Monica Chin’s imperfect, but insightful take on how the MacBook Pro with M2 Max’s performance compares to gaming laptops that she’s tested for The Verge:
I think — put the pitchforks away, I know these are totally different things and there are all sorts of problems with this comparison — that the simplest way to think of the MacBook Pro with M2 Max is as the addition of an RTX 3070 GPU. It’s not quite providing the frame rates that we’ve seen from the biggest RTX 3070 computers out there (MSI’s GS76 gave us 114fps, for example) but it’s not too far off, and it’s well above what we’d expect to see from an RTX 3060 gaming machine. The M2 Pro Mac Mini, which only put up 62fps on Tomb Raider, is closer to RTX 3050 territory.
There are far more economical ways to achieve that sort of gaming performance than buying a MacBook Pro, but it’s still interesting to see where the laptop falls on the gaming spectrum because it speaks directly to the capabilities of its GPU. As with the M1-based MacBook Pros, the M2 models also distinguish themselves compared to the MacBook Air by their superior displays, higher memory configurations, the wider variety of ports, and ability to drive multiple external displays.
If there’s anything missing from Apple’s current laptop lineup, it’s the ability to configure a laptop with the horsepower of an Air but the memory and storage capacities and screen of the MacBook Pro. I think there are a lot of ‘pro’ uses for a laptop that would benefit from that sort of configuration but don’t require a lot of raw CPU or GPU performance. However, given the lines along which Apple distinguishes its ‘Pro’ laptops from the Air, I’m not holding my breath waiting for it.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Embarking on a healthy 2023 is easy with Funn Media’s trio of top-rated health and fitness apps: WaterMinder, FitnessView, and Calory. Together, they’ll help you track what you eat and drink and push your fitness to new levels.
WaterMinder makes tracking hydration simple. The app features an elegant interface and myriad ways to input the water and other drinks you consume throughout the day. The app is available on all of Apple’s platforms, is highly customizable, and includes support for Shortcuts, widgets, and Apple Watch complications. With WaterMinder’s rich charts for tracking, hydration reminders, and integration with Apple Health, you’ll have your hydration on track in no time flat.
Fitness tracking is essential to maintaining healthy habits and preventing injury. FitnessView has you covered on both fronts with deep insights into every workout, along with trend-spotting that lets you train smarter than ever before. The app, which is available on the iPhone and Apple Watch, offers deep integration with Apple Health. With extensive stats and goal tracking, FitnessView provides a holistic overview of where your fitness stands today and where you’re heading. The fully-customizable app also includes Home Screen widgets for monitoring your progress at a glance, a long list of workout types, and workout sharing with friends.
Calory rounds out Funn Media’s health and fitness trio with the most intuitive calorie tracker on the App Store. The app’s rich visualization of the calories you’ve consumed and easy input system remove the friction from tracking your goals. Available on all Apple platforms, Calory lets you log what you eat from anywhere, so you never forget to log a meal. Coupled with glanceable charts plotting your progress and access to more detailed stats and a journal view, Calory offers a complete overview of the food and drink you consume, along with deep nutritional data.
Get started down the road to health and fitness with WaterMinder, FitnessView, and Calory by visiting Funn Media’s website today to learn more about these fantastic apps.
Our thanks to Funn Media for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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0:00
19:07
This week on MacStories Unwind, John suggests the dark comedy The Menu, and Federico recommends Crisis Core – Final Fantasy VII – Reunion.
Show NotesJohn’s Pick:
- The Menu on HBO Max
- Trailer
Federico’s Pick:
- Crisis Core – Final Fantasy VII – Reunion
- Trailer
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Apple Music for Windows.
Last week, Apple released native versions of Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Devices for Windows. The apps, which are available on the Microsoft Store, are labeled as “previews”, and they’re meant to eventually serve as replacements for iTunes for Windows, which is the only flavor of iTunes Apple still distributes after they transitioned to standalone media apps a few years ago. I suppose the apps are also part of a broader strategy from Apple to establish a stronger presence of their services on Windows, as we saw last year with the launch of Apple Music on Xbox and iCloud Photos on Windows (which joined the existing iCloud configuration panel for Windows devices).
As an Apple Music subscriber and owner of a Windows gaming laptop, I thought it’d be fun to take Apple Music for a spin and see how it compares to Spotify on Windows as well as the existing Apple Music experience for Apple’s platforms, which I know very well and enjoy on a daily basis.
The first thing I noticed when trying to install Apple Music for Windows was that I couldn’t click the ‘Download’ button from the Microsoft Store. I figured that was due to the “preview” status of the app, and after some research, I came across a Reddit thread that suggested changing Windows’ region settings to United States to get access to the download from the Microsoft Store. That worked. I’m assuming “preview” means Apple rolled these apps out in the U.S. at first, with more countries to follow at some point in the future.
After signing in with my Apple ID, I was presented with the usual Listen Now page that displayed featured items, my recently played albums, and recommendations based on my listening habits. This section is the same as the Listen Now page on my iPhone and iPad, and it lets me drill down into the Recently Played area to get a longer list of albums, just like I can on other devices. The rest of the app feels like a hybrid of the old iTunes, the Music app for Mac, and Music for iPad: Apple rewrote Music for Windows as a UWP app (even though, technically, it has been deprecated by Microsoft), and it features a sidebar with links to Listen Now, Browse, Radio, Library, and Playlists. When the window is small enough, the sidebar has a compact appearance with only icons being shown (which is not something you can do on iPadOS); make the window larger, and you get a proper sidebar with nested items under the Library and Playlists sections.
Compact sidebar in Apple Music for Windows.
Expanded sidebar in Apple Music.
I noticed right away that my iCloud Music Library was synced from Apple’s servers quickly, but the whole app felt clunky and sluggish compared to, say, Music for iPad or even Spotify for Windows. For starters, while Spotify for Mac and Windows offers a handy Command-K bar to search for anything from anywhere in the app, in Apple Music for Windows you always have to click in the search box if you want to search for something, and there’s no Control-F keyboard shortcut to open the search page immediately. There are other keyboard shortcuts in the app, fortunately, but I couldn’t find one for search.
The Control-K bar in Spotify for Windows.
Where the “preview” nature of this app really shows is in its general instability and slow operations. I’m on the latest version of Windows 11, and sometimes when I search for something in Apple Music, search suggestions come up immediately underneath the search field, but actual results take more than 15 seconds to load. Other times the results page stays blank and I have to quit the app and reopen it. Occasionally, when I click the ‘Browse’ item in the sidebar, the app crashes. Then there are a series of inconsistencies: sometimes the contextual menu for songs has buttons to Play Next and Play Later, but sometimes it doesn’t (I haven’t been able to figure out why); the media keys on my keyboard to play/pause and skip tracks work just fine in Spotify for Windows, but they do nothing in Apple Music; sometimes new playlists sync back to my iPhone immediately, but other times they only appear after I’ve added at least a song to them.
A contextual menu in Apple Music for Windows.
Apple Music for Windows in dark mode.
I should also point out that two of Spotify’s best features are currently missing from Apple Music for Windows, and I was expecting Apple to ship at least one of them. First, there are no real-time lyrics in the app yet. Apple Music has, by far, the best lyrics experience of all modern music streaming services, and I hope Apple is working on bringing the functionality to its Windows client since I can’t imagine going back to reading lyrics on Google search results like it’s 2018 all over again.1 Second, when something is playing in Spotify for Windows, you can hover over its icon in the taskbar and you’ll get an interactive window thumbnail preview with a) the title of the song that’s currently playing and b) inline controls for music playback. The Apple Music taskbar icon offers neither of these functionalities right now, and I hope Apple will be willing to copy Spotify’s approach here.
All that said, I should also note that, despite the issues and missing features of this first version, I’m excited to see Apple make more native apps for its services for Windows devices, and there were aspects of Apple Music for Windows that positively surprised me. For instance, lossless and hi-res lossless streaming and downloads are fully supported, as is crossfade (which is also available on Android but still nowhere to be found on iOS and iPadOS). There’s even a ‘Sound Enhancer’ feature that “changes sound quality during playback” that I only recall seeing on macOS before.
Playback settings for Music on Windows.
There’s a lot of work for Apple to do to catch up to their own web client, third-party Apple Music clients like Cider, or the Spotify desktop app for Windows.2 Regardless, the launch of multiple apps for one of their key competitors in desktop computing is the sign of a healthy Services division at Apple. I’m keen to keep an eye on future developments for Apple Music and Apple’s other media apps.
- What’s also odd: the Apple Music web client and third-party apps based on it, like Cider, also support displaying time-synced lyrics. ↩︎
- Obviously the most pressing issue at the moment: Apple Music for Windows does not integrate with the Last.fm desktop scrobbler. I’m sure this is a top-priority problem for Apple and Last.fm right now. ↩︎
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Source: Apple.
To celebrate Black History Month, Apple has released a new Black Unity Collection. The collection includes an iPhone wallpaper, an Apple Watch face, and a Sports Loop band.
According to Apple, the special-edition Apple Watch Black Unity Sport Loop “features the word “Unity” woven abstractly into the band using red, green, and black yarns that pay homage to the Pan-African flag, while a unique layering of yarns lends a sense of three-dimensionality to the letters.” Both the iPhone wallpaper and watch face combine geometric shapes in green, black, red, and yellow. On the watch face, the numbers on the face change as the minutes pass, using parts of other numbers.
Apple is also marking Black History Month across many of its services, including the App Store, Apple Music, the TV app, Fitness+, News, Podcasts, Books, and Maps. Among the offerings will be Apple Maps Guides by the Smithsonian, curated TV and film collections by Dr. Jelani Cobb, apps and games, special playlists on Apple Music, and podcast spotlights.
Apple also announced that it:
is supporting Art Gallery of New South Wales (Sydney), Ghetto Film School (New York, Los Angeles, London), Music Forward (Los Angeles), Shout Mouse Press (Washington, D.C.), and The National Museum of African American Music (Nashville, Tennessee). Apple’s support for these organizations is a continuation of REJI grants over the past two years that helped organizations committed to providing economic, educational, and creative opportunities in communities of color.
The Apple Watch Black Unity Sport Loop is available to order online today and will be in stores on January 24th for $49. The Unity 2023 watch face and iPhone will be available next week, presumably alongside OS updates.
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Source: Apple.
Over the weekend, Mark Gurman said that Apple would be releasing a new HomePod soon. As it turns out, he was correct because today, Apple released a new second-generation HomePod. According to Apple’s press release,
With convenient new ways to manage everyday tasks and control the smart home, users can now create smart home automations using Siri, get notified when a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm is detected in their home, and check temperature and humidity in a room — all hands-free.
The HomePod is powered by an S7 chip and appears to feature a sound system similar to the first-gen model.
Source; Apple.
The new HomePod also adds a temperature and humidity sensor, which can be used as a trigger for home automations, and supports the Matter home automation standard.
The second-generation HomePod is available to order today, with deliveries beginning Friday, February 3rd for $299, which is $50 less than the original HomePod’s price.
Update: Thanks to the Wayback Machine, I’ve gone back and checked the second-generation HomePod’s tech specs against the original model, and there are some interesting differences. The new model weighs less at 5.16 pounds (2.3 kg) versus 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg). The new model is a little shorter, too, at 6.6 inches (168 mm) compared to the original’s 6.8 inches (172 mm), but the same width.
The new HomePod has two fewer tweeters at five compared to the original’s seven. No mention is made of direct and ambient audio beamforming in the tech specs for the new HomePod, although it does support Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos, which is a nice addition. The latest HomePod has four far-field microphones compared to the original’s six too.
In addition to the temperature and humidity sensor, the new HomePod also features an accelerometer and will support Sound Recognition later this spring with a software update. It’s not clear whether that software update will work with the original HomePod or not.
The new HomePod is also getting a WiFi upgrade with 802.11n support. The new model also includes a Thread radio and Ultra Wideband chip, which the original did not.
Last but not least, the new HomePod’s tech specs appear to suggest that the power cable may be detachable, unlike the original model, because it’s listed as an item ‘in the box,’ whereas that wasn’t the case when the HomePod debuted.
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It’s been over two years since Foodnoms, the nutrition tracking app for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch by Ryan Ashcraft, debuted on the App Store, and I reviewed it. Over the past two years, the app has steadily improved, refining its database of foods, adding Home Screen widgets, and a lot more. With version 2 out today, Foodnoms has taken its biggest step forward since its launch with a long list of new features and a refreshed design.
At its core, Foodnoms lets you set goals, track what you eat, and monitor your progress toward your goals. There are a lot of apps that do something similar, but what sets Foodnoms apart is its design, ease of use, and emphasis on privacy.
Foodnoms 2 on the Mac.
I’ve been a fan of Foodnoms’ design from the start, but version 2 is a cut above previous versions, especially on the iPad and Mac. Tweaks to the app’s design run throughout the app without alienating existing users. If you look back through my original review, you’ll spot differences, like the colorful tiles at the top of the app’s Today screen that track your goal progress and the updated Goals screen, immediately.
Foodnom 2’s new iPad design.
Where you’ll notice the biggest change, though, is on the iPad, where the tab bar has been replaced with a sidebar that opens up more vertical space for your tracked data and makes better use of the device’s bigger screen overall. The same is true on the Mac, where the app has been built with Apple’s Catalyst technology and closely resembles the iPad version. The overall effect is a refreshed, modern look that does a better job emphasizing and communicating progress toward your nutritional goals than ever before. The iPad update also brings with it multiwindowing support, and both the iPad and Mac support keyboard shortcuts.
Tracking nutrition and forming better eating habits can feel like a chore when you first start, which is why it’s crucial for tracking apps to make entering data as simple as possible. Foodnoms has delivered easy, low-friction nutrition tracking from the start. However, with the latest release, the app adds some important refinements. Searching the app’s database of foods has been enhanced, so it’s faster than ever. The algorithm for suggesting foods to log has been made smarter too. It’s hard to objectively compare these sorts of under-the-hood improvements when using the app, but in my experience, Foodnoms’ search is fast, and its suggestions are relevant, both of which speed up data input.
Of course, all of the other ways of logging foods are available. Besides searching, you can scan bar codes for prepared foods and create new foods from scratch, which you can choose to contribute to the app’s community-sourced database. Foods can also be combined into recipes and added as meals that can be logged all at once, circumventing the need to enter multiple items repeatedly. Meals are now customizable in Foodnoms 2, too, letting you add to the app’s pre-defined meal list.
Subscribers to Foodnoms 2 can pin foods, meals, and recipes as favorites for quick access.
Another new feature of Foodnoms 2 is its Favorites bar. When logging an item, you’ll see a row of items you’ve pinned as favorites for even faster entry. Favorites can be individual foods, recipes, or meals, and you can customize each with its own icon, color, and pre-defined portion size.
If you don’t know where to start with setting goals, Foodnoms 2 has suggestions for macro goals based on US government guidelines.
Goal tracking has been updated too. Foodnoms integrates more tightly with Apple Health than before, and one benefit is that tracking calories can now be based on your body profile and energy burn data from the Health app. That means, for example, that if you go out for a run and burn 500 calories, that burn will be reflected in your daily calorie allowance in Foodnoms. The app also includes goal recommendations based on guidelines from the US Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services, plus the Centers for Disease Control.
The deeper integration with Apple Health extends to syncing data from other food tracking apps, meal subscription services like Hello Fresh that include nutritional data about the meals they mail you, and devices like the HydrateSpark.
Foodnoms supports exporting as CSV, adding custom meal types, and integrates more tightly with Apple Health.
Foodnoms has been privacy focused since the start, which few other nutrition tracking apps are. Foodnoms 2 encrypts the goals you set for yourself, your library of foods, meals, and recipes, your meal types, and everything you log before saving it to your iCloud account, which is used to sync your data between devices. If you’ve turned on Apple’s new Advanced Data Protection for iCloud option, that data will be encrypted end-to-end too.
I should mention, too, that there are new alternative icons available in Foodnoms’ settings, and you can now export your logged foods to a CSV file.
I love the look of Foodnoms’ graphs in dark mode on the Mac, which expand to display details when clicked.
I’ll admit that I’m not a consistent nutrition tracker. Instead, I track for a while when I feel like I’ve lost touch with how much and how well I’ve been eating. What I’ve always liked about Foodnoms is that it has no learning curve at all. Whether you drop in and out of the app like I tend to do or use it every day for months on end, the experience is great. The app doesn’t require you to use it long-term to enjoy the benefits of tracking. Sure, over time, you’ll build a library of meals, recipes, and favorite foods through long-term use, but Foodnoms is so easy to use and makes entering foods so simple that it is perfect for first-time and occasional users too.
Having moved somewhere that is warmer than Chicago, which, as far as I can tell, is everywhere, I’ve enjoyed spending more time outside this winter. That’s kept me exercising more than I have during past winters and also thinking more about what I eat. The Foodnoms 2 beta came around just in time to catch me recommitting to good eating after the holidays, and it’s been a terrific addition to my daily routine, which I highly recommend checking out.
Foodnoms 2 is available on the App Store as a free download, which includes all of the app’s core logging and goal tracking functionally. Subscribing for $4.99/month or $29.99/year adds additional features, including the new custom meal types, favorites bar, nutrition data syncing with Apple Health, and importing of energy use data from Apple Health.
For a limited time to celebrate the launch of version 2.0, new subscribers and subscribers whose subscriptions have expired can get $10 off an annual plan by following this link.
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Source: Apple.
Today, Apple announced new MacBook Pro 14” and 16” models and a new Mac mini via press releases and a video on its YouTube channel. The new laptops are available in M2 Pro and Max chip configurations and feature faster memory bandwidth, WiFi 6E, and the same design as the models they replace. The Mac mini has also been updated to add the M2 and M2 Pro options, as well as other features.
Source: Apple.
In its press release, Apple had this to say about the new M2 Pro and M2 Max SoCs:
M2 Pro scales up the architecture of M2 to deliver an up to 12-core CPU and up to 19-core GPU, together with up to 32GB of fast unified memory. M2 Max builds on the capabilities of M2 Pro, including an up to 38-core GPU, double the unified memory bandwidth, and up to 96GB of unified memory. Its industry-leading performance per watt makes it the world’s most powerful and power-efficient chip for a pro laptop.
The 13” MacBook Pro and MacBook Air were upgraded to the base model M2 last year, but the laptops announced today are the first to include the Pro and Max versions of that SoC. Regarding the MacBook Pro, Apple says:
With M2 Pro and M2 Max — the world’s most powerful and efficient chip for a pro laptop — MacBook Pro tackles demanding tasks, like effects rendering, which is up to 6x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Pro, and color grading, which is up to 2x faster. Building on the unprecedented power efficiency of Apple silicon, battery life on MacBook Pro is now up to 22 hours — the longest battery life ever in a Mac. For enhanced connectivity, the new MacBook Pro supports Wi-Fi 6E, which is up to twice as fast as the previous generation, as well as advanced HDMI, which supports 8K displays for the first time. With up to 96GB of unified memory in the M2 Max model, creators can work on scenes so large that PC laptops can’t even run them.
Source: Apple.
The MacBook Pro with M2 Pro comes in 10 and 12-core CPU configurations that Apple says deliver up to 20% faster performance than the M1 Pro, about what you’d expect from an SoC with 20% more cores. The laptops can be configured with up to 32GB of unified memory that has 200GB/s of bandwidth, which is double the standard M2. The GPU has 19 cores and delivers 30% faster performance, according to Apple. The laptop also features Apple’s media engine that handles encoding and decoding video.
The M2 Max version of the MacBook Pro can be configured with up to 38 GPU cores for what Apple says is 30% better performance than the M1 Max, while the CPU has 12 cores. The MacBook Pro with M2 Max also supports up to 96GB of unified memory with 400GB/s of bandwidth.
Source: Apple.
Apple also updated the Mac mini today. Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, said:
With incredible capabilities and a wide array of connectivity in its compact design, Mac mini is used in so many places, in so many different ways. Today, we’re excited to take it even further with M2 and M2 Pro. Bringing even more performance and a lower starting price, Mac mini with M2 is a tremendous value. And for users who need powerful pro performance, Mac mini with M2 Pro is unlike any other desktop in its class.
The Mac mini, which was among the first Macs to be updated to the M1, is gaining an M2 SoC, with an option to configure the desktop Mac with an M2 Pro. The M2 mini has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and the Pro version comes with a total of four. The M2 model can power two displays, and the Pro model three.
The updates bring WiFi 6E to all of the Macs announced today for the first time too. The only other devices Apple makes that support the faster wireless networking standard are the 11” and 12.9” iPad Pros.
These look like solid updates across the board, but I’m especially interested in the Mac mini, which seems to be the best value among the Macs announced today.
Both Macs can be preordered today, with deliveries starting January 24th.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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This week on AppStories, we look at the history of read-later apps, the many similarities and differences between them, and today’s read-later apps, like Matter and Reader, as well as link organizers, such as GoodLinks and Anybox.
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Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next:
MacStories Weekly: Issue 351Using Things via Raycast.
- Federico shared his tips on how to follow Twitter without using a Twitter app
- I covered several tips for Things by Cultured Code and shared why read-later apps should embrace automation
- Plus:
- App Debuts
- Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord
- Interesting links from around the web
- A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts
- and more
Club MacStories+ Town Halls: Avatar: The Way of WaterLast week, we kicked of 2023’s AV Club series with Avatar: The Way of Water. For the latest Town Hall Federico and I were joined by Jonathan Reed, who helped us organize the event, to talk about James Cameron’s latest epic and its predecessor in the film series.
Club MacStories Town Halls are part of the special live audio events we hold in the Club MacStories+ Discord community. The show is a recorded and lightly edited version of the Town Halls that we produce, so Club MacStories+ and Club Premier members who can’t attend the event live can listen later.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Late yesterday, The Information reported that it had seen internal Twitter Slack communications confirming that the company had intentionally cut off third-party Twitter app access to its APIs. The shut-down, which happened Thursday night US time, hasn’t affected all apps and services that use the API but instead appears targeted at the most popular third-party Twitter clients, including Tweetbot by Tapbots and Twitterrific by The Iconfactory. More than two days later, there’s still no official explanation from Twitter about why it chose to cut off access to its APIs with no warning whatsoever.
To say that Twitter’s actions are disgraceful is an understatement. Whether or not they comply with Twitter’s API terms of service, the lack of any advanced notice or explanation to developers is unprofessional and an unrecoverable breach of trust between it and its developers and users.
Twitter’s actions also show a total lack of respect for the role that third-party apps have played in the development and success of the service from its earliest days. Twitter was founded in 2006, but it wasn’t until the iPhone launched about a year later that it really took off, thanks to the developers who built the first mobile apps for the service.
Twitterrific’s website in 2009. Source: The Wayback Machine.
By 2007 when the iPhone launched, The Iconfactory’s Twitter client, Twitterrific, was already a hit on the Mac and had played a role in coining the term ‘tweet’. The app was first to use a bird icon and character counter too. And, although the iPhone SDK was still months off, The Iconfactory was already experimenting with bringing Twitterrific to the iPhone with the help of a jailbroken iPhone and class dumps of iPhone OS.
By the time Twitter bought Tweetie, Twitterrific was already on version 3.0.
Despite the popularity of the iPhone, Twitter didn’t build its own mobile app. Instead, the company purchased Loren Brichter’s Tweetie in 2010. Not only was Tweetie a beautifully designed app that performed better on early iPhones than many of its competitors, but it also introduced the world to ‘pull-to-refresh, a UI detail that was later folded into iOS itself. Twitter re-skinned Tweetie as the official Twitter app, followed up not long after by a flawed iPad app, and later, a Mac version in early 2011 that Brichter had been working on at the time of the acquisition.
Tweetbot 1.0.
Even after Twitter had its own suite of apps, the third-party app market flourished. Tweetbot by Tapbots came along in 2011 and quickly became a favorite of many users, distinguishing itself with its steady stream of new power-user features and thoughtful design. But it wasn’t long before Twitter’s relationships with third-party developers began to sour. It started with a vague set of rules introduced in 2012 that preferred CRM and analytics apps over clients like Twitterrific and Tweetbot. The ups and downs over the years that followed are too numerous to count, but the consequence was that for many years few new Twitter clients were developed.
With the introduction of version 2.0 of its API, third-party Twitter apps, like Spring, gained new, innovative features.
However, relations began to thaw with the announcement of version 2.0 of the Twitter API, which went into effect in 2021. Not only did the API update make new features available, but Twitter promised to loosen restrictions on third-party developers. That led to renewed interest in third-party client development, resulting in innovative new features in apps like Spring, which was a runner-up in the Best App Update category of the 2022 MacStories Selects awards.
As it turns out, Twitter’s developer detente was short-lived. The fact that Elon Musk’s Twitter has cut off third-party developers isn’t surprising. Franky, I expected it sooner, but I didn’t expect it to be done with an utter lack of respect for the developers who played such a critical role in the service’s success for more than a decade. The number of people who use third-party Twitter apps may be small in comparison to the service’s overall user base, but the role of the developers of those apps and the value of those power-users to Twitter’s success is outsized by comparison. The developers of Twitterrific, Tweetbot, and every other app that has lost access to Twitter’s APIs deserved better than a silent flip of the switch late one Thursday night.
There have been many moments over the past decade when we worried that third-party Twitter apps might have met their end and didn’t. Unfortunately, I think this time, those past fears have been realized.
The MacStories team moved its social media presence to Mastodon in mid-December. So, if you’ve lost the use of your favorite third-party Twitter app and are looking for an alternative place to keep up on everything Apple, you can follow us there:
- MacStories Accounts
- MacStories
- AppStories
- Club MacStories
- MacStories Team Accounts.
- Federico
- John
- Alex
- Silvia
Tapbots’ Ivory beta.
Also, Tweetbot users will be happy to know that Tapbots is working on a Mastodon client called Ivory that is currently in beta and should be released soon. We’ll have coverage of Ivory on MacStories as soon as it’s released publicly.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Mark Gurman recently reported that Apple’s much-rumored headset will combine AR and VR technologies, which Brendon Bigley argues could be the wrong approach:
… I don’t think the road to mass adoption of virtual reality actually starts with virtual reality, it starts instead with augmented reality — a technology that can quickly prove its function if presented in a frictionless way. While even the best VR headsets demand isolation and escapism, a hypothetical product focused first and foremost on augmented reality would be all about enhancing the world around you rather than hiding from it.
Brendon’s story nails something that has been nagging me about recent headset rumors. The iPhone was a hit because it took things we already did at a desk with a computer and put them on a device we could take with us everywhere we go, expanding the contexts where those activities could be done. As Brendon observes, the Apple Watch did something similar with notifications. AR feels like something that fits in the same category – an enhancement of things we already do – while VR is inherently limiting, shutting you off from the physical world.
Like Brendon, it’s not that I’m not excited about the prospect of an Apple headset or the long-term prospects for virtual reality as a technology, but given where the technology is today, it does seem as though jumping into VR alongside AR could muddy the waters for both technologies. Of course, we’re all still working off of speculation and rumors. I have so many questions still and can’t wait to see what Apple has in store for us, hopefully later this year.
→ Source: wavelengths.online
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17:19
This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico recommends Gossip Girl (Season 2), and I loved the tech angle behind Glass Onion.
Links and Show NotesFederico’s Pick:
- Gossip Girl (Season 2)
- Trailer
John’s Pick:
- Glass Onion
- Trailer
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Saving articles and links from the Internet for later isn’t new, but it’s something that has drawn renewed interest from developers over the past year or so, including the makers of Matter, who are reexamining the approaches of the past through a modern lens.
An early version of Instapaper on the iPad.
Apps like Instapaper and Read It Later, which became Pocket, pioneered saving web articles for later. The original iPhone ran on AT&T’s EDGE mobile network in the US and coverage was spotty. Read-later apps saved stripped-down versions of articles from the web that could be downloaded quickly and read offline when EDGE was unavailable. The need to save content offline because of slow and unreliable mobile networks is far less pressing today, but collecting links and time-shifting reading remains popular.
I do most of my Matter reading in the evening on my iPad mini using dark mode.
Today, classics like Instapaper and Pocket are joined by Matter, which I’m reviewing today, plus Readwise Reader, which is currently in public beta, and a long list of link organizer apps like GoodLinks, Anybox, and Cubox, all of which include their own reading modes and are the spiritual successors to web services like Delicious and Pinboard. The result is that users have more choices than ever. That’s fantastic because, as I’ve learned from MacStories readers, no two people take the same approach to what they save and how they read and process it.
Matter wasn’t always as focused on the reading experience as it is today.
Of the many options available today, one of my favorites is Matter, which wasn’t always the case. Early on, Matter put a heavy emphasis on social media following and sharing, which got in the way of the reading experience more often than not. However, the company changed course, and as new features steadily rolled out, I found myself reading in Matter more and more often. Today, it’s my primary reading app after my RSS client.1
Matter’s text parser is excellent.
The critical component of any read-later app is its text parser, and Matter’s is excellent. I’ve never used a read-later app that didn’t occasionally have an issue with a certain website or article, and your experience will depend on the source material you feed the app. However, I’ve been sending Matter a steady diet of tech and and other news articles for over a year and have been happy with the parsing results.
Some of Matter’s style settings.
I’m also a fan of the app’s overall design on the iPhone and Mac, although less so on the iPad. Reading in Matter on the iPhone is great. The app includes light and dark modes, direct access to the system brightness setting, eight font sizes, six fonts, and three line spacing options. That’s not a lot of choices, but it’s been enough to suit my needs. Best of all, the single-column layout of articles fits nicely with the size of the iPhone’s screen.
Matter’s wasted space reminds me of Twitter on the original iPad Pro.
The same isn’t always true with the iPad. The iPad mini is small enough that the experience of reading is similar to using a big iPhone. However, when you move up to a bigger iPad, lists of articles and the articles themselves gain big margins in both portrait and landscape modes. I’d love to see Matter make better use of the iPad’s screen, including the option of a two-page view in landscape. I’d also prefer that the app’s tab bar be moved to a sidebar that could be hidden, similar to what Matter does on the Mac, where the web app’s sidebar opens up space to expose more features when viewing your queue. Overall, though, the design of Matter gives me what I want from a read-later app: an uncluttered article in a font that I like at a size and with spacing I find comfortable for reading.
Matter reading materials are divided into three sections.
Matter organizes your reading into three primary areas:
- The Library, which includes a queue of everything you’ve saved for later
- Subscriptions, which includes your email newsletter subscriptions you send to the app, stories from writers you follow in Matter, and any RSS feeds you’ve added to the app
- Staff Picks, which are curated by the Matter team
Each section has a tab devoted to it and can be set as the default that opens when you launch Matter. I spend the vast majority of my time in my queue, reading the materials I’ve saved from around the web, followed by the subscriptions tab, where I send a few email newsletters and follow the work of a handful of my favorite writers.
I rarely dip into the curated Staff Picks but have noticed that the choices are greatly improved from the early days of the app when the picks seemed tailored to appeal primarily to Silicon Valley VCs. Today’s picks are far more diverse and venture far beyond the tech sphere, which has made it a much better way to discover something interesting that I might not otherwise find on my own.
Each of Matter’s tabs has a couple of different views.
From your queue, you also have the option of backing out to a Library view where you can jump back to your queue, view any articles that you’ve marked as favorites or archived, or to which you’ve added highlights. The Library also lists any tags you’ve added to articles, so you can access them with a tap of the tag. Similarly, the subscriptions view can be viewed as a list of Sources, so you can access just one writer’s material or an RSS feed. Also, the staff picks tab can be switched to a Weekly Roundup view of the best stories the Matter team has collected during the past week.
Matter’s filtering and sorting options.
Read-later apps share a problem with email clients. Articles, like messages, stack up, hiding older stories under layers of new material. Matter handles this gracefully with multiple ways to filter and sort your queue, plus offline full-text search. Your queue can be filtered by:
- Quick reads, which are the shortest articles in your queue
- Lindy, which surfaces material with the oldest publication date
- Unread
- Read
- Tag
However, I’ve found that Matter’s sort options are even more powerful than its filters because they go beyond simple date-added sorting. Matter has options for sorting by word count, publication date, and author/publication. You can also shuffle your queue to help resurface older materials or sort your queue manually, which I use whenever I’ve saved a lot of stories in a short time period and want to prioritize a few articles for reading first. A quick swipe to the right on a story in your queue will also send it to the top of the list when sorted manually, which I like a lot. The queue also includes a Resume button that displays just those stories that you’ve begun and abandoned, which is handy for picking up where you left off or abandoning something you aren’t enjoying by deleting or archiving it.
A few of the ways stories can be archived.
Speaking of deleting and archiving, Matter makes it much easier to archive articles than delete them. This is something I’ve seen in a lot of apps like Matter and don’t like. I treat my reading queue like my email. It’s an inbox full of material very little of which is worth keeping. You can delete a story from Matter’s three-dot menu button while reading an article or by long-pressing a story in your queue, but archiving is also available in the toolbar at the bottom of every article and by swiping left on a story from the queue. Perhaps most readers are collectors who want to keep everything ‘just in case’, but my default action when I’m finished with a story is to delete it, not save it.
Bulk editing my queue.
Another handy way to manage a long reading queue is with Matter’s bulk editing feature, which is available from the three-dot menu button in your queue. Matter doesn’t support Apple’s native two-finger swipe-to-select gesture, but it’s still a faster way to tag, archive, delete, or send items to a Kindle.
Bulk editing has become my solution for dealing with articles I don’t want to keep. If I want to save something, I archive it from a story’s toolbar. For everything else, I periodically sort by ‘Read’ and bulk delete everything I don’t want.
One of my favorite features of Matter is the ability to listen to what you’ve saved. The app uses a synthesized voice that isn’t as good as a human narrator or the AI voices Apple is using for Books. However, I’ve found that it’s still a good alternative to podcasts when I’ve run out of episodes to listen to or feel like I’ve fallen behind with my tech news reading.
Matter’s audio player.
The option to play the audio version of a story can be found by long-pressing an article in your queue or using the three-dot menu button from inside an article. Once audio playback begins, a player appears as a banner at the bottom of the screen. As the audio plays, the text is highlighted, following along with the words as they’re spoken. You can still scroll around in the article all you want while you listen and return to the spot being read by tapping the location button in the player.
The player can also be expanded with a tap to reveal controls to toggle playback, skip among articles, and jump thirty seconds forward or fifteen seconds back. There’s also a draggable progress scrubber, playback speed controls, and access to a full list of upcoming stories in your queue. However, you can’t manage the order of playback from the player. That has to be done with your queue’s sorting and filtering controls before you start playback. Another cool trick is that you can highlight an article you’re listening to by pressing the up and down volume buttons simultaneously, which will highlight the sentence being spoken.
Highlights, sharing a quoteshot, and adding a note to highlights.
If you’re the sort of person who likes to highlight what you read and take notes, Matter has other options too. Tapping and dragging on the iPhone or iPad’s screen or dragging across text on the Mac and selecting the popup highlighting option highlights the text and adds an icon to the article showing that highlights are available. Tap on the icon, and a highlights-only view opens, which can be exported for sharing in Markdown format and includes title, author, and publication information, along with a link to the original story.
Tapping on a highlight also provides options to add a note or share, copy, or delete it. Notes can be added at the article level instead of to highlights too. The sharing option includes quoteshot image choices in two sizes and with multiple background colors that can be tweeted or shared as an image. Alternatively, you can simply share highlights as text. Highlights and notes can also be synced with third-party services like Obsidian, Notion, Logsec, Readwise, and Roam for anyone who has adopted those apps as part of a research system. On the Mac, you can even highlight articles on the web directly, bypassing Matter’s reader and sending your highlights to any of those connected apps.
Matter also supports exporting articles to a Kindle using the email address Kindle owners are given by Amazon for importing materials to the device. Once connected to your Kindle, you can send individual articles to the Kindle from the share button in the app’s toolbar, or in bulk, from Matter’s bulk editing mode that I covered above. It’s worth mentioning, too, that Matter supports printing and exporting articles as PDF files.
Sharing an article with Shared with You using iMessage.
Matter’s sharing options extend beyond sending highlights to people or posting them on social media. Matter supports sharing an article’s original link using the share sheet or sending it directly to Twitter. Not long ago, Matter also adopted Apple’s iMessage-based Shared with You functionality to allow users to add articles directly to someone else’s queue. As a publisher, I’m not thrilled that this republishes an article to a Matter URL resulting in the recipient never visiting the publisher’s website, but since it’s one-to-one sharing and not a publicly distributed link, I can live with it.
That aside, I’ve found that Matter’s Shared with You feature is more interesting in concept than practice. Although Federico and others with whom I use iMessage use Matter, I haven’t found myself sending articles to their Matter queues. That’s because I’m most likely to share something time-sensitive in iMessage, not something I’ve saved for later. However, if you do find yourself sharing links to others from Matter, Shared with You is worth trying because it saves your recipient from having to scroll back in a message thread for something you sent when they’re ready to read it.
Matter’s web app.
I haven’t spent much time on Matter’s Mac app in this review because, although the iPad version of the app will run on Apple silicon Macs, Matter doesn’t have a native Mac app. Instead, you have to access your queue from a web browser. The web app is superior to running the iPad app in compatibility mode because Matter has a Safari extension that lets you add articles to your queue, tag them, add a note, send to Kindle, and more. Plus, the extension includes keyboard shortcuts making it easy to manage your queue as you browse. I’m also a fan of the design of Matter’s web app, which puts controls in a sidebar, which is something I’d like to see done with Matter’s iPad app. Another nice touch is that saving to Matter, toggling Matter’s reading view, and highlighting articles are also available by right-clicking in Safari.
No Matter native Mac app means no share sheet extension for RSS clients or other sources of links I’d typically send to Matter.
However, the downside of relying on a web app is that if you’re not in a browser window, the only way to save an article is to copy its URL and paste it into the Matter web app, which is cumbersome, or open it in Safari first, so the extension is available – also cumbersome. Although a lot of the articles I save start in a browser, most are discovered in an RSS app or on social media, and because Matter doesn’t have a native app, there’s no way to save articles from those apps via the share sheet or Shortcuts.
Matter’s sole action is lonely and could use some friends.
Shortcuts is another sore spot with Matter and, really, most read-later apps I’ve used. Matter includes a single action to add items to your queue on iOS and iPadOS. That’s great, but it assumes that Matter is the final destination for all the links I save, which is rarely the case. With tagging and rich metadata associated with each saved article, I’d love to be able to get links back out of Matter after I’ve read them in bulk as part of a broader automation. That way, I could send .webarchive versions of my archived articles to DEVONthink or create a markdown list of articles I want to link on MacStories, for example. Instead, I let to try to anticipate what I’ll want to use elsewhere up front, so I can also send the link to an app like Anybox. That’s a shame because Matter’s focus on providing an excellent reading experience would make it the perfect front-end for processing articles for which I have other uses. The integrations for saving highlighting to other services help, but it’s far too inflexible compared to what could be done with Shortcuts.
Finally, I’d like to see Matter beef up the way it lets you follow authors. Whether an author who writes for a particular site is available to follow is very hit or miss, which leads me to conclude that authors are being added manually instead of drawing directly from article bylines. I like that I can follow many of my favorite writers, but the benefit is undercut by the absence of the ones I can’t.
Matter’s strength simple queue and advanced features like audio playback.
Matter’s greatest strength is its single, highly-filterable and sortable queue. It doesn’t try to impose its view of the ideal way to process reading material on me or make me jump through a bunch of hoops to find what I’ve saved, which I appreciate. Coupled with a terrific reading environment, the option to listen to articles, and powerful highlighting and note-taking, Matter has quickly become my favorite way to read. The app’s unique blend of features and focus set it apart from apps that try to do too much by being everything to everyone and those that lack the imagination to consider what readers want in 2023.
Still, I’d like to see Matter do more because, at least when it comes to my work, reading is rarely the final step of anything I do. With third-party integrations for highlighting and notes, Matter is part of the way there, which is encouraging. However, we’ve seen apps go down the path of one-off third-party integrations before, and it never works well because users always want more or different integrations, and what’s popular changes rapidly. The solution is Shortcuts. Exposing the highlights, notes, and other metadata about articles through Shortcuts actions that users can integrate with anything they want is far more sustainable and scalable.
Matter is available on the App Store as a free download. On January 15th, some of its features, including “HD text-to-speech, fluid highlighting and note-taking, integrations, full-text search, options to personalize Matter, and priority support” will cost $8/month or $60/year, which you can read more about on their website.
- Matter supports RSS feeds in its subscriptions section, but it doesn’t have the level of tools to organize, review, and process feeds that most RSS clients have, so I haven’t added any feeds to it. ↩︎
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Today, Apple introduced a new online tool called Apple Business Connect that allows businesses to customize the information listed in Apple Maps Maps, Messages, Wallet, Siri, and other apps.
According to Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services:
We created Business Connect to provide Apple users around the world with the most accurate information for places to eat, shop, travel, and more. Apple Business Connect gives every business owner the tools they need to connect with customers more directly, and take more control over the way billions of people see and engage with their products and services every day.
There are a couple of components to Apple Business Connect:
- A free online tool where businesses can claim their place cards, which include the details about their businesses in apps like Maps, and customize how it appears
- An API for businesses with 25 or more locations that integrates with third parties that provide location listing services
In addition to providing a self-service path for business owners, Apple has expanded the features of place cards to include Showcases that provide a way for businesses to highlight promotions, seasonal menu items, discounts, and more. Showcases are available today in the US. Apple says Showcases will roll out globally in the coming months.
To register, business owners can visit the Apple Business Connect website, which requires a desktop or laptop computer and an Apple ID. Once logged in and verified by Apple, businesses can personalize their place cards.
Currently, the data in place cards is predominantly supplied by Yelp, although TripAdvisor, Wikipedia, and other sources like users’ photos are also used. Apple Business Connect puts business owners in control, which I expect will result in more accurate and timely updates to place cards, although hopefully, Apple has put some quality-control oversight in place too. The new program also has the added benefit to Apple of cutting the cost of sourcing data from Yelp and others. Having moved recently from Chicago, where place cards were reliably up-to-date, to North Carolina, where the quality of the cards is less reliable, I’m looking forward to seeing how quickly business owners sign up to claim their locations and whether they keep the cards up-to-date.
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Zones makes time zone conversions effortless. It’s simple, beautifully designed, and available on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, so no matter where you are or what you’re doing, knowing the best time to connect with family and friends in other cities is easy.
With just a glance, you’ll always know exactly what time it is no matter where your friends and family live. Plus, Zones includes:
- Detailed weather information with Apple Weather integration for every time zone you track
- Information about holidays around the world
- The ability to create reminders for each time zone, so you’ll recall the best time to reach out to someone on their birthday or an upcoming holiday, for example
Zones is perfect for remote teams too. The app has a built-in event creation feature that integrates with Apple’s Calendar app, making it easy for colleagues to coordinate meetings and calls.
With Zones, you also get support for the latest Apple technologies. Lock and Home Screen widgets, iCloud sync between devices, an iMessage app for sharing time zone information, and a Mac menu bar app add up to a fantastic user experience.
Of course, Zones is also privacy-focused. It doesn’t collect user data, the app doesn’t require an account, and all versions are ad-free.
Download Zones today for free on the App Store to stay in touch with family and friends. And when you’re ready to take Zones even further, sign up for Zones+ for just $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year to unlock holiday and weather information, plus the ability to create reminders.
Our thanks to Zones for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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In his latest video, MKBHD eloquently summarized and explained something that I’ve personally felt for the past few years: pictures taken on modern iPhones often look sort-of washed out and samey, like much of the contrast and highlights from real life were lost somewhere along the way during HDR processing, Deep Fusion, or whatever Apple is calling their photography engine these days. From the video (which I’m embedding below), in the part where Marques notes how the iPhone completely ignored a light source that was pointing at one side of his face:
Look at how they completely removed the shadow from half of my face. I am clearly being lit from a source that’s to the side of me, and that’s part of reality. But in the iPhone’s reality you cannot tell, at least from my face, where the light is coming from. Every once in a while you get weird stuff like this, and it all comes back to the fact that it’s software making choices.
That’s precisely the issue here. The iPhone’s camera hardware is outstanding, but how iOS interprets and remixes the data it gets fed from the camera often leads to results that I find…boring and uninspired unless I manually touch them up with edits and effects. I like how Brendon Bigley put it:
Over time though, it’s become more and more evident that the software side of iOS has been mangling what should be great images taken with a great sensor and superbly crafted lenses. To be clear: The RAW files produced by this system in apps like Halide are stunning. But there’s something lost in translation when it comes to the stock Camera app and the ways in which it handles images from every day use.
Don’t miss the comparison shots between the Pixel 7 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro in MKBHD’s video. As an experiment for the next few weeks, I’m going to try what Brendon suggested and use the Rich Contrast photographic style on my iPhone 14 Pro Max.
→ Source: youtube.com
Dell’s upcoming 6K UltraSharp display. Source: Dell.
Dan Seifert writing for The Verge explains why this year’s CES has been such an exciting one for Mac users:
Though there have been many monitors marketed toward MacBook owners over the years, with features such as USB-C connectivity, high-wattage charging, and nicer than average designs, they’ve typically all had traditional 4K panels and sub-par pixel densities, as opposed to the higher-resolution displays that Apple puts in its devices. There was always a compromise required with one of those other monitors if you hooked a MacBook up to it.
Other than LG’s UltraFine displays, which had quality-control issues over the years, Mac users had no display options that matched the resolutions found on MacBook Pros or the 5K iMac. That changed with Apple’s Pro Display XDR and the Studio display, but both displays arrived with extremely high price tags.
That’s why monitors announced by Samsung and Dell at CES this week are so encouraging. Prices haven’t been set yet, but it’s a safe bet that they will be competitive with Apple’s.
The Samsung ViewFinity S9. Source: Samsung.
Both displays promise functionality not found in Apple’s displays too. Samsung’s 5K ViewFinity S9 goes toe-to-toe with the Studio Display’s specs and adds a bunch of ports not available on Apple’s display.
Dell seems to be aiming directly at the Pro Display XDR. As Seifert explains:
Perhaps more interesting is the new Dell UltraSharp 32, the first monitor I’m aware of that matches the Pro Display XDR’s 32-inch size and 6K resolution. It doesn’t have the same HDR-capable local dimming display technology as the XDR, instead using an IPS Black panel sourced from LG, but it comes with integrated speakers, microphones, and a beefy 4K webcam, all of which are lacking from Apple’s high-end option. The UltraSharp 32 may be best described as a bigger version of the Studio Display, as it provides all of the necessary desk peripherals most people need but with a larger — just as sharp — panel. The Dell also tops out at 600 nits of brightness (the same as the Studio Display and Samsung’s S9) and comes with a whole litany of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4 (with up to 140W of power delivery), HDMI 2.1, ethernet, and four USB-A ports. It’s basically a complete Thunderbolt dock built into the back of the display.
I’m a big fan of Apple’s Studio Display, but its price was a hard pill to swallow and a factor that I’m sure has limited its appeal significantly. It remains to be seen how Samsung and Dell will price their monitors, but it’s good to see choice and competition comes to the high-resolution monitors that so many Mac users have wanted for so long.
→ Source: theverge.com
I was a metaverse skeptic until CES covered my eyes and mouth to the possibilities. Source: Shiftall.
Today, I bring you Weird CES, a collection of wacky and wonderful announcements from the past week. But first, I have a few odds and ends that were announced in between my previous two stories and are worth mentioning.
Odds and EndsThe Razer Blade 18. Source: Razer.
There was a lot of laptop news at CES this year, much of which made my eyes glaze over in its sameness. However, there are some notable exceptions:
- LG announced the Gram Style, a 10.99 mm thin, 2.7-pound laptop with a 16” anti-glare OLED display and a trackpad that disappears and uses LED backlighting to reappear when touched
- Razer announced its Blade 16 and 18 gaming laptops, which are big, heavy, packed with the latest high-end tech, and are covered in detail on The Verge
- Lenovo’s ThinkBook Plus Twist combines an OLED screen and an e-Ink display
- Lenovo also introduced the dual-screen YogaBook 9i laptop that has screens that can be used in a stacked or side-by-side configuration
Source: Stellantis.
Also yesterday, Stellantis unveiled a concept EV muscle truck called the RAM 1500 Rev., which will follow its owner around like a puppy on command.
Weird CESDuring the global pandemic, CES was held online, and there were far fewer strange and wonderful gadgets announced. I’m pleased to report that Weird CES is back in full force. Here are my favorite oddities of 2023:
Source: Blok.
You probably didn’t realize that what your kitchen cutting board is missing is a removable, rechargeable screen, so you can watch cooking videos while you cut stuff. The Blok is exactly that, complete with a docking station for watching cooking videos when you’re not chopping and an app for the not-so-low price of $699, plus a $390/year subscription for video cooking classes. I think I’ll stick with my old-school wood-only cutting board with an iPad propped up nearby.
Source: GlüxKind.
A self-driving baby stroller seems like a horrible idea, except GlüxKind is one step ahead of you with its Ella stroller – literally. The $3,300 stroller is only self-propelled when there’s no baby in it, which is a smart though somewhat self-defeating design decision. Instead, the stroller uses AI to follow its owner around when their hands are full, presumably with a baby.
Source: Shiftall.
Source: Shiftall.
When you’re in the metaverse, you want to be fully in the moment, and nothing will spoil that faster than outsiders hearing what you’re saying to your meta-buddies. At least that seems to be the premise behind the Shiftall Mutalk, a device that houses a microphone that you strap around your mouth when using the company’s Steam VR headset and other accessories. Words really can’t do justice to this device that looks like a digital feedbag. Engadget has some great shots of the Mutalk in action in its coverage.
Source: Aromajoin.
The quest for total digital immersion doesn’t stop with the Mutalk. Aromajoin showed off the AromaPlayer, which wraps around your neck and squirts smells in your face while you watch videos. According to TechCrunch:
The smells available are remarkably recognizable. Fresh grapefruit, crackling campfire smoke, freshly baked bread, burning rubber — and when synced with video, the smells help the visuals come to life.
I’m personally looking forward to the day when I can sit back, relax, and enjoy the stench of burning rubber as I watch YouTube.
Source Yukai Engineering.
Back in 2020, I wrote about the Qoobo, a headless cat pillow that wags its tail when you pet it. Yukai Engineering is back this year with a less disturbing product that’s still a little creepy. Fufuly is a pillow that matches your breathing pattern when held.
Samsung and LG are best known for their mainstream consumer electronics, but they always have something a little different to show off at CES too. This year, Samsung introduced the Bespoke AI Oven, which analyzes the food you put in it and recommends cooking settings. That’s not a novel concept, but the Bespoke AI Oven goes a step further by letting users stream video of the food cooking in the oven to social media, perhaps enabling a whole new Twitch sub-genre.
Source: LG.
For its part, LG introduced the Styler ShoeCare for sneaker collectors that deodorizes them in just 37 minutes using a series of steam cleaning nozzles. For those considering the Styler ShoeCare, some good advice from The Verge’s Umar Shakir:
Friends might come over to your pad thinking the ShoeCare is a mini fridge, but you can surprise them by inserting any sneakers left by your door and demonstrating LG’s TrueSteam cleaning technology. Let them know that its Zeo-Dry filters will make their shoes “more pleasant to wear and to have around,” as LG states.
Of course, while researching Weird CES this year, I came across an all-time favorite from 2022 also from Yukai Engineering, the maker of the headless cat and breathing pillows, that I couldn’t help sharing: the now famous finger nibbling stuffed pet, which is a good way to close the book on CES 2023.
Nib nib.
See you next year…
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
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I’ve been through dozens of additional press releases and stories from CES and have collected all of the smart home, electric vehicle, and gaming news that has caught my eye since yesterday’s story on displays and TVs.
Smart HomeSource: Nanoleaf.
Nanoleaf, which introduced some of the first Thread-compatible lightbulbs I’ve tried, made several announcements at CES this week. Nanoleaf is jumping into synchronized TV backlighting with the Nanoleaf 4D, a camera-based setup that synchronizes the colors displayed on your TV with light strips attached to its back. Unlike Philips Hue, which offers a similar system powered by its separate Play HDMI Sync Box, the Nanoleaf’s camera sits on top of your TV, where it picks up the colors of whatever is playing. Nanoleaf 4D is expected to ship in Q2 2023 and start at $99.99, according to The Verge.
Nanoleaf’s Skylight. Source: Nanoleaf.
Nanoleaf also announced the Skylight, a modular system of lighting panels that are meant to be attached to the ceiling of a room. The Matter-enabled panels, which will connect to your local network via WiFi, support 16 million colors. Nanoleaf also introduced several light switch products, including wired and wireless models that include motion sensors and support both Matter and Thread. Nanoleaf will release Nala, an automations learning assistant, which the company promises will learn your lighting preferences from your daily habits and automatically adjust your lighting accordingly. Finally, Nanoleaf is expanding its Essentials line of lightbulbs and lightstrips with updates to existing offerings as well as new BR30 and other types of lights. 9to5Mac has a good writeup with additional details.
Source: Eve Home.
Eve Home smart plugs, door and window sensors, and motion sensors will begin shipping with out-of-the-box Matter support in March. The company previously announced that support for Matter is coming to existing hardware via a firmware update. Eve also introduced its MotionBlinds Upgrade Kit for Roller Blinds, which will automate roller blinds via a battery-powered motor that recharges using USB-C and is hidden inside the blinds’ roller mechanism.
Source: Philips Hue.
Philips Hue announced an app collaboration with Samsung that synchronizes TV backlighting using Hue lighting and the picture displayed on your TV without the need for separate hardware. The app is available on Samsung’s TV app store for $130, which is about half of what Hue’s HDMI Sync Box costs. Philips Hue also announced a new outdoor PAR38 floodlight bulb, an updated tap switch for controlling lights, and Resonate, a downward-facing wall light fixture.
The Philips Hue Resonate outdoor light fixtures. Source: Philips Hue.
Aqara, which has sold a presence sensor in China for a while now, is bringing the mmWave radar-based FP2 sensor to the US in Q2 according to The Verge. The $60 sensor will also feature WiFi connectivity, have a range of 16-23 feet, be able to detect the presence of multiple people, and feature an ambient light sensor.
Aqara announced a door lock that supports Apple’s Home Keys feature and a battery-powered video doorbell, which is the first such doorbell to work with HomeKit Secure Video. Aqara’s G4 video doorbell will be available in February for $120. The U100 Matter-enabled lock doesn’t have an official price yet, but The Verge was told it will be out in Q2 and retail for between $160 and $180, which is significantly less than similar locks from other makers.
EVsCES has become a mini auto show, too.
Sony’s Afeela prototype. Source: Sony.
Sony and Honda’s collaboration on the Afeela prototype electric vehicle is set to ship in 2026. Sony’s presentation was a little light on details, but it said the auto will include around 45 sensors, including cameras, radar, and ultrasonic sensors to enhance the vehicle’s safety and ability to drive autonomously. Sony also touted the sedan’s role as an entertainment hub that could incorporate Sony’s PlayStation console. Pre-orders for the Afeela will start in 2025, but no price has been announced.
VW’s ID.7. Source: Volkswagon.
VW showed off its ID.7 sedan, which can change its look on command or in time with music thanks to 22 color-shifting paint sections. The car also incorporates QR codes into the exterior, which let authorized users change the paint job. VW says the ID.7 will be available to the public by 2026.
GamingDisplays, which I covered yesterday, weren’t the only gaming news at CES. Laptops, GPUs, Sony’s PSVR2, and more have been in the spotlight this week too.
Source: Sony.
Sony debuted its PlayStation VR2 hardware last year, so at CES, it spent part of its stage time filling out the story surrounding the upcoming device instead. According to Sony’s Jim Ryan, PSVR2 will have more than 30 games at launch, including Gran Turismo 7 and Beat Saber, titles that were not previously announced. PSVR2 is available for pre-order now for $549.99 and will ship on February 22nd.
Source: Sony.
Sony also revealed Leonardo, a PlayStation 5 accessibility controller. The modular kit is designed to enable gameplay for people with a wide variety of disabilities and can be used standalone or paired with a Sony DualSense controller.
The Asus TUF A16. Source: Asus.
CES was packed with PC gaming news, too, with new CPUs, GPUs, and systems. There’s been a lot announced, but among the things that have caught my eye are the following:
- AMD’s Ryzen 7000 X3D CPUs will be available next month and feature the company’s 3D V-Cache technology in a desktop chip for the first time. For all the specs, see Tom Warren’s story on The Verge.
- AMD’s RDNA 3 graphics architecture is coming to laptops with the promise of better gaming performance at lower power.
- One of the first laptops to take advantage of AMD’s latest GPUs will be the Asus TUF Gaming A16 laptop, which also features a 16” screen with 240Hz refresh rate and 3 millisecond response time.
- Nvidia introduced its RTX-4070 GPU, which it said matches RTX 3080 desktop performance in a laptop form factor, according to a report on The Verge.
That’s it for today. I’ll be back once more with a roundup of this year’s weird and wonderful CES finds.
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The Guardian reported today that audiobooks ‘Narrated by Apple Books’ have begun showing up in the Apple Books store. The audiobooks are narrated by AI-generated voices that Apple has picked to complement the genre of the books.
As 9to5Mac points out in its coverage, the feature was first announced last month on the Apple Books for Authors website, which offers details about the process for generating an AI-narrated audiobook. The website also explains that Apple is working with two outside publishers to produce the audiobooks. Currently, the program is limited to fiction and romance novels, plus a limited number of nonfiction and self-development titles. Samples of the voices available for each genre are linked on the site and are worth trying. Although the voices are clearly artificial, they’re some of the best I’ve heard from any service.
Although the narration used for the new ‘Narrated by Apple Books’ is synthesized using artificial intelligence, the production of a book is far from automated, with very specific criteria for eligible books and a one to two-month turnaround time. Still, it will be interesting to see how ‘Narrated by Apple Books’ affects the broader audiobook market. Audiobooks are expensive to produce, so I expect Apple’s new program will open up the option to more authors than before. However, as with other AI services, Apple’s could put voice actors out of work as its quality improves.
→ Source: theguardian.com
Sean Hollister of The Verge reports that Apple is contributing aspects of its MagSafe charging technology to the Qi wireless charging standard, which will bring magnetic coupling to Qi2-compatible mobile phones, including Android phones. According to Hollister’s interview with Paul Golden, a spokesperson for the Wireless Power Consortium:
There’s no reason to think a future Qi2 charger wouldn’t work seamlessly and identically with both Android and iPhones, Golden says when I ask. That’s because Apple, a WPC “steering member” (and chair of the board of directors) is contributing essentially the same “magnetic power profile” as MagSafe to the new Qi2 standard.
Hollister also reports that faster charging speeds are next on the Wireless Power Consortium’s to-do list:
That’s not all the WPC is working on, either! While the Qi2.0 release is largely just about adding magnets — it’s still primarily for phones, still tops out at 15 watts, still has the same foreign object detection, etc — the WPC intends to take advantage of guaranteed magnetic coupling to give us faster charging speeds, too. “When we finish with the spec for Qi2, we’ll immediately start working on a significantly higher power profile level for the next version of Qi2,” says Golden.
I’m glad to see Apple contributing to the Qi standard. Very few third-party manufacturers are using the official MagSafe standard, which usually means they charge more slowly. By standardizing the underlying magnetic connection and focusing next on charging speeds, we’ll hopefully see broader adoption of faster wireless charging across mobile phone accessories.
→ Source: theverge.com
With the turn of the New Year, Apple closed down Dark Sky for good. Apple acquired the app in 2020 and left it up and running until January 1st as it incorporated the app’s radar and real-time forecast features into its own Weather app. Dark Sky’s API, which was used by many third-party weather apps, was discontinued at the end of 2021 and was subsumed within Apple’s own WeatherKit API, which debuted last fall.
Over the holidays, Slate took a look at the app’s indie success story, which began with a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2011 that raised $40,000. One thing that I didn’t realize about Dark Sky is that its short-term precipitation forecasts were based solely on analysis of radar images, which didn’t win it fans among meteorologists:
Indeed, Dark Sky’s big innovation wasn’t simply that its map was gorgeous and user-friendly: The radar map was the forecast. Instead of pulling information about air pressure and humidity and temperature and calculating all of the messy variables that contribute to the weather—a multi-hundred-billion-dollars-a-year international enterprise of satellites, weather stations, balloons, buoys, and an army of scientists working in tandem around the world (see Blum’s book)—Dark Sky simply monitored changes to the shape, size, speed, and direction of shapes on a radar map and fast-forwarded those images. “It wasn’t meteorology,” Blum said. “It was just graphics practice.”
I hadn’t used Dark Sky in years when Apple bought it, except as a data source in other weather apps. Its forecasts may not have been as nuanced or accurate as a meteorologist’s, but there’s no denying its cultural impact on the world of apps, which is why I’ll be tucking this story away in my app history archives.
→ Source: slate.com
Source: CES.
I love the spectacle of CES. It’s a relentless firehose of ‘new’ that’s full of over-the-top ideas, vaporware, creepy robots, bizarre gadgets, and, best of all, legit previews of tech that’s just around the corner.
CES 2023 hasn’t disappointed, even though it doesn’t officially start until tomorrow. The show has a little bit of everything this year. As in recent years, though, there are a couple of categories that stand out already. The first category, which I’ll cover today, is displays, both computer monitors and TVs, which have become a pillar of CES. So much so that the confetti and champagne bottles of New Year’s Eve were barely cleaned up before the press releases began arriving. CES may not start until January 5th, but the days leading up to it have become a sort of pre-game show for the main event.
The other big story beginning to emerge from CES 2023 is devices compatible with the Matter smart-home standard. Matter 1.0 debuted last fall with a lot of promise but a small collection of new devices and updates to existing gadgets. Whether manufacturers can deliver more devices this year remains to be seen, but judging from what’s been introduced at CES so far, 2023 is shaping up to be an exciting year for the smart home.
Of course, there are many other interesting stories coming out of CES too. There’s a lot of ground to cover, so I’ll be splitting our coverage up, starting with desktop displays and TVs. We’ll have more on smart home devices, other gadgets, and what I affectionately call ‘weird CES’ soon.
Computer DisplaysLG’s 240Hz 45” curved UltraGear OLED display. Source: LG.
240Hz OLED displays for gaming have arrived, led by LG, which has announced flat 16:9 27” and curved 21:9 45” displays, both of which are 1440p and part of the company’s UltraGear lineup. The 27” model is priced at $999, the 45” model is $1699, and both are available for pre-order now. Cameron Faulkner has a preview on The Verge with more details about both displays.
Corsair Xeneon Flex. Source: Corsair.
Faulkner also has a review of the Corsair Xeneon Flex on The Verge, which is one of the more intriguing gaming displays announced at CES and available for pre-order now. The company’s 45” OLED display is flexible, allowing it to be used as a flat display or curved. Bending the screen is accomplished by squeezing handles on the sides of the $1,999 display. The monitor, which uses the same OLED panel as LG’s displays, looks like one of the more versatile options available from any manufacturer, even if the mechanism for flexing the screen is a bit primitive.
Samsung is taking aim at Apple’s Studio Display with its upcoming ViewFinity S9 monitor. Source: Samsung.
Samsung is continuing the monstrously large gaming display trend with its 57” Odyssey Neo G9, an ultrawide 8k mini-LED display with a ratio of 32:9. Like LG, Corsair, and others, Samsung announced a curved OLED gaming monitor too. The Odyssey G9 OLED, a 49” 32:9 display with a 240Hz refresh rate that can be used to stream video content even if it’s disconnected from a computer. Also coming from Samsung is ViewFinity S9, a 5K IPS display for creative professionals aimed directly at Apple’s Studio Display. The 27” ViewFinity S9 supports Thunderbolt 4 and includes a 4K webcam.
Dell’s 6K UltraSharp display. Source: Dell.
Dell is gunning for the high end of the market, too, with a new 32” 6K UltraSharp display. The resolution and pixel density of the UltraSharp are slightly better than Apple’s Pro Display XDR, but the display’s peak brightness is significantly less at 600 versus 1600 nits. Another downside is the overall design. The display’s frame appears to be plastic, and it has an awkwardly large strip across the top where its webcam is housed. The UltraSharp supports Thunderbolt 4, comes with a much greater variety of ports than Apple’s displays, and can be rotated to portrait orientation. There’s no word from Dell yet on pricing, but it should be available in the first half of 2023.
TVsLG’s new OLED TVs feature brighter screens and a new chipset. Source: LG.
Updates to TVs this year are incremental. LG has revved its flagship line of OLED TVs (the C2 becomes the C3 and the G2 becomes the G3, etc.) with brighter displays and improvements to the software that powers them. The TVs also sport a new chipset that will drive enhancements to AI-powered features.
Source: Samsung.
Samsung’s CES story is a little different. Last year, the company introduced QD-OLED TVs, which use quantum dot technology not found in OLED TVs from companies like LG and Sony. Those first QD-OLED models were expensive and limited to 55” and 65” models. This year, Samsung is expanding the lineup with a 77” model called the S95C. The lineup boasts a 0.1 millisecond response time and up to 144Hz refresh rate.
Samsung also introduced updates to its line of MicroLED TVs that come in a wide variety of sizes and feature 240Hz variable refresh rates and 2 nanosecond response times.
Perhaps most emblematic of the CES’s subdued TV vibe this year is the fact that Sony isn’t showing off new TVs at all. Instead, the company is expected to focus on its upcoming PSVR 2 virtual reality device and its EV collaboration with Honda.
Alright, that’s it for today. Whether you’re looking for a gaming monitor or an alternative to Apple’s expensive displays, 2023 looks like a promising year to take the plunge and buy a new display. TVs are a slightly different story. If you’ve recently purchased a new OLED TV, I haven’t seen many reasons to upgrade in 2023, given the incremental improvements this year.
There will be a lot more being announced at CES in the coming days. Instead of covering it all, we’ll be back soon with more highlights of the best of what we’ve seen.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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WinterFest 2022: The Festival of Artisanal Software is back with a fantastic collection of carefully-crafted software for writing, research, thinking, and more at tremendous prices. As in past years, software artisans from around the globe come together to offer discounts direct to you on 19 carefully-crafted apps and a book collection to assist you with everyday knowledge work:
- Aeon Timeline: The timeline tool for creative thinking
- BBEdit: The leading text and code editor for the Mac
- Bookends: The reference manager you’ve been looking for
- DEVONagent Pro: Your smart research assistant
- DEVONthink: Your powerful information and knowledge manager
- Easy Data Transform: Merge, clean, reformat data without coding
- Hookmark: Supplies the missing links
- HoudahGeo: Photo geotagging for Mac
- HoudahSpot: Powerful file search
- HyperPlan: Flexible visual planner
- ImageFramer Pro: Add creative borders and frames to photos
- Panorama X: Collect, organize, and understand your data
- Scapple: Quickly capture and connect ideas
- Scrivener: Your complete writing studio
- SmallCubed Mail Suite: Manage mail like a maven
- Take Control Books: eBooks from top authors that help you navigate the latest Apple tech and apps
- Tinderbox: Visualize and organize your notes, plans, and ideas
- Trickster: Your recently used files, at your fingertips
- Yojimbo: The Mac app that empowers users to effortlessly and securely manage the onslaught of information
There are no gimmicks, no bundles, no gotchas – just saving of hundreds of dollars on great software from thoughtful developers.
Visit the WinterFest website now for links to these amazing deals or use the coupon code Winterfest2022 at checkout.
Also, in mid-January, the WinterFest folks are organizing an online symposium about the art and craft of software. There will be interviews and panel discussions with leading designers and thinkers, tackling the big issues in software design, including:
- Interlinked systems
- Tiny methods, tiny objects
- Software ecologies
- AI, agents, and self-organizing documents
- Test-driven development and Improvisatory architecture
- Community and synergy
- Digital humanities
Stay tuned for more information soon.
Our thanks to WinterFest 2022 for its support of MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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With the introduction of the App Store, mobile gaming took off, quickly becoming the number one driver of revenue for the store. By the time Apple Arcade was released, more than a decade later, mobile games were dominated by free-to-play titles supported with ads or In-App-Purchases, virtual toll booths designed to interrupt the fun until the player paid with their time or money to continue.
This week, in an interview with CNET’s Shelby Brown, Matt Fischer, Apple’s vice president of the App Store, explained that Apple Arcade was created to eliminate those toll booths:
…many users are also looking for game experiences they can enjoy without interruptions, [and] without having to pay up-front for each title. So we saw an opportunity to bring an exceptional set of games together for players who want unlimited access to an evolving catalog of great games, all for a low monthly price, all without in-game ads or in-app purchases.
That perspective fits well with Eddy Cue’s comments to BuzzFeed in 2015 about gaming on the Apple TV, four years before Apple Arcade launched:
When we first announced the iPhone, we didn’t tout it as a gaming device. But games became a huge part of iPhone, because it turns out that a lot more people than just hardcore gamers love games. We expanded the market. I think the vast majority of people around the world probably aren’t looking to buy an Xbox or PlayStation. But that doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy playing games. I think Apple TV expands the gaming market to those people.
Those two quotes are about as good an explanation of Apple’s approach to Arcade as any I’ve seen. The $4.99 per month subscription is designed to appeal to people who like videogames but aren’t likely to play console or desktop games and who would rather pay a monthly fee than be interrupted by ads or In-App Purchases.
That’s not to say that Arcade isn’t testing new ideas, though. A good example is Dead Cells, a big hit before it debuted on the App Store in 2019. Dead Cells has always been a paid-up-front title, with paid DLC that was released periodically in the years that followed. Now, it, too, is available on Apple Arcade as Dead Cells+, a version that collects the original game and all DLC for subscribers.
Apple has also expanded its Arcade catalog with App Store Greats and Timeless Classics, which, unlike Arcade Originals, don’t always support the Mac or Apple TV. According to Fischer:
Over time, something we heard consistently from players was that they wanted more casual titles, along with many of the richer Arcade Originals in the catalog. So we saw another great opportunity to offer our subscribers a collection of classic games along with award-winning titles from the App Store, but with all the benefits that players love about the service. In April 2021, we introduced two new categories of games, App Store Greats and Timeless Classics, to expand the catalog.
Those titles, along with Originals and others, have grown Apple Arcade into a much more diverse and interesting service than it was when it debuted in 2019. However, games that were previously only available on consoles and desktop computers are increasingly coming to handheld devices like the Steam Deck. Arcade has some titles that rival console releases, but the selection is limited. With more competitors’ devices handling everything from casual games to console and desktop releases, both locally and via game streaming services, I won’t be surprised if competitors start chipping away at the position Apple has carved out for itself in the videogame industry. How Apple reacts will be one of the stories worth keeping an eye on in 2023.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings:
MacStories Weekly: Issue 350Sleeves 2.
- Sleeves 2
- An update to Todoist Tasks, the Obsidian plugin that adds compatibility with the latest Todoist API and Obsidian 1.0.
- Getting out of a workflow rut
- A Club member’s Marvis Pro setup
- Plus:
- App Debuts
- Interesting links from around the web
- A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts
- and more
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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This week on AppStories, we introduce the fifth annual MacStories Selects award winners and interview the MacStories Selects Lifetime Achievement award winner, Greg Pierce, the creator of Drafts.
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On AppStories+, we talk about the team’s move to MacStories’ own Mastodon server.
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Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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It’s the end of the year, and before I take a few days off to relax for the holidays, I have a few cool things to share that have been sitting on my desk and Mac for a little bit.
The Belkin Mount with MagSafe for Mac Desktops and DisplaysOne of macOS Ventura’s flagship features is Continuity Camera, which lets you use an iPhone’s camera as a webcam. I covered Continuity Camera in my Ventura review, and it works really well, especially with Center Stage turned off, so you get the full uncropped image from the iPhone’s camera.
A side view.
Alongside Continuity Camera, Belkin introduced an excellent, compact MagSafe mount for Apple Laptops but left desktop and external display users hanging. Last week, desktop users got their wish for a similar solution, with a double-hinged MagSafe Mount that I expect will work on a work with a wide range of displays.
Ready for hooking to a screen.
Belkin sent me its new mount to try last week, and I immediately gave it a try. The hardware has a nice, solid feel. The hinges are stiff, so your iPhone’s weight won’t affect your setup, and every surface that touches your display, front and back, as well as your iPhone, has a soft-touch finish that shouldn’t scratch your display or phone.
The Belkin mount folds up for easy carrying.
The MagSafe pad that holds your iPhone can be slid to the front of the device’s bracket or back. Shifting the pad back allows the bottom of the iPhone to sit behind your display for vertical video. Shift it to the forward position for landscape video. There’s also a hole in the bracket for screwing the mount to a tripod instead of hooking it on your display, and the mount folds onto itself, so it’s relatively compact if you need to travel with it.
Currently, the Belkin MagSafe Mount is out of stock on Belkin’s website but can be ordered from Apple for delivery in late January in the US and some other countries.
Hand MirrorHand Mirror 2.0 is an excellent companion for Belkin’s MagSafe mount. The app lets you preview what you’ll look like on camera before you start your next video call. The app sits in your Mac’s menu bar, so before you start a call, it’s easy to check whether you’ve got something on your face or if the mess behind you is visible.
Hand Mirror Plus’ settings.
The latest version introduces Hand Mirror Plus, an In-App Purchase that unlocks new functionality. My favorite feature is the Smart Window, which you can park in nine different preset locations, drag around, and resize all you want, like right below your camera, so you can both look into the camera and monitor yourself at the same time. The window can also be masked to fit your video feed into a square or circle. There are options to trigger Hand Mirror’s window when you drag your pointer over a Mac laptop’s notch if it has one and several alternate icons for the menu bar and Dock.
I’ve been doing more video calls this year, and I’m still not a big fan of them. However, I do appreciate having tools like Hand Mirror to help me get set up and check what my stream is going to look at before I drop into a call. I could also see it as a replacement for more expensive and complex screen recording apps when combined with an app like CleanShot X. Screen recording apps can do more, but that’s not something I always need.
Hand Mirror is available on the Mac App Store as a free download. The Hand Mirror Plus features can be unlocked for a one-time payment of $4.99 (with an option to pay $10.99).
Logitech CrayonI’m not an artist, and although I like having the option to write directly on my iPad Pro’s screen, I don’t use it regularly. It turns out that makes me the ideal audience for Logitech’s Crayon, an iPad stylus that doesn’t support all the features found in the Apple Pencil but is more affordable.
Top to Bottom: The Apple Pencil, Logitech’s Crayon, and the 53 Pencil.
Logitech’s Crayon reminds me of FiftyThree’s stylus, which was called the Pencil and predated Apple’s Pencil. The Crayon has a similar flat, rectangular barrel that’s made of aluminum and feels good in the hand. The pointy end of the Crayon isn’t that much different than the Apple Pencil, with a tip that can be replaced. However, the opposite end is quite different. There, you’ll find a physical on/off switch and a USB-C port for charging, because unlike the Apple Pencil, the Crayon doesn’t connect to the iPad magnetically for charging. For someone like me, who doesn’t use a stylus regularly, that’s a big plus. I haven’t run any scientific tests, but I’ve been pleased with how well the Crayon holds a charge when turned off and left unused for many days. Plus, a quick charge with a USB-C cable charges the Crayon quickly, so it’s ready for action. Logitech says the battery supports seven hours of writing time.
The downside of the Crayon compared with the Apple Pencil is that it doesn’t support multiple levels of pressure sensitivity or the double-tap gesture for switching between tools. However, the Crayon can change line widths as you tilt it. If you’re like me and you mostly use a stylus for taking notes or creating rough sketches or doodles, that’s fine. Apple’s Freeform doesn’t even support pressure sensitivity, so the Crayon works equally well with it as the Apple Pencil does. However, if you’re an artist, you’d probably feel overly constrained by the Crayon.
So, yes, the Crayon is a limited version of the Apple Pencil in some respects. But at $69.99, the Crayon is also more affordable, with a price tag that I expect is more attractive to anyone who doesn’t expect to use a stylus regularly.
The Crayon is available from a wide variety of retailers, including the Apple Store and Logitech’s website.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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IntroductionJohn: It’s time for the MacStories Selects awards, our annual celebration of the apps we love and the people who make them. Every year since 2018, we’ve paused at the end of a busy year to reflect on the hundreds of apps we’ve tried and recognize the best.
It’s been another big year for apps, driven by the ingenuity and creativity of the developers who make them combined with new technologies introduced by Apple. Note-taking apps were big again, and just as we get ready to put 2022 in the rear-view mirror, the read-later app space has begun heating up like it’s 2010 all over again.
Last year, we kicked off the MacStories Selects Awards with a new Lifetime Achievement Award, which we gave to PCalc by James Thomson whose app will celebrate its 30th anniversary in a couple of days. This year, we’ve got another app that has stood the test of time and had an outsized impact on the world of apps, which you can read about in a special story written by our Alex Guyot, whose history with the winning app makes him the perfect choice to present the award.
It’s also time to pause and honor the best apps of the year in the following seven categories:
- Best New App
- Best App Update
- Best New Feature
- Best Watch App
- Best Mac App
- Best Design
- App of the Year
which were picked by the MacStories team, plus the winner of the Readers’ Choice Award, which was picked by Club MacStories members, for a total of nine awards, plus six runners-up, all of which are covered below.
We also recorded a special episode of AppStories covering all the winners and runners-up. It’s a terrific way to learn more about this year’s apps and includes an interview with our Lifetime Achievement Award winner.
You can listen to the episode below.
0:00
01:06:13 So, without further ado, it’s my pleasure to introduce the 2022 MacStories Selects Awards to the MacStories community.
[table_of_contents]
Best New AppMusicBoxMusicBox
John: MusicBox by Marcos Tanaka is the sort of mashup of ideas that I love. The app lets you save URLs to music from Apple Music and Spotify to revisit later. It’s a little like a read-later app, although it’s just saving links instead of the music itself. However, by incorporating extensive metadata, tagging, ratings, notes, a played/unplayed toggle, and deep Shortcuts support, Tanaka has created something unique and compelling that has the sort of flexibility that allows music fans to tailor it to their specific needs.
For me, MusicBox has single-handedly solved the dilemma of not knowing what to play next. When everything I come across in Apple Music feels stale and boring, I open up MusicBox to scroll through the albums and playlists I’ve saved, and with a couple of taps, I’m listening to something brand new.
MusicBox comes with some built-in lists of music links.
The app, which is available for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, supports the share sheet for quickly saving music links. I listen to a lot of playlists, which means I’m always coming across something new. That often leads me to follow the track I’m listening to back to the album it came from or the artist’s Apple Music page. I don’t want to interrupt the playlist I’m enjoying, so instead, I use MusicBox to quickly stash my new discoveries away for later. That one simple step has had an exponential effect on the amount of new music I try because now, I never lose track of new discoveries.
However, the share sheet is just the start of the many ways you can add music links to MusicBox. The app supports adding multiple URLs at once, search, Shazam, and more. What’s more, MusicBox includes a smart search feature that allows you to combine metadata filters into customized lists you can return to later, making it trivially easy to navigate large collections of saved links.
Building a smart search.
My use MusicBox is pretty simple. I use the app as an inbox, adding what I like to my Apple Music library and deleting links after I’ve listened to what I’ve saved. However, with tagging, notes, and ratings, you can set up all sorts of systems for listening and saving links to your favorite music long-term. For example, you could use MusicBox to help you compile a list of your favorite albums of the year using tags. The app’s notes feature is a great way to add listening notes to links or create reminders for yourself about where you heard about an album. It’s that scalability from simple use cases to complex collection management that makes MusicBox special.
Of course, MusicBox also has excellent Shortcuts support, allowing you to add links and manage your collection using the latest features like predicate filtering. Combined with other actions, MusicBox makes it easy to extract music URLs from a webpage and add them to your collection with just a few taps, for example.
At its heart, MusicBox is a link manager. What sets it apart from other apps is the way it approaches the problem with a focus on the music link’s unique metadata. That lends itself to a design that’s perfect for music fans and what makes MusicBox our MacStories Selects pick for Best New App.
- MusicBox website
- MusicBox on the App Store
- MacStories review
Best New App Runner-UpRunestoneAlex: Runestone is a text editor and syntax highlighter for iOS and iPadOS. Earlier this year, it joined the excellent lineup of utilities from developer Simon Støvring, and it lives up to the level of quality that has become synonymous with Støvring’s name. Runestone is fast, stable, and can handle large files without missing a beat.
While a number of code editor apps were built in the early years of the iPad, most have long since ceased being developed, and I haven’t seen a notable new entry for years. Runestone refreshingly breaks that trend.
The app is certainly not a full IDE in the style of Xcode, Visual Studio Code, Nova, or other more fully-featured editors found on the Mac. It is essentially a powerful syntax highlighter, but that feature alone is the deciding factor in whether you can write any code at all in a text editor. Without syntax highlighting, coding would be unbelievably more difficult than necessary. With it, I can write code just fine, even if I’m missing all the bells and whistles of an IDE.
I’ve worked with a number of other editors on the iPad over the years, which attempted to do syntax highlighting well, and I’ve never found one that accomplishes this feature with the level of speed, accuracy, and fault-tolerance of Runestone. The iPad is still missing a lot of tools needed to be a true platform option for developers, but a code editor is the most important part, and Runestone is now here to check that box.
- Runestone website
- Runestone on the App Store
- MacStories article
Best App UpdateAudio Hijack 4Federico: It’s always challenging for a Mac app – particularly a productivity one used by tens of thousands of professionals who demand consistency and reliability – to reinvent itself without disrupting people’s workflows and causing irreparable damage to its longterm reputation. Releasing major updates to macOS apps these days is a fine balance between staying fresh and maintaining compatibility with users’ existing workflows, which is exactly what Rogue Amoeba has been able to accomplish with their exquisite update to Audio Hijack earlier this year.
Audio Hijack 4, a considerable update to the company’s premier recording utility, is full of advanced functionalities that, frankly, we don’t have to use at MacStories. But they’re there for advanced users who need them, and the list is impressive: there’s a new mixer block to easily mix up to five sources together; there’s a new Live Stream feature to create RTMP live streams; you can automatically run sessions when Audio Hijack launches, integrate with Audio Unit plugins based on version 3.0 of the API, and lots more. If you are an audio professional with a Mac and haven’t played around with Audio Hijack yet, there’s never been a better time to do so.
The reason we picked Audio Hijack 4 as the Best App Update of 2022 is twofold. For starters, Rogue Amoeba has managed to refresh the entire visual identity of Audio Hijack to modernize the app, make it more powerful and more intuitive at the same time, all without confusing existing users like myself. When I upgraded to version 4.0 months ago, I instantly appreciated its new look and clear iconography, but I wasn’t confused by the changes. Everything was in its place, but the UI was clearer than before and the interactions with blocks in the session editor had been streamlined. We see our fair share of app redesigns and relaunches every year and, trust me, this kind of redesign is rare. You can read more about the design process of Audio Hijack 4 here.
The new automation features of Audio Hijack 4.
The second reason we’re picking Audio Hijack 4 in this category is its support for automation, which I detailed in an article on MacStories a few months back. With its brand new scripting library, integration with Shortcuts, and support for JavaScript-based automation, Audio Hijack 4 has allowed me to build what I always wanted: an automated system that starts the relevant timer for the podcast I’m recording in the time-tracking app Timery. What I built is just an example of the kind of automation Audio Hijack supports: whether you want to create a system that logs the time you’ve spent recording in a spreadsheet or that automatically names files a certain way and moves them to a specific folder, the app empowers you to do it with version 4.0. This feature alone has removed a whole series of manual steps I needed to follow before recording one of my shows, and it makes me happy every time I see the system working in the background, doing its thing.
I’ve been using Audio Hijack for several years, and with time it’s become one of those must-have utilities that I take for granted – in a good way – because it’s trusted, reliable, and I don’t have to worry about it. But it’s important to recognize when a Mac developer puts in the work for a major update to their app like Rogue Amoeba did, which is why Audio Hijack 4 is the MacStories Selects Best App Update of 2022.
- Audio Hijack 4 website
- MacStories article
Best App Update Runner-UpSpring 4Federico: It feels kind of sad to pick a third-party Twitter client as a runner-up in this category given how the platform’s new owner has successfully managed to turn it into a degraded hellscape worse than it ever was (quite an accomplishment from the guy who also promises to take humanity to Mars, if you believe him), but let’s ignore for a second what happened to Twitter the company and focus on the objective quality of Spring the client.
The new ‘Divide’ view in Spring 4.
With version 4.0, indie developer Junyu Kuang was able to improve on the already solid foundation of Spring with incredible innovations such as asynchronous Safari View Controller (an in-app web browser that appears only once a webpage has finished loading in the background), a special split-screen mode on iPhone (so you can see two sections of the app at once), the ability to display edited tweets and edit history, and hover gestures to reveal inline actions that work perfectly with the iPad Pro’s new Apple Pencil Hover mode. It’s too bad that things with Twitter – at least for me – ended the way they did, but if Spring 4.0 is of any indication, I think Kuang’s upcoming work on Mona, a Mastodon client based on Spring, will speak for itself. Spring 4.0 was a beautiful swan song for third-party Twitter clients, but I can’t wait to see how Mona will rise from its ashes.
- Spring 4 on the App Store
- Club MacStories article
Best New FeatureMarvis Pro’s Customizable SectionsFederico: In the years I’ve been writing for MacStories, I’ve seen several types of app features come and go.
On Apple platforms, you obviously have a set of features that are “expected” to be part of an app’s experience. These are the widgets, sidebars, windows, and Split Views of our modern era – Apple’s new system features that are announced at WWDC and which developers rush to implement by September. Then you have your “promising trends” – novel ideas invented by a company that slowly but surely make their way into other apps, such as Command-K bars right now. Often, these features turn out to be fads (remember chatbots?); other times, they become established interaction paradigms that, eventually, platform owners copy and ship as new native features of an OS, and the cycle starts again.
What’s always been rare to find is the unique feature – that special something that no other app has. A few examples from over the years come to mind: Editorial’s automation for Markdown; Timery’s saved timers; Spring’s asynchronous Safari View Controller; Overcast’s smart speed; MusicSmart’s album metadata. These are the features we love to celebrate at MacStories, and a new one is joining this excellent group today: Marvis’ customizable sections.
It’s no secret that we love Marvis at MacStories and that we love customization in the apps we use on a daily basis. We’ve seen examples of music players that allow you to create “smart playlists” before, but Marvis’ ability to create custom sections goes beyond the mere ability to display songs in a smart playlist powered by a set of filters. With Marvis, you can design sections that can display songs, albums, playlists, and artists from your library by mixing and matching dozens of filters, sorting options, metadata visualizations, and even UI elements such as SF Symbols, colors, and separators. The amount of freedom seen in this feature is unparalleled on Apple’s platforms and, I would wager, other operating systems as well.
When you create a custom section in Marvis, you can choose the source and, at a macro level, tweak its sorting options and layout modes. But the real power lies in the smart rules you can add (and stack together) to filter that source by any possible criteria you can think of. Date ranges? Check. Artist or album names? Check. Genre or composer name? Also check. The list of supported filters is, frankly, astounding, and it’s why Marvis does have a bit of a learning curve, especially for newcomers who may be used to the limitations of Apple’s Music app.
Filters for a custom section in Marvis.
Your patience to play around with Marvis will be rewarded, however, with the freedom to effectively design the music player of your dreams. In my Marvis setup, I created sections for my recently played and recently added albums, my favorite and most played songs of 2022, albums of the year, albums I forgot about, and tracks recently added to a playlist I share with Silvia.
My setup in Marvis.
Earlier this year, the app gained another brand new option: the ability to programmatically display sections during the day based on certain conditions. So, I was able to create a section called Night Albums that is displayed at the top of Marvis but only between midnight and 6 AM, which has become an incredibly effective way to fall asleep to music I love when it’s bedtime. In addition, the app received a plethora of new controls for renaming sections and using SF Symbols (with different rendering modes) as icons next to a section’s title, which is also something I’ve spent way too much time tweaking this year (but I love my setup deeply now). Display of pieces of metadata for songs and albums has also been expanded, which means you can now pick and choose the information you want to see next to each item in each section you create in Marvis.
With these examples, I’ve barely scratched the surface of what you can achieve with custom sections in Marvis. Whether or not you listen to a lot of music on a daily basis, this feature deserves recognition because there’s nothing else like it on iOS and iPadOS. No other music player comes even remotely close to the flexibility and power that lies within Marvis’ customizable section engine, which is why we’re picking it as the Best New Feature of 2022.
- Marvis Pro website
- Marvis Pro on the App Store
- MacStories article and Club MacStories coverage
Best New Feature Runner-UpTimery’s Live ActivitiesTimery’s Live Activity is one of the most useful and customizable that I’ve tried.
John: It’s not surprising that the release of iOS 16.1 brought with it a flood of Live Activity support. I’ve written a couple of stories about Live Activities and tried even more, but few have been as useful as Timery’s.
It never ceases to happen. I’ve started working on something and immediately forget if I’ve started a timer to track my time. I don’t like to keep my current time in my menu bar or floating above my other windows where I can see it all the time, but it can be even more disruptive to switch apps in the middle of writing.
Timery’s Live Activity has solved that dilemma. Instead of starting a timer on my Mac, I’ve gotten into the habit of using my iPhone. That way, I can put it down on my desk and let it enter sleep mode but still check my timer whenever I want. Because my iPhone is out of my direct line of sight and the distractions on my locked iPhone screen are minimal, this approach has worked really well.
The other aspect of what makes Timery’s Live Activity so good is its customizability. There are settings for the compact and expanded versions of Timery’s Dynamic Island interface, along with options to modify its appearance and what the Live Activity does when tapped. It’s a thoughtful, flexible approach that makes the feature work well for a broad spectrum of users.
- Timery website
- Timery on the App Store
- MacStories review
Best Watch AppTimeryAlex: It’s no surprise that Timery is just as good a citizen on the Apple Watch as it is on iOS. Joe Hribar’s Toggl client is an excellent depiction of what an Apple Watch app should be. Its simple and straightforward interface opens to a view of your currently active timer, with options to stop it, edit it, or start another timer. If no timer is active, you’ll just see buttons to start another saved timer or create a custom timer.
The features above already cover the majority of the use cases that I would have for Timery on my Apple Watch, but there is plenty more to see as well. Timery for watchOS is made up of four different panel views. The aforementioned view is the default, but to its right is a quick-access list of your saved timers, and to its left is a reports view that shows your total daily or weekly progress. The final view on the far left side shows a list of your previous timer entries.
Timery for Apple Watch.
Taking all of these views into consideration, Timery for watchOS is almost as full-featured as Timery for iOS. This is an impressive achievement for an app that remains simple to use and avoids looking cluttered or overwhelming on the tiny Apple Watch screen. It truly feels like the ideal distillation of all of Timery’s features.
My personal favorite aspect of the Watch app, though, is the watch face complication. The app supports watchOS complications for displaying the time of the current timer, the total time clocked for the day, or the total time clocked for the week. You can scope the daily or weekly complication types to either a particular tag or a particular project. If you’re more interested in taking action than viewing data, you can also add complications for starting a custom timer or a saved timer.
Since my job is fully remote, I’ve found it easy for certain weeks to vary wildly between far too many or far too few hours of work. Over time, I’ve discovered that the best way to handle this is to track my work hours as closely as possible. This gives me an idea throughout the week of where I’m at, and as I get later into the week, that knowledge helps me decide whether to push harder to catch up or to lay off and take some time for myself.
Timery’s data widgets have been a great aid in maintaining awareness of my work state throughout each week. It helps me to never end up hitting Sunday and realizing that I need to do a full day of work to catch up; or on the other hand, working a full day Sunday and then realizing that I should have taken some time to myself to play videogames or otherwise relax and rejuvenate.
If you work from home or as a contractor, I highly recommend trying out this strategy and seeing if you can find similar benefits from having this excellent app live on your wrist. There is no better Apple Watch time tracker than Timery.
- Timery website
- Timery on the App Store
- MacStories article
Best Mac AppRaycastJohn: More than two years ago now, Raycast sponsored our WWDC coverage. It was the early days for the app, and although I’d seen some buzz about it in the developer community, it was still unknown to most Mac users. Oh boy, has that changed.
Back in 2020, Raycast was a lot more limited in what it could do than it is today, but I could see the potential. Other Mac utilities that can launch apps and perform various actions from keyboard commands have been around for years. What Raycast brings to the table that’s different is a fresh take on how that interface should work combined with a community that has developed a vibrant ecosystem of extensions for the app.
Interacting with Raycast is triggered by a global hotkey.
Raycast’s design is the smartest of any app like this that I’ve tried. Like other apps in its category, it’s triggered by a hotkey that displays a search field. From there, you can search for apps to launch and commands to trigger. However, Raycast also lets you set favorites that appear as a list beneath the app’s search field. The app reminds you in its status bar that typing ⌘K will display the actions for any app or command, too, which is a small thing, but a big help when you’re starting out with the app. Combine that with the fact that you can assign aliases for apps and commands that minimize the typing you need to do, and global hotkeys that bypass Raycast’s UI entirely, and what you have is an incredibly powerful tool that scales and meets its users at their experience levels, which I love.
The other big factor that makes Raycast our Best Mac App of 2022 is the community behind it. When I first tried Raycast, it had a handful of extensions built in-house by the Raycast team and a relatively short list of others that were primarily focused on developer tools. Today, there’s an extensive catalog of plugins made for a wide variety of apps and services.
Browsing Raycast’s extensions.
Raycast was smart to focus its attention on developers first. They’re a natural group of users for this kind of tool, and by building an API that allowed developers to build extensions, the same group that was Raycast’s early adopters became the builders who extended the app’s utility. Today, a long list of apps and web services is supported that have been created by the developers of those apps and services and their users. Better yet, those extensions can be browsed and installed from inside Raycast itself.
I’ve only just scratched the surface of what Raycast can do, which is constantly evolving thanks to regular updates from the Raycast team and new extensions created by its community. If you want to learn more, check out the story I wrote for my Macintosh Desktop Experience column earlier this year and, of course, Raycast’s website where you can download the app for free, learn more about it, and browse its catalog of extensions.
- Raycast website
- Club MacStories review
Best Mac App Runner-UpBikeAlex: In the era of Electron, Catalyst, and SwiftUI, true classic Mac apps are edging ever closer to becoming a lost art. This year though, Jesse Grosjean of Hog Bay Software is fighting that tide with Bike.
Bike is a simple outlining utility that feels more Mac-like than any brand new app that I’ve used in quite some time. Its menus, its preferences pane, and its interface are all perfect encapsulations of Mac software. It opens instantly, scrolls and resizes natively, and can handle enormous outline files with ease. This app does one thing, and it does it well.
Grosjean is the developer behind TaskPaper, and Bike’s text-obsessed approach to outlining will feel right at home for TaskPaper users. While the app’s menus have options for text manipulation, there’s little in them that can’t be done just by typing.
Bike outlines are made up of a series of collapsible lists. Each time you indent an item, it becomes a child of the item above. Collapsing the above item by clicking the drop-down arrow next to it will hide all of its children. Using this simple formula, you can create fairly complex and information-dense outlines for all sorts of use cases.
I’ve been using Bike quite a bit since it came out earlier this year, and it’s been a joy each time. While its simplicity definitely limits it to only certain workflows in my life, I still love to use it whenever I can. I’ve found its outlines to be consistently useful and easy to consult when I come back to them after some time.
- Bike website
- MacStories article
Best DesignPixelmator PhotoJohn: Pixelmator Photo was the first app I wrote about after we announced last year’s MacStories Selects awards, and as it turns out, it’s this year’s pick for Best Design.
Photo editing apps are tricky to design, especially on the iPhone. Developers have to fit in a photo browser and a myriad of editing tools, all while maintaining a focus on the photo being edited. That’s a lot, but Pixelmator Photo pulls it off exceptionally well.
The app is currently available on the iPhone and iPad, with a Mac version that’s in the works. Both the iPhone and iPad versions of the app are excellent, but it’s the iPhone where the design is the most impressive, given the constraints of the device’s screen size.
Pixelmator Photo makes excellent use of the limited space available to it on the iPhone.
Too many photo editors don’t pay enough attention to the iPhone version of their apps. It’s understandable why. The iPad’s larger screen makes it better for editing images in every way. The trouble is that the iPhone is more portable, has a superior built-in camera, and is the device where most photo sharing happens. So, while the iPhone might be the worst screen for photo editing, I’d argue that it’s paradoxically also the most important.
On the iPhone, Pixelmator Photo starts with its photo browser with a tab bar that lets you choose among All Photos, Albums, Favorites, and Edited images. Picking an image replaces the browser’s thumbnails with the full image, with a horizontal thumbnail strip along the bottom of the screen for moving back and forth among your pictures.
At the top of the screen are common tools like the app’s machine learning-based image enhancement feature, healing tool, cropping mode, and editing controls. With the exception of the photo enhancement button, which is applied immediately, the other tools are modal, each opening a related set of controls along the bottom of the iPhone’s screen. A three-dot ‘More’ button houses the app’s remaining features. There’s a tremendous amount of functionality packed into Pixelmator Photo’s iPhone app, but it works, making it easy to quickly edit and share a photo without resorting to the iPad version or a Mac app.
The iPad version of Pixelmator Photo gives the app’s tools more room to breathe.
The iPad version of the app takes a similar approach but makes excellent use of the added space. The toolbar at the top of the app is anchored by the same familiar set of tools found on the iPhone, with the addition of a button for using Pixelmator Photo’s ML Super Resolution feature to increase an image’s size. Many controls remain in the same position at the bottom of the screen, like on the iPhone, but the detailed color and lighting controls move to the side of the screen on the iPad, greatly increasing the number of sliders and toggles that can be displayed at once.
Pixelmator Photo is a fantastic example of functional design that manages to provide its users with a sophisticated set of tools that makes the most of each of the platforms where it’s available.
- Pixelmator Photo website
- Pixelmator Photo on the App Store
- MacStories article
Best Design Runner-UpCARROT WeatherFederico: Despite Apple’s efforts in recent years to push developers toward rethinking their iPad apps with a focus on desktop-class design and features, still too few take the time to truly consider the iPadOS platform and how it differs from iOS and iPadOS. Brian Mueller, the creator of CARROT Weather, has been the exception this year.
With version 5.8 of his powerful, customizable, and malevolent weather app, Mueller completely rethought CARROT’s design on iPad by shipping a multi-column layout that takes better advantage of the iPad’s display at any size or multitasking configuration. But that’s not all: any layout in the updated CARROT Weather app can be turned into a 3-column version; each column can be comprised of how many modules you want for data points and visualizations such as temperature, precipitation chance, and more; and each module can be customized in terms of data and appearance to fit your needs and tastes.
The new CARROT Weather on iPad.
There’s effectively infinite customization in CARROT Weather now, and if you’re an iPad user, it’s even better since you can get more out of CARROT on the larger screen. I wish more iPad app developers would take a page from Mueller’s work on CARROT Weather for iPad this year, which is why the app deserves a mention in this category.
- CARROT Weather website
- CARROT Weather on the App Store
- MacStories article
Reader’s Choice AwardCARROT WeatherAlex: This year’s Reader’s Choice award was the closest competition we’ve ever had. As Federico, John, and I watched the results flow in, there were multiple times when we were genuinely unsure who would win. In the end, out of a crowded field of fantastic apps, a perennial favorite emerged victorious: CARROT Weather.
Weather is a crowded category on the App Store. There are countless apps to choose from, each with its own particular angle on displaying essentially the same data. Many of these apps are pretty great, including Apple’s built-in weather app. I’ve probably tried dozens of them over the years, but the only one I keep coming back to time and time again is CARROT Weather.
This isn’t the first time you’ve read about CARROT on MacStories, and it won’t be the last. The reason we keep writing about it is likely the same code reason that our readers selected it for this award: CARROT Weather never stands still.
CARROT’s developer Brian Mueller consistently keeps up with the latest and greatest features of iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. On top of this steady stream of system features, he also finds time to build out advanced customization interfaces, nice widgets, watchOS complications, and even an entire “evil AI” persona for the app’s mascot. CARROT is polished from top to bottom and can be adjusted to fit the weather app needs of nearly any user. Its data sources are hyper-local and have always been consistently accurate for me.
The interface design playground that Mueller built within CARROT is intuitive and functional. It enables a tremendous amount of customization to make sure that you only need to see the data you care about. Dynamic elements, which are only displayed when certain conditions are met, make this even more powerful. Few people would be unable to tailor the app to their needs or preferences.
While CARROT’s impressive new iPad interface won it the runner-up slot for Best Design this year, it was its unique and lasting place in the lives of so many MacStories readers that led it to the much-deserved win here.
- CARROT Weather website
- CARROT Weather on the App Store
- MacStories article
App of the YearMarvis ProFederico: Every year when it comes to picking the ‘App of the Year’ for MacStories Selects, there are always a few criteria we consider as a team. Is the app well-designed and a “good platform citizen”, adopting the latest technologies Apple makes available to developers? Is it unique in its category? Did it evolve substantially through the course of the year? Is it better than the competition? And most importantly: do we love using it, and did it have a significant impact on the way we use our devices over the past 12 months?
Rarely have the all the answers to these questions been such a resounding list of “Yeses” as has been the case for Marvis Pro in 2022.
Created by indie developer Aditya Rajveer, Marvis is a powerful third-party client for Apple Music (and your local music library) that has fundamentally changed our relationship with music on Apple platforms. Marvis has been around for a few years at this point, but we feel like the app made great strides in 2022 by truly embracing the feature that sets it apart from everything else (the custom sections I covered above) while also adopting brand new features such as Dynamic Island integration, Lock Screen widgets, and visual customization powered by SF Symbols.
Marvis on iPhone.
We’ve covered the ability to create custom sections in Marvis extensively on MacStories and AppStories this year, including in this very article, so I don’t want to go over the details of that (amazing) functionality again. So let’s focus on the other aspects that make Marvis an astounding music player. For starters, earlier this year Marvis added the ability to let you design custom headers for sections by choosing from a collection of SF Symbols. When you rename a section, you can add a ‘supertitle’ displayed above the title and choose a decoration, which can be an SF Symbol of your choice. For symbols, Marvis effectively gives you developer-like controls for options such as rendering mode, size, weight, color, and more. It’s an incredibly deep set of features for what is, well, an icon next to the name of a section. Which is the perfect metaphor for what you can expect from Marvis.
Customizing a section header in Marvis.
As I shared a while back, I’m one of those people who recently rediscovered the joy of scrobbling every song I listen to on any of my devices to Last.fm. (I blame Jason Tate for turning me onto this.) With Marvis, I don’t have to set up any complicated rules or integrations to make this happen: the app natively supports scrobbling tracks to Last.fm, so whenever I listen to a song on Apple Music, it also gets mirrored to my Last.fm account for posterity. Even better: since Marvis uses Apple’s Music app as its player, if I start playback from Siri or the Music app without going through Marvis first, the app will still pick up my listen activity in the background or later, and push the tracks I played to Last.fm.
Another brand new addition to Marvis this year has been its integration with Live Activities and the Dynamic Island in iOS 16. Marvis supports two types of activities so far: a Now Playing widget, and a preview of the song that’s coming up next in your queue. While the Now Playing activity isn’t particularly useful if you’re using Music as the system player (since you have Apple’s superior, interactive Live Activity already), the Up Next activity is a great way to keep an eye on what’s next in your queue without having to open Marvis. This activity is, of course, customizable: you can choose which pieces of metadata should be displayed in it, and you have full control over its data sources and appearance in Marvis’ built-in design tool. Apple didn’t come up with an Up Next Live Activity themselves, but it doesn’t matter if you’re using Marvis.
You see, the reason we love Marvis is that it feels impossible that one person alone made it. There are music players made by entire teams of designers and developers at bigger companies that don’t look half as polished as Marvis and merely have a third of its features. And yet that’s exactly what Marvis creator Aditya Rajveer accomplished: building the definitive player for music lovers on iPhone and iPad.
Ultimately, the reason Marvis is the App of the Year for the 2022 edition of MacStories Selects is an intangible one. Marvis makes us want to listen to music more and helps us enjoy our favorite albums and playlists more. The experience of using Marvis is greater than the sum of its parts. We may try to consider all the criteria we want, but when an app makes us feel this way – consistently over time and increasingly so after each update – we know it’s a gem. Marvis is that kind of app.
- Marvis Pro website
- Marvis Pro on the App Store
- MacStories article and Club MacStories coverage
App of the Year Runners-UpMusicBox and RaycastJohn: Innovative takes on problems that rethink what is possible with an app through compelling design, mashups of new and existing technologies, and by giving users the tools to take apps in unexpected, new directions are at the heart of what we look for in an app of the year.
MusicBox.
MusicBox, which we picked as Best New App of 2022, is a perfect example. As I wrote above, MusicBox is conceptually simple at its core. The app saves links to Apple Music and Spotify content along with an extensive collection of metadata, so users can listen to what they saved later. What sets it apart, though, is how that simple concept is implemented. By giving users access to that metadata via saved searches and shortcuts, MusicBox opens the door wide, allowing its users to make the app their own and build use cases for it that its developer probably never anticipated. It’s also a flexible approach that scales nicely from simple uses to complex systems.
Raycast’s commands are highly customizable.
Raycast is a very different app from MusicBox but has a lot in common with it. Although Raycast can do a lot more, touching every app and file on your Mac in some way, the core idea is just as simple. Raycast starts with a search field and a window with a limited number of user-picked favorite commands. What makes that search field so powerful is the ability to open apps, execute commands and apply actions with a few keystrokes. That simplicity is reinforced by Raycast’s use of aliases and global hotkeys that further reduces the complexity of the app through user-defined customization. Add to that Raycast’s extensibility by third parties, and you’ve got a similar flexibility to MusicBox that puts Raycast’s users in the driver’s seat of an app that can be used simply to launch apps or as part of a much more complex workflow, which I love.
- MusicBox
- MusicBox website
- MusicBox on the App Store
- MacStories review
- Raycast
- Raycast website
- Club MacStories review
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DraftsWhen we chose the second annual lifetime achievement award winner, there was no doubt in my mind that it should be Drafts. Developed and maintained by Greg Pierce of Agile Tortoise, Drafts has been the place where text starts on iOS for nearly a decade now. Times have certainly changed, but Drafts remains. Through the years, it has evolved into so much more than the simple text utility it once was.
While it has evolved, the most beautiful thing about Drafts has been the fervent dedication to its original mission statement. If you are about to type some text – any text — on your iPhone or iPad (and even, in modern times, your Mac), you should open Drafts. The app is so focused on text capture that it defaults to opening a new blank “draft” every time you open the app.
Writing text is only as useful as what you do with it, so the second pillar of the Drafts mission is its action menu; an infinitely customizable list of actions that allow you manipulate and send text from the app to essentially anywhere else you can think of. From random web services to other native apps on your devices, Drafts can almost certainly deliver your text. As your words get delivered throughout your entire digital life, you can take comfort in knowing that you can always search for and find anything you’ve written simply by looking up its record in Drafts.
Drafts in 2022. From left: the editing view, the action menu, and the filtering view.
It amazes me that after hearing that pitch (and even personally writing about it) again and again for over a decade, I still find it to be an alluring idea. Drafts’ longevity is a testament to the prescience of Pierce’s original vision. It pleases me immensely to see this app carrying on for so long, and it’s an honor to award it MacStories’ Lifetime Achievement award.
Some HistoryDrafts will always hold a special place in my heart, because it is deeply intertwined with the story of how I came to write for MacStories over eight years ago. In that far more limited era of iOS, Drafts pioneered a method of inter-app communication which enthralled my high school self.
Drafts defined a brief but special iOS epoch. Living through it and being a part of it legitimately changed my entire life. Bear with me, we’re gonna dip into the weeds just a bit here as we delve back into that history.
The Early Days of iOS AutomationLong before modern share extensions enabled breakthrough capabilities, apps on iOS were almost entirely disallowed from communicating with each other. Each app ran in a seemingly impenetrable “sandbox”, a boon for security but a nightmare for automation enthusiasts. The singular way in which any data could make it through the walls was a simple method called “URL schemes”.
Each app could define a URL scheme, and it could be called like a normal website URL. Instead of opening a website though, it would open a native iOS app. If you had Drafts installed back then, you could type drafts:// into your iPhone’s web browser, and when you pressed Go you would leave Safari and launch into Drafts. Simple.
Launching an early version of Drafts via its URL scheme in Safari.
Also just like normal URLs, you could pass some text via query parameters, which an app could then read and use to execute some action. For instance, back then, one might have called the Instapaper URL scheme and passed it a link using something like instapaper://link=macstories.net. This might open the Instapaper app and save macstories.net as a webpage to read later.
Initially, this was a one-way street. One app could call another app’s URL scheme to “automate” something in the other app, but in the end the user was left looking at the other app rather than continuing to use the app they ran the automation from. For example, if you pasted a URL into Drafts which you wanted to add to Instapaper, Drafts could call the Instapaper URL scheme and send the link over, but you’d be left staring at Instapaper when you probably want to be back in Drafts.
Recognizing an untapped potential, Drafts’ Greg Pierce and Instapaper’s Marco Arment collaborated to create the “X-Callback-URL” protocol. It defined a method in which URL schemes could be encoded as query parameters, then passed to another app. Once the app fulfilled its initial action (such as Instapaper saving that link in the example above), it would then decode and execute the next action in the URL (such as calling drafts:// to return the user to Drafts). Just like that, an app like Drafts could execute an action in a different app and have the user end up back in Drafts once their chosen automation completed.
In the modern era, it’s difficult to describe how groundbreaking this possibility was for automators and tinkerers. As more apps implemented X-Callback-URL, more possibilities for automation opened up. Since URL scheme automation could only work with text, Drafts was the perfect catalyst for jumpstarting iOS automation.
An early iOS automation that used Drafts to kick of setting a reminder in Due, then returned you to Drafts afterward.
In early 2013, Federico was one of the first people to start using Drafts to chain even more than just two apps together. He built an automation that combined three different apps. I read his article during my senior year of high school, and thought that I could beat him. After a few days of plugging away at it during Spanish class, I managed to chain 5 apps together.
Running early URL scheme automations was weird and cool. Since each app had to actually open in order to run its action, you would sit back and watch your screen while it bounced through every app that was part of the chain, quickly and automatically. Finally, it would return to Drafts when everything was complete.
That year I started my first blog, which was dedicated almost entirely to automations built using Drafts. I eventually decided to write an enormous guide to URL schemes and Drafts actions, which Federico caught wind of before I published and had me bring it to MacStories. It was my very first story here. Little did I know at the time how much it would lead to.
The title image from my very first story at MacStories, showing an early version of Drafts.
The Modern DraftsDrafts’ rich history is rare and impressive, but the app has never stagnated in the many years since. Pierce has built his text utility into a sustainable business, with apps on every Apple platform. Drafts is now free to download and use, but includes an in-app purchase for Drafts Pro, which unlocks themes, custom actions, workspaces, and more. Workspaces in Drafts let you set up advanced filters on your text and turn the app into a completely customizable view for different areas of your life.
It also, of course, now integrates with Shortcuts and the share sheet, enabling users to access the more modern avenues to advanced automation. We’ve come a long way from URL schemes (although they do still have some use cases for certain automations).
It brings me such joy to see this app that means so much to me and others still around today, and to witness how much more powerful it’s become. We spoke to Greg Pierce this week on AppStories about Drafts, and it’s clear he has no plans to stop pushing it forward. I can’t wait to see where it goes in the years to come.
- Drafts website
- Drafts on the App Store
- MacStories article
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next:
MacStories Weekly: Issue 349* Announcements about the Club’s Mastodon account, the Club holiday schedule, and the Return of AV Club, featuring Avatar: The Way of Water * My story about the complexities of trying to cobble together a portable TV setup * Plus: + App Debuts + Interesting links from around the web + A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts + and more
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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For many people who have stepped away from Twitter, Mastodon is their first experience with a decentralized social network. There’s a lot that can be said about the pros and cons of decentralization, but I want to focus on one very specific technical feature that Mastodon shares with a growing list of other services: ActivityPub.
ActivityPub is a W3C-recommended standard that was published by its Social Web Working Group almost five years ago and defines a decentralized social networking protocol for client apps and servers that connect them. The benefit to users is interoperability among services that adopt the protocol.
In practice, that means users of one ActivityPub service can follow and interact with users of a different service, which opens up some interesting possibilities. Tumblr seems to agree. The company plans to add ActivityPub support, so its users can interact with Mastodon’s users. That news piqued my interest in ActivityPub, but I’m not patient enough to wait for Tumblr to add support. I wanted to take two ActivityPub services for a spin now, so I set up a Pixelfed account on pixelfed.social.
Following Federico using Mastodon’s web app (left) and my Pixelfed profile viewed from Tapbots’ Ivory Mastodon app (right).
Pixelfed is sort of like a decentralized version of Instagram that has adopted the ActivityPub protocol. Users can post photos, follow other users, and send each other messages. The service recently started beta testing an iOS app that is available on TestFlight, so I downloaded it, set up an account, and posted about it on Mastodon.
Because Pixelfed and Mastodon servers both comply with ActivityPub, anyone can follow my Pixelfed account from Mastodon without having to create a Pixelfed account or download the app, which is exactly what Federico did:
In practice, following someone’s Pixelfed feed is even easier. Instead of searching for my username, Federico could have searched for the URL for my Pixelfed profile in a Mastodon app and followed me that way. It’s worth noting, though, that not all Mastodon apps support searching for non-Mastodon servers. If you have trouble adding someone to your Mastodon feed, try Mastodon’s web app, which I’ve tried and know works. Also, be patient because some Pixelfed servers like pixelfed.social are struggling with an influx of new users that have hurt its reliability.
Photos posted from Mastodon (left) appear in the Pixelfed app too (right).
As the owner of a Pixelfed account, ActivityPub provides me some additional benefits too. First, I added my Pixelfed account to Ivory, the Tapbots Mastodon app that’s currently in alpha testing. That lets me post photos and respond to followers in the same app I’m using for Mastodon, which is nice. I’ve also followed my Pixelfed account from my Mastodon account, which allows me to view my posts from my Mastodon feed and boost them to my Mastodon followers, creating the equivalent of cross-posting on two services without actually posting separately to both.
Although there are a growing number of services that support ActivityPub, including PeerTube, a YouTube alternative for video, micro.blog, which supports parts of the protocol, and many others, it’s still early days for the protocol. However, with Twitter reminding users of the peril of relying on a centralized service provider, the pace of ActivityPub adoption is picking up, which should make 2023 a very interesting year for the open web.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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“If you build a dystopian and cynical security program born out of fear, mistrust, and suspicion, then you will inevitably make your fellow employees your enemies.”
That’s a quote from Honest Security, Kolide’s mission statement, and North Star. It was written by its CEO, Jason Meller, who spent his career in cybersecurity before founding Kolide.
He was troubled by the widely-accepted idea among cybersecurity professionals that end users should be treated, first and foremost, as threats. This way of thinking informs the traditional approach to device management, which relies on MDMs that take control of devices and come with surveillance capabilities that most companies don’t need or even really want.
Kolide works by notifying your employees of security issues via Slack, educating them on why they’re important, and giving them step-by-step instructions to resolve them themselves.
Kolide’s open-source agent collects data across 43 categories on Mac, Windows, and Linux devices. It can answer questions like:
- Do any of my developers have unsecured SSH keys floating around?
- Does everyone have disk encryption, screen lock, and password managers set up?
- Are there any Macs in my fleet in need of a new battery?
And while Kolide can provide insights that MDMs can’t, its commitment to transparency really sets it apart. Employees can visit the User Privacy Center for an explanation of precisely what data is being collected, by whom, and for what purpose.
Want to see how it works for you? Click here for a free trial, no credit card required, and let us show you what we’re all about.
Our thanks to Kolide for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
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This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico and John share their favorite videogames of 2022.
The Best Videogames of 2022Joint Picks:
- Pokémon Legends: Arceus
- Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
- Vampire Survivors
Federico’s Picks:
- Elden Ring
- Cyberpunk 2077
John’s Pick:
- Stray
- Rollerdrome
Games We Want to Return to Later:
- Horizon Forbidden West
- God of War: Ragnarök
Follow us on Mastodon* Federico Viticci * John Voorhees
Follow us on Instagram* Federico Viticci * John Voorhees
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
As of today, MacStories is officially on Mastodon with its own server for each of its properties and team members. You can find us here:
- MacStories Accounts
- MacStories
- AppStories
- Club MacStories
- MacStories Team Accounts.
- Federico
- John
- Alex
- Silvia
The new MacStories Mastodon account.
We’re not closing down our Twitter accounts (yet), but as you may have noticed, they haven’t been active lately and won’t be going forward. That’s because we’ve grown increasingly uncomfortable with the direction the company is heading. If you’ve been keeping up with the news, you know what I mean. If you haven’t, I highly recommend Casey Newton’s recent piece on Platformer. Casey’s perspective and reasons for winding down his personal and business presence on Twitter are very close to our own.
Although I’ll miss what Twitter was at its best and always remember what it’s meant to me professionally, I’m excited to be moving on too. I don’t know if Mastodon will be the next big thing, but it doesn’t have to be. It gives us a place to experiment and expand the places we connect with the MacStories audience, which we’re eager to do.
Federico on Mastodon.
What’s more, Mastodon is a good fit with our philosophy that we should own our content and the platforms on which it’s published as much as possible. That’s why we set up our own server instead of creating company accounts on an existing one. We’re fortunate to have the robust infrastructure that Alex built for Club MacStories, which is now running our Mastodon server because it has made this transition relatively painless. We’re also curious about ActivityPub, which will let readers access our Mastodon feeds in more places and presents some interesting opportunities for other projects we’re working on at MacStories.
The MacStories Mastodon server is just for team members and the MacStories media properties. However, anyone from any Mastodon instance can follow us thanks to Mastodon’s decentralized structure. To follow us from the Mastodon server you’re on, simply open one of our profile pages and click the button to be redirected to your server; or, copy the link to one of our profiles, search for it, and click the Follow button.
You can search for MacStories accounts and follow them from any Mastodon server.
My new Mastodon account.
So, as of today, Federico, Alex, Silvia, and I are all moving our Mastodon posting to the new MacStories server. If you already follow us on mastodon.social, you don’t have to do anything. You’ll follow our new accounts automatically. For everyone else, we’d love to have you join us on Mastodon. We’ve been ramping up our presence there over the past several weeks, and it’s been an active, fun place to get to know the MacStories community better.
The company accounts – MacStories, AppStories, and Club MacStories – will serve a similar purpose to their Twitter accounts, posting links to our stories and new podcast episodes. We’ll also be experimenting with ways we can go beyond linking. We’re in control of our feeds now, which makes posting original content to those feeds much more attractive.
Alex is on Mastodon too.
Finally, if you’re new to Mastodon and looking for the crowd you followed on Twitter, we’ve set up a channel in the Club MacStories+ Discord for members to share their Mastodon usernames. You can learn more about the Club and join here. If you’re already a member, you know what a great group of people we have in Discord. Many of us drop by every day to share tips, recommend apps, compare notes about new hardware, and talk about movies, TV shows, music, videogames, and more. I’ve found many of those same people on Mastodon by pouring over lists in its web app, but it’s time-consuming and tedious. With the new channel, we hope to help connect members more quickly and easily, so everyone who’s giving Mastodon a try has a way to find a core community of people to follow.
Announcing you’re leaving Twitter on Twitter has become a tired meme. We’re fortunate to have somewhere else to share our plans. That somewhere else now includes our social media posts too. It’s a small addition to MacStories now, but it’s also an important step for us. We hope you join us by following the new MacStories feeds linked at the top of this story.
See you on Mastodon:
- MacStories Accounts
- MacStories
- AppStories
- Club MacStories
- MacStories Team Accounts.
- Federico
- John
- Alex
- Silvia
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
This week on AppStories, we extend last week’s ‘Gone but Not Forgotten’ theme to third-party apps, including Dropbox text editors, Twitter apps, email clients, and more.
Sponsored by:
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
- Memberful – Monetize your passion with membership.
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, I have a gripe about TV app sports notifications, and Federico experiments with Siri and wonders if he should set up a second home in his garage.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
→ Source: appstories.net
Freeform is a brand new iPhone, iPad, and Mac app from Apple that lets users create multimedia boards on an infinite canvas that include text, images, drawings, links, files, and more. It’s an ambitious entry into a crowded category of apps that take overlapping approaches, emphasizing everything from note-taking to collaborative design to whiteboarding.
As is so often the case with Apple’s system apps, Freeform falls squarely in the middle of the landscape of existing apps. Freeform isn’t going to replace apps that are deeply focused on a narrow segment of apps in the blank canvas category. Instead, Freeform is targeted at a broader audience, many of whom have probably never even considered using this sort of app. For them, and for anyone who has felt constrained by more linear, text-based ways of exploring ideas, Freeform is a perfect solution.
At first blush, Freeform’s spare interface may give the impression that it’s a bare-bones 1.0 release, but that’s not the case. The app is easy to use and impressively feature-rich for a new release. So, let’s dig into the details to see what it can do.
A Non-Linear ApproachIf you’ve spent much time in Apple Notes, you’ll immediately see that Freeform shares much of its DNA. Both handle text, drawings, links, and files in similar ways. The similarities will make Freeform feel familiar to Notes users, but it’s the differences where things get interesting.
There’s overlap in the way Notes and Freeform handle different kinds of media, but Notes is far less flexible.
Freeform handles many of the same types of media as Notes, but Notes is strictly a linear text-first affair. In contrast, Freeform takes an object-based approach that liberates users from the structure of text, allowing them to place elements anywhere on the app’s canvas, which it refers to as a board.
Boards and ObjectsBoards viewed as icons and grouped by date.
On the iPad and Mac, Freeform’s document view uses its sidebar to divide the boards you create into four collections: All Boards, Recents, Shared, and Favorites. Selecting a collection displays its boards on the right, where the toolbar allows users to view boards as icons or a list that can be optionally grouped by the date they were last edited, a feature that was added to Notes in Apple’s fall OS updates, and sorted by either date or name.
Searching the contents of my boards.
The app’s toolbar is also where you can create a new board, select multiple boards for duplication or deletion, and search for a board. Search returns results for text found in the name of your board and inside the document, but it doesn’t return results based on the contents of files added to your board or the text in images.
The iPhone’s compact interface.
The iPhone’s interface is similar to the iPad and Mac versions but with the sidebar occupying its own screen and some toolbar items hidden behind a three-dot menu button.
It’s also worth noting that on the Mac, there’s no easy or obvious way to access your boards from Finder. There isn’t a dedicated folder in iCloud Drive or anywhere else. Instead, you’re meant to access your boards strictly from within Freeform.
Freeform’s toolbar is where you’ll find everything you need for adding items to a board.
Once you’ve created a board, getting started is straightforward but a little different depending on the device you’re using. On the iPhone and iPad, a board’s toolbar includes buttons to add a drawing, a sticky note, a shape, text, or an image. On the Mac, the drawing button is replaced by one to add files. You can add files to a board on the iPhone and iPad, too, but on those platforms, the option is included in the drop-down that appears when you select the image button. Likewise, you can also add drawings to a board on the Mac, but only via your iPhone or iPad.
Using the Scribble tool, you can also easily access dictation.
On all three platforms, each kind of item you can add to a board has its own set of unique controls too. One of the most interesting is drawing on the iPad, which is its own mode. Tap the drawing button, and you’re in drawing mode until you exit it. The feature works a lot like drawing in Notes, with some important differences. For example, Freeform doesn’t include a ruler for drawing straight lines or a highlighter but includes a crayon and a tool for creating color-filled shapes. Also, both apps support the iPad’s Scribble pen that converts handwriting to text, but Freeform’s implementation adds a dictation button to your drawing tools, which makes it easy to switch to voice-based input.
Freeform does not do handwriting text recognition the way Notes does.
However, unlike Notes, you can’t copy handwriting as text, straighten your handwriting, or search its contents. Your handwritten notes exist solely as an image in Freeform, unless they were immediately converted to text using the dedicated Scribble pen. It’s a shame handwriting is less versatile in Freeform. I get that the app’s focus is on drawing and visual communication, but the lack of text recognition is still surprising, and something I hope is added in a future update.
Sticky notes.
Freeform’s sticky note button lets you add square notes with a 3D curled effect in seven colors to your board. Of the tools available in Freeform, sticky notes have the fewest options but are handy for leaving notes for someone collaborating on a board with you or for yourself if you’re working on a board across multiple sessions.
Freeform lets you decorate your boards with colorful farm animals if you’d like.
The shape tool goes far beyond what you may have used in Notes. In addition to standard shapes, it includes lines, arrows, and hundreds of clip art-style outlines of objects, animals, food, and a lot more. Tapping on a shape displays a popover with formatting options, including fill color, borders, and text. Freeform even has tools to combine shapes and mask images with them, which appear in a popover when you select multiple images or an image and shape.
When I began testing Freeform, I didn’t expect to have much use for its shapes. However, they’re a handy way to draw attention to a passage of text and group items together visually. Moreover, the ability to combine shapes and mask images adds a lot of room for creative mashups beyond the simple ways I’ve used shapes.
There are a lot of text formatting options in Freeform.
The text tool is about what you’d expect. Tapping it adds a text box to your board that you can double-tap to add text. Like the app’s other objects, tapping a text object opens a popup with formatting controls, like text color, font, font size, justification, list styles, indentation, and more.
If I want to change the default style for text boxes to the American Typewriter font in bold, I can do that with ‘Save as Insert Style.’
The default style for the text and shape objects can be changed, too, which is a great touch. Define a block of text or shape with the font, line widths, colors, and other options you want, and then choose ‘Save as Insert Style’ in the Style section of the object’s right-click or three-dot menu. The next time you add a text box or shape, it will use your newly defined style. Styles can be copied and pasted from one object to another too.
Freeform uses the new photo and video picker on the Mac.
The image button provides access to photos and video in your photo library, the camera of your iPhone or iPad, scanning with the iPhone or iPad, or adding a web link manually. On the iPhone and iPad, this is where you can also add files to a board. Once added, images can be resized, cropped, and previewed. Text that appears in a photo can be selected and copied, but only when previewing an image.
A board of some of the many file types I’ve tried with Freeform.
Finally, I’ve tried adding a long list of files to Freeform, and it works with a surprisingly long list. You can add PDFs, JPEGs, PNGs, Adobe RAW images, TXT and RFT files, ZIP and .7z archives, WAV, MP3, and AAC audio files, GIFs, MP4 video files, iBook and EPUB files, .webarchive files, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote files, and, I’m sure, even more formats. What’s more, audio and video files can be played inline or opened in a separate preview for playback. About the only files that I could find that wouldn’t work in Freeform were DMGs and custom, app-specific formats.
One word of caution, though. Freeform isn’t a replacement for managing files or Apple’s sharing and collaboration tools. That’s because adding a file to a Freeform board creates a copy and, on the iPad or iPhone, previewing and then opening that file from the board in its default app creates yet another copy, which makes it easy to lose track of your latest version of a document. To make matters worse, the copies that Freeform creates have long nonsense, UUID-based filenames that will make it harder to find the duplicates. On the Mac, Freeform only offers previews of embedded files, which open in a full-screen preview, which is annoying but doesn’t create troublesome duplicates.
Editing and Navigating Your BoardTo test Freeform, I decided to document a typical trip down an Internet rabbit hole and see how the app handled it. I started with the album I was listening to on Apple Music, Soft Sounds from Another Planet by Japanese Breakfast. I hopped over to Pitchfork to read their review of it, dragging a paragraph from the review onto my board, along with a link. Next, I saved a couple more reviews that I wanted to read later, plus links to music videos I found on Apple Music and YouTube. My final stop was Japanese Breakfast’s festival schedule for 2023, which led me to look up a couple of the festival locations in Apple Maps.
Aligning objects with the help of Freeform’s guides.
With a bunch of objects laid out roughly on the canvas, I began dragging them around, adding some notes and arrows as I went. Freeform makes the editing process simple. There’s an option to turn on a grid to help align objects that’s accessible from the drop-down menu connected to your board’s title. Objects snap to the grid, and guidelines appear, making it easy to align one object with another.
Selecting multiple objects offers a large number of ways to align them relative to one another.
If there’s a group of objects you want to align in relation to each other, drag your finger across them on the iPhone or iPad (or click-drag on the Mac) to select multiple objects. A popover will appear with several alignment options for making things neat and tidy.
Each object’s three-dot menu is full of a long list of other options and actions.
Objects can also be grouped, so they can be dragged around as a unit or locked in place once you have them where you want them. Additional options for every object or group of objects can be accessed from the three-dot menu button in the popover that appears upon selection or by right-clicking. Among the highlights are the ability to add a description to images, video, and audio files for accessibility purposes, adding shadows and rounded corners to images, constraining proportions of objects, like images and rich links, and the ability to move items or groups of items forward and back among the layers on your board.
Freeform’s zoom options.
It doesn’t take long to fill a screen when editing a board, but there are plenty of ways to deal with even the largest boards. On the iPhone and iPad, you can pinch to zoom on the screen and swipe on the canvas to reveal open areas. On the Mac, you can do the same with trackpad gestures. The iPad and Mac also include zoom controls in the bottom left corner of the screen set to predefined zoom percentages, plus Zoom to Fit Content and Zoom to Selection, the former being perfect for getting a bird’s eye view of a board and the latter being excellent for editing a specific region. Another handy navigation trick on the iPad and Mac is the ability to tab between objects if you have a keyboard attached.
Sharing and ExportingSharing a board works like iOS 16’s collaboration features do in other system apps.
Freeform uses Apple’s latest collaboration tools to invite someone to join you in creating a board. I haven’t used this feature extensively, but the process of sharing a link to a board using iMessage was straightforward.
Boards can be exported as PDFs, which works as well as can be expected for a multimedia document. Links are preserved, but audio and video files are reduced to image thumbnails. While not perfect, PDFs are ubiquitous and a good way to share a board with someone who doesn’t use Apple devices.
Freeform’s simple interface makes it easy to get started, but offers deep tools for making the most of your boards.
Freeform is great, especially on the iPad, where it takes full advantage of the Apple Pencil. When I’m organizing my thoughts, I tend to do so with text. It’s what comes naturally to me as a writer. However, I’ve always been curious about canvas apps, especially when organizing a project that involves a mix of other media like images, audio, and video.
What grabbed me most about Freeform is how easy it is to get started. As I’m sure you can appreciate from this review, this is a deep app filled with a long list of options and multiple ways to organize your boards. As important as those details are to making Freeform a robust app, it’s equally important that those tools stay out of the way. The tools you need are always a tap or click away, but tucking them away in popovers and context menus has the dual advantage of making the app less intimidating to get started with and keeping the focus on the content on your board.
That said, I’d like to see files handled better. If I create a board and embed a spreadsheet, I want to interact with the canonical version of the document, not a copy. A copy is fine if a file is for reference purposes only, but for evolving documents and collaborative projects, there should be a single source of truth for embedded documents, so they can change along with the information on the board.
I’d also like to see Shortcuts supported. Actions for creating, finding, exporting, and adding content to boards would all be useful for power users.
I suspect dark mode fans would like to see support for a dark canvas added too. Freeform adopts a dark UI for its document view and toolbar, but an option for a dark canvas would be a lot easier on people’s eyes in dimly lit environments.
Those are all pretty minor quibbles, though. I’ve really enjoyed playing around with Freeform. I’ll still stick to my outlines and note-taking for most projects because that’s just how I think. However, I’ll be playing around with Freeform a lot more too. The app’s flexibility and availability on every Apple platform provide the kind of flexibility that encourages creativity no matter what device you have with you.
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In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Stage Manager in iPadOS 16.2.
Ever since I last wrote about iPadOS 16, I have continued using Stage Manager on my iPad Pro. As I wrote in October, I like the idea behind Stage Manager more than its implementation. Despite the flawed design of its multitasking concepts and bugs I still encounter on a daily basis, it’s undeniable that Stage Manager lets me get more things done on my iPad by virtue of its concurrent app windows.
With today’s release of iPadOS 16.2, the idea behind Stage Manager achieves the full vision first presented in June, while its design and technical implementation remain stuck in an unpolished, half-baked state. Which is to say: conceptually, I love that Stage Manager in iPadOS 16.2 allows me to extend my iPad to an external display and put four additional windows on it; I’ve waited years for this feature, and it’s finally here. Technically speaking, however, the performance of this mode leaves a lot to be desired, with frequent crashes on my iPad Pro and an oft-confusing design that, I will reiterate, needs a rethinking.
Over the past couple of months, I’ve learned to live with Stage Manager, accept its quirks, and use what’s good about it to my advantage. As I recently wrote for Club MacStories members, I’ve put my money where my mouth is: I’ve gone all-in with Stage Manager on my iPad Pro and completely rebuilt my work setup around the M2 iPad Pro and Apple Studio Display, using Universal Control to seamlessly control iPadOS from a nearby Mac mini. (You can read the full story here.) After all, no other device in Apple’s ecosystem can effortlessly turn from a tablet into a laptop and into a desktop workstation like the iPad Pro can.
I’ve been working toward this vision for iPad modularity and contextual computing for the past several years. So now that Stage Manager has unlocked the final piece of the puzzle with external display integration, how good is it in practice?
And more importantly: was it worth the wait?
Working with Stage Manager on External DisplaysUnlike the “basic” version of Stage Manager, which was brought to older iPads after Apple announced at WWDC that it couldn’t be done due to technical concerns, external display support in Stage Manager has remained exclusive to iPad models with an M1 SoC and above. Only the 2021 and 2022 iPad Pros, plus the M1 iPad Air can run Stage Manager on external displays with resolutions up to 6K. Every other iPad that is otherwise compatible with the “single-screen” version of Stage Manager (using four windows at once on the iPad’s display) but does not have an M1 chip or later will continue to be limited to basic mirroring on external displays.
If your iPad has access to Stage Manager on external displays, but you don’t want to use it, you can always disable it in Settings ⇾ Displays by selecting the connected display and enabling ‘Mirror Display’ instead.
The new display settings for a connected display in iPadOS 16.2.
From an iPadOS standpoint, there’s an immediate design consideration worth pointing out: when an external display is connected to the iPad, Stage Manager does not create a separate, bigger Home Screen like, say, macOS creates a new desktop. Instead, on the external display you’ll get an empty workspace with your dock where you can place windows and switch between app sets; it’s not a full Home Screen in that you cannot place app icons or widgets on it.
This is the “Home Screen” on an external display. It’s an empty space with the same dock as the iPad shown at the bottom.
To me, this feels like a waste of space. In my new office setup, I have the iPad Pro propped up on a Smart Folio in front of the Studio Display, which I VESA-mounted to the wall. When I’m doing something on the iPad’s display (perhaps because I’m using an app that works better with touch input) and there are no windows on the external display, that space is just…there, serving no purpose other than waiting for app windows to be dropped in. In future updates to iPadOS, I hope Apple will unlock the ability to place widgets and icons permanently on external displays even when they don’t have any active windows.
The worst offender when it comes to wasting space on external displays, however, is the recent apps strip. That UI element, as we know, is affected by dozens of design and technical issues that make it a subpar app launcher. In iPadOS 16.2, none of the complaints I had about the strip have been addressed by Apple (you still can’t right-click window thumbnails to see a menu with multitasking options and multi-window management is too confusing, for instance). Even worse, on an external display you’ll be limited to five thumbnails for app sets despite the additional space. In the screenshot below, you can see how, in spite of the empty space around it, the strip doesn’t show me more than five thumbnails for my workspaces.
On a Studio Display, this as far as the strip goes. It can’t show more than five app sets at a time.
The fact that Apple hasn’t addressed any of the core complaints1 I had regarding Stage Manager goes beyond the strip and is true for the entire feature. This suggests the company finds Stage Manager good enough as it is. There are still no Shortcuts actions to move, combine, or resize windows; even on a large external display, Stage Manager still stubbornly insists on repositioning windows on your behalf; you’ll still come across weird keyboard bugs that are related to how app developers can’t know whether their windows are running in Stage Manager or not. And while, over the past two months, I noticed that Stage Manager stopped crashing on my iPad Pro while in “single-screen” mode, I’m afraid to report that, at least once a day, Stage Manager crashes when I’m working with the Studio Display connected to my iPad.
To sum up: everything that I wrote in October about Stage Manager’s design and underlying flaws still applies today, but I have to keep using it if I want to be more productive with my iPad Pro. If I want to work with more than two windows on my iPad, I don’t have any other option.
The one specific aspect of external display integration worth calling out is how moving windows between screens and launching apps from different displays works in iPadOS 16.2.
To move a window from the iPad to an external display, you can either use the multitasking menu and the ‘Move to Display’ button, use drag and drop to grab it by its “title bar” (which is still too difficult to grab) and move it there, or hit the new keyboard shortcut for ‘Move to Other Display’. Of all these methods, I prefer the dedicated keyboard shortcut, but any of them works well and will put the selected app in a standalone, single-app workspace on the other display.
The new addition to the multitasking menu in iPadOS 16.2 is ‘Move to Display’.
And here’s the equivalent for a window on an external display.
It’s a slightly more complicated story when it comes to launching apps and workspaces. For starters – and I’m happy this has been fixed in time for the release of 16.2 – if you hit ⌘Space, Spotlight will appear on the display where the pointer is placed. If you trigger Spotlight on the external display and launch an app, the window will open directly on the external display; if the window is part of an existing workspace from another display, the entire workspace with all its windows will be transferred over. So, if you have Safari and Notes in a workspace on the iPad, open Spotlight on the external display, and search for “Notes”, the whole workspace will reopen on the external display.
The same is true for clicking icons in the dock: based on the example above, if you click the Notes icon in the dock shown on the external display, the entire workspace comprised of Safari and Notes will be moved from the iPad to the external display.
It takes a while to get used to this mechanism – which is, unsurprisingly, not explained in the iPadOS UI at all – but I think it’s the right call. In designing Stage Manager’s multi-screen experience, Apple has prioritized keeping workspace integrity over opening individual apps. In practice, when I’m working on my iPad and dealing with windows across displays, I find this behavior useful since it lets me maintain the state of my workspaces and quickly swap them between screens. I still would have preferred a ‘Move Workspace to Other Display’ context menu2 in the strip to this mystery UI, but once you know how it works, it makes sense.
That is, effectively, all that needs to be said about the unique aspects of external display integration with Stage Manager in iPadOS 16.2. What we have today is still the Stage Manager from two months ago, with a couple of refinements, and much better performance for external displays compared to betas from earlier this year. Although I still experience occasional crashes with my Studio Display, the feature is, in my opinion, stable enough for everyday usage now. If you tried Stage Manager on an external display in the summer, found it too unreliable, and made up your mind to never use it, I urge you to try it again with iPadOS 16.2.
I have been working with Stage Manager and its external display integration full-time for the past month; even though I could choose to run my iPad in classic Split View-Slide Over mode and only use Stage Manager on the external display3, I chose not to. I’ve embraced Stage Manager, and as I noted two months ago, I can’t deny it feels great when everything works as it’s supposed to. Being able to have, say, Spring, Messages, and Ivory open on my iPad’s display while I’m working with Obsidian, Notes, Safari, and Reminders on the Studio Display for a total of eight concurrent windows is terrific. The same goes for keeping a music workspace on the iPad while browsing my RSS feeds in ReadKit on the Studio Display, or watching a YouTube video on the external display while browsing my Mastodon timeline on the iPad.
My music workspace on the Studio Display. The apps are Music, Marvis, and MusicBox.
This is an iPad.
The larger surface area of the Studio Display has enabled me to use app windows in their full-size layouts more often, which in turn has resulted in faster interactions with apps and less time spent clicking around toolbars or menus.
I don’t love the implementation of Stage Manager, but as far as the raw potential it unlocks is concerned, the benefits are palpable in iPadOS 16.2. The ability to dock an iPad at a desk and watch it spawn a windowed environment on an external display further blurs the line between the concepts of “portable” and “desktop” in iPadOS – an operating system that is now capable of supporting two deeply different interaction paradigms that, however, end up being complementary to each other. That’s something only the iPad can do in Apple’s ecosystem today, and likely for the foreseeable future too.
Ultimately, at the end of 2022, this is where I stand with my iPad Pro and Stage Manager: this feature needs a lot of work and refinements still, but as I’m typing this story in Obsidian, I realize I’ve finally achieved the setup of my dreams, which seemed impossible just a few years ago. My iPad can now be a tablet, a laptop-like device with a Magic Keyboard, or turn an external display into a desktop environment. The same piece of glass can yield three distinct computing experiences, all powered by the same OS.
Yes, Apple still has a lot of work to do: I should be able to use Stage Manager on an external display in clamshell mode instead of having to see my iPad’s display at all times; I shouldn’t be forced into preset sizes for my app windows; I should have the same flexibility I have on macOS when it comes to running shortcuts system-wide with a keyboard shortcut. And that’s not to mention the plethora of visual oddities, technical quirks, and developer concerns I covered two months ago. The path ahead for Stage Manager is still long and filled with many design- and performance-related questions.
And yet, flaws notwithstanding, I look at my desk now and I’m happy: the dream of a modular computer I had years ago is now a reality. It’s been a bumpy road to get to this point, and Apple’s work has merely just begun, but I know this:
It feels great to call iPadOS my home again.
- There is one change in iPadOS 16.2, actually: when you close the last window in a workspace, you’ll no longer be taken back to the Home Screen. Instead, Stage Manager will automatically open the next workspace in the list (if there is one). This is less confusing than before and I’m glad Apple listened to feedback. ↩︎
- Apple friends: FB10106876. ↩︎
- You can do this by disabling Stage Manager on the iPad itself from Control Center; as long as you enabled Stage Manager for the external display from Settings, the feature will be turned off on the iPad and stay active on the external display. ↩︎
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next:
MacStories Weekly: Issue 348* The Club MacStories+ AV Club is returning with a Town Hall coming in January. * We revisit some of our favorite calendar apps on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac * Club members shared their favorite movies and TV shows in the Club Discord * Plus:
+ App Debuts
+ Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord
+ Interesting links from around the web
+ A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts
+ and more
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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This week, Federico and John share their favorite TV shows and movies of 2022.
The Best TV Shows and Movies of 2022Joint Picks:
- TV Shows
- Severance
- Loot
Federico’s Picks:
- TV Shows
- Better Call Saul
- For All Mankind
John’s Picks:
- TV Shows
- Stranger Things
- Slow Horses
- Bad Sisters
- Movies
- Everything Everywhere All At Once
- Top Gun: Maverick
- The Batman
Club MacStories Member Recommendations:
- TV Shows
- Andor
- Peacemaker
- House of Dragon
- The Bear
- Acapulco
- Movies
- The Northman
- Nope
- Prey
- The Banshees of Inisherin
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Shawn Hickman is back with another excellent update to Sofa, the downtime/media organization app for iPhone and iPad that we’ve covered several times on MacStories. Sofa remains my favorite one-stop app for managing lists of media I don’t want to forget to enjoy later. The app supports TV shows, movies, books, audiobooks, videgames, music, podcasts, board games, and apps, making it the most comprehensive media organizer I’ve used. However, what makes Sofa special is its design and extensive customization options, which is why it was the runner-up for Best App Update in last year’s MacStories Selects awards.
What I appreciate most about version 3.4 of Sofa is that it extends the app beyond its existing boundaries with list sharing and new Shortcuts support. To round out the update, Sofa also adds Lock Screen widget support and TV and movie provider details for Super Sofa subscribers. It’s an excellent batch of new features for an app that I already consider one of the finest in its category.
Adding people to a shared list.
The marquee addition to Sofa 3.9 is shared lists, which is a beta feature that takes advantage of Apple’s latest collaboration features. There’s a new share button in the toolbar at the top of each of your media lists. Tap it, pick someone to share your list with, and Sofa generates an iCloud link, inviting them to join your list. As the owner of the list, you have full control over your collaborators’ access to the list, whether they can edit it, and other options. Also, the lists you share will include a share icon in the corner of the list’s tile whenever anyone joins a list, so you know it’s been shared.
List sharing is going to be a big deal for any shared media experience between family members and friends, whether it’s for movie or game night, a book club, or simply a way to share media recommendations. In my testing, the feature worked well on the released versions of iOS and iPadOS, but not when using the 16.2 beta versions of iOS and iPadOS. Hopefully, whatever is causing the issue will be cleared up soon because I expect we’ll get iOS and iPadOS 16.2 next week.
Sofa’s new Shortcuts actions.
Sofa has also added new Shortcuts actions. The app already included Siri Shortcuts support, but with the new actions, there are far more options than before. Sofa’s actions include:
- Find Activity Item
- Find List
- Find Item
- Open Activity Item
- Open List
- Open List Item
Each of the find actions uses predicate filtering to enable searching by parameters like title, item type, date added, and sticky note. Results can be sorted, and the number of results returned can be limited too. The granular filtering and sorting are exactly the kind of actions I love to see from an app like Sofa because it makes such a wide variety of shortcuts possible.
Sofa’s Lock Screen widgets.
Sofa’s Lock Screen widgets are similar to its Home Screen widgets. There are Lock Screen widgets for both the Shelf and lists. The circular, rectangular, and in-line text variants of the widgets each open either the Shelf or the list of media that you’ve chosen in the widget’s setup view. However, only the rectangular and in-line text versions include the number of items on the Shelf or in your list as well as the Sofa icon and name of the list.
Knowing where to watch TV shows and movies is a fantastic addition to Sofa.
Finally, Super Sofa subscribers will also see a list of services on which they can watch the TV shows and movies on their lists. The providers are listed at the end of an item’s detail screen and are powered by JustWatch.
Sofa 3.4 is an excellent update. List sharing rounds out the app’s feature set nicely, and automation fans will appreciate the fine-grained queries they can run against their media logs. As I’ve said before, if you’re looking for a single app to organize and manage your media lists into ones that are tailored to how you consume your media, you can’t go wrong with Sofa.
Sofa 3.4 is available as a free update on the App Store. Sofa’s TV show and movie provider data requires a Super Sofa subscription, which costs $3.99/month or $34.99/year for individuals and $5.99/month or $59.99/year for a Family Sharing plan that can be shared with up to five people.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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When Live Activities debuted with iOS 16.1, a long list of apps supported the feature. There were some great examples, like the ten apps I covered in October and Timery, which was updated shortly thereafter. Because developers didn’t have a lot of time to prepare their apps for Live Activities, I expected a steady stream of updates that take advantage of the feature, but that hasn’t happened. Live Activity support is still being added to apps, but I thought I’d have more interesting, innovative examples to share by now, but I don’t.
Still, I’d be remiss if I didn’t follow up October’s story with a few additions to my favorite examples of Live Activities. I’m sure there are some I’ve missed and others that will be released in the future, which we’ll cover in the future, but today, I’m going to focus on Dark Noise, Shelf, and Lock Launcher.
Dark NoiseDark Noise, the ambient noise player from Charlie Chapman, includes Live Activity support that seems pretty simple on its surface. Pick one of the app’s 50 sounds or one of your custom mixes of sounds, and when you leave the app, it will appear on the Dynamic Island and your Lock Screen, allowing you to reopen the app or pause playback quickly. That’s pretty standard stuff for an audio app.
What’s unique about Dark Noise, though, is a setting called Enable Audio Mixing, which requires a little context. You see, normally, if Dark Noise is playing, its ambient sounds are paused as soon as a source like Apple Music or Spotify starts playing, and its Live Activity disappears. That’s just how iOS 16 works. Only one app can control the Now Playing widget at a time, and music gets priority over other apps.
What Chapman has done, though, is add a toggle called Enable Audio Mixing in the Dark Labs section of Dark Noise’s settings. Once enabled, Dark Noise’s Live Activity player controls will persist even if an app like Apple’s Music or Spotify starts playback because Chapman has built his own Now Playing widget.
Once enabled, ambient sounds from Dark Noise will play simultaneously with an app like Music, allowing you to control the playback of each separately. Dark Noise will appear alongside an app like Music on the Dynamic Island and stacked Now Playing widgets on your Lock Screen too.
I don’t imagine many people will want to play white noise in the background as they listen to their favorite album, but there are other interesting options. For instance, Apple Music offers its own collections of ambient sounds, which would allow you to mix and match your favorite sounds from Dark Noise with Apple Music’s.
Dark Noise is available on the App Store for $9.99.
ShelfUnlike most apps, where Live Activities are just one of several features, Shelf is a standalone app dedicated to populating the Dynamic Island and your Lock Screen with text, photos, and actions, which can launch apps, shortcuts, and more. Shelf makes the setup of each kind of item simple. For text and photos, just tap the plus button and type some text or select a photo, then activate it by tapping the Launch button. You can launch a single shelf or multiple shelves that you can pick among from your Lock Screen. You can also run shelves as Home Screen widgets and Lock Screen widgets.
Actions are a little different. There are options to tie them to apps, shortcuts, or URLs. Shelf comes with a long list of apps it can open, but don’t expect to find every app you have installed on your iPhone. Shelf’s URL support is handy for websites you visit frequently or apps that offer URL schemes. Shortcuts are as simple to add as typing the name of the Shortcut into Shelf too.
One limitation of Shelf, which is unavoidable given how iOS 16 works, is that tapping on anything on a shelf opens the Shelf app first. For shortcuts, that means a trip to the Shelf app, which then automatically launches the Shortcuts app before your shortcut is run, although Shelf includes an option to return to your Home Screen after the shortcut is finished running.
Each shelf also comes with type-specific options to style buttons, photos, and text to your liking, and Michael Tigas, the app’s developer, plans to add support for weather, checklists, and timers in the future. I’m looking forward to seeing what else Tigas adds to Shelf because there’s a lot of potential in having apps, actions, and other snippets of text and images readily available from the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island.
Shelf is available on the App Store as a free download. A $1.99/month or $12.99/year subscription unlocks unlimited shelves, photo filters, premium themes, the ability to launch multiple shelves quickly, and iCloud sync between devices.
Lock LauncherLock Launcher has a lot in common with Shelf, but it’s primarily focused on actions to launch apps, shortcuts, websites, and URL schemes. I wanted to include it, though, because it can display up to six apps or other actions on the Dynamic Island and Lock Screen, providing more action density than Shelf.
The app also integrates with more apps without having to resort to Shortcuts and includes icons for each that makes them easy to identify. Finally, SF Symbols can be used when styling its buttons. Those relatively small differences compared to Shelf and are more aesthetic than functional, but the app is worth checking out to see which you prefer. Like Shelf, Lock Launcher also supports Home and Lock Screen widgets.
Lock Launcher is available on the App Store as a free download. A one-time $0.99 In-App Purchase, which the developer says will go up to $4.99 at some point, unlocks more widgets, advanced actions, adding your network speed to the Dynamic Island, and more.
With the initial flurry of Live Activity integrations behind us, I expect we’ll continue to see the feature integrated into more food delivery, ride-sharing, and other big-company apps as updates are released. Those will be useful additions to the iPhone, but, of course, we’ll continue to be on the lookout for new and unexpected ways the indie developer community finds to integrate Live Activities.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Joanna Stern of The Wall Street Journal, who interviewed Craig Federighi, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, in connection with the new security features coming to its platforms, reports that Apple has abandoned its efforts to identify child sexual-abuse materials in its devices. According to Stern:
Last year, Apple proposed software for the iPhone that would identify child sexual-abuse material on the iPhone. Apple now says it has stopped development of the system, following criticism from privacy and security researchers who worried that the software could be misused by governments or hackers to gain access to sensitive information on the phone.
Federighi told Stern:
Child sexual abuse can be headed off before it occurs. That’s where we’re putting our energy going forward.
Apple also told The Wall Street Journal that Advanced Data Protection that allows users to opt into end-to-end encryption of new categories of personal data stored in iCloud, will be launched in the US this year and globally in 2023.
For an explanation of the new security protections announced today, be sure to catch Joanna Stern’s full interview with Craig Federighi.
→ Source: wsj.com
Today, Apple announced three new security features.
First, iMessage Contact Key Verification allows users to verify that they are communicating with the person with whom they think they’re communicating. The feature will alert users who use it if someone has infiltrated cloud services to gain access to the user’s iMessage conversations. For even greater security, users can compare a Contact Verification Code in person, on FaceTime, or through another secure channel.
Second, Security Keys lets users adopt hardware security keys when logging into their iCloud accounts. The new system is an enhancement over two-factor authentication because it prevents someone from obtaining a your second factor through a phishing scam.
Third, Advanced Data Protection for iCloud adds encryption on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac for a long list of data categories. According to Apple’s press release:
iCloud already protects 14 sensitive data categories using end-to-end encryption by default, including passwords in iCloud Keychain and Health data. For users who enable Advanced Data Protection, the total number of data categories protected using end-to-end encryption rises to 23, including iCloud Backup, Notes, and Photos. The only major iCloud data categories that are not covered are iCloud Mail, Contacts, and Calendar because of the need to interoperate with the global email, contacts, and calendar systems.
Apple says that iMessage Contact Key Verification will be available globally in 2023, and Security Keys is coming early 2023. Advanced Data Protection for iCloud is available in the US today for participants in Apple’s beta OS program, and will presumably roll out with the next point release to Apple’s OSes.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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This week on AppStories, we explore the Apple apps and features that have disappeared from its platforms in recent years.
Sponsored by:
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
- Kolide – Maintaining endpoint security shouldn’t mean compromising employee privacy. Check out their manifesto: Honest Security.
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Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, I work on a portable video streaming setup, plus country-ambient music release announcements and other email we contend with.
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→ Source: appstories.net
Source: Apple.
Apple announced today that later this month, it will update its Music app with a new feature called Apple Music Sing.
According to Apple’s Oliver Schusser, its vice president of Apple Music and Beats:
Apple Music’s lyrics experience is consistently one of the most popular features on our service. We already know our users all over the world love to follow along to their favorite songs, so we wanted to evolve this offering even further to enable even more engagement around music through singing. It’s really a lot of fun, our customers are going to love it.
Source: Apple.
The feature is an extension of Music’s existing real-time lyrics. With real time lyrics playing on an iPhone, iPad, or latest-generation Apple TV 4K, users can adjust the lyric mix of a song, taking over the lead or backup vocals or singing along with the artist’s vocals. There’s even a duet view that takes up opposite sides of a screen for duets and multi-singer tracks.
Apple says it will be launching the new feature later this month with more than 50 dedicated playlists for users to use with Apple Music Sing.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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It’s never been about just the weather when it comes to CARROT Weather, and version 5.9 of Brian Mueller’s app is no exception. With the latest update, you can participate in bonding activities with CARROT. Yes, it’s as strange as it sounds, and a lot of fun too. Still, if getting to know CARROT better isn’t your thing, the update has also expanded Live Activities, updated the app’s layout UI, and more.
Charging up CARROT to earn hearts.
Tap the CARROT icon in the toolbar to get to know her better through a series of mini-games. At the outset there are three games:
- Charging CARROT’s batteries by feeding her an assortment of objects that rotate roulette-wheel-style onscreen until you tap a button
- Stroking her ego by repeating nice things to CARROT, which uses speech recognition to make sure you get the compliments right
- Debugging CARROT’s code by shaking your device
But relationships take time, so you’ll find that after a while, you’ll stop earning hearts and have to wait before you can continue earning your way into CARROT’s good graces.
Complete enough bonding activities with CARROT and you can start a romance with her.
Bonding with CARROT is part of the app’s Achievements system, and you’ll see if you visit that section of the CARROT menu that there are additional mystery tasks available to complete once you fill op the rings of the first set. Fill enough rings, and you can even start a romance with CARROT.
Tracking your CARROT achievements.
I love CARROT’s new bonding activities. They’re fun and breathe new life and personality into the character that’s been abusing users for years as they check the weather. I’ve only begun earning hearts, so it remains to be seen where this all will lead, so stay tuned to MacStories for updates on that, I guess.
Live Activities have been expanded in CARROT Weather too. When the feature launched with iOS and iPadOS 16, it only supported rainfall. Now, however, snow storms and other precipitation will be tracked on the Dynamic Island and Lock Screen.
CARROT Weather’s new scrollable layout previews.
Another nice addition to today’s update is the introduction of a redesigned layout section. The section is now organized by type of layout, and each layout is interactive, allowing you to scroll through it to see all of the included components. That may seem like a small change, but it makes deciding on a base layout you can then tweak much faster than before.
One of CARROT Weather’s new inline layouts.
There’s also a new ‘inline’ layout type that uses vertically oriented charts to display weather data. I’m personally not a big fan of vertical charts like this because of the scrolling they require, but they do a nice job of visualizing changing conditions, and Mueller says he’s gotten a lot of requests for layouts like these. Finally, weather maps have added animated wind particles to visualize storms and other events.
Wind particles are now visualized in CARROT Weather’s maps.
I’ve been a CARROT Weather subscriber for a long time and have been blown away by what Brian Mueller has done to create such a rich, customizable experience for his app’s users. CARROT Weather has become the deepest weather app I’ve ever used from the standpoint of the data it offers, its customization, and its personality. Come for the new layouts with version 5.9, but stay and have some fun with CARROT. You’ll have a blast.
CARROT Weather 5.9 is available as a free update to existing users. Some of the app’s features require one of its subscriptions.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Pixelmator Pro 3.2 adds a new dimension to the Pixelmator team’s flagship app: video. I have yet to spend much time with the app’s new video features yet, but anyone familiar with Pixelmator Pro should feel right at home because working with video works a lot like editing still images.
Pixelmator Pro adds new video templates.
To get you started, Pixelmator Pro includes templates, a feature that was added in version 3.0. There are templates for a movie title clip, a YouTube thumbnail, YouTube channel art, and story-style vertical video. Only some templates incorporate placeholder video clips, but those that do are a great way to get a better feel of the video features added to the app.
Pixelmator Pro’s editing controls.
Editing a video isn’t much different from working with still images, except you’ll notice playback controls at the bottom of the clip you’re editing for controlling sound and playing back the clip. Also, a three-dot ‘more’ button reveals a scrubber with clip trimming controls and other advanced options when clicked. Other than that, video layers work just like other layers. You can adjust brightness, exposure, colors, and other aspects of a clip, apply filters, crop your video, overlay text, and more.
Video can be exported as MP4 files, QuickTime movies, animated GIFs, or PNGs. The Pixelmator team also says it has improved support for Motion projects.
Pixelmator Pro isn’t a replacement for a timeline-based video editor that lets you build a video from multiple clips. However, for clips like title segments and short-form social media posts, Pixelmator Pro strikes me as a far simpler solution than a more complex video editor like Final Cut Pro.
Pixelmator Pro 3.2 is available on the Mac App Store and is a free update to existing users. New users can purchase currently purchase Pixelmator Pro for $19.99, a 50% discount of its usual price.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Version 3 of Broadcasts, Steve Troughton-Smith’s Internet radio app and a Club MacStories Recommends pick, is out with an updated design, improved search, Shazam integration, and a URL scheme that makes sharing stations simple. Together, the changes look fantastic and make enjoying Internet radio with the app easier and better than ever.
The Mac version of Broadcasts includes a miniplayer that can be pinned to float above other windows.
The app’s main view now features a tab bar on the iPhone and a sidebar on the iPad and Mac. The result is a more modern feel that’s further enhanced by a bunch of new ways to add station artwork. Far too few Internet radio stations have good artwork by default, so it’s great to now have so many ways to add your own. Broadcasts offers:
- Picking a photo from your photo library
- Choosing a file from the file system
- Adding text or emoji against a colorful background
- Using a radio glyph from the SF Symbols catalog against a colorful background
There are lots of ways to customize station artwork.
The Now Playing screen has been updated, too, with bigger, bolder artwork with a blurred background effect that pulls in the colors of the station’s artwork. From the Now Playing screen, you can play and pause playback, adjust volume, set a sleep timer, AirPlay to another device, review the playback history of the station to which you’re listening, access those songs or the currently playing song in Apple Music, and activate Broadcasts’ Shazam feature, which I cover below.
Brodcasts’ updated Now Playing screen.
With thousands of stations available worldwide, another excellent refinement to Broadcasts is how search works. You can browse stations manually by country, search for a country, or search stations within a country. For instance, if you pick Ireland and then search for ‘Alternative,’ you immediately narrow the number of results from 130 to seven, making it much easier to find a genre you like than if you were to scroll through a long list of stations.
Using Shazam to add artwork to song data to Broadcasts.
More metadata is supported by Broadcasts now, too, including the name of the song playing and its artwork if it’s available. Like station artwork, though, few Internet radio stations I’ve tried support song art. Broadcasts has a solution to this as well, which is a new beta feature that incorporates Shazam functionality into the iPhone and iPad versions of the app. In my testing, the feature works well, pulling cover art and song information into the Now Playing UI, which makes the experience much more like listening to Apple Music, Spotify, or another music streaming service than before. The experimental feature can even be used if you’re using another source to play your music, serving as a Now Playing UI for any music playing around you.
Using the iPad Pro and Broadcasts’ Shazam integration to monitor a station playing on my Mac in the app’s miniplayer.
Broadcasts has a new setting that will resume playback automatically the next time you open the app, immediately streaming the last station to which you were listening. The setting is off by default but can be switched to work every time you launch Broadcasts or just when you connect the app with CarPlay.
Another handy feature is the addition of a URL scheme in the format broadcasts://add?name=Name&address=Address&artworkAddress=ArtworkAddress. Add parameters for the name of a station, its URL, and a URL for station artwork, and anyone with Broadcasts will be able to quickly add the station to their library. It’s a nice way to send your favorite station to a friend, set up automations in Shortcuts, or link your favorite stations on the web. For example, here’s a link I created for WXYC, the University of North Carolina’s station.
I don’t listen to Internet radio often, but I love it for live broadcasts of podcasts and when I don’t have the energy to pick out some music myself. With Broadcasts’ new search functionality, I’ve expanded my collection of stations with little effort and really enjoyed quickly restarting stations when connecting to CarPlay, which has already led me to use the app more. Broadcasts was already an app we recommended to Club MacStories members last year, and it has only gotten better with this release.
Broadcasts is available on the App Store as a Universal Purchase that syncs among the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. The app is free to download and try with a fixed set of stations. A one-time, In-App Purchase of $4.99 unlocks the ability to add your own stations to the app’s library.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next:
MacStories Weekly: Issue 347Anybox.
- Anybox
- Tips on creating a music workspace and using MusicBox to access Apple Music playlists
- Plus:
- App Debuts
- Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord
- Interesting links from around the web
- A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts
- and more
The Monthly Log, November 2022* Federico shared how he’s combining Universal control and a VNC client in his new desk setup * John looked back at what he’s learned since he started writing at MacStories
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
In 2021, Kolide went through the SOC 2 Type 1 audit, and they found out just how challenging it can be to prove compliance to a third-party auditor. They also learned firsthand something their customers had been telling them for a while: that they couldn’t have gotten their SOC certification without using their own product.
That product is Kolide, an endpoint security solution for Mac, Windows, and Linux devices. Kolide gives IT admins a single dashboard, through which you can prove that your fleet has the security measures that auditors care about.
With Kolide, you can instantly see whether:
- Firewalls and screen lock are enabled
- Operating systems are up-to-date
- Password managers are installed
Kolide also provides visibility into nuanced issues that MDMs can’t address, like whether developers have unencrypted SSH keys or plain text 2FA backup codes.
Moreover, Kolide balances this visibility with respect for user privacy and autonomy. Users can visit the Privacy Center to see what device data is being collected and why. And when Kolide detects a vulnerability on a user’s device, it reaches out via Slack to notify them of the problem and provides step-by-step instructions on how to solve it.
At Kolide, they’ve helped hundreds of customers achieve compliance–for SOC 2, ISO27001, or their own internal security goals. And they’ve done so in ways that go beyond “checking the boxes” and actually increase transparency and collaboration between IT and end users.
If you want to know how you can get compliant without compromising your values, then Kolide wants to talk to you.
Try Kolide for 14 days free; no credit card required.
Our thanks to Kolide for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
0:0037:06 This week on MacStories Unwind, we kick off the first of our annual ‘best of’ Unwind recaps with the best music releases of 2022. The Best Music of 2022 Federico’s Pick: English Album of the Year: Asphalt Meadows by Death Cab for Cutie Italian Album of the Year c@ra++ere s?ec!@le by thasup Other Favorites: […]
Today, Apple announced on its Machine Learning Research website that iOS and iPadOS 16.2 and macOS 13.1 will gain optimizations to its Core ML framework for Stable Diffusion, the model that powers a wide variety of tools that allow users to do things like generate an image from text prompts and more. The post explains […]
In November, HandyGames released Wreckfest for iPhones and iPads. The demolition racing game was originally released by Bugbear Entertainment on PC in 2018 and the following year on PS4 and Xbox One. Since then, the game has been brought to current-generation consoles, streaming, and now, mobile platforms. Although Wreckfest is several years old, it’s one […]
This week on AppStories, we concluded our two-part series on their nerdy holiday projects with home automation, RSS, WiFi, and other plans. Sponsored by: Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple. Subscribe here. On AppStories+, Federico is getting to know new delivery people, and I explain how I’m working to preserve his Nintendo 3DS games. We deliver […]
I enjoyed this story about Last.fm’s 20th (!) anniversary by Jacob Kastrenakes, writing for The Verge: I was a little surprised to see that Last.fm was still around when I first started writing this story, let alone that it had new communities flourishing around its data. (The company didn’t respond to a request for an […]
Using Masto-Redirect in Safari. Like many others over the past month, I’ve been thinking deeply about my experience with Twitter and whether I want to align my social media usage with the kind of platform Twitter is rapidly becoming. It’s a complex discussion (if my readers are still on Twitter, am I doing them a […]
Next week, Apple is introducing a new Today at Apple session for kids who are interested in learning to code: Coding Lab for Kids: Code Your First App. Starting December 5th, the session will walk children 10 and up through building an app with Swift Playgrounds. According to Apple’s press release: During the lab, Apple […]
Source: Apple. Apple Podcasts has named Slow Burn Show of the Year for its season covering the history of the events leading up to the US Supreme Court’s decision in Row v. Wade. The four-part series was released in June, produced by Slate, and hosted by Slate’s executive editor, Susan Matthews. Regarding the series, Matthews […]
Apple Music’s Replay 2022 playlist has been available since early this year, updating every week as subscribers listen to the service throughout the year. However, today, Apple also updated the replay.music.apple.com, the website that highlights what you listened to over the past year. Many of the statistics you’ll see as part of your latest Replay […]
Source: Apple. Apple has revealed its annual App Store Awards winners, recognizing the standout apps and games of 2022. This year, the company picked a collection of 16 apps and games from among the millions available on the App Store, naming them the Apps of the Year. The company’s App Store editorial team also recognized […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next: MacStories Weekly: Issue 346 The Twelve South HoverBar Tower. A review of the HoverBar Tower iPad stand A collection of photo project apps for holiday gift giving Plus: […]
Source: Apple. Oceanic+, the dive computer app for the Apple Watch Ultra that was previewed at Apple’s September press event will be available today. The app, developed by Huish Outdoors in collaboration with Apple, takes advantage of the Ultra’s depth gauge and water temperature sensors and can be used by divers at depths of up […]
Device security is a lot like Mount Everest: it’s tough to scale. When you’re a small company dominated by engineers, you can keep up with fleet management with nothing more than trust and a spreadsheet. But once you start to hire marketers, designers, and the rest, the number of laptops balloons and the line between […]
0:0021:51 This week on MacStories Unwind, I recommend Atari 50, and Federico shares the tools he uses to discover new music. Links and Show Notes John’s Pick: Atari 50 Trailer Federico’s Picks: Websites Chorus.fm Pitchfork Apps MusicHarbor MusicSmart
More Club Gift Options Than Ever Before The holiday season is upon us, and as you shop for gifts for friends and family, we wanted to remind everyone that Club MacStories memberships can be given as gifts all year long. Every tier of the Club extends what we publish at MacStories, which makes it the […]
If you’ve ever dug into setting up a surround sound audio system, it gets complicated and expensive fast. But, DMS, a YouTuber who covers headphones and other audio gear, managed to pull off something extraordinary: a 12-speaker Dolby Atmos surround sound speaker setup for under $2,000. The secret sauce? Loopback by Rogue Amoeba. DMS bought […]
This week on AppStories, we share the nerdy holiday season projects we’ve lined up in part 1 of a two-part series. Sponsored by: RevenueCat – Subscription management built for mobile apps. Kolide – Maintaining endpoint security shouldn’t mean compromising employee privacy. Check out their manifesto: Honest Security. Subscribe here. On AppStories+, Federico has questions for me […]
Around this time every year, I tend to start fiddling with my RSS setup. Last year, I drastically simplified my setup, and it worked well. Still, with Twitter’s fate uncertain, I thought it would be an excellent time to reexamine what various sync services and apps have to offer to refine my RSS reading experience. […]
I enjoyed this article by Mitchell Clark, writing for The Verge, about the removal of the classic page-turn animation from the redesigned Books app in iOS 16: Apple Books has been my main reading app for years for one very specific reason: its page-turning animation is far and away the best in the business. Unfortunately, […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next: MacStories Weekly: Issue 345 We kicked off Club member nominations for the fifth annual MacStories Selects Readers’ Choice award Voting for the winner is now open via a […]
Boom 3D by Global Delight is the premier app for enhancing your Mac or Windows PC’s audio, and right now, it’s 75% off for Black Friday. The app produces exceptionally clear, clean, 3D sound without the need for added hardware. Just use the headphones you already own and let Boom 3D breathe new life into every entertainment experience. […]
0:0025:11 This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico and John kick off the MacStories Selects awards season with nominations for the Readers’ Choice award before taking a first look at Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Links and Show Notes MacStories Selects Readers’ Choice award Coming Soon: The Fifth Annual MacStories Selects Awards, Readers’ Choice Award, and Lifetime […]
Soon, we’ll announce the fifth annual MacStories Selects Awards, honoring our favorite apps in a wide variety of categories. Winners will receive a physical MacStories Selects award designed by MacStories’ own Silvia Gatta. As with last year, awards will be selected in the following categories: App of the Year Best New App Best App Update Best New […]
Maggie Appleton (via Michael Tsai) has written about one of the UI trends I’ve seen pop up more and more lately, and which we mentioned on AppStories several times over the past year: the so-called ‘Command-K’ bars inside apps. Command bars are command-line bars that pop up in the middle of the screen when you […]
Yesterday, Apple announced the MLS Season Pass, which will bring every regular season Major League Soccer match, the playoffs, and the League Cup to over 100 countries without blackouts, with the only exception being the Leagues Cup and Campeones Cup, which won’t be available in Mexico. Matches can be viewed on any Apple device, as […]
This week on AppStories, we dig into two excellent apps we’ve been enjoying recently: Anybox, a bookmark and file organizer, and Spring, a third-party Twitter client. Sponsored by: Memberful – Monetize your passion with membership. Subscribe here. On AppStories+, Federico explains what’s coming next with Apple Frames 3.1, his shortcut for framing screenshots with Apple […]
For small businesses, acquiring new business often means juggling multiple priorities at the same time, as each deal has its own time frame and different client requirements. That’s why you need a tool that will help better manage your sales pipeline, so you’re making the most of every sales opportunity that comes your way. Meet […]
0:0024:22 This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico loves God of War Ragnarök, and John recommends Isle of Arrows. Links and Show Notes Federico’s Pick: God of War Ragnarök Trailer John’s Pick: Isle of Arrows Trailer
This week on AppStories, we pick up where we left off in episode 300 by revisiting episode 200 about calendar apps, communications, home assistants, and Federico’s first surprise of 2021. Sponsored by: MasterClass – Get unlimited access to EVERY Class and get 15% off an annual membership. Memberful – Monetize your passion with membership. Kolide […]
Apple announced that later this month, it will launch Emergency SOS via satellite, a new service for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro that allows users who are out of range of mobile and WiFi networks to message emergency services. The company also said that the upcoming service is the result of a $450 […]
Source: Apple. Today, Apple Music announced that Bad Bunny is its 2022 Artist of the Year. Un Verano Sin Ti, which Bad Bunny released in May, is the most streamed album on Apple Music and the biggest Latin album of all time. In Apple’s press release, Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Apple Music and […]
Apple Frames 3.0. Today, I’m pleased to announce the release of version 3.0 of Apple Frames, my shortcut to put screenshots taken on various Apple devices inside physical frames for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. Apple Frames 3.0 is a major update that involved a complete re-architecture of the shortcut to improve its performance […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next: MacStories Weekly: Issue 343 MusicBox by Marcos Tanaka A screenshot menu shortcut for the iPad’s dock Plus: App Debuts Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord Interesting links from […]
Do you know the old thought experiment about the AI designed to make paper clips that quickly decides that it will have to eliminate all the humans to maximize paper clips? Many security teams have a similar idea when meeting compliance goals: it would be much simpler if it weren’t for all the pesky users. […]
0:0022:30 This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico and John talk about the new Apple TV 4K, changes to the TV app, and Taylor Swift’s latest album, Midnights. Links and Show Notes Apple TV 4K Apple TV app now hides ‘Up Next’ row, making it harder to find what you want to watch Midnights (3 am […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next: MacStories Weekly: Issue 342 Spring Federico dove into the highly-customizable Twitter client Spring I shared a tip on navigating Apple devices with a game controller I also wrote […]
Timery has been updated with a long list of new features and improvements that fans of the app are going to love. Lock Screen Widgets and Live Activities Timery’s new Lock Screen widgets. First off, Timery has added iOS 16 Lock Screen Widgets and Live Activities. The Lock Screen widgets can display your current time […]
Photo: Sebatiaan de With Sebastiaan de With, part of the team behind the excellent camera app Halide, has published his annual iPhone camera review, this year putting the iPhone 14 Pro Max through its paces in and around San Francisco, Bhutan, and Tokyo. de With’s review is packed with details about every lens and Apple’s […]
This week on AppStories, we cover Apple’s controversial App Store advertising moves before going in-depth on my macOS Ventura review to discuss Stage Manager, System Settings, and Shortcuts. Sponsored by: Memberful – Monetize your passion with membership. Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple. Subscribe here. On AppStories+, I explain the unique challenges of finishing this year’s macOS […]
FITIV Pulse is the most fully-featured health and fitness app available on iOS and Apple Watch. Leveraging the power of Heart Rate Training, FITIV Pulse helps users plan, track and analyze their progress toward their fitness goals. FITIV Pulse was designed to solve a seemingly simple problem: tracking and motivating a sustainable healthy lifestyle. Designed […]
0:0022:37 This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico is rewatching Breaking Bad having recently finished Better Call Saul, and I share what the Metal 3 frameworks could mean for Mac gaming having tested Resident Evil Village, the first Metal 3 game released on the Mac App Store. Links and Show Notes Federico’s Pick: Breaking Bad John’s […]
Apple spent a considerable amount of time during June’s WWDC talking about Metal 3, the latest iteration of the company’s graphics frameworks for videogames. The suite of technologies offers numerous technologies and tools for developers, including hardware-accelerated graphics, MetalFX Upscaling, which render scenes faster by taking advantage of upscaling and anti-aliasing, fast resource loading that […]
Foreign exchange headwinds dampened Apple results. Source: Apple. Today, Apple announced its fourth quarter 2022 earnings, exceeding Wall Street expectations and setting a record for Q4 results. During the quarter, Apple recorded $90.1 billion in revenue, an 8% year-over-year increase. Annual earnings per diluted share were $6.11, which is an increase of 9% year over […]
Today, Apple launched a preview of changes coming to iCloud.com, the website that allows users to access their iCloud data and apps, including Mail messages, notes, photos, tasks, and more. The new card-like UI is available to anyone who wants to try it by visiting beta.icloud.com and logging in with your Apple ID. The cards […]
The headlining feature of iOS 16.1 is Live Activities, which allows apps to display status information in the Dynamic Island and on the Lock Screen after a user closes an app. I’ve looked at over 40 new and updated apps and instead of just listing them, I thought I’d share a collection of the most […]
On Episode 302 of AppStories, we explored Federico’s story about Stage Manager in iPadOS 16, including its bugs, missing features, and design flaws. Sponsored by: RevenueCat – Subscription management built for mobile apps. Kolide – Kolide believes that maintaining endpoint security shouldn’t mean compromising employee privacy. Check out our manifesto: Honest Security. Pillow – Sleeping better, made […]
It seems that Apple slipped a little extra controller support into yesterday’s updates to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS: Nintendo Online classic controller support. Nintendo sells wireless versions of its classic NES, SNES, and Nintendo 64 controllers, plus the Sega Genesis controller for use with its Nintendo Online Service for Switch. The controllers are a […]
Every year, our pal Stephen Hackett updates his macOS Screenshot Library with images from the latest macOS release. Today, on 512 Pixels, he released an extensive set of light and dark mode screenshots from macOS Ventura, which joins sets for each release extending all the way back to the Mac OS X Public Beta. The […]
macOS Ventura is a hard release to pin down. I’ve been running it for months, and it’s been running well for all my everyday work and personal tasks. Features like Continuity Camera, iCloud Shared Photo Library, and the many system app updates have, on the whole, been stable, worked as advertised, and helped me do […]
Stage Manager in iPadOS 16.1. This article wasn’t supposed to go like this. iPadOS 16 is launching to the public today, and it carries a lot of expectations on its shoulders: for the first time since the introduction of the original iPad in 2010, Apple is embracing a Mac-like windowing system that lets you use […]
This morning we got into the details of Federico’s review of the latest iPad Pro and the new 10th generation iPad. Sponsored by: Concepts – Infinite, Flexible Sketching. Subscribe here. We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week. To learn more about the benefits included with […]
The new iPad Pro and iPad. Last week on Thursday, I received review units of the new 10th generation iPad and 6th generation iPad Pro. I’ve spent the past few days testing and getting work done with both of them – including finishing a big story about Stage Manager I’m going to publish in a […]
“If you build a dystopian and cynical security program born out of fear, mistrust, and suspicion, then you will inevitably make your fellow employees your enemies.” That’s a quote from Honest Security, Kolide’s mission statement, and North Star. It was written by Kolide’s CEO, Jason Meller, who spent his career in cybersecurity before founding Kolide. […]
0:0022:50 This week on MacStories Unwind, John is joined by Alex Guyot to talk about the third-generation Apple TV 4K, how they use their Apple TVs and what the new hardware might mean for streaming content in the future. Links and Show Notes Apple TV 4K (3rd Generation) Apple TV 4K Updated with an A15 […]
Music Remote by Mario Guzman is a fun, retro remote control for Apple’s Music app. You may have come across Mario’s work on MacStories before. We interviewed him for MacStories Weekly last spring and covered his Music MiniPlayer on MacStories. Music Remote is Mario’s third remote app for the Mac version of Apple’s Music app. […]
This week on AppStories, we mark episode 300 of the show by revisiting the app trends they covered in episode 100 and discussing the new trends that will shape the apps we use in the next several years. Sponsored by: Things – The award-winning to-do app. Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple. Kolide – Kolide believes […]
This morning Apple announced their all-new iPad and iPad Pro lineups via press release and a short announcement video. The new iPad (non-Pro) features new colors and an updated square-edge design that brings it in line with the rest of Apple’s modern iPads and iPhones. The iPad Pro has been upgraded to Apple’s M2 chip, […]
Today, Apple published a press release announcing an update to the Apple TV 4K, which now comes in two configurations that offer different storage capacities and network connectivity. The Apple TV HD is no longer available on Apple’s online store. The Apple TV 4K has been updated with an A15 Bionic chip and support for […]
In iOS 16 and the upcoming iPadOS 16.1, Apple added an alert when an app tries to read your device’s clipboard, giving users a chance to grant or deny access. It’s a privacy measure, but for apps that have legitimate reasons to use the clipboard’s contents, it quickly becomes an annoyance to confirm every time […]
For small businesses, acquiring new business often means juggling multiple priorities at the same time, as each deal has its own time frame and different client requirements. That’s why you need a tool that will help better manage your sales pipeline, so you’re making the most of every sales opportunity that comes your way. Meet […]
0:0015:45 This week on MacStories Unwind, I pick a spooky special from Disney+, Werewolf by Night, and Federico has two weekend videogame projects: openFPGA for the Analogue Pocket and setting up the Epilogue GB Operator with the Steam Deck. Links and Show Notes John’s Pick: Werewolf by Night Trailer Federico’s Pick: openFPGA for Analogue Pocket […]
This week on AppStories, we return to the app grab bag to cover more of our favorite releases and updates from the past several weeks. Sponsored by: Kolide – Kolide believes that maintaining endpoint security shouldn’t mean compromising employee privacy. Check out our manifesto: Honest Security. Memberful – Monetize your passion with membership. Pillow – Sleeping better, […]
Apple Music was released today on the Xbox Store as a free download. I’ve had a chance to test the app briefly on my Xbox Series X, and the experience is very close to that of the Music app on the Apple TV. Upon downloading the app, new users can take advantage of a free […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next: MacStories Weekly: Issue 339 Arranging furniture using Concepts. The UGREEN Nexode 200W USB C Desktop Charger was reviewed A tip for changing app-specific text size on iOS and […]
In an interview with TechCrunch’s Brian Heater, Apple’s vice president of Sensing & Connectivity, Ron Huang, and vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing, Kaiann Drance explain how the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro and Apple Watch Series 8 and Ultra detect car crashes. A big part of the equation is the new gyroscopes and […]
MacUpdater is an effortless way to ensure that all the software on your Mac is always up-to-date with the latest version. With a single click, the app scans your system for installed software and provides you with a comprehensive list of everything that is outdated in one simple, clear interface. It’s the perfect tool to […]
0:0030:26 This week on MacStories Unwind, I unleash a tech gripe about an otherwise excellent product and recommend The Beth’s latest album, Expert in a Dying Field. Plus, Federico has finished Better Call Saul, so he revisits the show which he originally covered last month. Links and Show Notes John’s Gripe: Logitech MX Master Mouse […]
This week on AppStories, we are joined by Widgetsmith developer David Smith to talk about the history of his app, Widgetsmith, iOS 16 Lock Screen Widgets, and his recent hike through the Scottish Highlands where he tested the iPhone 14 Pro’s camera and the Apple Watch. Sponsored by: Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple. MasterClass – […]
Source: Gamevice. Today, Gamevice announced pre-orders for the Flex, a new MFi-certified, case-compatible game controller for the iPhone. Like the Backbone One and Razer Kishi V2, the Flex separates an Xbox-style controller into two halves that connect to the ends of your iPhone for playing controller-compatible iOS games. I haven’t had a chance to try […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next: Monthly Log: September 2022 Stage Manager running in an early macOS Ventura beta. Federico showed Club members how to create internal links between notes in Apple’s Notes app […]
Device security is a lot like Mount Everest: it’s tough to scale. When you’re a small company dominated by engineers, you can keep up with fleet management with nothing more than trust and a spreadsheet. But once you start to hire marketers, designers, and the rest, the number of laptops balloons and the line between […]
0:0024:05 This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico’s been playing Cyberpunk 2077 on his PC, while I’ve been enjoying Shovel Knight Dig on my iPhone using the Razer Kishi V2 controller that I reviewed earlier this week. Sponsored By: Kosmik – For All Mindkind Links and Show Notes Federico’s Pick: Cyberpunk 2077 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox […]
Source: Adobe. Today, Adobe announced the release of Photoshop Elements 2023 and Premier Elements 2023, its photo and video editing apps for the Mac that guide users through a wide variety of creative projects and support for Apple silicon. The paid-up-front apps, which don’t require a Creative Cloud subscription, have been updated with an extensive […]
David Smith, the developer of Widgetsmith, Watchsmith, Pedometer++, and many other apps, put the new Apple Watch Ultra through its paces on a three-day hike through the Scottish Highlands. Dave confirmed what I’ve suspected all along. The Apple Watch isn’t so much an extreme sports watch as it is an Apple Watch with expanded capabilities […]
All I wanted was a widget. A few days ago, as I was playing around with my Lock Screen on iOS 16, I wondered: would it be possible to use the hidden Apple Notes URL scheme to create widget launchers to reopen specific notes in the Notes app? That led me down a fascinating rabbit […]
So far, the big players in music streaming are leaving it to indie developers to create iOS 16 Lock Screen widgets that tie into their services. One of my favorite examples is LockPod, by Rishi Malhotra, which was released this week. The app works with both Apple Music and Spotify, allowing users to create circular […]
Razer Kishi V2. When I look at the innovation happening in handheld gaming at all levels with devices like the Analogue Pocket and Steam Deck, I can’t help but wonder, “What if Apple really jumped into the videogame market and put the power of its hardware and software design teams behind devices that could play […]
This week on AppStories, we tour third-party apps with new iOS 16 features, including more apps with Lock Screen widgets and apps with support for Focus Filters and Shared with You. Sponsored by: Rogue Amoeba: Save 20% in celebration of the 20th anniversary. Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple. Subscribe here. On AppStories+, I have thoughts […]
Earlier today, Apple released iPadOS 16.1, developer beta 3, which adds Stage Manager support for 2018 and 2020 12.9” iPad Pros as well as the 11” iPad Pro. However, external display support will remain an M1 iPad-only feature that will be released in a future iPadOS update later this year. In a statement to Engadget reported […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next: MacStories Weekly: Issue 337 A tip on how to quickly delete apps from your iPad Using Focus modes to customize your iPhone and Apple Watch Plus: App Debuts […]
At a glance, there doesn’t appear to be much going on with the AirPods Pro (2nd generation). The physical design hasn’t changed dramatically, but nearly every other aspect of the earbuds has been improved in some way. The result is the best version of the AirPods Pro yet. The first clue that there’s something different […]
Kosmik is a dashboard for your creativity. Built for designers, researchers, and writers, Kosmik’s infinite canvas for the iPad and Mac lets you bring together notes, your writing, images, websites, PDFs, and more on a single canvas called a Universe, so you can stop switching between apps and focus on what you’re creating. Everything in […]
0:0023:39 This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico has another surprise for me, and I’ve been playing Rollerdrome. Topic Federico’s Pick: Legion 7i Gen 6 (16” Intel) Gaming Laptop John’s Pick: Rollerdrome Steam PS4 and PS5 Trailer
As reported by MacRumors’ Juli Clover, Apple released iOS 16.0.2 today to fix unspecified security issues along with several bugs. Among the bugs fixed are two that have been making headlines recently. One caused the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max’s cameras to shake when using some third-party camera apps, while the other displayed frequent […]
Templates are a great way to speed up your workflow and maintain a consistent design language and branding across everything you create. With Pixelmator Pro 3.0,, you now have over 200 professionally-designed templates for creating a wide range of documents and mockups. I’ve been playing around with the new templates for a few days, and […]
This week on AppStories, we cover some of our favorite new apps and updates that feature iOS 16 Lock Screen widgets. Sponsored by: RevenueCat – Subscription management built for mobile apps. Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple. Kolide – Kolide can help you nail third-party audits and internal compliance goals with endpoint security for your entire fleet. Learn […]
The Apple Watch Ultra reviews are out and instead of a roundup of all of them, I’m just going to link to Victoria Song’s review on The Verge, which comprehensively covers the watch’s new features, answers all of the questions I’ve had since the Ultra’s announcement, and explains better than anyone who it’s for and […]
I’m really excited about the latest update to GoodLinks for iPhone. The app has always had some of the best automation support of any link management or read-later app I’ve used. However, with version 1.7, which was released last week, GoodLinks has taken its automation tools to a new level, opening up more ways to […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next: MacStories Weekly: Issue 336 From Michael Steeber’s behind-the-scenes story. The Making of Federico’s iOS 16 review Michael Steeber’s behind-the-scenes look at his design work for the iOS 16 […]
As the release of iOS 16 approached, I felt a strong sense of déjà vu. TestFlight betas with Lock Screen widgets came pouring in. It felt like 2020’s debut of Home Screen widgets all over again. This time, though, those betas have been all about Lock Screen widgets. As Federico covered in his iOS 16 […]
Do you know the old thought experiment about the AI designed to make paper clips that quickly decides that it will have to eliminate all the humans to maximize paper clips? Many security teams have a similar idea when meeting compliance goals: it would be much simpler if it weren’t for all the pesky users. […]
0:0019:01 This week on MacStories Unwind, John tours his favorite ways to learn about and track videogames, including podcasts and websites, where to buy old games, and apps to track everything. John’s Videogame Discovery Picks: Podcasts The Video Game History Hour Into the Aether Triple Click Websites Polygon Kotaku Buying old games Luki Games Tracking […]
Earlier this week, I published my review of iOS 16. As you may have seen, throughout the eight chapters of the story, I pointed out some of the flaws of iOS 16 and aspects I didn’t particularly like. That gave me an idea. First, however, allow me to thank to everyone who read, enjoyed, and […]
If you’re curious about the technical changes to the iPhone 14 Pro’s cameras, the Halide team has you covered with a side-by-side comparison between the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro. There are a lot of interesting details in the post, but it looks like the most significant changes are to the Main (formerly […]
Source: Austin Mann Austin Mann’s review of the iPhone 14 Pro’s cameras is out, and as usual, he’s back with beautiful photos from an interesting location. This time it’s the Scottish Highlands where Mann put the iPhone Pro’s new cameras to the test. One of the advantages of the new 48MP camera is more latitude […]
Yesterday, I covered Widgetsmith, which among many other things, can display whatever text you’d like in an iOS 16 Lock Screen widget. Lock Screen One is a new app from Sindre Sorhus, the maker of Shortcuts utility Actions, which does something similar, but with a twist. Like Widgetsmith, Lock Screen One lets you add text […]
Years ago, when the iMessage Store first debuted, I covered the best sticker packs every week in MacStories Weekly, our Club MacStories newsletter. It wasn’t long before I had more sticker packs than Messages could manage. Finding individual sticker packs became a chore, so I gradually stopped using them, except on rare occasions. One of […]
This week on AppStories, we dig into Federico’s iOS 16 review, discussing the all-new Lock Screen, wallpaper creation, Focus modes and filters, App Shortcuts, and some of the smaller changes you might have missed. Sponsored by: Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple. Memberful – Monetize your passion with membership. Subscribe here. On AppStories+, we take a behind-the-scenes […]
The reviews for the new iPhones are out, and I’m not surprised that the greatest buzz is around the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. It’s worth digging into each of these reviews to get each author’s full take on the new iPhones, but here are a handful of observations that I thought were particularly […]
It’s been two years since Widgetsmith took the App Store by storm. The app, which was created by long-time indie developer David Smith, lets users create custom Home Screen widgets. Then, shortly after the app’s release, it went viral when TikTokers discovered it and dropped Dave and his app squarely in the center of the […]
A shortcut isn’t worth building if invoking it is more trouble than doing the same thing another way. Fortunately, that’s rarely the case because shortcuts can be triggered in so many ways. Still, you can never have too many options because more options mean more contexts where running the shortcut saves time. That’s why I […]
If you build a dystopian and cynical security program born out of fear, mistrust, and suspicion, then you will inevitably make your fellow employees your enemies. That’s a quote from Honest Security, Kolide’s mission statement, and North Star. It was written by their CEO, Jason Meller, who spent his career in cybersecurity before founding Kolide. […]
0:0021:19 This week on MacStories Unwind, This week, John recommends Belfast, and Federico digs into Better Call Saul for the first time. Links and Show Notes John’s Pick: Belfast Trailer The New York Times review Available on: HBO Max Apple TV rental Federico’s Pick: Better Call Saul Trailer for Season 6 Available on: Netflix iTunes […]
This week on AppStories, we roll up our sleeves to talk about the Music app and how it could be improved. Sponsored by: Trade – Save Big, Support Small Roasters. Get $30 off your first order. Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple. Sourcegraph – Universal Code Search. Move fast, even in big codebases. Try it now. […]
One of the tradeoffs I see a lot in the apps we cover is between simplicity and flexibility. Simplicity has its virtues, but often apps designed to make things as easy as possible for users end up being inflexible, resulting in cookie-cutter output. The flip side is that maximum flexibility can get out of hand […]
Today, Relay FM, which was founded by our close friends Stephen Hackett and Myke Hurley, kicked off its annual fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to help combat childhood cancer. This year’s fundraiser has set a considerably higher goal of raising $500,000. We’d love it if MacStories readers joined us in supporting this cause. You can make a donation by […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next: First Anniversary of Club MacStories+ Town Hall Last week we marked the first anniversary of the expansion of Club MacStories with a special audio event in the Club […]
Kosmik is a dashboard for your creativity. Built for designers, researchers, and writers, Kosmik’s infinite canvas for the iPad and Mac lets you bring together notes, your writing, images, websites, PDFs, and more on a single canvas called a Universe, so you can stop switching between apps and focus on what you’re creating. Everything in […]
0:0019:50 This week on MacStories Unwind, I recommend two building sims: Townscaper and Dorfromantik, and special guest Alex Guyot revisits the TV show Parenthood. Links and Show Notes John’s Pick: Townscaper Trailer Dorfromantik Trailer Alex’s Pick: Parenthood (Hulu/Peacock) Trailer Follow us on Twitter Alex Guyot John Voorhees Follow us on Instagram Alex Guyot John Voorhees
Apple has confirmed that its first fall event will be held on September 7th at 10:00 am Pacific US time. For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, this fall’s event will include an in-person component. And confirmed: In-person Apple iPhone event on Sept.7 in Cupertino. pic.twitter.com/jgNFifUxwJ — Joanna Stern (@JoannaStern) August 24, […]
On the heels of a report earlier this month by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman that Apple would delay the release of iPadOS until October, the company has confirmed that the OS will follow the release of iOS, although it hasn’t said exactly when. In a statement to TechCrunch today, Apple said: This is an especially big […]
I’ve spent a lot of time in the Home app since moving to North Carolina. I moved right after WWDC, so I’ve disassembled, reassembled, and reconfigured my home automation setup, all in the midst of testing the latest iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS betas. What I’ve learned is that the Home app’s new design is […]
This week on AppStories, we consider what it takes to create a great set of modern Shortcuts actions using examples of what Apple is doing in its own apps and what some of our favorite third-party apps are already doing to make Shortcuts accessible to a wider audience and more useful to power users. Sponsored […]
One year ago tomorrow, we introduced the MacStories audience to all-new versions of Club MacStories and AppStories. Club MacStories+, Club Premier, and AppStories+, were the culmination of months of work on ideas that we’d been considering for years and represent the first step in offering MacStories readers and listeners a tightly integrated experience across everything […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next: MacStories Weekly: Issue 322 Federico shares a tip on how to use Quick Note as an Obsidian launcher I consider whether AppleScript support in Shortcuts is a bridge […]
We are now well into the two-year transition window Apple began with the release of their M1 chip. In fact, the second generation of Apple Silicon processors – the M2 – is now available. Apple will continue to support Intel-based Macs, but the power found with Apple Silicon is proving to be worth the jump […]
0:0024:08 This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico and I recommend two of 2022’s hottest indie game sensations, Cult of the Lamb and Stray. As a bonus, Federico shares a 3DS game he’s thinking of playing, and I ask for advice on what to play next. Topic## Links and Show Notes Federico’s Pick: Cult of the […]
Source: Pixelmator. The Pixelmator team announced today that its iPhone and iPad photo editor, Pixelmator Photo, has moved to subscription pricing, and a Mac version of the app is on the way. Existing Pixelmator Photo users won’t have to subscribe to continue using the app and should be able to add the Mac version at […]
This week on AppStories, I’m joined by Alex Guyot to talk about Alex’s MacStories origin story and walk through all of the changes coming to watchOS this fall as part of the MacStories Summer OS Preview series. Sponsored by: Concepts - Infinite, Flexible Sketching. Trade – Save Big, Support Small Roasters. Get $30 off your first […]
Stephen Hackett writing on 512 Pixels about the M2 MacBook Air: There’s something about the design of this machine that I can’t escape. The footprint is pretty similar between the two notebooks, but in my backpack, there’s a huge difference. Don’t get me wrong: I am thrilled that the MacBook Pro has beefed up to be a […]
It’s not unusual for Apple keynotes to feature gaming. Sometimes it’s about Apple Arcade, and other times it’s a demo of a third-party title coming to one of the company’s platforms. However, this year’s WWDC keynote was a little different, sprinkling developer-focused gaming announcements throughout the presentation and focusing on the upcoming release of No […]
In 2021, Kolide went through the SOC 2 Type 1 audit, and they found out just how challenging it can be to prove compliance to a third-party auditor. They also learned firsthand something their customers had been telling them for a while: that they couldn’t have gotten their SOC certification without using their own product. […]
0:0016:39 This week on MacStories Unwind, John recommends a CNN documentary called Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World and is joined by Alex Guyot who kicks back with Prey, the latest installment in the Predator movie series. Plus, John shares his current Game Boy Mario obsession: Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins. […]
Photo editors are the perfect fit with automation tools because, so often, there’s a set of edits, filters, transformations, or file exports that you want to apply to multiple images. Many apps come with some sort of built-in batch processing tool, which is great, but supporting automation opens the door to integrating users’ photo editing […]
This week on AppStories, we consider how iOS and iPadOS 16 are affecting our work and personal lives. Sponsored by: Kolide – Nail third party audits and internal compliance goals with endpoint security for your entire fleet. Learn more here. Setapp – More than 240 powerful apps. Try it free for a month. Sourcegraph – […]
Apple has released a free web app that lets podcasters create artwork and links to promote their shows on Apple Podcasts. The app offers several customization options that should appeal to a wide variety of creators who want to market their shows on Apple’s service. Still, there are a couple of limitations worth keeping in […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next: MacStories Weekly: Issue 331 Federico on how to wipe significant locations from iOS’ intelligent suggestions feature I share my collection of Apple news and general tech news RSS […]
Device security is a lot like Mount Everest: it’s tough to scale. When you’re a small company dominated by engineers, you can keep up with fleet management with nothing more than trust and a spreadsheet. But once you start to hire marketers, designers, and the rest, the number of laptops balloons and the line between […]
0:0020:22 This week on MacStories Unwind, John returns from vacation to pick the Backbone One iPhone game controller, and Federico recommends Paolo Nutini’s latest album, Last Night in the Bittersweet. Links and Show Notes John’s Pick: Backbone One controller PS5 version Games mentioned: Ace Attorney Trilogy Alien Isolation Streets of Rage 4 Chrono Trigger Dead […]
Last year, we awarded Noir Best New App of 2021 as part of the MacStories Selects Awards. Jeffrey Kuiken’s Safari extension for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, which can apply a custom dark mode to websites that don’t offer their own, is a fantastic example of an app that implements a new technology – the […]
This week on AppStories, we dig into the Recently Added folders on our iPhones and the stories they tell about what we’ve been up to lately. Sponsored by: Trade – Save Big, Support Small Roasters. Get $30 off your first order. Sourcegraph – Universal Code Search. Move fast, even in big codebases. Try it now. […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next: The Monthly Log, July 2022 My story on the benefits of running Stage Manager on the Mac and iPad side-by-side and moving between them with Universal Control. An […]
Do you know the old thought experiment about the AI designed to make paper clips that quickly decides that it will have to eliminate all the humans to maximize paper clips? Many security teams have a similar idea when meeting compliance goals: it would be much simpler if it weren’t for all the pesky users. […]
Matthew Cassinelli writing for iMore that Apple should be doing more to make it easier for new users to get started with Shortcuts: In many ways, Shortcuts is “learning to code“ for the masses, and Shortcuts as a programming language should have the educational support, technical resources, and community development that Apple’s user base deserves. […]
Yesterday, Apple announced its third quarter 2022 earnings, narrowly beating analysts’ consensus expectations. The company didn’t provide earnings guidance going into yesterday’s call and hasn’t since the start of the global pandemic. Coupled with ongoing supply chain disruption caused by COVID-19, inflationary pressure in the US and other countries, and the threat of a recession […]
I recently moved from Illinois to North Carolina, and I don’t know the area at all. As a result, I’ve been using Maps and CarPlay a lot since I got here. The new features coming this fall to each aren’t as extensive as they’ve been in past years, but there are several small changes that […]
This week on AppStories, we conclude our in-depth look at changes coming to Apple’s system apps on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, including Home, Notes, Reminders, and Shortcuts. Sponsored by: Concepts - Infinite, Flexible Sketching. Kolide – Kolide can help you nail third party audits and internal compliance goals with endpoint security for your entire […]
Yesterday, Michael Steeber released The Apple Store Time Machine, a Mac app built with the Unity game engine that recreates four historically significant Apple Stores: Tysons Corner, the first ever Apple Store Sanford Shopping Center, a mini version of the Apple Store Fifth Avenue, Apple’s flagship New York store Infinite Loop, Apple’s on-campus store featuring […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings: MacStories Weekly: Issue 330 A grab bag of retro and retro-style games on iOS Using multiple RSS sync services to better manage RSS feeds Plus: App Debuts Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord Interesting links from around […]
Download Remote Mouse & Keyboard is the perfect solution for controlling your Mac from other devices on your home network. The app works with the iPhone, iPad, another Mac, the Apple Watch, and even the Apple TV, enabling a wide variety of new uses for your Mac. Whether you’re running a Mac as a media […]
0:0019:54 This week on MacStories Unwind, John and Federico discuss MusicBox, one of the newest ways they keep up with newly-discovered music, and Black Bird, a new Apple TV+ mini-series that John’s been watching. Sponsored By: SaneBox: Organize Your Inbox (and Never Waste Time on Email Again) with SaneBox Links and Show Notes Music discovery […]
Source: Twelve South. Not long ago, Twelve South introduced a new 3-in-1 charger for the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods Pro called the HiRise 3. I’ve used a Belkin 3-in-1 charger on my desk for a few years and love it, but it takes up quite a bit of space. So, when Twelve South recently […]
This week on AppStories, we continue the MacStories Summer OS Preview Series with part one of our in-depth look at changes coming to Apple’s system apps on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, including Weather, Clock, Safari, Mail, Messages, and Photos. Sponsored by: Concepts - Infinite, Flexible Sketching. RevenueCat – Subscription management built for mobile apps. Sourcegraph […]
One of the system app updates we covered on AppStories this week that I’m most excited about is Mail. The app will finally introduce several advanced features this fall, including: Undo send, allowing you to recall a message for 10 seconds after sending a message Message scheduling with suggested and fully-customizable future delivery times and […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings: MacStories Weekly: Issue 329 Using Messages as a supplementary VIP mail notification system using AppleScript and Mail rules Managing collections of links with Shortcuts A Club member’s desk setup and app recommendations Plus: App Debuts Highlights from […]
SaneBox is your personal email assistant that automatically organizes your inbox, saving you loads of valuable time. SaneBox works with your existing email service, so your most important messages always reach your inbox. The rest of your messages are carefully organized into designated folders like SaneLater and SaneNews for later. You can snooze emails, too, setting […]
0:0021:17 This week on MacStories Unwind, John escapes with Ambulance, an action-packed Michael Bay movie, while Federico enjoys a classic TV period drama: Mad Men. Sponsored By: Backblaze: Astonishingly Easy and Unlimited Cloud Backup Links and Show Notes John’s Pick: Ambulance Trailer Federico’s Pick: Mad Men
Today, Apple introduced new exclusive live sessions on Apple Music. The music streaming service kicked off Apple Music Sessions with performances by country music stars Carrie Underwood and Tenille Townes. The sessions with Underwood and Townes, which include both audio-only and video components, were recorded in Spatial Audio at Apple’s Nashville, Tennessee studio. Apple has […]
When Shortcuts debuted on the Mac in Monterey, Apple added more ways to run an automation than anyone expected, but there was one big omission. Shortcuts wasn’t included in Monterey’s share menu. That was a big disappointment for anyone (like me) who has built a lot of shortcuts that rely on the share sheet on […]
Before there was Pixelmator Pro on the Mac or Pixelmator Photo on the iPhone and iPad, there was just plain Pixelmator, the layer-based image editor that started on the Mac, added iPad support in 2014, and then made its way to the iPhone a year later. It’s been a long, successful story, but Pixelmator was […]
To kick off our Summer OS Preview Series on AppStories this week, cover the top new features of iOS and iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura, that are now available as part of Apple’s public beta program. Sponsored by: Concepts - Sketch, Note, Draw. Kolide – Kolide can help you nail third-party audits and internal compliance […]
Source: Emojipedia. Draft candidates for Emoji 15.0 have been released ahead of World Emoji Day, and Emojipedia has created the sample images seen above to show them off. Although there’s no guarantee that all of the proposed new emojis will be included in the final release of Emoji 15.0, which is expected in September, Emojipedia […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next: MacStories Weekly: Issue 328 Tot by The Iconfactory An all-new episode of MacStories Unplugged, on Universal Control, Stage Manager, and Federico’s search for the perfect gaming monitor. Club […]
After watching this year’s WWDC keynote in June, my initial impression of the watchOS 9 announcement was that Apple had prepared one of the largest Apple Watch updates in years. While writing my watchOS 9 overview later that day though, it felt like the scope of the changes were less than I originally thought. I […]
With the release of the macOS Ventura public beta today, macOS takes another step down the path to syncing up its platforms that began four years ago. Where once the Mac hung out doing its own thing with scant regard for where iOS, and later, iPadOS was heading, today the Mac feels like part of […]
iPadOS and iOS 16. Sometimes I truly have excellent timing with my stories. As you may recall, a couple of months ago in the lead-up to WWDC, I published an article on my experience with using the M1 Max MacBook Pro for six months. That story was born out of a desire to get to […]
Backblaze offers unlimited computer backup for Macs and PCs for just $7 a month. Backblaze will backup your music, photos, videos, drawings, projects, and all the other data you have, so it’s safe and secure. If you need to restore a file, that’s simple too. You can restore files from anywhere by downloading them directly from […]
0:0024:45 This week on MacStories Unwind, we dig into the hardware we use to enjoy movies, TV shows, and videogames. Sponsored By: Concepts: An Infinite Sketching App for iPad Links and Show Notes Federico’s TV: 2021 55” LG C1 4K OLED TV John’s TV: 2022 55” LG C2 4K OLED TV Also discussed C-Force CF015 Next, portable OLED display
Apple has announced a new Lockdown Mode for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS designed to protect people who may be personally targeted by sophisticated digital threats. In a press release, Apple says: Lockdown Mode — the first major capability of its kind, coming this fall with iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura — is an […]
Today, our friend Stephen Hackett launched a follow-up to his successful 2021 Apple hardware calendar campaign on Kickstarter. This year’s calendar features more of Stephen’s excellent product photography along with notable dates in Apple’s software history. You can watch Stephen’s announcement video here: and read more about the campaign on 512 Pixels. In addition to the […]
This week on AppStories, we survey some of our favorite reading and research apps across all of Apple’s platforms. Sponsored by: Concepts - Sketch, Note, Draw Sourcegraph – Universal Code Search. Move fast, even in big codebases. Try it now. Subscribe here. On AppStories+, I explain the quirks of moving from one state to another […]
The M2 MacBook Air, revealed by Apple during its WWDC keynote, now has order and release dates. When the new MacBook Air was announced during WWDC last month, Apple simply said the laptop would be released in July. In a press release today, the company said it would begin taking orders on Friday, July 8th […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next: MacStories Weekly: Issue 327 Apps for your next road trip Space-saving tips for your workspace Plus: App Debuts Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord Interesting links from around […]
One of the greatest strengths of the App Store is its abundance of choice. For every app category, there are always multiple excellent options from which to pick. That’s never been more true for the recipe app category. Paprika was my long-time personal favorite until Mela came along, but there are other great options like […]
Sketch, explore and share endless ideas with Concepts’ infinite canvas for iPad. Used by creators for visual thinking, note-taking, team communication, and design, Concepts lets you sketch and share your ideas wherever you go. In Concepts, you can draw with liquid pens and brushes all over the endless canvas, in designer Copic colors. Since everything […]
0:0019:18 This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico is enjoying season two of Only Murders In the Building, while John loves Loot. Sponsored by: Kolide: Endpoint security for teams that Slack. Try Kolide for 14 days free; no credit card required. Links and Show Notes Federico’s Pick: Only Murders In the Building (Season 2) John’s Pick: […]
To comply with a recent amendment to South Korea’s Telecommunications Business Act, Apple is allowing developers to use third-party payment systems for the first time. However, the new App Store entitlement comes with substantial limitations. Developers who want to use a third-party payment processor must apply to Apple for a StoreKit External Purchase Entitlement. Apps […]
This week on AppStories, we share some of our favorite Mac apps, including new discoveries and old favorites. Sponsored by: Sourcegraph – Universal Code Search. Move fast, even in big codebases. Try it now. Memberful – Monetize your passion with membership Instabug – Empower mobile teams to monitor, prioritize, and debug performance and stability issues and […]
Last week, MacRumors reported that beginning with iPadOS 16, the iPad would no longer be able to serve as a hub for your HomeKit accessories. MacRumors’ story was based on strings found in the iPadOS beta and was picked up by other websites, including The Verge. However, it seems that’s not quite right. According to […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next: MacStories Weekly: Issue 326 Forecast Bar Getting the most out of read-later app Matter A reader setup Plus: App Debuts Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord Interesting links […]
PDF Expert by Readdle has been a leading PDF utility since the early days of the App Store, offering the kind of pro-level features that are critical to users whose work depends on managing and editing PDFs. With today’s update to version 3, PDF Expert for Mac debuts a new look, optical character recognition support, […]
At Kolide, we believe the supposedly Average Person is the key to unlocking a new class of security detection, compliance, and threat remediation. So do the hundreds of organizations that send important security notifications to employees from Kolide’s Slack app. Collectively, we know that organizations can dramatically lower the actual risks they will likely face […]
0:0018:07 This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico recommends Marry Me, a Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson rom-com, and John shares Down By the River Thames by Liam Gallagher, a live set recorded on a barge in London in 2020. Federico’s Pick: Marry Me Marry Me John’s Pick: Down By the River Thames by Liam Gallagher […]
This week on AppStories, we reach into the App Grab Bag and pull out five recommendations for listeners to try. Sponsored by: Instabug – Empower mobile teams to monitor, prioritize, and debug performance and stability issues and ship better mobile apps. RevenueCat – Subscription management built for mobile apps. Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple. Sourcegraph – […]
One of the cornerstone features coming to macOS Ventura this fall is Stage Manager, which lets you create sets of multiple apps, decluttering your desktop without a lot of fiddling. In my limited use so far, I’m optimistic about Stage Manager’s future as a way to manage apps, but it’s not for everyone, which is […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next: MacStories Weekly: Issue 325 Mail’s Send Later Feature coming this fall I share the Safari extensions that I use on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac Stephen Hackett joins […]
BetterTouchTool is an indispensable Mac app that has stood the test of time. The app was one of the first covered by MacStories back in November 2009. In those early days, BetterTouchTool was a simple app for adding customizable gestures to MacBook trackpads and the Magic Mouse. Nowadays, the app can configure gestures for the Magic […]
0:0021:55 This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico plays Strange Horticulture and explores Final Fantasy: Crisis Core using the PPSSPP emulator on the Aya Neo and John recommends Everything Everywhere All At Once. Links and Show Notes Federico’s Picks: Strange Horticulture PPSSPP emulator Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core Upscale Project John’s Pick: Everything Everywhere All At […]
This week on AppStories, we take a step back to consider the future of WWDC and what this year’s announcements mean for each of Apple’s platforms. Sponsored by: Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple. Sourcegraph – Universal Code Search. Move fast, even in big codebases. Try it now. Instabug – Empower mobile teams to monitor, prioritize, and […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next: WWDC Last week we held four live recordings of AppStories in the Club MacStories+ Discord community and took questions from listeners. Topics included: Our first impressions of the […]
WhatsApp announced beta support today for migrating the app’s data from Android devices to the iPhone using Apple’s Move to iOS app, which is available on the Google Play store. Move to iOS is an Android app that could already move contacts, messages, photos, videos, email accounts, and calendars. With WhatsApp’s update, which is being […]
iA Writer has long been one of the premier text editors on Apple’s platforms. The app’s design is top-notch, and it offers a feature set that makes it among the best options for writing in Markdown. Best of all, the app’s features stay out of your way while you’re writing. They’re easy to access, but […]
Stage Manager is a very different approach to multitasking on the iPad and Mac for different reasons. TechCrunch’s Matthew Panzarino explored the design choices made by Apple on both platforms in an interview with Craig Federighi, the company’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering. As Panzarino explains, Stage Manager feels very iPad-centric, but Federighi says […]
For small businesses, it can be difficult to stay on top of clients, leads, and projects that are evolving every day. Here’s how Daylite can help supercharge your team to collaborate better, handle more clients, close more deals, and execute more projects. Designed for Mac, iPhone, and iPad exclusively. Daylite is more than just a CRM app for […]
Lance Ulanoff, writing for Tech Radar, has an in-depth look at the changes coming this fall to iOS 16. Ulanoff also interviewed Apple’s Apple SVP of Engineering Craig Federighi and Apple VP of Design Alan Dye for his story with the two executives providing a behind-the-scenes look at the technology and thinking behind the many […]
In the latest installment of AppStories’ special WWDC series, we talk about how we use the Developer app before diving into Shortcuts with a closer look at App Shortcuts and some of the new actions Shortcuts has to offer and considering some of the wishes that didn’t come true in 2022. Sponsored by: Kolide – […]
0:0019:27 This week on MacStories Unwind, John is hooked on Stranger Things, Season 4, and Federico shares his experience using a dedicated iPhone DAC. Sponsored by: Kolide: Endpoint security for teams that Slack. Try Kolide for 14 days free; no credit card required. Links and Show Notes John’s Pick: Stranger Things, Season 4 (Netflix) The […]
It’s been quite a week. We’ve recorded daily episodes of AppStories in the Club MacStories+ Discord community, covering everything from our initial reactions to Monday’s keynote to the features of each of the OS updates announced. It’s been a lot of fun and we’re not quite finished, but the highlight of the week was the […]
Kolide is a SaaS app that sends employees important, timely, and relevant security recommendations concerning their Mac, Windows, and Linux devices, right inside Slack. Kolide is perfect for organizations that want to move beyond a traditional lock-down model and move to one where employees are educated about security and device management while fixing nuanced problems. […]
In yesterday’s installment of AppStories’ special WWDC series, we were joined by Myke Hurley to talk about the M2 MacBook Air, as well as Stage Manager and gaming on macOS Ventura. Sponsored by: Kolide – Endpoint security powered by people. Try Kolide for 14 days free; no credit card required. Subscribe here. On AppStories+, I […]
As I mentioned on AppStories, I’m intrigued by what Apple is doing with the Apple silicon GPU and memory and what it could mean for gaming. Although no one has had a chance to put the M2 through its paces yet, AnandTech does an excellent job of putting the facts and figures from Monday’s keynote […]
Safety Check is a new iOS privacy feature that allows users whose safety may be at risk due to domestic or intimate partner violence to review and revoke access previously granted to their partner. Apple developed the feature in consultation with groups that support the victims of domestic and intimate partner violence, including the National […]
Sharing photos among family members has never been easy on Apple’s platforms. Photos and albums can be shared individually or in batches, but it’s a manual process that too often, I, and I’m sure many others, don’t bother to do. The result is that members of the same household often end up with different collections […]
On the latest installment of AppStories’ special WWDC series, Federico and John dig in deeper on the desktop-class features being added to iPadOS and the new functionality in Reminders on all platforms. Sponsored by: Kolide – Endpoint security powered by people. Try Kolide for 14 days free; no credit card required. Subscribe here. On AppStories+, […]
During the WWDC keynote, Apple dedicated a substantial segment to a CarPlay sneak peek in an already-packed presentation. It seemed like an odd choice because Apple said cars supporting the new features announced won’t be announced until late next year. However, given the depth of integration with vehicles that the new features will require and […]
Apple’s platforms have seen a lot of changes to their designs in the past few years, so it’s not surprising that the company has released an extensive update to its Human Interface Guidelines. As Apple explains in a post on its Design website: Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) is a comprehensive resource for designers and […]
Yesterday during their WWDC keynote event, Apple unveiled the updated M2 Apple Silicon chip. While the M2 might not be quite as revolutionary of an upgrade as the M1 was over previous Intel chips, it’s still a very solid year-over-year improvement which continues to boost Apple ahead of the competition. Debuting with the M2 inside […]
iOS 16. As is always the case when Apple releases the first developer betas of new major versions of iOS and iPadOS, there are hundreds of features that don’t make an appearance in the keynote or aren’t mentioned in Apple’s marketing pages. Very often, those “smaller” features turn out to be some of the most […]
In today’s first special WWDC 2022 episode that was recorded live in the Club MacStories+ Discord community, Federico, John, and Alex cover the highlights of Apple’s keynote, including iOS and iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, and watchOS 9. Sponsored by: Kolide – Endpoint security powered by people. Try Kolide for 14 days free; no credit card […]
During yesterday’s WWDC keynote event, Apple announced watchOS 9. As usual, health and fitness are the core areas of focus in the update, with the Workout app in particular getting packed with new features and metric views. The Sleep app will now track in-depth sleep stage data, and an all-new Medications app is making its […]
iPadOS 16. At its keynote held earlier today online and, for a limited audience of developers and media, in Cupertino, Apple unveiled the next major versions of iOS and iPadOS: iOS 16 and iPadOS 16. Both OSes will be released for free this fall, with developer betas available today and a public beta to follow […]
At this morning’s WWDC keynote presentation, SVP of Software Engineering Craig Federighi took the stage to announce the latest update to Apple’s desktop operating system: macOS Ventura. Ventura introduces a host of improvements, with many going hand-in-hand with their iOS and iPadOS 16 counterparts. A new windowing mode is perhaps the most intriguing addition, but […]
Last week, Apple announced the finalists for the 2022 Apple Design Awards: 36 apps and games in six categories: Inclusivity, Delight and Fun, Interaction, Social Impact, Visuals and Graphics, and Innovation. Today, the company announced two winners (one app and one game) in each category for a total of twelve 2022 Apple Design Award winners. […]
Run, Craig, run! Today’s keynote was a fast-paced affair that covered a lot of ground including upcoming updates to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS. If you didn’t follow the live stream or announcements as they unfolded today, you can replay it on Apple’s Events site or catch it on YouTube. Supported By Kolide Kolide: Endpoint Security for Teams […]
Whenever Apple holds a keynote event, the company shares a variety of numbers related to things like user counts for certain products, software performance improvements, and customer satisfaction. With the company announcing the future of key platforms like iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS, there was unsurprisingly a lot of data mentioned during today’s WWDC […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next: Monthly Log: May 2022 WWDC13. I reflected on the many benefits of in-person WWDCs and Apple’s move to a hybrid online/in-person conference I also covered the gear I […]
At Kolide, we believe the supposedly Average Person is the key to unlocking a new class of security detection, compliance, and threat remediation. So do the hundreds of organizations that send important security notifications to employees from Kolide’s Slack app. Collectively, we know that organizations can dramatically lower the actual risks they will likely face […]
0:0027:34 This week on MacStories Unwind, John turns the tables on Federico with a big surprise of his own. Sponsored by: Kolide: Endpoint security for teams that Slack. Try Kolide for 14 days free; no credit card required. Links and Show Notes John’s Pick: Aya Neo Next Pro Specs CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5825U (8 cores, […]
Early today The Iconfactory released their latest app, a simple web server utility called WorldWideWeb. Solidly developer-focused in scope, the app serves files from a local directory to an automatically generated URL, making these files available to any device on your local network. While there are sure to be more inventive use cases for such […]
This week on AppStories, we conclude our annual OS wishes series with a look at what we want to see in macOS this year at WWDC. Sponsored by: Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple. Sourcegraph: Universal Code Search. Move fast, even in big codebases. Try it now. Instabug: Empower mobile teams to monitor, prioritize, and debug […]
Like last year, Apple has announced the finalists in the running for its annual Apple Design Awards. The awards ceremony revealing the winners will be held during WWDC at 5:00 PM Pacific on June 6th. The finalists have been divided into six categories that include six finalists each: Inclusivity Letter Rooms Navi Noted. Procreate tint. Wylde Flowers Delight […]
The 14” M1 Max MacBook Pro. For the past few months, I’ve been living a double life. Most of you probably know me as “the iPad guy”. And rightfully so: the iPad – more specifically, the iPad Pro – is my favorite computer Apple’s ever made; my coverage of iPad, iPad apps, and, later, iPadOS […]
WWDC will kick off one week from today, and the MacStories team has been busy preparing. This year is a little different than the past couple. Sessions and labs will be online, but the keynote on Monday, June 6th, will be in person for a small group of developers who were awarded tickets through a […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next: MacStories Weekly: Issue 322 Fetching Apple Music editorial content with one of Federico’s shortcuts. A collection of apps with excellent iPad mini reading experiences Federico shares shortcuts to […]
Kolide is a SaaS app that sends employees important, timely, and relevant security recommendations concerning their Mac, Windows, and Linux devices, right inside Slack. Kolide is perfect for organizations that want to move beyond a traditional lock-down model and move to one where employees are educated about security and device management while fixing nuanced problems. […]
0:0025:26 This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico recommends Simple Plan’s latest album, Harder Than it Looks and takes listeners back to 2005 for the band’s one song show in Viterbo, Italy, while I revisit the Tomb Raider trilogy on the the Xbox Series X. Sponsored by: SaneBox – Organize Your Inbox (and Never Waste Time on […]
It’s been fun to watch Grocery by Conrad Stoll evolve over the years. The app started as a relatively simple shopping list app on the iPhone but has transformed into something much deeper. Today, Grocery is available on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch and offers a comprehensive feature set that also covers meal […]
Earlier this year, we interviewed Mario Guzman in MacStories Weekly about Music Widget, his Apple Music controller utility that recreates the look and feel of the original iTunes Dashboard Widget. This week, Guzman is back with a similar music utility for macOS that’s skinned to look like the original iTunes 10 MiniPlayer. Called Music MiniPlayer, […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next: MacStories Weekly: Issue 321 Federico shares a collection of three iOS system features that deserve their own apps I explain how I’m using the app Due to simplify […]
This week on AppStories, we tackle iPadOS and the changes we’d like to see come to iPad this year, and we revisit some of our Shortcuts wishes for 2022. Sponsored by: RevenueCat – Subscription management built for mobile apps. Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple. Sourcegraph – Universal Code Search. Move fast, even in big codebases. Try […]
MusicBox for iPhone. Longtime MacStories readers know how much music is important to me. I Made You a Mixtape, which I published six years ago, continues to be one of my favorite, most intimate things I’ve ever published for a simple reason: it tells the story of the importance music had in my life when […]
Apple has released two Pride Edition Apple Watch bands and new dynamic Pride watch faces that coordinate with the colors of the new Pride Edition Sports Loop and Nike Sports Loop bands. The company also announced a new Shot on iPhone Pride campaign. Apple’s press release explains the design of the Pride Edition Sports Loop: […]
SaneBox is your personal email assistant that automatically organizes your inbox, saving you loads of valuable time. SaneBox works with your existing email service, so your most important messages always reach your inbox. The rest of your messages are carefully organized into designated folders like SaneLater and SaneNews for later. You can snooze emails, too, setting […]
0:0021:10 This week on MacStories Unwind, John recommends the latest album from The Black Keys and Federico has a single from My Chemical Romance and an update to Pokémon Home to share. Sponsored by: Backblaze – Astonishingly Easy And Unlimited Cloud Backup Links and Show Notes John’s Pick: Dropout Boogie by The Black Keys Federico’s […]
Update: It turns out that Essentials Anniversaries is not a new feature, but isn’t something that has been heavily promoted in the Listen Now tab of Apple Music before. You can read the original post below. Apple Music was quietly updated today with a new feature: Essentials Anniversaries. The new Apple Music section features landmark […]
This week on AppStories, John and Alex tackle their watchOS 9 wishes and then Federico and John are joined by Myke Hurley to consider what they’d like to see added to tvOS 16. Sponsored by: Sourcegraph: Universal Code Search. Move fast, even in big codebases. Try it now. Instabug: Empower mobile teams to monitor, prioritize, […]
Bike is a brand new Mac-only outlining app from Hog Bay Software that executes the fundamentals of outlining flawlessly. The outline creation and editing workflows are polished, and the keyboard-focused navigation makes moving around a large outline effortless. The app’s feature set is limited by design. That focus is part of what makes Bike such […]
Thursday is Global Accessibility Awareness Day. To mark the occasion, Apple has announced a long list of accessibility features coming to its products later this year and shared other ways it is celebrating the day through its apps and services. Apple’s press release sums up the features coming to the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next: MacStories Weekly: Issue 320 I share six lessons I’ve learned from testing HomeKit devices for over six years Alex explains how Calliope, our backend technology stack, was used […]
Backblaze offers unlimited computer backup for Macs and PCs for just $7 a month. Backblaze will backup your music, photos, videos, drawings, projects, and all the other data you have, so it’s safe and secure. If you need to restore a file, that’s simple too. You can restore files from anywhere by downloading them directly from […]
0:0021:10 This week on MacStories Unwind, John recommends Apple News Audio stories and Kirby and the Forgotten Land and Alex Guyot makes a special guest appearance to suggest a classic iOS game, Nanuleu. Sponsored by: SaneBox – Organize Your Inbox (and Never Waste Time on Email Again) Links and Show Notes John’s Picks: Apple News […]
John: One of the hardest things about a new project is keeping it under wraps until it’s ready. That was true of Automation April in general, but it was especially true of the Shortcuts Contest. As soon as we’d decided on the outline of what the contest would be, we knew it was something that […]
Apple has announced that it is discontinuing the iPod touch. As the last iPod in Apple’s lineup, the end of the iPod touch marks the end of an era for Apple. The iPod, which debuted in 2001, played a significant role in Apple’s comeback as a company. The iPod touch was introduced in 2007, the […]
This week on AppStories, we kick off our annual ‘OS wishes’ series with a look at our wishes for iOS 16, including everything from system-level features to the iPhone’s built-in apps. Sponsored by: Sourcegraph: Universal Code Search. Move fast, even in big codebases. Try it now. Instabug: Empower mobile teams to monitor, prioritize, and debug […]
Source: Adobe. Today, Adobe announced substantial updates to Fresco, its drawing and painting app for the iPhone and iPad, and its image editor, Photoshop for iPad. I haven’t had a chance to spend much time with these updates yet, but based on Adobe’s announcement, the changes promise to be among the most significant releases yet. […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next: MacStories Weekly: Issue 319 Federico goes all-in on a new tag and smart list-based Reminders system I explain how videogames could become part of a more ambitious Apple […]
SaneBox is your personal email assistant that automatically organizes your inbox, saving you loads of valuable time. SaneBox works with your existing email service, so your most important messages always reach your inbox. The rest of your messages are carefully organized into designated folders like SaneLater and SaneNews for later. You can snooze emails, too, setting […]
0:0019:21 This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico recommends Alpha Games by Bloc Party and John suggests the skateboarding videogame OlliOlli World. Links and Show Notes Federico’s Pick: Alpha Games by Bloc Party John’s Pick: OlliOlliWorld by Roll7 Official Gameplay Trailer
Runestone is the latest app from Simon Støvring, the developer behind Scriptable, Jayson, and Data Jar. Støvring’s apps tend to be focused on developer or automation use cases, filling holes in the iOS and iPadOS ecosystem to aid power users. Runestone mostly falls into the same category, although it also has some wider potential appeal […]
Today, Apple, Google, and Microsoft committed to expand the use of passwordless sign-in technology developed by the FIDO Alliance and the World Wide Web Consortium. The companies say that the standard will ‘offer consistent, secure, and easy passwordless sign-ins to consumers across devices and platforms.’ If this rings a bell, it’s because the passwordless technology […]
To mark Star Wars Day, Apple released a special Behind the Mac video featuring the sound designers of Skywalker Sound, who rely heavily on Apple devices. The film, which runs just under 17 minutes, is a fascinating look at how the Skywalker Sound team captures and mixes real-world sounds that they transform into otherworldly sound […]
Longtime MacStories readers may be familiar with UI Browser, an incredible scripting tool for macOS created by Bill Cheeseman. UI Browser lets you discover the AppleScript structure of an app’s menu system, taking advantage of Apple’s Accessibility APIs to make it easier to script UI, which is not – how do I put this – […]
This week on AppStories, we revisit the state of gaming on Apple’s platforms, considering hardware, OS support, services, and the games themselves. Sponsored by: Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple. Sourcegraph – Universal Code Search. Move fast, even in big codebases. Try it now. Instabug – Empower mobile teams to monitor, prioritize, and debug performance and stability issues […]
I’ve eagerly awaited The iOS App Icon Book by Michael Flarup ever since it was first announced in 2018. The book sits dead center among topics that are at the heart of MacStories: apps, app preservation, and design. As a result, my expectations were high, and I’m happy to report that it doesn’t disappoint. If […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next: MacStories Weekly: Issue 318 I covered the four Apple device accessories that have been part of my computing setup the longest Federico shared a shortcut that turns any […]
Ever loses your ways in piles of reference files or mock up folders? It can be difficult to keep track of all your digital assets, especially when they are spread out across multiple devices and online platforms. Eagle App is a desktop digital assets management tool that satisfies all your needs to ”Collect, Organize, Search, and […]
0:0020:14 This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico recommends VGC Guide for anyone interested in learning about competitive Pokémon, and John shares The Batman, the latest reboot of the caped crusader series. Sponsored by: Kolide – Endpoint security for teams that Slack. Try Kolide for 14 days free; no credit card required. Show Notes and Links Federico’s […]
All the shortcuts I created for Automation April this month. It’s the final week of Automation April, and before we get into the details of the final batch of 10 shortcuts I’ve prepared for this week, I just want to express my gratitude toward all readers – old and new – who checked out MacStories […]
Apple has just published its financial results for Q2 2022. The company posted revenue of $97.28 billion. Apple CEO Tim Cook said: “This quarter’s record results are a testament to Apple’s relentless focus on innovation and our ability to create the best products and services in the world,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We are delighted to […]
Knotwords is a deceptively simple new game from Zach Gage and Jack Schlessinger that combines elements of multiple word and logic puzzles into a unique, fun experience. Each puzzle is composed of a set of squares that are divided into sections. Letters in the corner of a section establish which letters can be placed in […]
I’ve used Tot by The Iconfactory on and off since it was released in 2020 and reviewed by Federico, but it never stuck. I never came up with a system for using the app that fits well with how I work. Instead, I would simply dump text and URLs copied from the web or jot […]
Sofa 3.3, the media organizer app for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, is out, and the update is all about customization. If you haven’t tried Sofa before, check out our recent coverage of the app, which was a runner-up for the MacStories Selects awards in the Best App Update category last year. The update includes […]
In a press release, Apple announced that Self Service Repair is now available in the US, with more countries being added later this year, beginning in Europe. According to Apple: The new online store offers more than 200 individual parts and tools, enabling customers who are experienced with the complexities of repairing electronic devices to […]
This week on AppStories, we share our favorite third-party apps with deep Shortcuts integration. Sponsored by: Kolide – Endpoint security powered by people. Try Kolide for 14 days free; no credit card required. Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple. Sourcegraph – Universal Code Search. Move fast, even in big codebases. Try it now. Crowdstrike – Start […]
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next: Automation April: Shortcuts Workshop Part 2 Last Tuesday, Federico and I were joined by Timery developer Joe Hribar for a special Automation April Shortcuts Workshop Town Hall in […]
At Kolide, we believe the supposedly Average Person is the key to unlocking a new class of security detection, compliance, and threat remediation. So do the hundreds of organizations that send important security notifications to employees from Kolide’s Slack app. Collectively, we know that organizations can dramatically lower the actual risks they will likely face […]
0:0028:33 This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico and John dig into Severance, the Apple TV+ show that is one of their favorite shows of 2022 so far. Sponsored by: Kolide – Endpoint security for teams that Slack. Try Kolide for 14 days free; no credit card required. Show Notes and Links Federico and John’s Joint […]
Audio Hijack 4 and Timery. For the past week, I’ve been rethinking my approach to time tracking with the Timery app with a focus on simplicity and automation. I appreciate the insights into my habits and patterns afforded by time tracking and Timery’s excellent Reports view, but lately I’ve felt like my setup with projects, […]
Yesterday, Apple released its 2022 Environmental Progress Report, detailing the progress the company has made in how much of the materials in its products are recycled. According to Apple’s press release, nearly 20% of the material in its products are recycled, and it more than doubled the use of recycled tungsten, rare earth elements, and […]
I’ve been using Timery to track my time using the Toggl time tracking service for several years now, and although I’ve gotten better at remembering to stop timers, I still forget sometimes. That’s why I built Stop Long Timer, a shortcut that periodically checks if you’ve had a timer running for a long time and […]
This week on AppStories, we dig into the collection of shortcuts that we’ve released during Automation April so far, including Federico’s Split View Presets and Cleanup Twitter Link and John’s Timestamped Notes and myTunes shortcuts.
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On AppStories+, Federico and John give listeners a behind-the-scenes look at judging the Automation April Shortcuts Contest, reflect on how much has changed as MacStories turns 13 and AppStories turns 5, and explain how they deal with app overload anxiety.
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Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next:
MacStories Weekly: Issue 316
- Federico shared SpaceWall, a shortcut that accesses NASA’s space photo library and sets the images as your wallpaper
- I rounded up a collection of third-party utilities that extend the functionality of Shortcuts
- We interviewed Rodrigo Araújo all about his app Charty
- We introduced four new giveaways to celebrate Automation April
-
Plus:
- App Debuts
- Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord
- Interesting links from around the web
- A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts
- and more
Up Next On Tuesday at 12:30 PM Eastern US time, we’ll hold our second Automation April live Shortcuts workshop in the Club MacStories+ Discord community.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Kolide is a SaaS app that sends employees important, timely, and relevant security recommendations concerning their Mac, Windows, and Linux devices, right inside Slack.
Kolide is perfect for organizations that want to move beyond a traditional lock-down model and move to one where employees are educated about security and device management while fixing nuanced problems. We call this approach Honest Security.
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Our thanks to Kolide for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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27:42
This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico recommends WeCrashed on Apple TV+, and John has had the new Wet Leg album on repeat since its release a week ago.
Sponsored by: Kolide: Endpoint security for teams that Slack. Try Kolide for 14 days free; no credit card required.
Show Notes and Links Federico’s Pick:
- WeCrashed on TV+
- Official Trailer
John’s Pick:
- Wet Leg by Wet Leg
- Wet Leg’s Self-Titled Debut is the Sneeringly Sarcastic, Relentlessly Catchy Post-Punk Record the World Has Been Fiending For
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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10 shortcuts for Automation April.
Automation April is well underway: we’ve entered the second week of our month-long special event about automation on Apple platforms, and – in case you haven’t noticed – things are happening everywhere. We’ve published Shortcuts-focused articles on MacStories; interviewed developers of Shortcuts-compatible apps on AppStories; we’ve hosted a Town Hall Workshop on our Discord along with giveaways. And, of course, our panel of judges is now busy testing and evaluating shortcuts submitted by people for the Automation April Shortcuts Contest. If you haven’t yet, now would be a great time to start following @AutomationApril on Twitter to keep up with everything we’re doing.
Last week, I shared an initial batch of 10 shortcuts I prepared for Automation April here on MacStories. I’m back this week with another set of 10 shortcuts that encompass a variety of platforms, app integrations, and functionalities. In this week’s collection, you’ll find even more shortcuts to speed up macOS multitasking; a shortcut that makes it easy to create a calendar event starting from a date; there will be a couple of shortcuts for Markdown and Obsidian users too.
I’m having a lot of fun sharing these sets of shortcuts for Automation April. So once again, let’s dive in.
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Split View Presets This shortcut builds upon the Mac split-screen multitasking shortcut I shared last week, but with a twist: rather than picking apps from a list of currently open windows, this shortcut lets you recreate specific combinations of two apps side-by-side, filling two halves of the display. It is, effectively, a shortcut to create split-screen presets for your favorite app pairs.
I had to come up with some clever workarounds and techniques to make this shortcut work. For starters, as you can see in the image below, you’ll have to create your combinations of apps in the App Name+App Name format in a ‘List’ action at the beginning of the shortcut, as pictured below:
My list of app presets.
In my case, I added a few entries for common app pairs I find myself frequently using, such as:
- Safari+Obsidian
- Safari+Messages
- Obsidian+Shortcuts
…and so forth. The idea is that instead of picking apps manually from a list, the shortcut will let you choose one of the available split view presets and recreate the workspace by putting the first app on the left and the second on the right.
An example of a split view between two apps.
If the apps from the preset you’ve chosen are already running, the shortcut is pretty straightforward: it splits the preset name at the ‘+’ character, uses a Repeat loop to iterate over each app name, finds the window, and places it on the left or right side of the screen depending on whether this is the first or second app from the preset.
The issue was figuring out what to do if the ‘Find Windows’ action can’t find a window for an app from the preset, perhaps because the app you’ve chosen doesn’t have any windows or because it’s not running at all. To account for that scenario, I had to use the osascript command in a ‘Run Shell Script’ action1 and add a two-second delay to give Shortcuts time to activate the app and try again.
The workaround to find a window if it doesn’t exist.
The Split View Presets shortcut has quickly become one of my most-used utilities on macOS. I hope that iPadOS will eventually gain the ability to create your favorite workspaces and activate them with Shortcuts; in the meantime, I have a solution that works on macOS, and I like it a lot.
Split View PresetsCreate a split view with two apps by choosing from a list of app pairs saved as presets. You can create as many presets as you want and instantly recreate their workspaces with this shortcut.
Get the shortcut here.
Save Draft to Repo I created this shortcut because I was missing the ability to easily share drafts of my articles from Obsidian to Working Copy, which is not available on macOS yet. When I write and edit articles on the iPad, committing the latest version of a file from Obsidian to our shared GitHub repo is easy: in the Obsidian app, I can press the hotkey to share notes with the share sheet, select the Working Copy extension, and commit the underlying .md file of the current note to my repo. Given the absence of a share sheet and Working Copy on the Mac, I had to take a different approach.
The shortcut I designed takes advantage of native Files/Finder actions and, more importantly, our very own Obsidian Shortcut Launcher (OSL) plugin. In case you missed the announcement months ago, this plugin lets you pass data from Obsidian to a shortcut in the Shortcuts app; in the shortcut, text passed from Obsidian will be accessible from the ‘Shortcut Input’ variable, and there are several types of inputs you can choose to send from Obsidian to Apple’s app. One of these types of inputs is the filename of the note you’re currently editing in Obsidian.
So, I created a simple OSL command that sends the name of the current document from Obsidian to my shortcut called ‘Save Draft to Repo’. Here’s what the command looks like:
The command I created in the OSL plugin.
In Obsidian, I can then press a hotkey associated with this command, which will trigger the shortcut in the background2. At this point, the shortcut kicks in. The shortcut is based on the ‘Get Contents of Folder’ action, which is set to perform a ‘Recursive’ search of your Obsidian vault – meaning it’ll find documents that match the given filename even if they’re stored inside sub-folders in your main vault’s folder.
Confirming the filename sent by Obsidian.
The shortcut reads the filename from the input sent by Obsidian.
You’ll be asked to confirm the resulting file found by Shortcuts (ideally, it should always be one result – unless you have multiple documents with the same name in Obsidian), and, lastly, you’ll be presented with a Save dialog to pick the folder where you want to save a copy of the file retrieved from your Obsidian vault. In my case, I can pick the folder of one of the two repositories we use at MacStories, but you can use this plugin+shortcut hybrid technique to mirror drafts from Obsidian to any folder you want.
Save Draft to RepoGet a document from Obsidian and back it up to another folder in Finder or Files. This shortcut is best used with the free Obsidian Shortcut Launcher plugin, which can send the title of the current document from Obsidian to Shortcuts.
Get the shortcut here.
Split Last Two Apps This is another shortcut to split the screen on macOS between two apps, but it’s based on a simpler idea than the two split view shortcuts I’ve shared so far: this one only splits the screen between the two most recently used apps.
Getting the two most recently used apps.
To build this shortcut, I used the ‘Find Windows’ action, but set it to only retrieve two windows; the action defaults to fetching recent windows (from latest to oldest), so there’s no need to configure additional sorting options. Once the shortcut has a list of the most recently used window and the window immediately after it, we can combine ‘Get Item from List’ and ‘Resize Window’ to place a specific window on a specific area of the screen. In my case, I want the most recent window to fill the left half of my desktop and the second one to fill the right half. The result is the kind of split view I like: two apps side by side, without having to use full-screen mode.
This shortcut is best used from the menu bar on macOS or as a system-wide hotkey. Another nice aspect of it: because of how it’s designed, you can keep invoking the shortcut to swap the same two apps between the left and right sides of the screen. I do this by repeatedly pressing the same hotkey, and I kind of wish iPadOS had a built-in keyboard shortcut to toggle between Split View sides too.
Split Last Two AppsPlace the two most recently used apps side-by-side, filling the left and right halves of the display.
Get the shortcut here.
Remove Time from Reminders I created this shortcut to quickly convert my existing reminders into due-date-only tasks without due times when I changed how I track my tasks last month. It’s very easy: the shortcut takes all your non-completed reminders and iterates over each one of them. For each reminder, the shortcut reformats its due date and time to remove the time, and the reminder is updated with the new due date that no longer has a time component. That’s it. Here’s what it looks like in practice:
Removing time from reminders.
You can run this shortcut once and forget about it, or you can set it up as a personal automation if you use a third-party Reminders client that does not support creating reminders without a due time. In that case, you could limit the first action to, say, the last five reminders and run the shortcut as an automation every time you close your third-party client. That way, you’d make sure the system always removes times from newly created tasks, leaving just their due dates. Or you could just use the excellent Remind Me Faster to quickly create reminders without times.
Remove Time From RemindersUpdate your existing reminders to remove due times from their due dates.
Get the shortcut here.
Create Event from Date I’ve often found myself having to create a new calendar event starting from a date string received in an app that wasn’t properly highlighting it as a smart data detector. So, I created a shortcut that accepts a date string as input, asks me for a duration for the new event I want to create, and brings up a Calendar compose sheet where I just need to fill in details for event title and calendar.
Creating an event from a date string.
Thanks to the ‘Specified Date’ parameter of the ‘Date’ action, you can see how easy it is to accept and parse an input date in Shortcuts; the rest of the shortcut is just a matter of adding minutes to the start date (so we can come up with an end date for the event) and fill in the necessary fields in the ‘Add New Event’ action.
This shortcut is best when used from the share sheet (select some text that is a date, then hit ‘Share’ from the copy & paste menu and run the shortcut), or when plugged into other shortcuts that output dates via the ‘Run Shortcut’ action.
Create Event From DateCreate a new calendar event based on a date passed to the shortcut as input.
Get the shortcut here.
Toggle Lyrics I don’t recall exactly when this happened but, at some point a few months ago, I wanted to create a shortcut that would toggle the lyrics sidebar in the Music app for Mac. I think I wanted this because a) I didn’t want to learn another keyboard shortcut for this command and b) I wanted to learn how to simulate key presses on menu bar items using AppleScript in Shortcuts.
You see, in the Music app for Mac, lyrics are displayed in a sidebar on the right side of the screen. You can make the sidebar appear by clicking View ⇾ Show Lyrics in the menu bar; if lyrics are already shown, the menu item becomes View ⇾ Hide Lyrics.
The lyrics sidebar in the Music app for Mac.
As it turns out, we don’t need third-party apps to accomplish this with Shortcuts since we can rely on native GUI scripting with AppleScript to perform clicks on menu items in the menu bar. To understand the underlying structure of the Music app and how its menu structure gets exposed to AppleScript, I turned to an old friend of mine: the amazing UI Browser.
Inspecting user interfaces with UI Browser.
Thanks to this power-user utility, I was able to find out the proper terminology to access the ‘Show Lyrics’ menu item inside the ‘View’ menu, which I dropped into an AppleScript that invoked the Music and System Events apps. Then, it was just a matter of adding some extra code to check if the ‘View Lyrics’ menu item is available; if it isn’t, it means that ‘Hide Lyrics’ is shown instead since lyrics are already displayed onscreen.
GUI scripting with AppleScript in Shortcuts.
With this single-action shortcut, I can now toggle the lyrics sidebar on or off in the Music app for Mac with the press of a button or a hotkey. Which isn’t really necessary since this menu item has its own hotkey already, but, hey, you can apply this approach to any other menu item of any Mac app now.
Toggle LyricsToggle the lyrics sidebar in the Music app for Mac on and off. The shortcut uses AppleScript and GUI scripting to determine whether the lyrics sidebar is shown or not.
Get the shortcut here.
Linked Post ⇾ Obsidian This is an updated version of an old shortcut of mine that I modernized for macOS Monterey and Obsidian. If you don’t use Obsidian, you can modify the final part of the shortcut to swap in whatever action you want to use for your favorite text editor and the final Markdown output of the shortcut won’t be affected.
This shortcut lets you turn a Safari webpage into a Markdown template for a linked post on your blog. If you’ve seen how we like to do linked posts on MacStories, you know the kind of article I’m referring to. The shortcut extracts details from the current webpage such as title, link, author, and selection then prepares a Markdown template that is saved in Obsidian and ready for me to tweak before publishing it.
The Markdown template for a linked post.
Unfortunately, I had to use a workaround to make the shortcut compatible with macOS Monterey because of the issues I’ve already covered regarding the lack of Safari Reader actions in Shortcuts for Mac. As you can see in the shortcut, I had to create a separate ‘If Model is Mac’ block that uses the macOS-specific ‘Get Current Web Page’ action to extract details for the title, link, and webpage selection (this property was added in macOS 12.3); alas, when the shortcut runs on a Mac, I can’t extract the author’s name because that is part of Safari Reader, and those actions are not supported on Monterey right now. Don’t ask me why.
The workaround I had to use for the shortcut running on macOS.
Once the text is ready to go, the shortcut saves the Markdown document into your Obsidian vault and uses the Obsidian URL scheme to instantly open the newly created file in the app, ready for you to start editing.
Creating linked posts from Safari.
You can run this shortcut from the share sheet on iPhone and iPad while looking at a webpage you want to link on your blog; on a Mac, you’ll have to invoke the shortcut with a hotkey or a launcher like Raycast, and Safari doesn’t have to be in the foreground.
Linked Post → ObsidianCreate a template for a linked post to an article in Obsidian. The text selection from a Safari webpage is used as a Markdown blockquote. The original title, author name, and URL of the webpage are also preserved in the sheet.
Get the shortcut here.
Cleanup Twitter Link I’m taking the Twitter app for a spin again (I think the appeal of an editing feature is too strong for me to resist), but as part of the process, I have realized that the official client now appends new (and ugly) tracking parameters at the end of links for tweets copied to the clipboard. I’m talking about this kind of URL:
``` https://twitter.com/viticci/status/1513254453612318721?s=20&t=aSleT0QLA7YM8njyXITICQ
```
Where, actually, the canonical link to the tweet is just this part:
``` https://twitter.com/viticci/status/1513254453612318721
```
If you know me, you know that I can’t stand an ugly URL with tracking parameters I don’t need attached to it. So I came up with a shortcut and related personal automation that can clean up tweet links for me whenever I copy them to the clipboard.
The shortcut itself is pretty straightforward: given a tweet URL from the clipboard or passed to the shortcut via the share sheet (or other input methods), the shortcut uses regular expressions to first confirm we’re dealing with a tweet link (and not a link to a Twitter profile), then cuts the unnecessary bits from the URL, which is copied in its newly cleaned state back to the clipboard.
Cleaning tweet URLs.
What I think is great about this shortcut is the system I’ve designed to make it run invisibly in the background and take care of cleaning links without my input. What I noticed is that I tend to copy links to tweets manually, close the Twitter app, then open Discord or Messages to paste them. In doing this, I realized that the one constant is me closing the Twitter app to open something else; this is a habit that can become a trigger for a personal automation in Shortcuts.
So I created an automation that mirrors my behavior: as soon as the Twitter app is closed, the automation runs my Cleanup Twitter Link shortcut; before I know it, the link has already been cleaned and I can paste it in Discord or Messages without worrying about tracking parameters. Even better, iOS’ default clipboard privacy banner tells me that Shortcuts accessed the clipboard in the background – so I know the system is working – but thanks to iOS 15.4, I don’t see the bigger automation alert every time this shortcut runs. It’s a win-win.
Setting up the automation.
Since there are no personal automations for Shortcuts on the Mac, I’ve resorted to running this shortcut manually. I gave it a custom hotkey via Raycast, so whenever I copy a link from the Twitter website or app, I then press ⌃⌥⌘L to clean up the link. When the shortcut runs on macOS, it also displays a notification to confirm that it cleaned a link.
This shortcut is best experienced on an iPhone or iPad with the official Twitter app installed. Ideally, in the future, ‘When I copy a link in Twitter’ could be a third-party automation trigger for Shortcuts; for now, ‘When Twitter is closed’ should suffice as a way to automate the process.
Cleanup Twitter LinkRemove tracking parameters from tweet links. The shortcut is best used to clean up links to tweets copied from Twitter’s official apps and website.
Get the shortcut here.
Days in a Month A while back, a Club MacStories Discord member asked me if it was possible to count the instances of a specific day of the week in any given month. Their kid had soccer practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I think, and they wanted an easy way to count how many of those days were in a specific month. Challenge accepted.
The shortcut I’ve come up with, called Days in a Month, lets you choose the day of the week you want to find in any given month and responds with the total number of days for that month. When the shortcut runs, you’ll be asked to pick a month from a list, then pick a day of the week, and at the end you’ll get an alert telling you how many of those days are found in the selected month. For instance, there are five Saturdays in April 2022.
Picking specific days of a month.
I like this shortcut because it showcases how easy it can be to perform complex date calculations in Shortcuts by just using visual actions that don’t involve a single line of code. The one limitation of the shortcut is that it doesn’t account for leap years; in that case, you’ll have to manually change the number of days for February from 28 to 29 in the Dictionary action at the beginning of the shortcut.
Days In a MonthCount how many instances of a specific day there are in any given month of the year.
Get the shortcut here.
Add or Remove Speaker This simple shortcut was made possible by an addition to the ‘Change Playback Destination’ action in iOS/iPadOS 15.4 and macOS Monterey 12.3: the ability to add or remove AirPlay speakers/headphones to and from the current playback session. With this shortcut, you’ll be presented with a menu that lets you choose whether you want to add a speaker to your existing audio setup or if you want to remove one.
While this is all possible from Control Center manually (just select the checkboxes next to the AirPlay speakers you want to add/remove), I’m sharing this shortcut because it can serve as a template for people who want to create presets for their AirPlay setups. In the shortcut, you’ll see that I left ‘Ask Each Time’ values in the parameters for adding and removing speakers; you can modify these to your own liking to permanently include specific speakers to want to add or remove. For instance, if you want to create an automation that always disconnects your kitchen HomePod and adds the living room HomePod instead, you can modify this shortcut’s parameters to do exactly that.
Add or Remove SpeakerAdd or remove speakers to and from your audio playback setup.
Get the shortcut here.
You can also follow MacStories’ Automation April coverage through our dedicated hub, or subscribe to its RSS feed.
- As I explained in this episode of the Automators podcast, I couldn’t use the standard ‘Run AppleScript’ action since it won’t let me put in variables inside the AppleScript code itself. The shell script action allows variables, so I can dynamically activate apps based on whatever preset I pick. ↩︎
- One of the benefits of the OSL plugin running on macOS is that it can execute shortcuts in the background via the shell. ↩︎
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
In January, Apple announced what has become its annual ‘Shot on iPhone’ photography contest. This year, the challenge presented to photographers was to take macro shots using the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. Here’s what Apple has to say about the winners:
Today, Apple is announcing the 10 winners who highlight the global and diverse community of iPhone photographers, with finalists from China, Hungary, India, Italy, Spain, Thailand, and the US. Their stunning images will be featured on apple.com, on Apple’s Instagram (@apple), and on billboards in select cities.
The winning images were picked by a panel of expert photographers that included Anand Varma, Apeksha Maker, Peter McKinnon, Paddy Chao, Yik Keat Lee, Arem Duplessis, Billy Sorrentino, Della Huff, Kaiann Drance, and Pamela Chen.
The image above, ‘Strawberry in Soda’ by Ashley Lee, was taken in San Francisco and is my personal favorite. The photo’s bright colors and the crisp bubbles offset against a dark background convey an energy that really sets it apart. Every photo picked by the judges is unique and stunning in its own way, though, so be sure to check out the winners in Apple’s press release and be on the lookout for them on Apple’s Instagram account and on billboards.
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This week on AppStories, we interview Rodrigo and Victor Araújo, about the many-layered ways that Pushcut extends the utility of Shortcuts and Anders Borum, the creator of the iOS and iPadOS Git client Working Copy, about the app’s use of Shortcuts.
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On AppStories+, Federico explains the tension between building multi-purpose shortcuts and those that do one thing well, while John covers some of the ways he’s been refining his task management system.
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Last month, I wrote about Apple’s plans to expand the analytics available to podcasters who offer free shows. Yesterday, the new metrics for free shows went live on Apple Podcasts Connect with an announcement from Apple.
The metrics report on a show’s Followers, the term Apple uses to describe anyone who follows free podcasts by selecting the plus button in the Apple Podcasts app. “Subscribers” is reserved for anyone who signs up to receive episodes of paid shows
The new analytics are explained in detail in a support document on Apple Podcasts for Creators. If you’re a podcaster, you’ll find the new metrics under the Analytics tab on Apple Podcasts Connect. The company says that the new Follower metrics allow podcasters to:
Get a breakdown of followers per show and easily measure followers across shows. Once a show is selected, you can view the number of net new followers over the last week, month, 60 days, and all time. Navigate to the Trends menu to view a graph of followers over time and the number of net new followers on a specific day or during a specified range.
The new statistics also report the listening habits of Followers and anyone who doesn’t follow your show.
It’s good to see Apple’s podcast analytics offerings expanding. Apple is just one source of listeners, but it’s a big one that, for many shows, is the dominant source of listeners, so having more anonymized data on user behavior should help guide podcasters in their promotional efforts.
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One of the delights of Shortcuts is the potential of simple individual actions. By themselves, they might not do much, but combined with simple actions from other apps, they create shortcuts that are greater than the sum of their parts. Two of my favorite recent examples are a pair of actions from the apps Play and Downie that combined with a new feature of the Channels app, have allowed me to create a personalized music video channel that I can watch anywhere.
I’ve been tinkering with this idea on and off for months, but it wasn’t until Play came along, and Channels expanded beyond TV shows and movies, that the last pieces of the puzzle fell into place. Those two changes have allowed me to build my own version of 80s era MTV, when the channel was about music, not reality TV, using just a handful of Shortcuts actions.
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There are already ways to stream an endless playlist of music videos, including Apple Music TV, which is available in the TV app. However, I like the concept of Apple Music TV more than its implementation. It’s too much like radio, spoon-feeding me someone else’s music picks. What I wanted was complete control of the library of music videos I watch.
Watching myTunes on the Apple TV.
One way to solve this would be to create a playlist on the Mac with my favorite music videos and play them on shuffle. That’s not a bad solution, but it doesn’t square with how I find music videos. More often than not, I discover videos on Twitter or in my RSS feeds where I follow sites like Chorus.fm and Pitchfork, which frequently link to music videos on YouTube.
What I’ve always wanted was an automated way to download the best videos I find from YouTube and play them at my leisure on my TV, an iPad, or any other device with a screen. What Shortcuts and a few third-party apps have delivered is even better than I’d hoped: a virtual TV channel ready to play my favorite music videos 24/7 on shuffle, which I call myTunes. Here’s how it works.
The first step is to save music videos to Play and tag them with ‘music-video.’
The keys to the shortcut portion of myTunes are actions provided by Marcos Tanaka’s app Play, an iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV app for saving YouTube links for later, and Charlie Monroe Software’s YouTube download utility, Downie. Downie is Mac-only, but my setup works across the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, thanks to Play’s availability on all platforms and the fact that myTunes runs on a schedule at regular intervals.
Downie in action, downloading a video.
The entire process is incredibly simple and an example of the sort of automation that led us to add a Best Everyday Shortcut category to the Automation April Shortcut Contest, which I encourage you to enter if you haven’t already. What myTunes lacks in complexity at just six actions, it makes up for with its simple design and set-it-and-forget-it usefulness.
myTunes is also a shortcut with a slightly tortured development history, which makes it a good example of when to keep iterating on a shortcut idea. As originally conceived, myTunes used a plain text file to track the last time it was run and was split across two shortcuts. It wasn’t the most complex shortcut I’ve ever written, but when I started running into date math edge cases and other issues, I knew I needed to rethink and redesign myTunes.
I stripped the shortcut down to its the core actions provided by Play and Downie. Play can output video URLs filtered by several criteria, including tags, and Downie can initiate downloads of video URLs it finds in text. In the end, those actions, plus Play’s ability to remove tags from saved video URLs and a new feature of the Channels app, were all I needed to create my music video channel.
The elegance of myTunes is that all I have to do is tag music videos with ‘music-video’ as I add them to Play. Shortcuts and Channels do the rest.
As I come across music videos I want to add to my collection, I save them to Play with the tag music-video. myTunes, runs as a Shortcuts applet on a daily schedule tied to an event in Apple’s Calendar app grabbing any videos tagged with music-video in Play, downloading them with Downie, and then stripping the tag from any downloaded videos, so they won’t be downloaded again the next time the shortcut runs.
myTunes is as simple as it is because the Play and Downie actions are so powerful.
Play’s Get Video action can filter the YouTube URLs in your collection in several ways and output a dozen pieces of metadata about each. For myTunes, all I need are the videos’ URLs, so I filter my saved URLs by the tag ‘music-video’ and pass just the URLs to Downie’s ‘Download URLs in text’ action, which I’ve also set up to send the downloaded videos directly to a folder on a drive attached to my always-on Mac mini.
Passing URLs filtered by tag from Play to Downie.
I’ve used a substantial 120 second Wait action in myTunes to give Downie the time it needs to download the videos passed from Play. I could probably shorten this wait period, but since this shortcut runs on a schedule when I’m not at my Mac or doing something else, the delay doesn’t meaningfully affect me.
A Repeat action strips the music-video tags from each downloaded video.
After the 2-minute wait, a Repeat action iterates through each of the videos from the Get Video action at the beginning of the shortcut, which is identified by Video ID, removing the music-video tag, so the next time the shortcut is run, duplicate videos won’t be downloaded. Finally, myTunes quits Downie.
Make sure the Automatically Start Download checkbox is selected in Downie’s settings.
One bit of additional setup that’s important to note is that you need to go to Downie’s Preferences, select General, and be sure to select the checkbox next to Automatically Start Downloads. That way, Downie will fetch your videos regardless of whether you’re at your Mac.
The results of myTunes.
myTunes results in a folder of .mp4 videos, which is nice for archival purposes but not very useful by itself. What puts the finishing touches on myTunes is Channels, the iPhone, iPad, M1 Mac, and Apple TV app for playing over-the-air TV and TV show and movie collections that are stored locally.
I’ve used Channels as a way to watch over-the-air TV and my locally-stored collection of TV shows and movies for a couple of years. Until recently, though, all locally-stored videos had to be a TV show or movie to work with Channels.
My Channels Virtual Channel.
With a recent update, Channels added the ability to point its server at a folder of ‘other’ videos, which has been perfect for my music video project. That’s because, in addition to adding other video types, Channels has a feature called Virtual Channel that lets you create a channel that sits alongside your over-the-air TV channels, except it’s entirely of your own creation. In my case, that meant I could turn my folder of music videos into ‘myTunes,’ a full-blown TV channel in my Channels lineup.
From shortcut to virtual TV channel with its own channel artwork.
Setting up a virtual channel is simple. First, you need to point the Channels server at the folder where your music videos are stored in the Local Content section of the Channels server’s settings. Channels has excellent documentation on how to set up your server if you need help with this part.
Setting up my Channels’ Video Sources, so it can access my folder of music videos.
Next, under the Live TV settings, pick Virtual Channel and then Add Channel. Give your channel a name, number, a link to any artwork you want to use, and pick the sort, order, and limit options to use.
Setting up a virtual channel in Channels.
Because I want myTunes to feel like a personal version of 80s-era MTV, I’ve set it up to play my downloaded videos randomly and added some fun iPod-themed art that hovers in the corner as videos play like the logos on ‘real’ channels. The final step was to point the channel to the folder of videos connected to my Mac mini. Now, whenever I open Channels on my iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV, I can go to its Guide, select myTunes, and watch a random stream of my favorite music videos, which I like to put on in the background when I’m doing something else like cooking.
Wet Leg’s latest video on myTunes.
I’ve been very happy with how myTunes turned out. What initially seemed like it would be a complex task ended up requiring little more than collecting URLs with Play, piping them into Downie, and pointing Channels at a folder. In isolation, I probably couldn’t have come up with a use for Play’s ability to create a list of YouTube URLs or Downie’s ability to extract video URLs from text, but together, they’re a powerful combination that shows off why the best Shortcuts support is from developers who don’t try to anticipate every possible use of their Shortcuts actions. Instead, they provide lots of actions combined with parameters to maximize their flexibility in the hands of creative users with an idea.
However, the icing on the cake is Channels’ virtual channels. There’s something extra fun about having your own TV channel. It’s a throwback with a retro vibe in a world of streaming TV that fits perfectly with the notion of recreating what MTV once was.
myTunesmyTunes uses two third-party apps, Play and Downie, to download YouTube videos tagged in Play with ‘music-video,’ and then remove the tag. myTunes can be used in combination with the third-party app Channels to automate the process of creating a virtual music video channel. Details on how to set up a Virtual Channel can be found in the story that accompanies this shortcut on MacStories.net.
Get the shortcut here.
You can also follow MacStories’ Automation April coverage through our dedicated hub, or subscribe to its RSS feed.
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Today at the International Association of Privacy Professionals’ Global Privacy Summit, Apple CEO Tim Cook delivered a keynote speech on privacy. The IAPP’s mission is to act as a resource for privacy professionals to help them in their efforts to manage information privacy risks and protect data for their organizations.
Cook’s speech, which was livestreamed on the IAPP’s YouTube channel, began with a recap of Apple’s efforts to protect user privacy, including App Tracking Transparency, alluding to the “A Day in the Life of Your Data” white paper the company published early last year.
Cook told the assembled crowd that Apple supports privacy regulation, including GDPR in the EU and privacy laws in the US. However, Cook also expressed concern about unintended consequences that laws being considered in the US and elsewhere might cause, calling out sideloading proposals in particular. Cook said that although Apple supports competition, alternate app stores and sideloading are not the solution because they would open devices up to apps that sidestep the company’s tracking protections and can expose users introduce malware.
Concluding his remarks, Cook called on tech companies and governments to work together to fashion policies that don’t undermine user privacy. Ending on an optimistic note, Cook told the gathering that although the world is at a pivotal moment for privacy, the end of privacy as we know it is not inevitable.
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Source: Pixelmator.
Pixelmator Pro 2.4, the photo and image editor for Mac, was released today with two new layer types, a redesigned layers sidebar, and over 200 built-in vector images.
Today’s addition of color adjustment and effects layers adds new flexibility to Pixelmator Pro that should simplify the creation of more complex layered projects. According to Simonas Bastys, lead developer at the Pixelmator Team:
One of the things that users love most about Pixelmator Pro is how it makes advanced layer-based image editing incredibly easy. And with the addition of color adjustments and effects layers, layer-based editing in Pixelmator Pro becomes even more powerful, enabling all-new workflows, such as advanced selective editing of photos.
I haven’t had a need for Pixelmator Pro’s new layers yet, but the possibilities are intriguing and something I plan to spend some time experimenting with more in the weeks ahead.
Adding new layer types to an image.
Pixelmator Pro has expanded well beyond photo editing to become a full-blown design tool. With today’s update, the app adds over 200 vector images designed by artists that can be incorporated into design projects using the app’s Shapes tool. The collection includes all sorts of shapes and symbols, along with categories like science and activities.
M1 Mac optimization isn’t a new feature of Pixelmator Pro, but the Pixelmator team reports that thanks to the app’s M1 tuning, machine learning tasks like ML Super Resolution and background removal run up to 1.7 times faster on Apple’s latest M1 Ultra chip. So, if you’ve got a new M1 Ultra-based Mac Studio, all of those computationally-intensive tasks should be faster than ever.
Pixelmator Pro is available on the Mac App Store as a free update to existing customers and is $39.99 for new users.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
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One of our top goals with Automation April is to encourage the participation of Shortcuts users of every level. That’s why the Automation April Shortcuts Contest judges won’t just be looking for the most complex shortcuts with the most actions. They’ll be looking at factors like originality, performance, design, user experience, and usefulness, which are all applicable to simple shortcuts too.
To drive home the message that the contest isn’t just for experts, we’ve added a new category: Best Everyday Shortcut. The category will be judged like the others, but with an emphasis on clever uses of actions to create a shortcut that does one thing particularly well, from which a broad cross-section of users can benefit.
Entries for all categories are being accepted through April 20, 2022 at shortcuts.macstories.net. Full details are available in our Automation April Shortcuts Contest announcement post from last week.
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We’ve been incredibly pleased with the response to the contest so far. The MacStories audience has already submitted a lot of shortcuts, many of which are in the running for the new Best Everyday Shortcut category, but we’d love to see more. So, if you’ve got a shortcut that you rely on every day and think would benefit others, we’d love it if you would submit it for consideration.
And remember, we’ve got some terrific prizes for the top shortcuts in each category:
Best Overall Shortcut * A 3-year subscription (or membership upgrade and/or extension for existing Club members) to Club Premier * An Elgato Stream Deck XL * An Analogue Pocket * A special Discord contest winner role * Induction into the Automation April Hall of Fame
Best Everyday Shortcut, Best HomeKit Shortcut, Best Productivity Shortcut, Best Media Shortcut, and Best Mac-specific Shortcut * A 1-year subscription to Club Premier (or membership upgrade and/or extension for existing Club members) * A special Discord category winner role * Induction into the Automation April Category Hall of Fame
So, whether you have a simple shortcut that you rely on every day or one that’s more complex, visit shortcuts.macstories.net to enter the contest before the April 20, 2022 deadline.
You can also follow MacStories’ Automation April coverage through our dedicated hub, or subscribe to its RSS feed.
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Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next:
Club MacStories+ Discord Community Giveaways Last week, we kicked off Automation April app giveaways on Discord for Downie, Permute, Bear, and Streaks, with more to come this week and throughout the month.
MacStories Weekly: Issue 315 Federico’s Obsidian and Dataview-based Listen Later setup
- I shared a collection of my favorite Obsidian plugins for automating note management
- Federico delivered part 9 of his Obsidian series about how he uses Dataview and Shortcuts to save articles and music albums for later
- We kicked off giveaways of Play, Drafts, and Posture Pal, and we’ll have more MacStories Weekly giveaways coming in every issue published during Automation April
- We featured a Club member’s story on how to AirPlay a record player to multiple HomePods
- A Club member shard their wonderful predominantly pink desk setup
- Plus:
- App Debuts
- Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord
- Interesting links from around the web
- A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts
- and more
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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At Kolide, we believe the supposedly Average Person is the key to unlocking a new class of security detection, compliance, and threat remediation. So do the hundreds of organizations that send important security notifications to employees from Kolide’s Slack app.
Collectively, we know that organizations can dramatically lower the actual risks they will likely face with a structured, message-based approach. More importantly, they’ll be able to engage end-users to fix nuanced problems that can’t be automated.
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Honest.Security is one part guide and another-part manifesto that defines a user-first approach to security and IT compliance. It’s not just Kolide’s north star but also an aspirational roadmap. It’s our positive contribution to counterbalance the worrying upward trend of human-hostile cyber security, device management, and workplace surveillance philosophies that we’ve seen reach a fever pitch as organizations adapt to the long-term term prospects of remote work.
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Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico provides a detailed look behind the making of Placebo’s latest album, Never Let Me Go, and John recommends the podcast Magic Rays of Light and the Apple TV+ show Slow Horses.
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This Week on MacStories Unwind Automation April Update
- Automation April Shortcuts Contest
Federico’s Pick:
- Never Let Me Go by Placebo
- More about Never Let Me Go and Placebo
- Placebo speak out on “brutal” return with new album ‘Never Let Me Go’
- Placebo Are Done With Being Fetishised
John’s Picks:
- Magic Rays of Light hosted by Sigmund Judge and Devon Dundee of Screen Times
- Slow Horses on Apple TV+
- Slow Horses Official Trailer
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Whenever I review notes I’ve taken on a video, I inevitably want to go back to rewatch parts of it. However, finding the right segment is a slow, cumbersome chore, which is why I’ve created Timestamped Notes, a trio of shortcuts that are optimized for the Mac, but adaptable to iPadOS, to automate the process of creating timestamped notes without interrupting your typing.
There are two scenarios where I use or plan to use these shortcuts a lot. The first is during Apple events when I’m under time pressure to get stories out and don’t have the luxury of scanning through large sections of a presentation as I write. Timestamped Notes got its first real-world test with Apple’s March event and passed with flying colors.
The second scenario where I’ll use Timestamped Notes a lot is during WWDC. I take lots of notes as I watch recorded presentations, but I often don’t revisit the notes I take for days or weeks later. If I need to refresh my memory of what was said during the session by skipping back through the session, Timestamped Notes will be what I use. No matter what kind of video or audio you take notes on, though, if there’s a chance you’ll want to go back to the source material, Timestamped Notes makes finding what you took notes on much easier.
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Part of the inspiration for this shortcut came from a series of articles by Jason Snell and Dan Moren on Six Colors. They built a Stream Deck-powered shortcut for taking timestamped notes to highlight portions of podcast audio that needed editing. I built a similar shortcut at the time but abandoned it because it didn’t fit with the way I edit podcasts. However, the experience got me thinking about other ways to use timestamped notes that might fit better in other scenarios, which is what led to Timestamped Notes.
Timestamped Notes addresses three problems:
- Creating a clean starting point, so your timestamped notes line up properly with the start of the video you watched
- Providing a simple and fast way to create a timestamp that doesn’t interrupt the note-taking process
- Converting clock-based timestamps, so they line up with a video’s timeline, which starts at 00:00:00.
The solution was to create three separate shortcuts, which I’ll cover in turn.
Video Startup
As you’ll see when I get to converting clock-based timestamps into timestamps that line up with a video’s timeline, it’s important to get the time when you start a video and begin taking notes. That time, no matter where it falls on a real-world clock, will become ‘00:00:00’ and be the starting point from which all of the time calculations flow. As a result, it’s critical to get the clock-based time as close to the start of the video when you press play as possible, which is why I built ‘Video Startup,’ a shortcut that handles everything for you automatically.
The shortcut is fairly simple and relies on BetterTouchTool to do a couple of things with keyboard shortcuts. If you don’t want to use BetterTouchTool, you can skip this shortcut and invoke the keyboard shortcuts to start your video and mark the start in your notes manually instead. However, I prefer the speed and simplicity of BetterTouchTool’s action.
Video Startup requires that the video player you’re using be the active window. Set up your windows so your note-taking app and video player are visible, but make sure the video player is the active window.
The key to Video Startup is that it’s simple and starts up quickly.
Most video players support tapping the Spacebar to play/pause a video, including QuickTime, IINA, and Apple’s Developer app, so Video Startup begins by sending a space to the video player, starting playback. It then grabs the current time using the Current Date action and a Format Date action that uses a custom HH:mm:ss format, which is the Unicode format for 24-hour time that includes two digits for the hours, minutes, and seconds. The shortcut then appends the word ‘Start’ to the time, opens Obsidian, my text editor, and pastes the start time into the document I’m using to take notes, using another BetterTouchTool keyboard shortcut action that activates ⌘V.
I’ve tested this shortcut a lot, and it consistently gets the start time correct within one second, which is close enough for the end result to be useful. There are a couple of things worth keeping in mind with Video Startup. First, I’m using Obsidian as my text editor, but this shortcut works with any text editor, so feel free to change the app that the Open action activates. Just be sure that when you are ready to take notes, the document you want to use is open and ready to go with a blinking cursor.
Second, the time format is important. You don’t want to change the hours to a 12-hour clock format because if you record timestamps mid-day or as Midnight approaches and 12 o’clock becomes 1 o’clock, the time calculations made in the Timestamp Converter shortcut that I describe below will be incorrect.
Also, if you want to adapt this entire workflow to iPadOS or don’t want to use BetterTouchTool, you can skip Video Startup and start with the next shortcut, Timestamper. On iPadOS, you’ll have to manually start your video, switch to your text editor and create your ‘Start’ timestamp manually, but if you’re quick, the added time shouldn’t make a big difference.
Video StartupVideo Startup is a Mac-only shortcut that requires the app BetterTouchTool. The other shortcuts that are part of Timestamped Notes can be used without this one by manually starting your video or audio and creating your first timestamped note.
Get the shortcut here.
Timestamper
Once you’ve started your video and have an initial timestamp, start taking notes. When you’re at a point in the video you’re watching on which you want to take a note, start by invoking Timestamper with a keyboard shortcut, which works a lot like Video Startup. The shortcut uses a Current Date action to grab the current date, formats it as the time, adds a space after the time, copies it to the clipboard, and then uses BetterTouchTool to paste it into your notes. On the Mac, this is a simple and fast way to paste the current time into any text editor, other than an Electron-based app like Obsidian, where Shortcuts’ keyboard shortcuts don’t work.
There are a couple of other options worth considering on the Mac. I use Timestamper with a keyboard shortcut because I find that to be the fastest, but you could also assign the shortcut to a button on a device like the Stream Deck. Also, for Obsidian users, the Natural Language plugin can generate timestamps, which I’ve found is faster than Shortcuts, although the difference is unlikely to be meaningful for note-taking. You can also invoke Timestamper using the MacStories-developed plugin called Obsidian Shortcuts Launcher.
If you’re on iPadOS, your options aren’t ideal because there’s no good way to quickly paste the time into your document and keyboard shortcuts aren’t available. My suggestion is to eliminate the BetterTouchTool action and use Shortcuts in Split View or Slide Over, so you can copy the time to the clipboard as quickly as possible and then manually paste it into your document.
TimestamperTimestamper is a simple shortcut that records a clock-based timestamp in your notes as you take them. The shortcut’s final action requires BetterTouchTool, but it can be removed if you prefer, requiring the shortcut’s timestamp to be manually pasted into your note-taking app.
Get the shortcut here.
Timestamp Converter Timestamp Converter converts the clock-based timestamps in your notes to coincide with the time counter of the video you took notes on.
When you finish taking your notes, you’ll have something that looks like this:
`10:03:23 Start
10:12:33 Notes about what you're watching
More notes on the same segment of the video
10:15:43 A new topic starts, so I used a new timestamp`
What Timestamp Converter does is adjust those clock-based timestamps, so the first one is ‘00:00:00,’ and the rest show the elapsed time since you began taking notes. All you need to do is copy your notes to the clipboard and run the shortcut, which takes care of the calculations.
This was trickier to solve than I first anticipated, but I found a clever trick that avoids jumping through a lot of date and time math that Federico used in a recent Club MacStories+ Automation Academy lesson. But before we get to that, we need to grab your timestamped notes.
Timestamp Converter begins by asking you to select the file where your timestamped notes are saved and dumping the text from that note into a Text action. Next, the shortcut matches every string of text where it finds two digits separated by colons, which are the timestamps.
The Match Text action outputs a list of timestamps. The shortcut gets the first line from the list, which will be the ‘00:00:00’ starting point. Timestamp Converter then splits the lines by newline characters and then iterates through them one at a time, calculating the number of seconds between the first timestamp and the one currently being evaluated.
The key to the conversion process is setting the clock to 00:00:00 and adding the time difference between each timestamp.
Next comes the insight that saved me a lot of complicated math. The Current Date action can be changed to a Specified Date, and by using midnight in the format ‘00:00:00,’ I found that I could simply add the difference between timestamps in seconds to midnight and reformat it as hours, minutes, and seconds, to match my notes with the timestamps of any video that begins at 00:00:00.
The useful takeaway here is that date actions aren’t just for dates. They can also be formatted as times of day, which when you start counting at midnight is the same as starting a video or audio counter at 00:00:00. The last step of the repeat loop is to take my newly-formatted timestamps and swap them in place of the clock-based ones.
The final step is to present a menu to view and copy, save, or share the results of Timestamp Converter.
For lines of text that don’t include a timestamp, Timestamp Converter simply passes them to a Text action. Finally, each timestamped line and line with no timestamp exits the repeat loop and is added to a ‘new text’ variable that is added to another Text action, which can be viewed and copied to the clipboard, saved to a location of your choice, or shared using the share sheet.
An example of pre- and post-conversion notes taken in Obsidian on a WWDC session playing in IINA.
Timestamp ConverterTo use Timestamp Converter, copy your timestamped notes to the clipboard and run this shortcut, which converts them to coincide with the time counter of the video you took notes on. Once the shortcut completes the calculation, you’ll have the option to view and copy, save, or share the results.
Get the shortcut here.
As with many shortcuts, Timestamp Converter was the culmination of hours spent fiddling with Shortcuts’ date actions. There’s an enormous amount of power built into them that allowed me to go from a convoluted, complex version of this shortcut that was prone to breaking to a version that is much more elegant and solid.
As a trio of shortcuts, Timestamped Notes also highlights a couple of areas I’d like to see Shortcuts improved. First, there should be a simple, native way to send keystrokes to an app without resorting to a third-party app like BetterTouchTool. Second, keyboard shortcuts should be added as triggers for shortcuts on iPadOS, which would make Timestamper much more useful on that platform.
My video note-taking workflow works on iPadOS with some minor modifications, but it’s not ideal because too many of the steps are manual, which means the timestamps won’t be as accurate. Fortunately, for most note-taking, a timestamp that’s off by a few seconds isn’t going to make a big difference when you go back to review the source material. However, those manual steps are disruptive when you’re taking notes, which is why I prefer to use Timestamped notes on my Mac. I’m hoping, though, that iPadOS 16 will allow me to revise these shortcuts to work even better on the iPad in the future.
You can also follow MacStories’ Automation April coverage through our dedicated hub, or subscribe to its RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
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This week on AppStories, we introduce Automation April, a month-long community celebration of automation on Apple’s platforms and share our Shortcuts library setups.
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Apple has announced that WWDC will be an online-only event again this year, running from June 6-10, 2022, but with a limited in-person event for developers and students. The company also opened submissions for the Swift Student Challenge from now through April 25.
In a press release issued by today, Susan Prescott, Apple’s Vice President of Worldwide Developer Relations and Enterprise and Education Marketing said:
At its heart, WWDC has always been a forum to create connection and build community. In that spirit, WWDC22 invites developers from around the world to come together to explore how to bring their best ideas to life and push the envelope of what’s possible. We love connecting with our developers, and we hope all of our participants come away feeling energized by their experience.
Here’s what Apple has to say about a special day planned at Apple Park during the conference:
In addition to the online conference, Apple will host a special day for developers and students at Apple Park on June 6 to watch the keynote and State of the Union videos together, along with the online community. Space is limited and details on how to apply to attend will be provided soon.
Although there are benefits to a fully in-person event that can’t be replicated online, the past two years were both widely considered to be successes. In 2020 and 2021, Apple released dozens of excellent videos about its latest APIs and conducted online lab sessions for developers that received high marks. Although Apple hasn’t released details about this year’s online format yet, it’s a safe bet that it will be similar to last year. It’s also nice to see an in-person component added, though limited in scope.
I still hold out hope that WWDC will be a fully in-person event again someday, but this year clearly isn’t the right year. Still, it’s been far too long since I’ve seen many of the developers and friends I’ve made at the conference over the years. It would be a shame if people who have never been to WWDC never get to experience it in person.
Of course, MacStories readers can expect the same kind of comprehensive WWDC coverage we do every year. We’ll have extensive coverage on MacStories and AppStories, which will extend to Club MacStories too.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Shortcuts I’ve prepared for Automation April.
It’s Week 1 of Automation April, and as I announced last week, alongside the several initiatives we’ve prepared for this month-long automation event, I’ve been working on 30 shortcuts to share with everyone for free on MacStories this month.
Today, I’m pleased to share the first group of 10 shortcuts that will join the other 250 on the MacStories Shortcuts Archive. These shortcuts are a diverse collection of utilities that have been specifically optimized for the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS Monterey. Below, you’ll find shortcuts that take advantage of new actions for Translate and Live Text; there are Mac-only shortcuts that integrate with Finder and AppleScript; there’s even a shortcut that helps you speed up multitasking and window control on macOS.
As always, all the shortcuts I’m sharing as part of Automation April have been tested across all Apple devices and you can install them via the iCloud download links in this story. So grab a good cup of espresso, take a break from the Automation April contest, and let’s have a look.
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Photo Translator This shortcut is based on Apple’s new actions for the Translate app added with iOS 15.4 and macOS 12.3, and it lets you quickly translate any text recognized inside an image to a language of your choice. Thanks to the Neural Engine, Live Text can extract text from images and Translate can process it in a second, removing the need to open an image, manually select text, and paste it into the Translate app (which is also absent from the Mac).
How Photo Translator works.
Once the text has been translated, you’ll be presented with a variety of actions you can perform: you can show the translation in a popup window; you can copy it to the clipboard or share it with other apps; you can also choose to save the original text and its translation to a plain text document anywhere in the Files app or Finder.
Translate actions in Shortcuts.
There are a few nice touches worth pointing out in this shortcut. For starters, Photo Translator can receive an image from the share sheet on iPhone or iPad or, alternatively, an image you’ve selected in the Mac’s Finder as a quick action.
Text recognized in any image from Finder can be translated with this shortcut.
Running the shortcut as a quick action.
Translated results aren’t always perfect, but they get the job done.
In case you haven’t shared any image with the shortcut, you’ll be prompted to manually pick an image from the Photos library or take a picture with the Camera while the shortcut is running. The latter is a great option to have if you want to translate something in a hurry just by pointing your iPhone’s camera at it.
Additionally, you can configure the shortcut by telling it what your native language is. This way, if you select an image that already contains text in your own language, the shortcut will skip translation. You can, of course, change the ‘Translate To’ language at any time from the parameter in the ‘Translate Text’ action.
Photo TranslatorTranslate text recognized from images (thanks to Live Text) to any language supported by Apple’s Translate app. The shortcut accepts images from the share sheet, quick actions in Finder, picking from the Photos app, or taking new pictures with the Camera.
Get the shortcut here.
Live Text Extractor This shortcut is a simplified version of Photo Translator that simply extracts text found inside an image thanks to Live Text and immediately copies it to the system clipboard. Based on the ‘Extract Text from Image’ action, Live Text Extractor can even process large images containing lots of text incredibly fast. It’s the ideal utility for people who find themselves dealing with OCR workflows and extracting text from images on a daily basis.
Extracting text from images with Shortcuts.
Like the shortcut above, Live Text Extractor supports receiving images from the share sheet and quick actions in Finder, and it also lets you manually pick an image from Photos. I find the quick action integration especially impressive since you can go from an image on your desktop to copied text in your clipboard with, literally, just two clicks.
Live Text ExtractorShow and copy text found in any image via Live Text. The shortcut supports images passed via the share sheet, quick actions in Finder, or picking manually from Photos.
Get the shortcut here.
Convert Selected Text to Rich Text This shortcut does something you may have seen dozens of times on macOS as a ‘Service’: given some Markdown text selected in any text editor, the shortcut runs and replaces the selection with converted rich text. Write some Markdown in Notes, for instance, invoke this shortcut, and a second later the text will be replaced by its formatted equivalent.
Write Markdown in Notes…
…and convert it to rich text.
How is this possible? The trick lies in a new, largely undocumented feature of Shortcuts for Mac that was added last month called ‘Provide Output’.
Available only on macOS for now, this option can be found in the Details screen of an individual shortcut under the ‘Use as Quick Action’ menu. Click the ‘?’ button next to it, and you’ll see Apple’s explanation for how this works:
The new Provide Output option in Shortcuts for Mac.
Essentially, providing an output means that a shortcut can pass its results to something else depending on the context in which it is running. For instance, if a shortcut is running as a quick action in Finder and produces a file object as output, this option ensures the file is saved to the Finder alongside other files you may have selected; alternatively, if the shortcut is running as a service for text selected in a text editor, the output will replace the selected text. You get the idea. With this option, Apple has dramatically simplified the process of retrieving items from Finder, modifying them, and saving new versions from Shortcuts, and they’ve enabled new capabilities altogether with support for text selections. I’d love to have this feature on iPadOS at some point; in the meantime, I’m happy I can start using it on macOS.
This first shortcut designed for Provide Output is a simple proof-of-concept that gets the job done. As you can see, to convert Markdown to rich text and insert it in an active text field all we need is one action; the ‘Stop and Output’ step is automatically inserted by Shortcuts when Provide Output is enabled, and there’s nothing else to do.
I’ll cover some other details of Provide Output later today in our Discord workshop for Club members. In the meantime, you can download Convert Selected Text to Rich Text below.
Convert Selected Text to Rich TextConvert selected Markdown text in any text editor to rich text and replace the selection in the editor.
Get the shortcut here.
Convert to JPEG Speaking of the Finder and quick actions, I built this shortcut to automate something I was finding too tedious to perform manually: converting photos AirDropped from my iPhone to the Mac from the HEIC format to standard JPEG. With the Convert to JPEG shortcut, all I have to do now is select files in Finder, select the shortcut in the Quick Actions menu, and that’s it. The shortcut creates JPEG versions of each selected .heic file in the same folder I’m in; the original images stay selected in Finder so I can confirm that all JPEGs were successfully created and hit ⌘-Backspace to delete the .heic ones.
Converting .heic images from Finder via a shortcut.
The converted files.
This shortcut is made possible by a few Mac-specific additions to Shortcuts: running shortcuts as quick actions in Finder is obviously only available on macOS1, and so is the ‘Get Selected Files in Finder’ action, which returns a list of files currently selected in the foremost Finder view. This shortcut also uses the Provide Output technique to save modified files alongside the original ones selected in Finder.
How to convert files selected in Finder and save output with Shortcuts.
I’ve used this shortcut hundreds of times over the past few weeks; I hope you’ll find it as convenient as I did.
Convert to JPEGConvert images selected in Finder to JPEG. This shortcut is especially useful to quickly convert .heic photos sent via AirDrop from an iPhone to JPEG for greater compatibility.
Get the shortcut here.
Super ML Based on the same technique as the Convert to JPEG shortcut I described above, Super ML doesn’t convert images to a different format: rather, it increases the resolution of selected images using Pixelmator Pro’s ‘Increase Resolution of Image’ action powered by the app’s ML Super Resolution algorithm. The shortcut couldn’t be easier to use: all you have to do is select images in Finder, run the quick action from the contextual menu, and wait as an upscaled (larger) version of each selected image overwrites the original one. That’s it.
Run this shortcut as a quick action in Finder and it’ll upscale images for you.
I built this shortcut to speed up another task that quickly became tedious to perform manually.
A few months ago, Silvia and I were putting together a photo book for our two best friends, who are getting married this year. In doing so, we ended up with a collection of old photos of them dating back to over a decade ago. As you can imagine, pictures taken on an iPhone 3GS haven’t exactly aged well, and the website we used to design and print the photo book kept telling us that our images were too low-res. I had the idea of turning to ML Super Resolution for this, but when I realized that I had to upscale each image manually in the Pixelmator Pro app and save it back to Finder, I knew I had to figure out a system to automate the process for batch upscaling. This shortcut does that, and I’ve been using it for all kinds of images I want to upscale on my Mac.
Super MLIncrease the resolution of images selected in Finder using Pixelmator’s ML-powered action.
Get the shortcut here.
Copy Last Photo This shortcut does one thing: it gets the most recent photo from the Photos app and copies it to the clipboard. I built this shortcut because I often find myself opening the Photos app to copy the most recent picture or screenshot I’ve taken, and that’s no fun.
With this shortcut, you can copy the most recent image from Photos with a single tap and paste it elsewhere.
With Copy Last Photo, you can instantly copy the latest item from your Photos library from the widget, via Siri, or even by tapping the back of your iPhone if you’ve enabled Back Tap in Accessibility.
Copy Last PhotoCopy the latest image from the Photos app to the clipboard.
Get the shortcut here.
Copy Selected Track Info I built this shortcut one night when I realized I wanted a faster way to get the details for a song selected in the Music app for Mac. I was assembling a list of songs in a text document, and having to type each song’s title and artist got annoying quickly. So, obviously, I turned to Shortcuts and good old AppleScript.
Despite its many rewrites and redesigns, the Music app for macOS Monterey is still compatible with the AppleScript dictionary for the discontinued iTunes app. You can take any existing iTunes AppleScript you can find on the Internet, replace “iTunes” with “Music” in the script, and it’ll likely work. That’s precisely what I did for a script that returns the title and artist of the song selected in Music: when the shortcut executes the ‘Run AppleScript’ action, it checks for my selection in the Music app, then copies the selected song’s title and artist name as a string of text to the clipboard.
Select a song from Music, then run the shortcut…
…and this is what it’ll copy to the clipboard for you.
There is one caveat worth keeping in mind here: AppleScript only supports retrieving details for selected songs that are also in your library. If you select a ‘cloud item’ from Apple Music that is not in your library as well, the shortcut won’t work. There is a bigger conversation to be had here about whether Apple should build real Music integration in Shortcuts that doesn’t involve AppleScript, but I digress. The shortcut works well given its limitations, and I like to trigger it either from the menu bar or via a hotkey from Raycast.
The shortcut uses AppleScript to get details for the selected song in Music.
There are also some interesting techniques I’ve used in this shortcut for AppleScript integration in Shortcuts, which I will explain later today in the first Town Hall Workshop for Automation April in our Discord.
Copy Selected Track InfoGet the artist and track title for the currently selected song in the Music app for macOS Monterey. The shortcut uses AppleScript integration to access the song that is selected in the Music app.
Get the shortcut here.
Crop to Rounded Rectangle and Save This is a great example of a very simple utility shortcut that does one thing well: the shortcut lets me pick a photo from my library, masks it with a shape of a rounded rectangle, and saves the resulting image with alpha transparency back to Photos.
I created this shortcut because I was tired of manually cropping pictures with rounded corners in image editors; now, Shortcuts does it for me and I can run this as an extension of the share sheet in Photos or from a widget on the Home Screen.
Crop to Rounded Rectangle and SaveSelect a photo, crop it into a rounded rectangle, and save it back to the Photos app.
Get the shortcut here.
Pick Windows and Create Pairs This is another Mac-specific shortcut I’ve created to simplify something I found myself doing over and over: putting two apps side-by-side in an iPad-like ‘Split View’ without actually entering macOS’ full-screen mode, which I don’t like. Instead, this shortcut does what I want: it lets me choose from a list of currently open windows, and it puts one on the left half of the screen, and the other on the right half.
Picking open windows from Shortcuts.
Pick two windows, and a pair is created onscreen.
The shortcut revolves around the ‘Find Windows’ action, which is connected to a ‘Choose from List’ one. This action returns a list of all the open and visible windows on your system (unfortunately, if you hide a window, it won’t show up in this list). Once you’ve chosen two windows from the list, the shortcut will then take advantage of another Monterey exclusive: the ‘Resize Window’ action, which comes with built-in parameters to resize windows to specific quadrants of the screen, Windows-style. In my case, I wanted to use the Left Half and Right Half options, which allow me to easily split the screen between two apps.
Resizing windows with Shortcuts.
Alas, the ‘Resize Window’ action does not take into account the macOS dock: if you keep it visible at all times – say, on the right side of the screen – windows will not resize until they reach the edge of the dock, which is something utilities such as Raycast and BetterTouchTool can do when you “fill the screen”. This doesn’t bother me personally since I keep the dock hidden, and it’s not an issue if you keep the dock at the bottom either, but I hope Apple adds an option for it in the future.
If you want to split the screen with more apps, you can modify this shortcut to do so; however, you’ll probably want to tune into our Discord workshop to understand the technique I used to associate each window with a specific corner of the screen.
Pick Windows and Create PairsSplit the screen using two windows from currently running apps. You can choose up to two windows from a list, so one will be resized to fill the left half of the screen, and the other will fill the right half.
Get the shortcut here.
New Text File As the name suggests, this shortcut makes it easy to create a new text file anywhere in the Files app or Finder. It’s incredibly fast: run the shortcut, jot down whatever it is you don’t want to forget, and hit Return. A new .md plain text file will be immediately saved in the folder you specified upon installing the shortcut, which you can change at any time.
You only have to grant Shortcuts permissions to access the folder once.
Text files are saved with a timestamp in their name, which is made possible by the ‘Format Date’ action in Shortcuts. You can use this shortcut in combination with apps such as Obsidian or iA Writer, or perhaps as a way to save quick ‘scratchpad’ notes for later on your Desktop. The choice is up to you.
New Text FileQuickly save a new text file anywhere in Files.
Get the shortcut here.
You can also follow MacStories’ Automation April coverage through our dedicated hub, or subscribe to its RSS feed..
- Although I really think this feature should become available in the Files app too. ↩︎
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next:
Automation April
Last Friday marked the launch of Automation April, a month-long celebration of automation on Apple’s platforms. Each week during April we’ll be doing giveaways in MacStories Weekly and in our Club MacStories+ Discord community. Between the two, we have over 20 participating apps.
Last week we kicked things off with a MenuBar Stats giveaway in MacStories Weekly and 50% off the first year of Ulysses discount for Club MacStories+ and Premier members that is available throughout April by visiting the Club Discounts page.
MacStories Weekly: Issue 314
- Typewriter
- Federico has a tip on rescheduling tasks to a specific day using GoodTask
- A new episode of MacStories Unplugged all about Federico and John’s shifting videogame setups and the web-based design tool Excalidraw
- A MenuBar Stats giveaway
- An interview with Mario Guzman about Music Widget and his other projects
- Robb Knight’s videogame setup
- Plus:
- App Debuts
- Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord
- Interesting links from around the web
- A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts
- and more
Monthly Log: March 2022
- Federico explained his new approach to Reminders, which dispenses with due times in favor of dates only
- John tackled the notion of value and the role it plays in evaluating personal tech purchases and reviews
Up Next Today at 12:30 PM Eastern US time, we’ll do the first Shortcuts Town Hall Workshop live in the Club MacStories+ Discord Town Hall Voice Chats channel.
We’ll also continue giveaways in the Club Discord community this week and on Friday in MacStories Weekly.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
We’re very excited to announce the inaugural Automation April Shortcuts Contest.
When Federico and I hatched the idea for the contest last fall, it quickly became the centerpiece of Automation April. As Shortcuts tinkerers ourselves, we know that the best way to learn automation techniques is by doing, and with the contest, we hope to give the automation community a place to show off their best work and, perhaps, win some fun prizes along the way. The contest is a way to encourage people to explore what’s possible with automation, allow others to benefit and learn from that work, and recognize the best automations in several categories.
Whether you’re a Shortcuts expert or just starting out, we encourage you to participate in the contest. Shortcuts do not need to be complex to win in one of contest’s categories.
Our panel of judges will be evaluating submissions based on originality, performance, design, user experience, and usefulness. Pushing the boundaries of what is possible with Shortcuts is certainly a factor that will be considered in originality, but, at the same time, usefulness doesn’t require complexity, which is something we’ve emphasized often in our writing about Shortcuts. So, no matter your level of experience, we’d love to see what you build.
Entries must be submitted by 5:00 PM Eastern US time on April 20, 2022, so let’s dig into the details.
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The Contest As you have probably gathered from the name, the Automation April Shortcuts Contest is limited to shortcuts built with the Shortcuts app. As I’ll detail more below in the rules, that doesn’t preclude you from using actions that take advantage of scripting and web APIs, but the automation must be a shortcut.
The reason for that is scope. The field of automation is simply too broad to include every type of automation possible and judge them equally well. Plus, Shortcuts is automation on the iPhone and iPad and, as Apple has said, the future of automation on the Mac, so that’s the focus of our contest too.
The Categories We’ve chosen five categories of shortcuts we’ll be honoring this year:
- Best Overall Shortcut
- Best HomeKit Shortcut
- Best Productivity Shortcut
- Best Media Shortcut
- Best Mac-specific Shortcut
For this first year of the contest, we feel that these categories encompass the widest variety of automations that will benefit the automation community the most.
The Judges We’ve been fortunate to have recruited a stellar group of Shortcuts experts to help us pick the winners in each of the shortcuts categories.
In addition to Federico, Alex, and I, our judges are:
- Matthew Cassinelli: Matthew teaches automation with Shortcuts on YouTube, curates the Shortcuts Catalog at matthewcassinelli.com, and runs a membership program for Shortcuts users.
- Alex Cox: Alex is the cohost of several podcasts, including Do By Friday, Roboism, and Two Headed Girl.
- Christopher Lawley: Chris is a YouTube creator covering the iPad and iOS automation and productivity and a photographer, and writes at The Untitled Site.
- Rosemary Orchard: Rosemary is the co-host of Relay FM’s Automators, Nested Folders, and iOS Today on TWiT, as well as the author of Take Control of Shortcuts and Build Your Own OmniFocus Workflow.
- Jason Snell: Jason is the founder and editor-in-chief of Six Colors, co-host of Relay FM’s Upgrade, founder of The Incomparable, and columnist at Macworld.
- David Sparks: David writes at MacSparky, is the co-host of Relay FM’s Automators, Mac Power Users, and Focused, and the creator of the Shortcuts for iPhone and iPad Field Guide and Field Guides for many other productivity apps.
- Simon Støvring: Simon is a developer of apps that enhance the use of Shortcuts, including Data Jar, Scriptable, and Jayson.
We’re excited to be working with such a talented group to help us with picking the winners of this year’s contest. Of course, judges may not participate in the Automation April Shortcuts Contest themselves.
The Submission Process
To help us manage the shortcuts submissions process, we’ve built a web app that builds on the membership system we introduced last summer with the relaunch of Club MacStories.
To get started, visit shortcuts.macstories.net. If you’re a Club MacStories member, you can use the ‘Sign In’ button to log into your existing Club account and start the submission process.
If you’re not a Club MacStories member, you’ll need to sign up for a free Club account using the ‘Sign Up for Free’ button, providing your name and an email address. Free Club accounts are a brand new MacStories feature that currently only takes submissions for the Automation April Shortcuts Contest. Submissions received any way other than via the Automation April Shortcuts Contest webpage will not be considered by the judges.
Once your account is set up and you sign in, you’ll see the Automation April Shortcuts Contest rules. Please read through the rules because they address many of the questions that we’ve received from readers. To submit a shortcut for the contest, you’ll need to agree to the rules by selecting the button on the bottom of the page.
Agreeing to the rules will take you to a page with a form for submitting your shortcuts. There are fields for the name of your shortcut, an iCloud link to the shortcut, a list of any third-party actions your shortcut uses, and a description of what your shortcut does and why it’s unique, which is limited to 500 words.
After you submit a shortcut, you’ll be taken to a page that lists your shortcuts submissions. If you want to edit one of your submissions, you can do so until the close of the contest by selecting the shortcut on this page. However, once the deadline passes, shortcuts cannot be revised.
The deadline for submitting shortcuts is 5 PM Eastern US time on April 20, 2022. Any submissions received after that time will not be considered by the judges.
The Rules As explained above, your submissions must be shortcuts, although they can incorporate scripts, web APIs, and actions from third-party apps. All scripts, web APIs, and third-party actions on which your shortcut relies must be listed in the space provided in the contest submission form. Also, your submissions must run on the currently released versions of Apple’s operating systems and must be submitted as iCloud links.
All shortcuts submitted must also respect the privacy, security, and data of users. For example, shortcuts that upload user data without their knowledge and consent will be disqualified.
As you’ll see from the submission form, we ask that you provide a brief description of your shortcut, along with an iCloud link, and a list of any script, web API, and third-party action integrations. You’ve got 500 words to explain to the judges what your shortcut does and what makes it special. Among other qualities, our panel will evaluate submissions based on originality, performance, design, user experience, and usefulness.
It should go without saying, but all submissions must be your own original work in their entirety. It’s fine if your shortcut was inspired by a technique you saw somewhere else, but shortcuts that copy the work of others will be disqualified. For the same reason, your shortcut should not use the Run Shortcut action to call another shortcut that you didn’t create. If available, please provide links to any blog post, Reddit thread, tweet, or other material that supports the originality of your work.
All materials you submit to us in connection with the Automation April Shortcuts Contest are subject to the MacStories Privacy Policy, which was recently updated to address the contest and free Club MacStories accounts. At the conclusion of the contest, winners will be announced on MacStories.net and contacted to arrange delivery of prizes. Within 90 days after that announcement, we will discard all contest submissions.
If you create a free Club MacStories account to participate in the contest, it will remain active after the contest concludes. You’ll be able to use that account to enter future contests and events, and it can always be upgraded to a paid Club MacStories account if you wish. We don’t spam our Club MacStories members and won’t do so if you sign up for a free Club account either, but we will contact you periodically about what’s happening at MacStories. Of course, you’ll be able to unsubscribe from those messages if you choose.
The Prizes We’ve got some fun prizes for the winners of each category of the contest.
Winner of the Best Overall Shortcut award will receive a Stream Deck XL, Analogue Pocket, and other prizes.
Best Overall Shortcut * A 3-year subscription (or membership upgrade and/or extension for existing Club members) to Club Premier * An Elgato Stream Deck XL * An Analogue Pocket * A special Discord contest winner role * Induction into the Automation April Hall of Fame
Best HomeKit Shortcut, Best Productivity Shortcut, Best Media Shortcut, and Best Mac-specific Shortcut * A 1-year subscription to Club Premier (or membership upgrade and/or extension for existing Club members) * A special Discord category winner role * Induction into the Automation April Category Hall of Fame
We hope you enjoy participating in this first-ever Automation April Shortcuts Contest as much as we’ve enjoyed putting it together. Thanks in advance to our panel of judges for participating in this event, and good luck to everyone.
Enter the contest now through April 20, 2022 at shortcuts.macstories.net.
You can also follow MacStories’ Automation April coverage through our dedicated hub, or subscribe to its RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Kolide is a SaaS app that sends employees important, timely, and relevant security recommendations concerning their Mac, Windows, and Linux devices, right inside Slack.
Kolide is perfect for organizations that want to move beyond a traditional lock-down model and move to one where employees are educated about security and device management while fixing nuanced problems. We call this approach Honest Security.
For example, Kolide can:
- Instruct developers to set passphrases on the unencrypted SSH keys littered throughout their devices.
- Find plain-text two-factor backup codes and teach end-users how to store them securely.
- Convince employees to uninstall evil (yet allowed) browser extensions that sell their browser history to marketing companies
You can try Kolide on an unlimited number of devices with all its features for free and without a credit card for 14 days.
Our thanks to Kolide for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
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This week, Federico explains the many ways to play the PS5 remotely, and John recommends Microsoft’s All-Access Pass as an entry point into the Xbox universe of videogames.
Show Notes * Introducing Automation April: A Month-Long Community Event About Automation, Featuring Shortcuts, Interviews, Discord Workshops, and a Shortcut Contest
Federico’s Pick:
- PS Remote Play
- PS Remote Play Mac and Windows apps
- Chiaki, open source PlayStation Remote Play
John’s Pick:
- Xbox All-Access
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Welcome to Automation April.
Over the past decade, MacStories has become the hub for all kinds of user automation. Starting with URL schemes, then Workflow, and eventually Shortcuts, we’ve created hundreds of shortcuts for MacStories readers and Club members and published stories about automation that have been read by millions of people around the world. With the MacStories Shortcuts Archive, launched three years ago, we unified our catalog of free shortcuts in a single gallery; with the arrival of Shortcuts on macOS, we’ve expanded our Mac coverage for Club members and launched a new column and Discord channel all about automation.
I love automation because of what it stands for: giving users – the people – the power to fully control their computer and make it more efficient. To make it truly their own. This is why I’ve been writing about the Shortcuts app for years and why I’ve always believed in it as the future of automation on Apple platforms: it’s the software equivalent of a bicycle for the mind.
For this reason, I’m absolutely thrilled to introduce Automation April, a month-long showcase of automation on Apple platforms by us, developers, and MacStories readers – with a focus on Shortcuts.
For the entire month of April, we will cover automation and Shortcuts – even more than we normally do – on every property of the extended MacStories universe. There will be shortcuts and articles on MacStories; we will post Automation April-themed episodes of AppStories; there will be special content in MacStories Weekly and AppStories+ for Club members; we will host special ‘Town Hall Workshops’ and a dedicated Automation April channel in our Discord community.
But there’s more:
In addition to all of the above, we are launching a contest to pick the best shortcuts submitted by MacStories readers for Automation April.
Supported By Kolide
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Starting Monday, April 4th, until Wednesday, April 20th, we will be accepting up to two shortcut entries per user via a dedicated Automation April website. The contest will be open to everyone with a free MacStories account (more on this below). We’ve also assembled a panel of Shortcuts experts who, alongside the MacStories team, will judge shortcuts submitted by people.
Oh, and we’re giving away an Elgato Stream Deck XL and an Analogue Pocket for the Best Overall Shortcut prize. Yep, you read that right.
April has always been a special month for MacStories: the site turns 13 (!) on April 20th, and this isn’t the first time we’ve organized a special event to celebrate our community. But with Automation April, we’ve prepared the biggest event we’ve ever done that will encompass every single aspect of the MacStories family – from the articles you know and love to Discord, the Weekly newsletter, and a brand new community contest.
The next four weeks are going to be fun. So let’s dive in and let me give you an overview of what you can expect from the first edition of Automation April.
The Contest Thanks to Club MacStories, AppStories listeners, and MacStories readers, over the years we’ve been able to witness the creativity and ingenuity of incredibly passionate Shortcuts users. There is a thriving community of Shortcuts creators out there – folks with different backgrounds who are constantly coming up with new ideas to automate, speed up, and customize Apple devices through Shortcuts.
With the Automation April Shortcuts Contest, we want to put the spotlight on the creator community by celebrating the most impressive shortcuts we’ll receive via free and open submissions.
We will post the full set of rules and instructions when the contest kicks off on Monday, April 4th. But here’s what you can expect:
This year, we’ll be evaluating shortcuts across four different categories:
- Best productivity shortcut
- Best media shortcut
- Best HomeKit shortcut
- Best Mac-specific shortcut
There will be prizes specific to winners of individual categories, which we’ll reveal on Monday.
Additionally, we’ll pick a Best Overall Shortcut winner – the one shortcut that will impress us the most. The winner of the best shortcut, in addition to glory and some other perks, will take home a brand new Elgato Stream Deck XL and Analogue Pocket console.
The sealed Analogue Pocket portable console we’ll send to the winner of the Best Overall Shortcut.
So how will we evaluate shortcuts submitted by people? We’ve assembled a team of Shortcuts experts (including the three of us at MacStories) to help us curate, test, and judge submitted shortcuts. I’m very excited about the group of people who have agreed to help us, especially since each of them has their own area of expertise when it comes to Shortcuts and automation.
The judges of the Automation April Shortcuts Contest are:
- Alex Cox
- Alex Guyot
- Chris Lawley
- David Sparks
- Federico Viticci
- Jason Snell
- John Voorhees
- Matthew Cassinelli
- Rosemary Orchard
- Simon Støvring
I’m also very happy about the system we’ve put in place for submitting shortcuts. On Monday, we’ll launch a dedicated web app to submit and edit your entries, which will be powered by our Calliope technology1. Since Calliope also powers both the Club and AppStories websites, existing members will be able to seamlessly sign into the new web app with their existing accounts. And because Automation April is for all MacStories readers, we’re also launching a new type of free MacStories account so anyone can submit shortcuts to the new web app. Free accounts can be upgraded to paid Club MacStories accounts at any time, instantly granting access to everything we do. Look for instructions on all of this on Monday.
A preview of our upcoming web app to submit entries for the Automation April Shortcuts Contest.
To reiterate: whether you have an existing paid Club MacStories account or want to sign up for free, everyone will be able to participate in the Automation April Shortcuts Contest.
The contest is likely going to be the most popular and fun aspect of Automation April; it’s something we’ve never done before, and we can’t wait to see what Shortcuts creators will come up with.
So, if you’re interested in participating, start thinking about one or two shortcuts you’d like to submit (they don’t have to be new ones exclusive to this event). The Automation April Shortcuts Contest kicks off on Monday.
New and Original Content on MacStories Some of the shortcuts I’ll be sharing on MacStories during Automation April.
It wouldn’t be a MacStories event about Shortcuts and automation without fresh content to go along with it. And I’m happy to say that, since we started working on Automation April last November, we’ve prepared a great lineup of articles and shortcuts to share with everyone on MacStories throughout the month of April.
Obviously, I don’t want to spoil the entire slate of MacStories content we’ve prepared in advance. So I’ll just share two things you’ll find on MacStories as part of Automation April.
I will be releasing 30 shortcuts for free on MacStories across three weeks. These shortcuts span all kinds of categories and levels of complexity: there will be shortcuts that take advantage of new features in iOS 15.4 for Translate and Live Text; there will be Mac-specific shortcuts; there will be shortcuts comprised of just a few actions that do one thing well and others that will be a bit more complex. All of them will be released for free on the MacStories Shortcuts Archive; look for the first installment with 10 shortcuts early next week.
John also has quite a few shortcuts and stories planned for MacStories. The one I’m most intrigued to see out in the wild is his custom Watch Later system – a Shortcuts and Hazel-based automation for creating a virtual music video channel on Apple TV. I know he’s been working on this for months, and I can’t wait to see it in action.
This is just a small taste of what you can expect for Automation April on MacStories. Plus, you know us and how we operate: we’ll be saving some surprises for later in the month.
MacStories Weekly and Other Club Perks Look for plenty of Shortcuts coverage in MacStories Weekly for Automation April.
Naturally, free shortcuts and articles on MacStories will be complemented by exclusive premium shortcuts, stories, and app giveaways for our Club members.
Starting with next week’s issue of MacStories Weekly, Club members will get access to a series of Automation April-themed shortcuts and columns. For instance, I’ll be sharing a shortcut that has allowed me to build a read-later system in Obsidian; then, both John and I will share the details of our Shortcuts setups and how we’ve configured the Shortcuts widget on our devices. We’ll share more details around Club content for Automation April later on.
Furthermore, in addition to exclusive shortcuts and stories, we’ll also feature a series of giveaways in MacStories Weekly thanks to indie developers who teamed up with us for Automation April.
Special AppStories Episodes and AppStories+ The AppStories website and AppStories+ in Overcast.
But what about the podcast? We’ve got that covered, too.
For the month of April, we’ll be releasing special AppStories episodes with a focus on specific Shortcuts topics and interviews with developers of apps that integrate with Shortcuts and fellow Shortcuts creators. Our goal, as always, is to rely on AppStories to expand the conversation around articles on MacStories as well as highlight different voices in our community.
Automation April will also be the focus of the exclusive pre-show segments of AppStories+. In case you’re not familiar with it, AppStories+ is a premium version of AppStories that is ad-free, comes with an additional segment, and is released in high-bitrate audio one day early for members. You can subscribe to it standalone or get it as part of the all-access pass that is a Club Premier subscription.
Discord Community: Dedicated Channel and Workshops The Club MacStories Discord server.
The place where all of the above comes together is our Discord community for Club MacStories+ and Premier subscribers. We have big plans when it comes to integrating our Discord community with Automation April’s festivities, and I’m excited to kick things off in Discord today.
For starters, we’re launching a dedicated #automation-april channel on Discord where members will be able to share tips, discuss Shortcuts techniques, help out others (if they’re up for it!), and talk about their submitted contest entries. I’ll also be spending time in the channel to chat with members and provide guidance along the way, whenever possible. My personal goal is to turn this contest into a healthy competition that is openly discussed and that can serve as a learning opportunity for others, which is in the spirit of user automation and Shortcuts.
Along those lines, we will be hosting two special Town Hall Workshops on Discord where I’ll talk about advanced Shortcuts techniques, answer questions from the audience live, and explain how I come up with ideas for my shortcuts. We see these workshops as a way for Discord members to learn how to design shortcuts for others and, hopefully, get some inspiration for shortcuts they’d like to submit as part of the contest.
Lastly, our Discord server is also where weekly raffles will take place. We’ll share more details on these raffles later, but, suffice to say, you can expect a variety of giveaways exclusive to Discord members that will include app promo codes, extensions of Club accounts, and more.
I can’t wait to see contest participants and readers interested in Automation April on our Discord. To get started and join our server, you can sign up for or upgrade your existing Club MacStories account to Plus or Premier here.
Welcome to Automation April So that’s Automation April: a month-long celebration of automation on Apple platforms with a focus on Shortcuts, encompassing everything we do at MacStories, and with a brand-new community and contest to go along with it.
Our goal is to turn Automation April into a new annual tradition in our community of people who work on Apple devices and want to get more out of them. We want April to become “automation month”, which is why we’re already saving ideas for what we want to achieve in Automation April 2023. But one step at a time.
Welcome to Automation April. I’ll see you on Monday to kick off the contest and our other initiatives. Happy automating!
You can also follow MacStories’ Automation April coverage through our dedicated hub, or subscribe to its RSS feed.
- Fun fact: the web app for the Automation April Shortcuts Contest is actually the first pilot instance of MacStories 5.0 (internally named ‘Clio’) code deployed on MacStories.net. But this is a story for another time. ↩︎
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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CARROT Weather 5.6 is out today with a handful of excellent new features that pick up where previous updates have left off, with more ways to customize the app and make it your own.
My favorite new feature is Locations Lists. From CARROT Weather’s Locations tab, you can search for the weather in any city you like. That works well for one-off checks of conditions somewhere else, and CARROT saves your most recent searches at the bottom of the Locations tab making it easy to rerun a search. Locations can also be saved as favorites.
Setting up forecasts for multiple locations.
Location Lists extend CARROT Weather’s location-based functionality further by letting you go beyond a simple list of favorite locations. Tap the Info button next to a place you’ve marked as a favorite, and you can choose to ‘Show Forecast in Locations List.’ Doing so opens up additional options, including an hourly or daily forecast, a chart or stack layout, and a choice from among many data points to highlight alongside the forecast. Once a location has been set up the way you want, you’ll see a card-like UI for each city you’ve added with the data you’ve chosen. Whether you’re keeping tabs on a destination for an upcoming trip or just want to know if the weather is nice where a friend or family member lives, the new Locations List provides an excellent overview without requiring you to tap into the details of each city. In the future, I’d love to see Location List forecasts added to CARROT Weather’s set of Home Screen widgets.
CARROT’s tab bar is fully-customizable.
I used to hide CARROT Weather’s tab bar, but the new Locations List has given me a reason to keep it visible, making it easier to access my favorite locations and features like the app’s weather maps. The tab bar is now customizable, so you only need to display the tabs you use in the order you prefer. Just visit the Layout settings and choose Arrange Tab Bar to customize it.
CARROT Weather 5.6 introduces new Solar, Moon, Air Quality, Pollen, and Tide sections.
CARROT Weather’s Layout sections continue to expand with version 5.6 too. The latest update includes Solar, Moon, Air Quality, Pollen, and Tide sections. CARROT Weather already offered ways to surface the information in these new sections as data points. However, with the new Layout sections, you get more detailed and glanceable information than before.
When the weather is bad in Chicago, I look north to feel better.
The maps and radar functionality have also been expanded. Maps now show when a wintery mix of precipitation is falling. Fortunately, we’re nearing the end of that kind of weather in the Chicago area, so I haven’t seen a wintery mix in CARROT’s weather map here. However, the good people of Wisconsin and Michigan are enjoying a bright pink wintery mix this morning, so you can see what that looks like in the screenshot above. The radar feature also reports hail and debris from tornados that are detected, which I’d prefer not to see any time soon, but I’m also glad it’s available.
With the latest update, I’ve added daily forecasts to my Locations List for the cities where my kids live. I’ve also added Pollen and Air Quality sections to my weather layout, which will be handy as the weather warms up and I head outside more. I’ve also simplified my tab bar to mirror how I use the app, which makes one-handed use easier.
It’s remarkable how much customization is now available in CARROT Weather. Version 5.0 was a big leap forward, but Brian Mueller has continued to refine the app and add new and interesting options that have taken the app’s personalization to a new level that I love.
CARROT Weather is available as a free update on the App Store. The app offers multiple subscription tiers, with different features at each level, which you can read more about in the app’s Settings.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
It’s hard to believe that it’s been a decade since the drawing app Paper was released on the iPad. Andy Allen, a co-founder of FiftyThree, the company that released the app in 2012, marked the anniversary with a post on Andy Works that recounts the app’s origin story during the early days of the iPad.
According to Allen, Paper was born from the ashes of Microsoft’s prototype device called the Courier, which was never released:
While Paper was born in 2012, its roots go back a few years prior when we co-founders first met at Microsoft working on the idea for a new device called Courier. Before the iPad, this was a two-screen digital journal + pen with an entirely new OS and apps designed for a very un-Microsoft customer—creative types. Despite internal excitement for the product, Ballmer shut down Courier in 2010, and if it wasn’t for a leaked prototype video that caused a stir online, things might’ve ended there.
Allen’s post also describes the unconventional design decisions that drove Paper’s unique look and interaction model, which anyone interested in the history and process of app design will love. What really struck me, though, was Allen’s observations about the Paper’s resilience, which is more an exception than a rule:
Most apps from the early App Store-era that were hailed for their design are no longer with us (Path). Yet Paper is still here. And in much the same form as when it was first released having weathered the many tides of changing UI trends (flat design) and iOS updates. The same principles continued guiding it through new features, experiments, and even full rewrites. Every part replaced, yet its soul intact.
Yet, despite Paper’s longevity, even it isn’t immune from the impermanence of modern apps:
In writing this article, I wanted to get the original version of Paper 1.0 running on an old iPad. I tried for a full day but failed. A reminder that our work is transient—here for its moment and then gone.
I’m glad Allen shared these stories about Paper. Too many of the tales of the early App Store have already been lost, and Paper is an important milestone in that history that illustrates the kind of creativity and innovation that the iPad made possible.
→ Source: andy.works
The reviews are out for the Mac Studio and Studio Display and a lot has been written about both. I’ve pulled some of the most interesting tidbits from the reviews, but if you’re considering buying a Mac Studio or Studio Display, be sure to read all of these reviews because they offer a wide range of perspectives on the kind of uses for which Apple’s new hardware is best.
Mac Studio
The reviews of the new Mac Studio are positive and in line with Apple’s claims at the Peek Performance event with one notable exception: graphics performance. Here’s what the reviewers had to say:
Monica Chin at The Verge took the Mac Studio to video, audio, and graphics professionals at Vox Media and watched as they put the computer through its paces. The results were impressive, with Chin concluding:
And that’s ultimately my biggest takeaway from this testing process. I’ve reviewed a whole bunch of computers in my career that are aimed at this exact market. I often get a workstation that seems like it can keep up with various creative workflows. I’ve never reviewed one that seemed like it could change the sorts of things creators can make. And that’s what I heard across the board. Not only did this device allow them to try more powerful, more advanced tools, but the speed it delivered also freed up huge chunks of their time to focus on other projects.
Chin also found that the Mac Studio was exceptionally quiet, even under load:
The other thing I want to emphasize is that this computer is shockingly quiet for the power it offers. Even when we were doing elaborate things in Adobe After Effects and Blender, stuff that would have had the fans on any Intel desktop I’ve ever used absolutely roaring, the Studio was inaudible.
However, Chin’s review questions the claims by Apple that the Mac Studio with an M1 Ultra outperforms Nvidia’s RTX 3090 graphics performance:
It was a different story with graphics performance, however. Apple, in its keynote, claimed that the M1 Ultra would outperform Nvidia’s RTX 3090. I have no idea where Apple’s getting that from. We ran Geekbench Compute, which tests the power of a system’s GPU, on both the Mac Studio and a gaming PC with an RTX 3090, a Core i9-10900, and 64GB of RAM. And the Mac Studio got… destroyed. It got less than half the score that the RTX 3090 did on that test — not only is it not beating Nvidia’s chip, but it’s not even coming close.
I can’t say I’m too surprised about the graphics performance, but it’s worth keeping in mind that the Mac Studio isn’t the best option if you want a gaming PC or have other computing needs that need a RTX 3090-class GPU or similar.
Jason Snell at Six Colors tested the M1 Max model of the Mac Studio, and unsurprisingly, the performance is similar to a MacBook Pro with comparable specs:
I ran a bunch of tests on the Mac Studio, the results of which you can see below, and they taught me two things: First, that the Mac Studio is comparable to a similarly-configured MacBook Pro. And second, I likened an M1 Max-based MacBook Pro to a “Mac Pro in your backpack” for a reason—this is Mac Pro-level performance, now starting at $1999.
Jason also has excellent buying advice for anyone considering the M1 Max version of the Studio Mac:
The Mac Studio is a good choice if you’re committed to the desktop lifestyle and have a display handy (or are buying the new Studio Display). If you’re someone who also uses a laptop, it might be worth considering that the Mac Studio with the M1 Max processor is almost identical in performance to the MacBook Pro with the M1 Max processor. If the M1 processor is powerful enough for your needs, there’s no need for a Mac Studio—a 24-inch iMac will suit, as will a Mac mini.
Stu Maschwitz, a visual effects artist, came away impressed with a fully-speced version of the M1 Ultra Mac Studio too:
Apple made a Mac just for me, the Mac I didn’t know I wanted and never dared ask for. It’s the first new model of Macintosh computer in a very long time, and it’s a more than worthy addition. As with the recent MacBook Pros, it speaks with design and features to a renewed focus on usability above all else, along with industry-moving performance.
Studio Display
The reviews of the Studio Display are more mixed. Nilay Patel at The Verge praised the display as ‘the only decent 5K display available on the market’ and liked its microphones and speaker system, but says the webcam output looks awful. Considering who the Studio Display is for, Patel says:
Really the only reason to chase after this display for the screen itself is if you desperately care about having a 5K display that can display MacOS at pixel-perfect resolution with no scaling. I don’t want to discount this: a lot of people care about that a lot, and for those folks, $1,599 sounds totally reasonable considering that the only other 5K option on the market is that buggy LG UltraFine.
Joanna Stern at The Wall Street Journal had a similar experience with the webcam:
You can be the judge of the webcam quality. More shots in my video: https://t.co/lYQjFnqFI9 pic.twitter.com/sEWkpDIs7t
— Joanna Stern (@JoannaStern) March 17, 2022
You can read her review and watch the companion video here.
Jason Snell had trouble using the camera with FaceTime and Photo Booth and found that Center Stage didn’t work as well as it does on the iPad. He also wasn’t particularly impressed with the display’s sound system and mics, but despite the rough edges, he concludes:
If you’ve got a Mac and want a good external display for it, there’s finally an obvious answer. Welcome home, Apple Studio Display. Never leave again.
Maschwitz concludes that the Studio Display is a significant step up from the LG 5K UltraFine and is a fan of the Nano-texture option:
Testing the Studio Display with Nano-texture Glass on sunny days in my studio, it seems to achieve the best of both sides of the trade-off. It rejects the majority of the direct light that falls onto it, and what light it does bounce back, it scatters into unrecognizable (and slightly purple) diffuse reflections. It seems worth the comparatively-reasonable $300 surcharge if your environment is not well-controlled for light. Just beware that the Nano-texture surface is more difficult to preserve and clean than a standard shiny display.
Several YouTube videos are out too. I’ve linked my favorites below:
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Today, there are a lot of apps that track hydration, but for me, the standard-bearer for the category has always been and remains WaterMinder by Funn Media. The app has evolved a lot since we first covered it in 2016, but what hasn’t changed is its emphasis on fast data entry, a clear, easy-to-use interface, and the adoption of the latest Apple technologies. With version 5.1, the WaterMinder watchOS app has been rebuilt from the ground up using SwiftUI. A handful of other nice additions have found their way into the iPhone and iPad apps too.
WaterMinder’s previous Watch UI.
A signature of WaterMinder’s design on the iPhone and iPad is the app’s customizable character that fills up with water as you log drinks throughout the day. That core element of the app has been added to its Watch app for the first time, replacing a plain bar graph with the same character-based progress indicator found on the iPhone and iPad.
WaterMinder lets you pick from a large number of characters in the iPhone and iPad apps. One of my favorite touches of the updated Watch app is that any change you make to your character on the iPhone or iPad is reflected in the Apple Watch app adding to the continuity of experiences between each version. Underneath the character is the percentage of your goal you’ve reached and the total amount of liquid you’ve consumed, just like on the other versions of the app. Tap on the character, and the label switches to the amount of liquid you still need to drink to meet your goal.
The right side of the Watch screen shows three drink presets that can be configured in the iPhone and iPad apps and an ‘Other’ button. The Other screen has been updated with a tumbler-style button that rotates among various types of drinks to choose from, like coffee, juice, and soda. There’s also a slider button that you swipe across to pick the volume of liquid consumed before tapping to log it. With just two swipeable buttons, WaterMinder makes logging a wide variety of drink types and sizes incredibly easy.
WaterMinder’s Watch app features three different home screen layouts.
If you twist the Digital Crown a little, you can also access WaterMinder’s logs, which are similar to the prior version of the app, and its settings. The settings are worth exploring because there are a number of options available. For example, if you’re not a fan of the app’s default character UI, you can replace it with a ring or a line graph and button layout. There are even settings for the style of the cup iconography used in the app.
WaterMinder’s new optional drink picker (left) and goal progress indicator (right).
WaterMinder has added a few new features to the iPhone and iPad apps too. There’s a new setting that overlays a dotted line over your character to give you a sense of where your liquid consumption should be throughout the day. There’s also a new, optional picker UI element for choosing ‘Other’ drinks that aren’t part of your predefined set. Those predefined drinks are available by long-pressing on the app’s icon on an iPhone or iPad too.
It’s easy to not stay hydrated whether you’re being blasted by warm, dry air in the wintertime or exercising in the heat of summer. I’ve always appreciated WaterMinder for how it takes the tedium out of logging liquids and its clear depiction of the data it records. With the redesign of the Watch app, Funn Media has created a more unified experience across all platforms. Coupled with fast, native performance driven by its use of Swift UI, WaterMinder 5.1 is an excellent update worth checking out, especially if you haven’t tried its Watch app before.
WaterMinder is available for $4.99 on the App Store and works with the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. A separate Mac App Store version of WaterMinder is available for $2.99.
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The new iPad Air.
The last time I wrote about the iPad Air in October 2020, I explained how its fourth-generation model intrigued me again. A year and a half later, here I am, once again fascinated by the iPad Air, captivated by its hybrid nature caught between a base model iPad and the aspirations of an iPad Pro.
Here’s why: while the new iPad Air, which goes on sale this Friday starting at $599, doesn’t break any ground for the Air line, I believe it has reached its most balanced state yet.
The new iPad Air catches up with the iPad Pro and iPad mini in supporting 5G networking; it’s the final iPad in the lineup to get Center Stage; like the iPad Pro, it now comes with an M1 chip and the same 8 GB of RAM. The 2022 iPad Air refines what Apple started with the relaunch of this model in 2020 and achieves a balance of features, size, and price that makes it the ideal iPad for most people.
Supported By Concepts
Concepts: Sketch, Note, Draw
The iPad Air and the features it adds compared to its previous-gen model are, at this point, known quantities. The design, 10.9” display, and implementation of Touch ID are unchanged from the 2020 version; I covered Center Stage (we even built a custom app for it), the M1, and 5G in my 2021 iPad Pro review; the Magic Keyboard, Apple Pencil, and Smart Folio covers are the same ones we’ve been using for years.
The same is true regarding how I see Apple’s pitch for the iPad Air as a product: it’s a distillation of the most essential traits of the Pro line, made accessible to more customers at a lower price point. I wrote this in 2020, and it still applies to the new iPad Air:
While the 10.9” Air won’t replace the 12.9” iPad Pro as my primary machine, I’ve been impressed by this iPad for a different reason: the iPad Air democratizes the notion of “pro iPad”, bringing key features of iPad Pro to more customers, while at the same time looking ahead toward the future of iPad with hardware not seen on the current iPad Pro lineup. The iPad Air sits at the intersection of old iPad Pro features trickling down to the rest of the iPad line and new ones appearing on this model first.
If the “new” features of the iPad Air aren’t new at all and if the strategy behind this product hasn’t changed since 2020, I could reasonably wrap up this story here, right?
Well, not quite. Something happened recently that allowed me to evaluate the new iPad Air from a fresh perspective: Silvia started using my iPad mini and fell in love with it. So when I received a review unit of the new iPad Air from Apple last week, I asked myself: could I use the iPad Air as my secondary iPad, replacing the iPad mini for reading, chatting on Twitter and Discord, and watching YouTube videos, plus doing the occasional note-taking and having a small extra monitor for Universal Control?
I had been feeling like the iPad mini was a bit too small for my hands anyway (hence why I was okay with Silvia taking it); perhaps the new iPad Air could be a good opportunity to reassess its capabilities as a general-purpose tablet for people who want just one iPad in their lives as well as folks who, like me, work on a 12.9” iPad Pro but also want to complement it with a smaller, more focused iPad.
So that’s the experiment I’ve been running for the past six days. Let’s see how it went.
Podcast Version Special AppStories Episode We recorded a special episode of our podcast AppStories about my thoughts on the iPad Air, its role in the iPad lineup, and how my experiment with it is going.
You can listen to the episode below.
On AppStories+, which is a longer and ad-free version of AppStories, I went more in depth about how I set up the iPad Air and some behind-the-scenes stories about this review.
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The M1 Baseline The new iPad Air has the M1 chip we’ve previously seen in the rest of Apple’s Mac and iPad lineup – it’s the same chip clocked at 3.2 GHz found in the iPad Pro, MacBook Air, and other Macs released since 2020 (including the 16-core Neural Engine). This means that the 2022 iPad Air has 8 GB of RAM (up from 4 GB in the 2020 model) but, since it doesn’t offer storage options of 1 TB and 2 TB like the iPad Pro, it doesn’t have higher-memory versions with 16 GB of RAM; the Air’s 8 GB of RAM are still more than the iPhone 13 Pro (6 GB).
You’ve probably seen these numbers and charts dozens of times by now, but for the sake of historical context, here is how the iPad Air fares in benchmarks compared to other devices running the M1 chip and the iPhone 13 Pro, as well as the previous-gen iPad Air:
| Model | Single Core | Multi Core | | --- | --- | --- | | iPad Air | 1719 | 7294 | | iPad Air (4th gen, A14) | 1583 | 4279 | | iPhone 13 Pro Max (A15) | 1732 | 4910 | | iPad Pro | 1712 | 7231 | | MacBook Air | 1730 | 7666 |
As you can see, performance in both single-core and multi-core operations is comparable across the entire M1 lineup; the M1 is not downclocked on the new iPad Air. This means you can get iPad Pro-level performance out of an iPad Air: whether you’re drawing in Procreate or encoding 4K video in LumaFusion, these iPads are running the same chip at the same speed, with the same RAM.
For the kind of work I do on my iPad and, broadly speaking, how I alternate between writing/research/creating shortcuts during the day to reading/watching videos/listening to music at night, the iPad Air is just as fast as my 2021 iPad Pro thanks to the M1. Sure, because of 8 GB of RAM instead of 16 GB, fewer Safari tabs are preserved in memory on the Air, but that’s the only thing I’ve noticed over the past few days. With the M1 becoming the baseline for (most) iPads and all Macs in Apple’s lineup, there is now a common performance denominator that lets an iPad Air be as fluid and energy-efficient as an iPad Pro.
But that is also my problem with the iPad family and the M1 chip at this point. When the M1 first made the jump from the Mac to iPad Pro last year, we all optimistically assumed that Apple had big plans in store for iPadOS in terms of unlocking more desktop-class features such as extended Split View, interactive widgets, external display integration, or proper background processes. Surely the M1 on iPad Pro meant something. But as we saw last year with the release of iPadOS 15, all that M1 potential remained theoretical.
The arrival of the M1 on the iPad Air makes me wonder if there’s no secret meaning behind it after all: the M1 is just the baseline for the kind of chip Apple wants to use, but it doesn’t mean iPadOS will suddenly become as versatile as macOS. We theorized and hoped that the M1 and 8 GB of RAM would signify notable improvements coming to iPadOS last year, and that didn’t happen. How long should we keep waiting? What does “pro” even stand for anymore?
Now that the iPad Air also has the M1, I’m here, once again, writing the same things over and over: everything is plenty fast on this iPad, but you can never shake the feeling that Apple imposed a virtual cap on the platform’s performance and flexibility and that, so far, the M1 has meant very little for the evolution of the iPadOS platform. At this point, I look at it this way: I can buy a $999 MacBook Air with the M1, 8 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of storage and get access to features such as more advanced multitasking, background utilities, extended display mode, and all kinds of system-wide customizations; an iPad running the same configuration is still limited to two apps in Split View, Slide Over, and basic external display mirroring.
If you know my history, you know that I’m not implying iPads should run macOS. I never wanted that and never will. I’m saying that it’s disappointing the M1 is so vastly underutilized on iPads and that all iPadOS progress feels stuck to two years ago. The same chip has kickstarted a renaissance for macOS as a powerful, customizable, pro-user-friendly platform; on iPadOS, it’s just another chip that hasn’t unlocked any concrete new possibilities yet.
The iPad Air getting the M1 helped me condense all these thoughts I’ve had for the past several months into this: for many, 2022 will be a make-or-break year for iPad software. I’ve already seen several folks switch from iPad-centric workflows to setups that involve the incredible new MacBook Pros; I could see this trend continue if iPadOS 16 doesn’t bring meaningful improvements that take advantage of the powerful hardware in modern iPads.
Where does the iPad Air fit into all this? It’s hard to say, and it’s going to be up to Apple to show us. For now, it’s just another iPad running the M1 – whatever that means.
Thunderbolt VS USB The one difference between the iPad Air and iPad Pro I need to mention is the lack of Thunderbolt 4 support on the new iPad Air. While the device has a USB-C port, it doesn’t allow you to connect Thunderbolt accessories to it. When I tried to plug in my Samsung X5 Thunderbolt drive, this is what I saw:
Thunderbolt accessories are not supported on the iPad Air.
The new iPad Air only supports the USB 3.1 Gen 2 standard for data transfers up to 10Gb/s. The USB Implementers Forum is an evil organization with a penchant for confusing names aimed at destroying normal people’s brains, so bear with me as I try to make sense of what this means if you’re looking for accessories compatible with the new iPad Air.
Apple lists USB 3.1 Gen 2 on the Tech Specs page of the new iPad Air. However, that version of USB was actually renamed USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 in 2019. Occasionally, you may also find that written as USB 3.2 Gen 2 to avoid confusion with USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (note the emphasis), which is a different thing. USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 supports data transfers up to 20Gb/s; USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 – the one supported by the new iPad Air – is capped at 10Gb/s. Stay with me now: the old iPad Air maxed out at 5Gb/s transfers, meaning that it supported the standard originally known as USB 3.0, later renamed to USB 3.1 Gen 1, and then finally1 renamed USB 3.2 Gen 1 in 2019.
And you thought “evil” was an exaggeration.
But back to the real world. All this means that if you’re a professional user who went all-in on Thunderbolt accessories for your iPad Pro or M1 Mac, you won’t be able to use them with the new iPad Air. This alone may push existing users toward staying with iPad Pros or Macs compatible with Thunderbolt because they’ve bought into that ecosystem.
For additional context, it’s also worth noting that Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 support on iPad Pro lets the device transfer data up to 40Gb/s – four times the theoretical speed supported by the iPad Air. I don’t think most people are going to be affected by this, but, again, if you’re a professional user, it probably matters to you. As to why Apple didn’t support the faster flavor of USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 at 20Gb/s: it appears that’s a limitation of the M1, which supports either Thunderbolt 4 at 40Gb/s or USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 at 10Gb/s, with no in-between. If I were to speculate on what this could mean for a future M2 chip, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Apple add support for Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2 Gen 2x1, and USB 3.2 Gen 2x2.
As far as external displays are concerned, the 10Gb/s transfer rate supported by the new iPad Air is, according to Apple, enough to drive the Pro Display XDR at 6K resolution or the new Studio Display at 5K resolution. This is yet another feature the new iPad Air and iPad Pro now have in common: you won’t have to upgrade to an iPad Pro if you want to connect it to a new Apple Studio Display. But then again, why would you do that when iPadOS is still stuck on basic display mirroring with no extended display mode? I hope to see changes on this front at WWDC.
Working on the Air When it comes to actually working on the iPad Air with a Magic Keyboard, I feel the same way I did two years ago, but with the added context of the 2021 iPad mini. Personally, I prefer the 12.9” iPad Pro because of its larger Split View, bigger keyboard, and general sense of spaciousness when you’re working with two apps at once.
That said, I find Split View much more usable and tolerable on the iPad Air than the iPad mini, and I think its form factor (this applies to the 11” iPad Pro too) is the bare minimum to have an enjoyable experience with multitasking on iPadOS. Compared to the iPad Pro, you’ll get apps in compact layouts rather than regular size classes when using Split View, but that’s still more comfortable than attempting to do so on an iPad mini.
Here are a few comparison shots:
Split View on iPad Air.
The same Split View on iPad Pro. Note the extra text in Safari and the dual-column layout supported by Tweetbot’s regular size class.
The same Split View on iPad mini.
The same goes for the Home Screen: while the grid for icons and widgets continues to feel too limiting in terms of size options and placements, at least it’s not as odd-looking as the squeezed-in grid seen on the iPad mini’s Home Screen.
The Home Screen of the iPad Air. I didn’t really have time to set it up for a proper widget layout.
If you plan on doing any sort of work on the iPad Air, I highly recommend going for the Magic Keyboard. Apple sent me a white review unit, but I do not recommend the white color since I had one for my iPad Pro last year and it aged poorly. Despite cleaning it on a regular basis, the original white color still ended up looking yellow-wish in places after several months of use. So, it may be boring, but I recommend the classic dark gray Magic Keyboard.
As far as size is concerned, even as someone used to typing on a 12.9” Magic Keyboard and 14” MacBook Pro, I had no issues adjusting to the smaller Magic Keyboard for iPad Air. I typed a good chunk of this review on the iPad Air with the Magic Keyboard and it was absolutely fine.
The iPad Air and Magic Keyboard.
The one thing I want to point out that I don’t like about the small Magic Keyboard is the viewing angle. This version for the 11” iPad Pro and iPad Air doesn’t tilt back as far as the bigger Magic Keyboard does, which I noticed as I was typing this very section with the iPad Air on my lap. This has been an issue with this flavor of the Magic Keyboard2 since it came out in 2020, and I’m surprised Apple still hasn’t addressed it.
iPad Air and Universal Control I’ve found the new iPad Air to work exceptionally well as a form factor for Universal Control, which came out with iPadOS 15.4 and macOS Monterey 12.3 on Monday.
If you’re the kind of person who uses a MacBook Pro and are choosing between an iPad mini and an iPad Air as your secondary iPad for occasional work stuff and media consumption, the iPad Air works better than the mini as a standalone display for Universal Control since it’s bigger. Given the distance one typically sits away from a MacBook Pro, controlling apps on the iPad mini with Universal Control is kind of awkward: text is tiny and buttons are small; I often found myself hunching closer to the iPad mini to see what I was doing.
The iPad Air (left) and iPad mini in Universal Control.
The iPad Air’s size feels much more balanced for this kind of task. I enjoyed keeping a Safari page or Tweetbot open on the Air while I was getting other work done on the MacBook Pro.
Obviously, it’s a different story if you’re a 12.9” iPad Pro user and set up that device with Universal Control. The largest iPad Pro is also the best and most comfortable experience for Universal Control: more screen means more content shown at once and the ability to keep two apps pinned in Split View in landscape mode with a regular size class, which is great if you want to, say, keep an eye on Twitter and iMessage while working on a MacBook.
The 12.9” iPad Pro (right) and the iPad Air in Universal Control.
As you can see from the photos above, the iPad Air is noticeably smaller than the 12.9” iPad Pro while using Universal Control but, with the same setup, also much bigger than an iPad mini. Keep this in mind if you’re choosing a new iPad and are also considering which one would be nicer to use with Universal Control.
iPad Air for Media As I hinted at the beginning of this story, I’ve been having doubts about the miniaturized form factor of the iPad mini recently. The reason: I started noticing some wrist and hand pain after holding the iPad mini for prolonged reading and YouTube-watching sessions; having seen some close friends of mine go through the same problem with other portable devices like the Nintendo Switch and Analogue Pocket, I know this is a first warning sign of potential RSI and something that needs to be taken seriously. I love the iPad mini, but if its form factor isn’t working for me at this point in my life, maybe it’s time to switch things up a little.
The good news is that, during this experiment, I’ve rediscovered the pleasure of using an iPad in the 11” size for the kind of activities I used to perform on the iPad mini. At 462 grams, the iPad Air is 55% heavier than the iPad mini (297 grams); because of how weight is distributed, however, it doesn’t feel like a hefty device to hold with one hand when I’m reading articles in Safari or watching Elden Ring tutorials on YouTube. The size and somewhat thick bezels of the iPad Air actually helped me here: my hands don’t feel as cramped as they did on the mini when holding the Air for a while; thanks to the bezel, I can comfortably hold the Air with my thumb and index finger on the left edge with no accidental touches interacting with the display.
Holding the iPad Air.
In using the iPad Air for “media consumption” (a phrase I loathe, but it gives you the idea of what I mean), I also appreciated its form factor for more than just ergonomics. The iPadOS experience is more comfortable: I see more text onscreen because of the taller display; buttons in toolbars are more spaced out and easier to tap; as I noted above, the iPad Air is the iPad with the ideal portable Split View experience, which encourages the user to open multiple apps when needed. The iPad mini is, by and large, a portrait-focused device with an awkward landscape experience that is mostly optimized for using one app at a time; the iPad Air is fantastic when reading books or manga in portrait, but it doesn’t punish you when using Split View in landscape either.
The same article on the iPad mini (left) and iPad Air.
Looking ahead at the next few months, I’m going to keep using the iPad Air as my “bedroom iPad” because a) I don’t miss the wrist pain from the iPad mini and b) I like the display size. Fewer pixels-per-inch (326ppi on the iPad mini VS 264ppi on the Air) aren’t a big deal in practice, and I prefer how iPadOS scales to the larger display whether I’m using one or two apps at the same time. So far, the experiment with using the iPad Air for media has been successful.
There are two more things I want to point out here:
- Although both the iPad mini and iPad Air have a stereo speaker system, the iPad Air sounds a bit louder and more “spacious” than the iPad mini when playing music. There’s no secret here – it’s simply a bigger device with bigger speakers that naturally produce a fuller sound. I wouldn’t normally listen to music on the iPad Air, but I can tell the difference when Silvia and I want to put on something at mid-volume in our bedroom without bothering our neighbors at night.
- I couldn’t notice the so-called “jelly scrolling” issue when I originally reviewed the iPad mini; then I saw it a few months ago, and I haven’t been able to un-see it since. I’ve tested the iPad mini and iPad Air side-by-side, and while I continue to see the mini occasionally jelly-scroll when reading articles in Safari, I do not see it on the iPad Air.
Everything Else Here’s a collection of notes and tidbits about the new iPad Air based on my experience with the device.
The new blue color is a real color. Finally, an iPad color where you can actually see the color it’s supposed to be. Here’s what I wrote in my review of the old iPad Air in 2020:
I received a Sky Blue review unit from Apple, and the blue tone is more subtle than I expected. In broad daylight, it is light blue, but it doesn’t look nearly as blue as the two blue tones of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, for instance. It’s more like a light blue/grayish color. While I was testing the iPad Air indoors with standard fluorescent light bulbs illuminating my living room, my friends thought it was silver. I’m curious to see if the green model looks greener in practice.
It appears Apple listened to feedback on its muted and boring colors, and I’m pleased to say that the ‘Blue’ iPad Air looks unmistakably blue whether you’re indoors or under direct sunlight. You can tell it’s blue from the aluminum edge around the display, and you can definitely tell it’s blue when looking at its flat back – which, by the way, now says ‘iPad Air’ instead of just ‘iPad’.
When I showed this photo to John, he asked “Was the left one blue too?”, and that pretty much sums up the new color:
The new Blue color for the new iPad Air (right) compared to Sky Blue on the 2020 iPad Air.
You can tell it’s a real color when you’re outside, too.
I love this blue color. It’s colorful without being too bright or gaudy, and it does away with this weird obsession for silver-ish colors that Apple has had on the iPad line for too long now. More of this, please.
iPadOS 15.4 is pre-installed. The new iPad Air came with iPadOS 15.4 installed out of the box, so I was able to start using Universal Control right away. To speed up my tests as much as possible over the weekend, I set it up as a new iPad without restoring from a backup.
5G support is here. The new iPad Air is the latest iPad to receive support for 5G cellular networking. Unlike the iPad Pro, however, the Air only supports the sub-6 GHz flavor of 5G and not the extra-fancy mmWave one. I am told by my American friends that mmWave only sort-of exists in a few cities in the US, and I haven’t heard anything about a mmWave rollout in Italy (or the rest of Europe for that matter).
In any case, I wasn’t able to test 5G support on the iPad Air since Apple didn’t provide me with a 5G test SIM (like they did for the iPad mini). This review finally motivated me to cancel my old 4G cellular plan for iPad Pro and upgrade to a modern, cheaper 5G plan, but my new SIM hasn’t been delivered yet.
Shortcuts bugs. In a shocking turn of events3, when I opened Shortcuts on the new iPad Air for the first time, the app decided it would be a lovely idea to reset my folders and hundreds of shortcuts. No data was lost and no shortcuts were corrupted in the process, so ultimately everything was okay, but I still had to spend 20 minutes moving back dozens of shortcuts from the ‘All Shortcuts’ view into their original folders. This problem seems to occur every single time I set up a new Apple device.
Does the old Smart Folio fit? Yes. I used the Smart Folio we have for the 2020 iPad Air and it fit the new model perfectly.
The Most Balanced Tablet The new iPad Air.
After a week spent using the new iPad Air for both work-related tasks and media consumption, I can say this: the new Air is the most balanced tablet in Apple’s lineup – a lightweight, colorful 10.9” iPad that combines the performance of the M1 iPad Pro with increased portability that is reminiscent of the 8.3” iPad mini. The iPad Air isn’t as fancy as a 1 TB iPad Pro with a Liquid Retina XDR display or as diminutive as an iPad mini; but as a device that can be a little bit of both, now with M1, 5G, faster USB, and Center Stage support, I feel confident saying this iPad Air is the definitive multi-purpose tablet for most people right now. Even more so than in 2020.
This iPad Air is the definitive multi-purpose tablet for most people.
The one big downside of the new iPad Air is Apple’s insistence on 64 GB of storage instead of 128 GB for the base model. Depending on what you plan on doing with this iPad, you’re going to fill up 64 GB very quickly. Apple gave me a 256 GB review unit, but after downloading the full Genshin Impact game (15 GB), syncing my Obsidian vault, and installing a bunch of other apps I use for work, I was already at 56 GB of used storage. And that was before I even downloaded music albums and TV shows for offline usage. 64 GB of base storage is starting to feel as user-hostile as 32 GB did years ago; I hope this is the last time I’ll have to mention this problem in an iPad Air review.
If you’re torn between an 11” iPad Pro and the new iPad Air, what I wrote in 2020 still applies today: if you are okay with 64 GB of storage and don’t care about ProMotion, four-speaker audio, and faster Thunderbolt data transfers, and if you’d prefer saving $200 instead, get the iPad Air at $599 ($898 with a Magic Keyboard as opposed to $1098 for an 11” iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard). Apple has once again raised the baseline for what iPad users can expect in this form factor; I struggle to recommend the 2021 11” iPad Pro right now unless you really care about its remaining exclusive features.
In October 2020, I wrote:
I wouldn’t be surprised if making the iPad Air so similar in specs and feel to the 11” iPad Pro is a way for Apple to further differentiate the iPad Pro line in the future with even larger models and additional pro options.
Here we are, 17 months later, and the only differentiation we’ve seen for the iPad Pro line is a better display technology in the 12.9” model. I like the XDR display a lot, and I love working on my big iPad Pro, but I have to wonder: what’s the trajectory for the iPad Pro line going forward? Why have things been moving so slowly on this end of Apple’s computing spectrum? Is it because the company is now focused elsewhere?
I don’t know the answers to these questions, but here’s what I can write today to wrap up this experiment: the new iPad Air is a fine piece of hardware that makes the most important aspects of the Pro line available to a wider audience. If 2022 goes by without major changes for the iPad Pro – no larger 15” version, no major changes to iPadOS for productivity – I may consider moving back to the iPad Air as a more affordable, compact sidekick to the 14” MacBook Pro.
Time, and Apple, will tell.
- For real this timeNEW_FINAL_V2_copy ↩︎
- Actually, this was also true for the 11” Smart Keyboard Folio. Why do accessories for 11” iPads always have steep viewing angles? ↩︎
- Narrator: it wasn’t shocking. ↩︎
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This week on AppStories, we cover our first impressions of the iPad Air, Mac Studio, and Studio Display, including Federico’s thoughts on where the Air fits into the iPad lineup and John’s take on what to keep in mind when customizing a Mac Studio.
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On AppStories+, a little behind-the-scenes look to planning event coverage, a thank you and mini Chipolo One review from John, and Federico on the three Indiegogo campaign perks he’s waiting to receive.
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→ Source: appstories.net
Tripsy is my favorite travel app because it’s not just about getting from Point A to Point B. To me, the app defines the difference between trips and travel. Lots of apps can track travel information about your flights or show you where your hotel is on a map. Tripsy can do those things too, and it’s good at them. However, where Tripsy shines brightest and sets itself apart from other apps is by going beyond those nuts and bolts essentials and focusing the things you want to do and see on your trip.
I’m a big fan of Tripsy’s modern design.
We’ve covered Tripsy before, so if you’re brand new to the app, be sure to check out that review, which covered the app’s 2.0 release. That update featured a beautiful modern card-style design, loads of trip inspiration and planning tools to organize travel, lodging, activities, dining, and more in one neatly organized app that works on the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and more recently, the Mac.
Unfortunately, that update was also released in the fall of 2019, so I only got a chance to use it once before COVID ended my travel plans for a while. However, the travel outlook is brighter in many corners of the world today, and pent-up demand has people revisiting deferred trips, me included. If you’re in a similar situation and have a trip in your future, I encourage you to give today’s Tripsy update a look because, with version 2.10, Tripsy makes it easier to organize a trip than ever before.
A Tripsy web itinerary for Dublin, Ireland.
The first big update to Tripsy is its web-based itineraries. The app can generate a public link to a read-only webpage featuring your trip plans, making it easy to share details with friends and family. It’s perfect if you’re organizing a trip for a group that wants an easy way to view evolving plans in any browser and for family members who want to follow along with a trip from afar.
The webpages are public, so anyone with the URL can access the page, which is worth keeping in mind. However, the URLs are also obscure enough that they aren’t the sort of thing someone is likely to be able to guess or stumble upon by mistake. Here’s an example itinerary I created for a trip to Ireland.
Tripsy’s settings page does a nice job of explaining how to forward email into the app.
The second big feature of Tripsy 2.10 is the ability to forward email messages, files, images, links, and more into the app. Instead of traveling with a folder full of email messages, COVID test results, vaccine cards, and government-issued forms for each country, you can let Tripsy manage everything in its dedicated Documents section for you.
Forwarded email messages are available in a special Documents section reserved for each of your trips.
You can also forward all sorts of email messages to Tripsy, which will do its best to parse the contents and add them to your trip. I forwarded airline confirmation emails into Tripsy, and it automatically added all of my flight details to my trip with no editing on my part. The app had a harder time with one of my hotel confirmations, but even so, the email was saved along with the others I forwarded to the app’s designated email address for safekeeping.
Once in Tripsy, travel-related emails can be retrieved any time.
Forwarding into Tripsy doesn’t stop there. You can send any relevant email message into the app by forwarding it to my@tripsy.app. As long as the email address from which it’s sent has been registered to your Tripsy account, the message will be added to your trip, whether it’s a recommendation of a place to eat from a friend, a receipt for concert tickets, or anything else. Tripsy’s share sheet can be used to add other shareable content to the app too, such as locations from Apple Maps or links to websites.
Tripsy can store files like PDFs of COVID test results or vaccine cards too.
Forwarding into Tripsy is my favorite feature of this release because it makes it dead simple to gather all the ephemera associated with a trip in one place. Where it can, the app adds details to your itinerary automatically, and whether it can or can’t, you’ll still have the original link, message, document, or other bits of content for context and to fall back on as needed.
Like a lot of people, I’ve missed traveling to see new places and visit friends and family. As I start making a few plans for the summer, I’ll be using Tripsy to organize everything from nitty-gritty travel details to lists of what I want to see and do. It’s a whole lot easier than relying on email search and documents scattered in multiple locations.
Tripsy is available on the App Store for $4.99 or $29.99 for the first year and $39.99/year thereafter. There’s also a one-time purchase option.
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macOS 12.3 Monterey has arrived, delivering Universal Control, the long-awaited feature that allows users to transition between Macs and iPads with a single set of input devices. Federico is covering the feature from the perspective of iPadOS 15.4, so I’ll focus on the Mac. In addition to Universal Control, macOS 12.3 includes other smaller features, which I’ll cover at the end of this story.
I’ve been using macOS 12.3 as my daily OS throughout the current beta cycle for a couple of reasons. First, Shortcuts has been steadily improving ever since Monterey’s fall introduction, so I wanted to stay on top of those improvements in real-time. Second, I’ve been fascinated by the possibilities created by Universal Control since it was announced at WWDC last year. I’m pleased to report that the feature hasn’t disappointed me and has quickly found a place as part of my core computing setup.
Universal Control Universal Control, which is still considered a beta, lets you use the same trackpad, mouse, and keyboard with multiple Macs and iPads, moving seamlessly from one to the other. Unlike Sidecar where your iPad becomes a second display for a Mac, with Universal Control, your iPad continues to operate as an iPad, but with a single set of input devices for both it and your Mac. As someone who has used keyboards and mice from Logitech that support connections to multiple devices but rely on pressing buttons to switch between them, I can tell you, Universal Control is a vastly better solution.
With Universal Control, you can push your pointer from one screen to the other. As you do so, there’s an animation that makes it appear as though the pointer is pushing through a membrane as it transforms its shape to match the device on which it’s running. It’s a neat effect that is especially helpful in understanding what is happening the first few times you use the feature. Once your pointer makes it to its new destination, you can control your apps just as you would with any connected pointing device and keyboard.
Once activated, you can unpair devices using the Displays menu bar item.
You can also drag and drop content from one computer to the other. Images, text, files, and even URLs all work, but, of course, you must be dragging to a destination that can accept that content. That’s easiest when going from the iPad to the Mac, where you can always drop a file onto the Mac’s Desktop. Going the other direction, you’ll need Files or another app that can accept what you are dragging to be open. It’s this somewhat cumbersome setup that led to my suggestion that Apple implement a shelf app or similar OS feature on AppStories+ recently. There’s enough friction with drag and drop between devices that I often resort to AirDrop instead.
I’ve been using Universal Control since beta 1 with an M1 MacBook Air connected to an LG display and my latest-generation iPad Pro. Both are M1-based computers, but that’s not a requirement. In fact, Universal Control runs on some Intel Macs too. Also, although I’ve been using just two devices, Universal Control supports a total of three. Here’s the complete list of Macs that are compatible with the feature:
- MacBook Pro (2016 and later)
- MacBook (2016 and later)
- MacBook Air (2018 and later)
- iMac (2017 and later)
- iMac (5K Retina 27-inch, Late 2015)
- iMac Pro, Mac mini (2018 and later)
- Mac Pro (2019)
and the compatible iPads:
- All iPad Pros
- iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
- iPad (6th generation and later)
- iPad mini (5th generation and later)
Also, to use Universal Control, you must have at least one Mac in the mix, meaning that it won’t work with two iPads only, but it will work with just two Macs. Each device must be signed into the same iCloud account using two-factor authentication. Universal Control can be used wired with a USB cable, but to work wirelessly, Bluetooth, WiFi, and Handoff must be enabled, the devices must be within about 30 feet, and the devices can’t be sharing a cellular or Internet connection. Also, to use Universal Control over a cable, your Mac must be trusted on your iPad. That sounds like a lot of caveats, but I expect most people who try Universal Control for the first time will use devices that meet those qualifications.
Universal Control works with Apple-made peripherals as well as those from third parties, but with some limitations. I don’t have a Magic Mouse, but I’ve tested Universal Control with the current-generation Magic Trackpad and Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, and both worked well.
My scroll wheel on my MX Master 3 mouse worked fine once I disabled the Logitech Options Daemon in the macOS Accessibility section of the System Preferences Security panel.
I also use a Logitech MX Master 3 mouse. Its scroll wheel didn’t work at first, but disabling the Logi Options Daemon in the Accessibility section of the System Preferences Security panel and restarting my Mac fixed the problem. Hopefully, Logitech will update its software soon to fix the issue because the Logi Options Daemon is necessary to support some of the mouse’s advanced features. That hasn’t been a big deal for me because I haven’t customized my MX Master’s buttons, but I know a lot of people have.
Universal Control’s System Preferences settings.
One of the nicest aspects of Universal Control is that it just worked as advertised when I first tried it without any setup. However, if you plan to use a configuration regularly, you can go to the Display panel of System Preferences, click on the Universal Control button at the bottom of the window, and choose ‘Automatically reconnect to any nearby Mac or iPad’ to ensure your devices connect as soon as they are unlocked.
That’s a lot of technical details that really don’t do Universal Control justice. That’s because it’s one of those features you need to try to really understand, which is why I expect it will be a go-to demo at Apple Stores. The first time your pointer pops from one device to the other feels like magic, but it quickly becomes routine because it also feels so natural. To me, that’s the difference between a clever demo and a useful feature, which has been borne out by how fast Universal Control has found its way into my daily work routine.
My Universal Control setup.
For the past several weeks, I’ve had my iPad Pro sitting on my desk in a Twelve South HoverBar Duo stand right next to my Mac’s display. I’ve tried this sort of setup in the past using the ability of Logitech’s MX Keys and MX Master 3 mouse to flip between devices, but it was just cumbersome enough that the setup never stuck.
In contrast, Universal Control makes moving back and forth between my Mac and iPad Pro seamless. It’s not a setup that’s for everyone, but this sort of hybrid Mac-iPad approach is something I’ve done for a long time, just not as efficiently. Now, I have my choice of iPadOS and macOS apps all constantly, and quite literally, at my fingertips. It’s not that I couldn’t accomplish most of the things I do on just one platform without Universal Control. I could, but the difference is that Universal Control gives me the freedom to pick the best tool or the tool I prefer for every task, which is a level of flexibility I love.
My sole complaint about Universal Control is how it handles focus as the pointer moves between devices. If I move my pointer from my Mac to my iPad, I can swipe on my trackpad to scroll a webpage or long document. However, that sense of control over the iPad vanishes as soon as I hit ⌘ + Tab, which cycles through the Mac’s apps instead of the iPad’s. The same thing happens in the other direction too. Although scrolling works immediately, you can’t control the apps on a platform until you click somewhere inside the destination device’s UI. I thought this would be something I would get used to with time, but after weeks of using Universal Control, I haven’t. What I’d like to see is a tweak of how Universal Control works, so the focus travels immediately and automatically with the pointer from one device to the other.
I’ve also seen occasional stutters and slowdowns when moving the pointer to my iPad, but the slowdowns have been short-lived and infrequent. Perhaps that’s because my Mac is on a wired Ethernet connection at my desk, and my iPad sustains about 300 Mpbs up and down over WiFi, but in any event, the glitches haven’t been significant enough to affect my enthusiasm for Universal Control.
Everything Else A selection of Monterey 12.3’s new emoji.
Spatialize stereo settings are now available in Control Center.
Universal Control is far and away the biggest change to macOS 12.3, making it worth upgrading if you use multiple Apple devices, but there are a handful of other notable changes coming with 12.3 too:
- New emoji including beans, a troll, and a melting smiley face have been added
- Spatialize Stereo settings are available in Monterey’s Control Center Sound widget, with the same Off, Fixed, and Head Tracked options found on iOS and iPadOS
- Tags can now be added to a reminder using Shortcuts’ Add New Reminder action
- Siri has added a fifth voice option
- The firmware of AirPods can be updated in the background when they are connected to a Mac
- Monterey’s support for Sony’s DualSense game controller now includes support for its adaptive triggers
- Safari’s translate feature has added Italian and Chinese (Traditional) to the languages it can translate
- Passwords in Safari’s Preferences have added a notes field for adding plain text details about your saved passwords
- Kernel extensions for Dropbox and Microsoft OneDrive have been discontinued, requiring both online storage services to update their products
- ScreenCaptureKit is a new framework that will allow developers to provide enhanced features for video streaming services
- Python 2.7 has been removed from macOS and Apple recommends installing Python 3
Universal Control is the star of the macOS 12.3 show. When I first tried it with my Mac, I wondered if it would feel as though the iPad had been relegated to a supporting role in my daily computing, but it hasn’t felt that way at all. I’ve worked in a hybrid style for a long time. Even when I’m predominantly using my Mac, I’ve turned to the iPad to run shortcuts, look things up, and take advantage of the iPad apps that I prefer for certain tasks. Now, that’s just easier. I can flip over to my iPad Pro without thinking about it and just as easily switch back to the Mac from the iPad. Instead of relegating the iPad to a Mac accessory, Universal Control has expanded my use of both, forming a more powerful duo than using either by itself.
Stay tuned, because later this month, I’ll be expanding on how my daily workflows have changed with the introduction of Universal Control in my Macintosh Desktop Experience column for Club MacStories+ and Club Premier members.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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iOS and iPadOS 15.4 are available today.
Today, Apple released iOS and iPadOS 15.4. The fourth major updates to iOS and iPadOS 15, originally released in September 2021, offer a long list of miscellaneous improvements and feature tweaks (which I will detail later in the story) as well as two major additions for iPad and iPhone users: the long-awaited Universal Control and the ability to use Face ID while wearing a mask, respectively.
I’ve been testing both iOS and iPadOS 15.4 since the first beta in late January, and I was able to spend some quality time with both of these features and everything else that is new and improved in these releases. Let’s take a look.
Universal Control You’d be forgiven if you thought Universal Control was never going to ship and ended up dismissing it as vaporware. Introduced at WWDC 2021 and subsequently delayed to Spring 2022, Universal Control is finally here and, despite its long gestation, it’s labeled as a beta feature.
The underlying premise of Universal Control is simple and conceptually attractive: what if you could use the keyboard and trackpad of an iPad or Mac to control another nearby iPad or Mac, seamlessly moving the cursor between different platforms while keeping your hands on the keyboard? Unlike Sidecar, which allowed you to extend a Mac’s display by turning an iPad into a wireless receiver, Universal Control is the culmination of Apple’s love for platform integration and independence: you use one trackpad and one keyboard for both the Mac and iPad, but each device still runs its own OS. Universal Control was designed for people who like to use both macOS and iPadOS, alternating between the two operating systems in their daily workflows.
Universal Control is the culmination of Apple’s love for platform integration and independence.
Obviously, I was intrigued by Apple’s proposition right away at WWDC 2021, but even more so once I started using a 14” M1 Max MacBook Pro (a review unit) a few months ago. This is a topic I will explore more in depth in a separate story, but, essentially, I now find myself regularly rotating between the MacBook Pro and iPad Pro for everything I do, whether it’s researching and writing articles in Obsidian, working on shortcuts for MacStories and Club MacStories, or preparing and recording podcasts. I don’t think I’m the only iPad Pro user who’s (re)discovered the joy of using macOS thanks to Apple silicon and the latest-gen MacBook Pros. Therefore, it’s not a surprise I would naturally gravitate toward Universal Control at this stage of my computing life.
Universal Control is pitched as a way to control an iPad or Mac from either device, meaning that you can also control a Mac from an iPad Magic Keyboard or keyboard-trackpad combo connected to an iPad. However, the fact that Universal Control’s preferences can only be managed from macOS seems to suggest the feature was originally conceived as a Mac-to-iPad integration rather than the other way around.
To get started with Universal Control, let’s round up the list of requirements. First, you’ll have to be running macOS Monterey 12.3 and iPadOS 15.4 on a compatible machine. The devices supported by Universal Control are:
- MacBook Pro (2016 and later)
- MacBook (2016 and later)
- MacBook Air (2018 and later)
- iMac (2017 and later)
- iMac (5K Retina 27-inch, Late 2015)
- iMac Pro
- Mac mini (2018 and later)
- Mac Pro (2019)
- iPad Pro
- iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
- iPad (6th generation and later)
- iPad mini (5th generation and later)
This is a fairly comprehensive list of modern Apple devices, so there’s a good chance your existing Mac or iPad supports Universal Control out of the box. It gets more interesting when it comes to software and wireless requirements. For Universal Control to work, these conditions apply too:
- Both devices must be signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID and 2FA enabled;
- For wireless use, both devices must be within 30 feet of each other (10 meters) with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Handoff enabled. The Mac and iPad cannot be sharing a cellular connection via Personal Hotspot;
- For wired use over USB, you must trust your Mac on the iPad.
If you meet these criteria, you can start using Universal Control by heading over to System Preferences ⇾ Displays on your Mac and clicking the Universal Control button. You’ll be presented with the following options:
Universal Control settings.
The first checkbox is a global switch that controls whether or not Universal Control is turned on. The second option lets you connect to a nearby device by pushing the cursor against the edge of the display; in my tests, however, disabling it had no effect on this behavior (I was always able to switch between devices by pushing against the edge), so I’m not sure what it’s supposed to do.
The third option allows you to automatically reconnect to a nearby iPad or Mac you were previously connected to. This one is disabled by default, so if you want to reconnect to a previous device, you’ll have to do so explicitly by pushing with the cursor over the edge of the screen toward where the other display was before. If you enable automatic reconnection, iPads and Macs that meet the aforementioned criteria will automatically connect and show up in the Displays preference pane as soon as they’re available. Based on these details, it’s clear that the best way to use Universal Control is to keep all the three options turned on so you can achieve the seamless integration between platforms Apple has been marketing thus far.
I was initially surprised by Apple’s decision to embed Universal Control’s options in the Displays section of System Preferences, but it makes sense: the same system you’ve long used to assign a placement to external displays for your Mac can also be leveraged to configure where a connected Mac or iPad should be placed relative to your host Mac. This way, if you want to, say, place an iPad Pro on the right side of your Mac but don’t want to give up the bottom-right Hot Corner on macOS for gesture activation, you can “raise” the iPad a little higher in System Preferences.
Configuring display placement for Universal Control.
Fortunately, System Preferences isn’t the only place on macOS Monterey where you can activate Universal Control: you’ll also find a new icon in Control Center’s Display tile (which you can optionally pin to the menu bar) that you can click to open quick display settings anywhere on macOS. In this dropdown menu, you’ll find a new entry for ‘Link keyboard and mouse to…’ that lets you select devices eligible for Universal Control so you can manually connect to them from the menu bar.
Click the button next to the Display slider…
…and you’ll be able to see and connect to Universal Control-enabled devices.
Unsurprisingly, Apple hasn’t built any Shortcuts actions to reconnect to Universal Control devices.
Using Universal Control In my tests over the past couple of months, I have exclusively used Universal Control over Wi-Fi in two different locations: at home with my modern Wi-Fi 6 network, and at Silvia’s childhood home in Viterbo where they’re not using Wi-Fi 6. Additionally, I have used Universal Control in two configurations: MacBook Pro and 2021 iPad Pro as well as MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and iPad mini since more than one iPad can participate in Universal Control.
When Universal Control works reliably, it’s the kind of feature that is indistinguishable from magic, and it’s changing how I think of my work setup split across the MacBook Pro and iPad Pro.
Here’s what I love about Universal Control: without physically relocating my hands from one keyboard to another, I can instantly “switch modes” and jump from macOS to iPadOS while keeping the interaction paradigm for each platform intact. This means that when the macOS cursor moves over to iPadOS, both keyboard shortcuts and gestures become the ones associated with iPadOS. ⌘Space triggers Raycast on my MacBook Pro, but it turns into Spotlight once I hop over to the iPad; a three-finger horizontal swipe does nothing on my Mac, but on the iPad, it lets me quickly move across recently used apps. And so forth for all kinds of gestures that exist on both iPadOS and macOS. With Universal Control, the same input device instantly adapts to the selected platform.
My setup for Universal Control.
Years ago, I would have likely opposed this type of indirect manipulation of content on the iPad. That ship sailed two years ago with the Magic Keyboard and iPadOS 13.4. Because I’m so used to working with an external trackpad and keyboard on my iPad Pro now, performing iPad gestures on the MacBook’s trackpad doesn’t feel strange at all and I got used to it right away. If anything, the MacBook Pro’s larger trackpad makes those iPad gestures even more comfortable to perform. One could even say that the MacBook Pro’s keyboard and trackpad are the best external input devices you can get for an iPad Pro in 2022. (I’m kidding…to an extent. These folks may be onto something.)
I’ve gotten used to flipping between the Mac and iPad with Universal Control at this point, and I wouldn’t want to go back to physically moving my hands between keyboards. What’s also cool about Universal Control is that drag and drop operations are supported too. My favorite example: take a screenshot on iPad, then start dragging it onto the Mac’s desktop to save it as a PNG file in Finder. This kind of seamless integration “just works” with Universal Control; it makes you wonder why devices in the Apple ecosystem haven’t always worked this way.
Holy wow Universal Control is incredible.
This is me moving between a MacBook Pro, an iPad mini, and an iPad Pro using just the MacBook trackpad and keyboard. It’s aware of position, lets you drag files, and supports iPadOS gestures.
The hype was real and it all just works 🤯 pic.twitter.com/PWUTLYZtkW
— Federico Viticci (@viticci) January 27, 2022
That said, Universal Control is still a beta feature, which is why I used “when it works” above. Be prepared to run into bugs, occasional slowdowns, and hiccups that will require you to turn it off and on again if something gets stuck. For instance, Universal Control would visibly stutter and drop frames on Silvia’s old Wi-Fi network, and it was much faster and more reliable on my modern Wi-Fi 6 network in Rome. In my tests, I noticed that sometimes the pointer would successfully move from Mac to iPad but keyboard input would remain assigned to the Mac only. This has been a pretty common issue for me; to “fix” it, I have to lock my iPad Pro and unlock it again.
I also want to point out two issues I had with Universal Control that aren’t necessarily “bugs” but questionable decisions on Apple’s part. The ability to drag files between iPad and Mac is wild, but it works better when a file starts on the iPad and is dropped on macOS; doing so the other way around only highlights the lack of a real desktop on the iPad Home Screen and the inability to “park” items in a temporary shelf. If you want to quickly drag a file from macOS to iPadOS and save it there, you’ll have to open the Files app before dropping the file, which is awkward.
My other qualm is about how keyboard shortcuts work in Universal Control: for keyboard input to properly transfer from one device to another, you’ll have to click anywhere onscreen on the other device at least once. Otherwise, even if the pointer has moved to the second device, keyboard input will still remain active on the first one. I can’t tell you how many times I found myself moving the pointer from Mac to iPad and press ⌘Space only to find that Raycast was being triggered on macOS instead of Spotlight on iPadOS. I think this is confusing and Apple needs to improve Universal Control so that both pointer and keyboard input transfer at the same time the moment you switch displays. The current implementation is clunky and feels disorienting.
Despite some (understandable) beta issues, I’ve had a great time using Universal Control on my devices; this feature alone is a good enough reason to update to iPadOS 15.4 and macOS Monterey 12.3 as soon as possible.
Universal Control joins Universal Clipboard, Mac Catalyst, iCloud sync, and Universal purchases in the group of Apple technologies that make it possible to effortlessly move between platforms without sacrificing the aspects that make each unique. Universal Control feels like it was built exactly for users like me – folks who have embraced the dual Mac-iPad life thanks to Apple silicon over the past year. I’m glad Universal Control is finally out, relieved that it works about as well as Apple promised, and hopeful that it’ll only get better with time.
Face ID with a Mask If Universal Control will push iPad users to upgrade to 15.4, there’s another major addition that will instantly convince millions of iPhone users to get iOS 15.4 immediately: Face ID with a Mask.
Starting with iOS 15.4, you’ll be able to unlock your iPhone with Face ID even if you’re wearing a mask by enabling the optional toggle in Settings ⇾ Face ID & Passcode labeled ‘Face ID with a Mask’. Of course, it’s not like the iPhone’s TrueDepth camera can suddenly see through masks and face coverings; instead, in enabling this option, you’re accepting a security trade-off in that Face ID will only recognize the “unique features around the eye area” to authenticate you.
While regular Face ID works with full-face recognition, enabling this toggle makes Face ID less secure but adds the convenience of unlocking a phone when you’re out and wearing a mask without having to type in your passcode or use Apple Watch unlock. It’s a compromise you have to be willing to accept, and it’s exactly the option I wanted Apple to roll out two years ago when the pandemic hit.
New Face ID settings.
Here are a few things you should know about Face ID with a Mask. According to Apple, Face ID is “most accurate” when it’s set up for full-face recognition, which makes sense. Face ID with a Mask is only available on the iPhone 12 generation and later, leaving the iPhone X and 11 out of this – surprising, given that both models have a TrueDepth camera with Face ID. In a nice touch, Apple is mitigating the decrease in security by enforcing attention awareness: if you’re wearing a mask and want to unlock with Face ID, you’ll always have to look down at your iPhone, even if you don’t normally use the ‘Require Attention for Face ID’ setting.1
Face ID with a Mask does not support sunglasses, but Apple created a separate option for people who wear eyeglasses. Both in Settings and during Face ID setup, you’ll be able to add pairs of glasses you usually wear and have them become part of Face ID with a Mask. If you’re wearing glasses while setting up Face ID with a Mask, the system will prompt you to remove them for a third scan; otherwise, you can add glasses later in Settings and you’ll see how many pairs you’ve added in the Face ID with a Mask section.
Speaking of setup, the entire flow has been revised to include a prominent ‘Use Face ID with a Mask’ page that lets you choose whether you want to stick with full-face recognition or use Face ID with a Mask. It’s impossible to miss.
The new Face ID setup flow.
Security trade-offs notwithstanding, Face ID with a Mask is what I’ve long argued Apple should have built years ago to make face recognition less inconvenient in the pandemic era: let me choose to give up some security by telling the system to scan my eye area only, so that I can keep using Face ID as I always have without other workarounds (i.e. Apple Watch unlock). That’s precisely what Apple added in iOS 15.4, and it works incredibly well: Face ID with a Mask takes a split-second longer than regular Face ID, but it’s always worked reliably for me and I don’t need to think about it.
I don’t have anything else to say about Face ID with a Mask. I would have loved to have this feature in 2020 and early 2021 when we were wearing masks outdoors all the time. Because I’m personally going to continue wearing masks indoors for the foreseeable future, I’m still glad this feature exists and I don’t imagine disabling it any time soon. Hopefully, the next-generation iPad Pros with Face ID will get this feature too.
Shortcuts Changes While there aren’t any new actions in Shortcuts for iOS and iPadOS 15.4, it appears Apple is listening to community feedback and they’ve included some refinements to existing actions and app features worth mentioning here.
The Reminders actions in Shortcuts now fully support tagging, which Apple brought to the Reminders app with iOS 15 in September. You can now create a reminder with tags using the ‘Add Reminder’ action or filter reminders that contain specific tags via the ‘Find Reminders’ action. Tags are also supported as a property of the ‘Reminder’ object in Shortcuts, so you can always extract tags from any reminder you may be using as a variable in a shortcut.
Creating reminders with tags from Shortcuts in iOS 15.4.
Surprisingly, Apple didn’t add a ‘Get Reminders Tags’ action (so there’s no way to get a list of all the tags you’re already using in Reminders) and the Shortcuts app doesn’t support autocomplete when typing tags, so there’s still work to do on this front. But it’s a start, and we didn’t have to wait until iOS 16 to get tagging support for Reminders actions.
In iOS 15.4, Apple added new ‘Add’ and ‘Remove’ options to the ‘Change Playback Destination’ action, which lets you switch audio output from your iPhone or iPad to a nearby HomePod or AirPlay speaker. With these new actions, it’s now possible to add or remove speakers to and from an existing playback session without having to outright transfer it, thus replicating the behavior of Control Center and its checkboxes for nearby speakers. As you can see from the screenshots below, it’s easy to pick an additional speaker from the list of supported devices, which will be added to your current playback setup in just a couple of seconds.
Speakers added from Shortcuts will show up as selected destinations in Control Center.
My favorite change in Shortcuts for iOS 15.4, however, is a new option for personal automations: a ‘Notify When Run’ toggle you can disable to never be notified when one of your automations runs in the background.
If you disable ‘Ask When Running’ for personal automations, iOS and iPadOS 15.4 will also let you disable notifications for when an automation runs in the background.
If you’re the kind of person who relies on automations in Shortcuts, you know why this is a big deal: it used to be that you could let most types of automations run in the background without manual user confirmation, but you’d still get notified with an alert that the automation was running. That kind of forced handholding is now gone and you can choose not to be told when an automation is triggered. This is especially handy for those who use automations as a way to open third-party apps when an Apple app is opened, such as launching Halide when the Camera app is opened on the Lock Screen. Now those automations are going to be more user-friendly since you won’t be told every single time that an automation you set up did, in fact, run. Apple can’t help itself so you’ll still get a notification at some point with a summary of how many notifications ran without notifying you, but that’s a trade-off I can live with.2
Oddly enough, the Notify When Run toggle hasn’t been made available for shortcuts added as icons to the Home Screen. Which means that if you, like me, run certain shortcuts as icons, you’ll still get that notification banner every time you run a shortcut from the Home Screen. I have no idea why this is still the case, and I hope the new Notify When Run toggle will find its way to the ‘Add to Home Screen’ page of Shortcuts soon.
Finally, it’s worth noting the Shortcuts app sports refreshed iconography for actions and variables in iOS 15.4. The new glyphs are consistent across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and they look nice.
Everything Else Here’s a rundown of everything else that has changed in iOS and iPadOS 15.4.
AirTag safety improvements. As Apple announced last month following various stories regarding AirTags being used to track other people without their knowledge and consent, the company added a series of tweaked settings and unwanted tracking prevention options in iOS 15.4. These features had been previously detailed here, and they include new privacy warnings at setup, a “refined” tracking alert logic to tell users earlier if an AirTag is found moving with them, and changes to how notifications are managed in the Find My app. MacRumors previously detailed the changes to AirTags in the iOS 15.4 beta here.
Given Apple’s commitment to this product and to the safety of its users, I wanted to highlight my experience with an AirTag that didn’t belong to me with my iPhone running iOS 15.4. Anti-stalking alerts aren’t new in iOS 15.4, but I figured the OS update would be a good opportunity to test Apple’s refined logic and various improvements for AirTags and the Find My app.
I recently borrowed my mom’s car to drive from Viterbo to Rome, and my mom has an AirTag on her keychain. It takes about an hour to drive from Viterbo to Rome; on my iPhone running iOS 15.4, I received the first alert – and the AirTag started emitting a sound – when I parked in the street where I live. As you can see in the images below, I received the first alert at about 11:18 PM and had started driving around 10:15 PM. I find it ironic that this “refined” logic fired off an alert precisely when I was outside my house: if someone was stalking me, they would have been able to track me in my neighborhood and, quite possibly, the street where I live before I could even notice. Clearly, this logic needs to be “refined” some more, even after the release of iOS 15.4.
The first alert I received on iOS 15.4.
Additionally, because I borrowed my mom’s car for three days, I noticed that the AirTag that was with me would play alerts at random times of the day when we were on the move, but not always. For instance, we went to the dog park on Saturday afternoon and the AirTag alerted me again, but it didn’t when we left the park an hour later and drove back home.
More AirTag alerts I received over the past few days.
I appreciate Apple’s commitment to personal safety and the fact they have detailed their steps in public with expanded documentation, but I feel like the company still needs to do more here. In my experience, the first alert I got – arguably, the most important one if you’re being stalked by someone – was delivered too late, and that is unacceptable. Our iPhones have a detailed, private, on-device log of our movements and patterns over time; it shouldn’t take a full hour for an iPhone to determine that an AirTag found moving with us may be potentially dangerous.
Furthermore, I feel like Apple should consider proactively disabling an AirTag if it’s detected with you for multiple days at a time as an additional precaution. Users may ignore the notification that’s pinned on the Lock Screen; if the system is able to confirm that an AirTag that doesn’t belong to you is, in fact, following you, it may be worth considering whether disabling it preemptively could improve the safety of more users.
Notes in iCloud Keychain and hiding security recommendations. Apple’s iCloud Keychain feature continues to improve: following the addition of verification codes in iOS 15, it’s now possible to add plain text notes to individual entries. Notes fields for logins and other secure items are a staple of third-party password managers, so I’m glad to see Apple follow the rest of the industry here.
Adding notes to Keychain items.
Additionally, you can now hide specific security recommendations in Keychain by pressing a ‘x’ button next to one you don’t want to see anymore. You’ll be able to find these later under Settings ⇾ Passwords ⇾ Security Recommendations ⇾ Hidden Security Recommendations.
New emoji and SF Symbols. Count this in the list of reasons for people to upgrade to iOS 15.4: if Face ID with a Mask isn’t enough for you, how about 37 new emoji and dozens of skin tone variations for existing emoji? Some of my favorites include saluting face, biting lip, and, of course, the new beans (!) emoji. But you already know this if you’re an avid Connected listener. In which case, I 🫡 you.
As for other new system images that aren’t emoji, iOS 15.4 comes with a handful of new SF Symbols, including glyphs for macro mode and Universal Control. As always, Geoff Hackworth has an excellent list of all the changes here.
A new Siri voice and more offline features. iOS and iPadOS 15.4 bring a fifth, gender-neutral Siri voice for American users. Labeled ‘Quinn’ under the hood, the voice was recorded by a member of the LGBTQ+ community and joins the other Siri voices that use Neutral Text to Speech (Neural TTS) technology. It sounds great.
Additionally, Apple has expanded the list of features that are supported by Siri offline with on-device processing powered by the Neural Engine, first introduced in iOS 15. Starting with the iPhone XS, XR, iPhone 11, and newer models, Siri will be able to answer time and date requests even without an Internet connection. At least, that’s according to Apple. In my tests, questions like “what time is it in San Francisco” or “what day is tomorrow” would show an error message saying that the request couldn’t be completed offline. I was only able to get “what time is it” to work but, you know, that’s not so useful when you have a clock always displayed in the iPhone’s status bar and an Apple Watch on your wrist.
Keyboard brightness in Control Center for iPad. There is a new Keyboard Brightness item for Control Center in iPadOS 15.4 that lets you manually control the brightness of the Magic Keyboard from anywhere on your system. I’ve added this to Control Center weeks ago and never looked back.
Tweak volume control behavior on all iPads. With iPadOS 15.4, Apple is making the dynamic volume control option first seen on the iPad mini available to all iPads. Found in Settings ⇾ Sounds ⇾ Fixed Position Volume Controls, this toggle determines whether you want the volume buttons to remain in a fixed position or change based on the orientation of your iPad. The setting is enabled by default, so nothing will change for existing iPad users. If you turn it off, the volume buttons will follow the direction of the software volume slider – like on the iPad mini – meaning that the “volume down” button will actually raise the iPad’s volume while in landscape mode.
Safari webpage translation for more languages. Originally introduced in iOS and iPadOS 14, Safari webpage translation has received support for Italian and Chinese (Traditional) in 15.4. I tested this with a few Italian websites I read: the translation to English was pretty good and in line with translations we’ve previously seen in Safari and the standalone Translate app.
Emergency SOS tweaks. I never understood how Apple changed the activation method for Emergency SOS a few years ago, so I’m glad this feature has been simplified in iOS 15.4. By default, the system now uses ‘Call with Hold’, so you can press the side and volume buttons and keep holding them until a countdown begins, a loud sound plays, and emergency services are called at the end. The option I always found confusing – ‘Call with 5 Presses’ – is still available, but disabled by default. The new system is much easier to explain and activate: just hold down two physical buttons until your iPhone calls emergency services for you.
Macro support for the Magnifier app. I assumed this was already the case, but I guess I was wrong: the Magnifier app is gaining support for close-up shots based on the ultra-wide camera in iOS 15.4. So if you’re an iPhone 13 Pro or 13 Pro Max users, you can now look at objects up close with the Magnifier app and it’ll automatically switch to the ultra-wide lens, just like the Camera app does for macro mode.
EU Digital COVID Certificates in Health and Wallet. If you live in the European Union and have a Digital COVID Certificate, iOS 15.4 lets you add it to the Health and Wallet apps as an officially-recognized immunization record. To do so, all you need to do is scan the QR code provided by your local government with the Camera app, tap the ‘COVID-19 Vaccination’ data detector, and confirm that everything looks good in the Health app. After that, you’ll be able to see your record verification and details in the Health app, but you’ll also be able to add it as a card with associated QR code to the Wallet app.
My (obfuscated) digital COVID certificate in Health (left) and Wallet.
I did this for my Italian ‘Green Pass’ weeks ago, and it’s nice that I can now easily find this in Wallet when I have to show proof of vaccination at shops, restaurants, and other places.
Live Text support in Notes and Reminders. In both the Reminders and Notes app (when adding a reminder or writing in a note, respectively) you’ll find a new ‘Scan Text’ button in the camera menu that brings up Live Text recognition to enter text by scanning it with the Camera.
New filters for the Podcasts app. In the Podcasts app for iOS and iPadOS 15.4, you can tap the ‘Episodes’ header in an individual show page to filter its episodes by unplayed, downloaded, or played. I still find the Listen Now and Library pages of the Podcasts app overly confusing for my podcast listening habits, but these filters are nice to have.
New filters in the Podcasts app.
SharePlay improvements. Apple is improving the accessibility of SharePlay, the content-sharing feature based on FaceTime, by making it possible for developers to start FaceTime calls with associated SharePlay activities from their apps. Effectively, instead of having to first start a FaceTime call then pick a SharePlay-enabled app and find content to share, you can now start from the content itself and tap a SharePlay button to begin the call and share with friends in one easier, more intuitive flow.
You can demo this with the updated Music app in iOS 15.4 or via the share sheet of existing SharePlay-enabled apps. In Music, you’ll now find a new SharePlay button in the context menu for songs and albums that lets you pick participants for a new FaceTime call and shares selected Apple Music content right away. I prefer this simplified flow since it cuts the steps required to jump on a FaceTime call and share content, and I wish SharePlay integration with apps worked like this from the beginning.
In iOS 15.4, you can start a FaceTime call and SharePlay session in a single step from Music.
As I mentioned above, I’ve also noticed the SharePlay button appear in the share sheet of compatible apps. In Apollo, my favorite Reddit client, there is now a green SharePlay button in the share sheet that appears when you try to share a Reddit post or comment.
The new SharePlay button in Apollo’s share sheet. Alas, Silvia didn’t care about my Elden Ring tips.
As far as I know, Apollo hasn’t been updated to support any specific iOS 15.4 API yet, suggesting that Apple is retroactively applying this extended SharePlay integration to all apps that supported the share sheet and shared activities in iOS 15.1.
Wrap-Up iOS and iPadOS 15.4 are hybrid releases: they contain the dozens of tweaks and improvements we’re used to seeing in mid-cycle updates; iPadOS 15.4 marks the debut of the delayed Universal Control, which works pretty well in most scenarios; iOS 15.4 surprised us with the unexpected arrival of Face ID with a Mask. All things considered, these are two solid releases that put a nice bow on iOS and iPadOS 15 just a couple of months before WWDC 2022.
You can find both iOS and iPadOS 15.4 in Apple’s Software Update page now, and stay tuned for more Universal Control coverage on MacStories soon.
- Face ID with a Mask is also supported elsewhere in iOS such as Apple Pay authentication and password auto-fill in Safari and apps. ↩︎
- You can long-press this notification to see a full summary of all the automations that ran in the background. ↩︎
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next:
Town Hall: Apple’s Peek Performance Event
- Last week, Federico, John, and Alex were joined by MacStories Discord moderator Lachlan Campbell for a live Town Hall event in the Club MacStories+ Discord community to recap and share first impressions of Apple’s Peek Performance keynote, which introduced a new iPhone SE, iPad Air, Mac Studio, and the Studio Display.
- The Town Hall was recorded and published as part of the Club MacStories+ Town Hall podcast feed, which members can access from the Club podcasts page.
MacStories Weekly: Issue 311
- ShareMenu 2.0: an update to Federico’s ShareMenu shortcut that’s designed to replicate the behavior of the old ‘Run Workflow’ extension. Version 2.0 includes improved macOS integration and support for more file types.
- Draft Tweet: A shortcut that John created for sharing articles using Typefully, a web app for scheduling tweets and managing multiple Twitter accounts.
- Club member Dan Stucke’s home office setup that has a beautiful view of the English countryside.
-
Plus:
- App Debuts
- Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord
- Interesting links from around the web
- A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts
- And more
Visit plus.club to learn more about Club MacStories.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
Textastic is the most comprehensive and versatile text and code editor available for iPad and iPhone.
This starts with syntax highlighting support for more than 80 programming and markup languages: Textastic handles highlighting for C, C++, Swift, Objective-C, Rust, Go, Java, HTML, JavaScript, CSS, PHP, Python, Ruby, Perl, Lua, Markdown, LaTeX, YAML, JSON, and many more. If your favorite language is not yet included in the extensive list, you can add your own syntax definitions and themes compatible with Sublime Text and TextMate.
With clients for SFTP, FTP, WebDAV, Dropbox, and Google Drive, as well as the integrated SSH terminal, however, Textastic goes well beyond the functionality of a traditional text editor. Since Textastic supports tabs, you can have multiple files and SSH terminals open at the same time, and, on iPad, in multiple windows side by side.
Whether you want to create web pages and check them with the built-in web preview, edit configuration files on your server, or perform code reviews, Textastic is the perfect tool for your mobile workflow.
Customizable keyboard shortcuts, wide-ranging configuration options, support for Git repositories using the Git client Working Copy, and robust find and replace, turn this app into the most powerful code editor for iPad you’ll find.
The long list of features also includes support for iCloud Drive, the Files app, drag and drop, trackpad and mouse, printing, Split View, multiwindowing, and a whole lot more.
The app is, of course, regularly updated and maintained as well. With the recently released version 9.8, for example, Textastic got the ability to search the contents of files in a folder and its subfolders for text or regular expressions, allowing you to stay on top of large projects and quickly find what you’re looking for.
And if you ever get stuck, the in-depth manual, which describes every part of the app in detail and is illustrated with nearly 150 screenshots, will help you out.
To learn more about Textastic and what it can do for your iPad and iPhone code editing needs, visit textasticapp.com, and download a copy today.
Our thanks to Textastic for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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This week, Federico updates us on the latest software changes to the Xbox Series X|S and recommends A.P. Bio, a TV comedy from Peacock and John discovers his favorite album of 2022 so far: House by Shout Out Louds.
Links and Show Notes Follow-Up
- March Xbox Update: Pin to Quick Resume, Controller and Audio updates, and More - Xbox Wire
Federico’s Pick:
- Watch A.P. Bio Streaming (2018- ) | Peacock
- Season 1 Trailer
John’s Pick:
- House by Shout Out Louds
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Logger for Shortcuts.
Indie developer Alex Hay has long pushed the boundaries of what third-party developers can build with the SiriKit framework and Shortcuts integrations on Apple platforms.
In late 2019, his Toolbox Pro app redefined what it means to complement Apple’s Shortcuts app with additional actions, creating an entirely new sub-genre of headless utilities designed to provide additional actions with configurable parameters. Recently, Hay introduced Nautomate, another utility that provides users with Shortcuts actions to integrate with the Notion API without having to write a single line of code. And today, Hay is launching Logger, another Shortcuts-compatible app that is similar to his previous ones, but with a twist: rather than adding actions for external services or apps such as Apple Music and Notion, Logger offers actions to create the troubleshooting console that has always been missing from Shortcuts.
In the Shortcuts chapter of my iOS and iPadOS reviews over the past few years, I’ve always pointed out how I would have liked to see Apple devote more attention to power-user features for advanced Shortcuts users. While I can’t complain about the additions in 2021 (such as the ability to fold blocks of actions and the multiple scripting-related additions in Shortcuts for macOS), the truth is that there’s still a lot of low-hanging fruit in Shortcuts when it comes to quality-of-life improvements for advanced users. Among the features I (and others) have pointed out, I believe the most important one that should be at the top of Apple’s list is a proper console to log error messages and other information so that users can easily debug what’s going on in a shortcut.
If you’re familiar with any programming language – even AppleScript – you know how essential a console is, and I don’t think I need to explain what consoles are and why they’re useful to programmers in this story. But a few clarifications are needed in the context of Shortcuts, which I also consider its own programming language, albeit a visual one.
First, Shortcuts’ Content Graph engine can produce variables of several different types and, because of implicit type coercion between actions, it’s useful to know when, say, a JPEG image gets passed around as its filename rather than the actual image file. Additionally, Shortcuts power users have long been running their own DIY “console” to log errors and other details in shortcuts, namely by using the Show Alert action and putting the variables they wanted to double check inside it. This approach is terrible for a variety of reasons: alerts are modal, so they pause the execution of a shortcut and you have to manually dismiss them; plus, they’re a pain to set up and can only provide a plain text representation of what you’re passing to them. For these reasons, we’ve been getting by with actions such as Show Alert, Get Type, and Quick Look as primitive debugging tools, but a better, native solution is needed.
That’s where the new Logger app by Alex Hay comes in. Until Apple builds a real console for power users in Shortcuts (Automator had one), Logger is going to be my go-to approach to debug shortcuts I’m working on and understand what’s happening under the hood. Logger is comprised of two parts: its actions for the Shortcuts app to log data, and the main app UI, where you can see and inspect the items you’ve logged to the console. The actions provided by Logger are:
- Start Logging
- Log Message
- Clear Messages
- Delete Tags
- Log Conditional Message
- Log Device Details
- Log Files
- Log Images
- Log Internet Connection
- Output Messages
You can drop these actions into a shortcut and configure them to fine-tune the data you want to log to the app’s console. Thanks to the Shortcuts framework, these actions log data in the background, meaning that they will save items in the Logger app without launching it. It took me two minutes to go from having no logging whatsoever in a new shortcut I’ve been working on to a system that logs if the shortcut is running on a Mac, if it receives images or files from the share sheet, and whether or not it can find any input to the shortcut.
An example of how you can configure Logger’s actions and check results in the app in real-time.
I particularly appreciate the Log Conditional Message action, which has its own if-else logic built-in to log messages to the console based on the state of a variable.
With this technique, you can log a message to Logger’s console only if a variable exists.
Then there’s the Logger app, which displays messages you’ve logged via its Shortcuts actions. Logger updates in the background in real-time as a shortcut runs, and it even syncs across devices (Mac included) via iCloud, so you can check out your logged messages on any platform. As seen in other modern consoles for programmers, there are useful options and filters in here: you can search your logged messages; you can tag messages beforehand and later filter by tag in the console; there are built-in filters to narrow down the list of logged items by platform, time range, file type, and whether they were info/success/warning/error messages.
The main Logger app.
Filters for messages saved in Logger.
That’s all there is to Logger, but it’s exactly the console view I’ve long wanted Apple to build right into Shortcuts itself. In the couple of days I’ve been testing Logger on all my devices, it has helped me debug how shortcuts receive input from the share sheet on iOS/iPadOS or Finder’s quick actions on macOS; I’ve used it to confirm that Music actions were correctly finding songs in my library; I’ve even leveraged its iCloud sync to log data in Shortcuts for Mac and view results thanks to Universal Contol in Logger on the iPad Pro that was sitting next to my MacBook Pro.
Logger combines the visual, variable-based approach of Shortcuts with the power-user nature and flexibility of traditional developer consoles. It’s an extremely niche utility that only a subset of Shortcuts users and MacStories readers will use. Logger is the kind of app that “if you know, you know” you’re going to need in your daily Shortcuts workflow. Logger is a Universal, one-time $9.99 purchase, and it’s available on the App Store today.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
Join Now
John Porter writing for The Verge puts a finger on a strategic shift that has slowly been emerging at Apple for a while.
Summoning the era of butterfly keyboards and the Mac Pro’s infamous thermal corner, Porter says:
There was a time not long ago when it seemed like Apple spent more time telling its customers what they wanted rather than just giving it to them.
In contrast,
with yesterday’s announcements, which include the powerful and port-rich Mac Studio and a new monitor that costs a fraction of the price of Apple’s previous attempt, Apple is now consistently doling out consumer-friendly features its fans have been calling for.
Porter traces the roots of Apple’s shift in approach back to 2017 when the company gathered a small group of writers to announce that it was hitting reset on the Mac Pro. Two years later, Apple introduced a new Mac Pro, and ever since then, there’s been a steady stream of devices released that underscore the company’s new hardware approach.
Reading the tea leaves to discern strategic shifts like this is always fraught with peril, but I think Porter is onto something. As he lays out, there are plenty of signs of the shift stretching back five years, and no better evidence than the Mac Studio, which is bristling with utilitarian conveniences like ports and an SD card slot on the front of the computer and plenty of other I/O options tucked away on the rear of the machine.
Apple’s shift has left users with an abundance of excellent computing options. Next, I hope we see a similar shift in the company’s approach to its software, concentrating on taking better advantage of the devices now available to users.
→ Source: theverge.com
If you came away from yesterday’s Apple event with the impression that TV+ will be airing two Major League Baseball games every Friday, you wouldn’t be wrong. However, there’s a lot more to the story than meets the eye, as Jason Snell explains at Six Colors.
In addition to a two-games per week exclusive, TV+ will be adding a show called MLB Big Inning, which Apple says will feature “highlights and look-ins.” As Jason explains:
If you’re familiar with the NFL Red Zone product, in which a studio host zips the viewer around to different live games when interesting things are happening, it’s a little like that—but for baseball.
TV+ will also offer what’s known as linear programming, airing a 24/7 feed of “MLB game replays, news and analysis, highlights, classic games, and more.” The difference with linear programming is that instead of streaming individual shows on-demand, a steady stream of MLB content will be available allowing viewers to drop in and watch whatever happens to be playing.
This is not unprecedented for Apple. In 2020, the company debuted Apple Music TV, a TV+ channel that streams music videos 24/7. Like the music videos before it, 24/7 baseball content will help fill the gaps in TV+’s lineup for those times when subscribers don’t feel like picking something specific to watch.
The big picture implications of Apple’s deal with MLB provide an insight into where televised sports is heading. In the case of baseball, Jason says:
Right now, baseball is propped up by revenue from regional sports networks (RSNs) that have paid enormous amounts of money to sequester their product on cable so that it’s impossible for fans to cut the cord. The problem is, fans are like everyone else, and they are cutting the cord. At some point, the guaranteed revenue from RSNs will collapse, and leagues that rely on that revenue will be in deep trouble.
This isn’t the sort of transition that will happen overnight, but given the rise of streaming services, which has accelerated in recent years, I expect we’ll see even more deals like the one struck by Apple and MLB in the future.
→ Source: sixcolors.com
Yesterday during their Peek Performance keynote event, Apple unveiled the Mac Studio and Apple Studio Display. The former is an all-new computer joining the Mac lineup, with specs that are blowing away Apple’s previous offerings due to the introduction of a new top-of-the-line M-series chip: the M1 Ultra. The Apple Studio Display marks Apple’s true return to the consumer display market after a near decade-long hiatus.
M1 Ultra As we entered the Mac-focused section of the keynote, Apple SVP of Hardware Technologies Johny Srouji took the screen to tell us that the M1 Max chip has been hiding a secret the whole time. Each M1 Max can actually be connected to another M1 Max using Apple’s custom-built ‘UltraFusion’ packaging architecture. This connection instantly doubles nearly all of the chip’s capabilities, but doesn’t come with the usual trade-offs of connecting two chips using a motherboard as the middleman. Instead, the UltraFusion architecture allows the combined M1 Max chips to operate as a single entity, and Apple has dubbed this joined-together chip the M1 Ultra.
The M1 Ultra includes a 20-core CPU (16 high-performance cores and 4 high-efficiency cores) and 32-core Neural Engine for all models. The base model includes a 48-core GPU, but can be specced up to 64 cores. Apple’s reported graphics measurements for the chip are pretty astounding, including the claim that it matches the performance of the highest-end PC GPU available while using 200W less power. Apple’s CPU claims for the chip are similarly explosive and early benchmarks seem to back these up. The only area where the chip doesn’t seem to have significantly improved over other Apple silicon models is in single-threaded performance, but that’s to be expected since it’s still based on Apple’s standard M1 chip architecture, and increasing core counts does little for single-threaded operations.
Mac Studio
A chip is only as impressive as the machines it powers, and Apple didn’t leave us hanging on that front. The Mac Studio is Apple’s latest addition to the Mac lineup, and it has some extremely impressive specs of its own.
Design-wise, the Mac Studio looks essentially like a tall Mac mini. Its case is made from Apple’s familiar silver aluminum, and features an Apple logo on the top, fan holes and the words ‘Mac Studio’ on the bottom, exhaust holes on the back, and I/O ports on the front and back. A single indicator light on the front shows the machine’s current status.
On the interior, the entire top half of the machine is essentially just a fan. This makes up the cooling system which draws air in from the fan holes in the bottom and exhausts it out through the holes in the back. The system should keep the Mac Studio running cool whether you choose its baseline model with an M1 Max chip, or spend an extra $1,400 to upgrade to the M1 Ultra.
The Mac Studio’s M1 Max base configuration also includes 32GB of unified memory and 512GB of SSD storage. You can upgrade the M1 Max version with up to 64GB of unified memory and up to 8TB of storage. The M1 Ultra configuration starts at 64GB of unified memory, but it can be upgrade all the way to 128GB. Finally, both the M1 Max and M1 Ultra configurations include the option to add more cores: $200 will net you an extra 8 cores on an M1 Max, while $1,000 will buy an extra 16 cores on the M1 Ultra.
For I/O, the Mac Studio includes four Thunderbolt 4 ports, a 10Gbit Ethernet port, a proprietary port for the new power cable, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack on the back. If you choose the M1 Max model then you’ll find two USB-C ports on the front as well, but if you upgrade to the M1 Ultra then these two ports will be Thunderbolt 4 instead. Both models also include a front-facing SDXC card slot.
Apple has detailed some wild performance metrics for the new Mac Studio. Among others, Apple claims that the M1 Max version of the device packs up to 50% faster CPU performance than the 16-core Mac Pro, and over 3x faster graphics performance than the most popular graphics card for Mac Pros. The M1 Ultra version boasts 90% faster CPU performance than the 16-core Mac Pro and up to 80% faster graphics performance than the fastest Mac graphics card currently available.
A headless computer wouldn’t be complete without a display though, and for the first time in years Apple has finally come through (at least in a reasonably affordable way) on this front.
Apple Studio Display
The Apple Studio Display is a 27-inch 5K Retina display with a built-in camera, microphone array, and speaker system. The display itself features 14.7 million pixels, 600 nits of brightness, P3 wide color, and support for more than a billion colors. If any of those numbers sound familiar, that’s because it’s the same excellent display that has long been proven out in Apple’s 5K iMac.
The new Studio Display packages an internal Apple A13 Bionic chip to power its advanced features such as Center Stage and Spatial Audio. The built-in 12MP Ultra Wide camera is the best camera Apple has ever put in Mac-focused hardware, and this will be the first time that Center Stage can be used on a Mac. The A13 also leverages the Studio Display’s six-speaker sound system to enable Spatial Audio. This is the best sound system ever included on Mac-focused hardware, and is joined by a three-microphone array for improved audio quality during calls or voice recording.
For connectivity, the Apple Studio Display includes three USB-C ports and a Thunderbolt 3 port. The Thunderbolt port routes any peripherals connected to the USB-C ports back to the host machine via a single cable. At the same time as it passes the USB-C connections, the Thunderbolt port can also run 96W of power to the host machine — enough to fast-charge a 14-inch MacBook Pro.
There are three stand options for the Apple Studio Display: a tilt-adjustable stand, a premium height-and-tilt-adjustable stand, or a VESA mount adapter. The first and last of these options are built into the base price of the display, but the height-adjustable stand will cost a significant $400 extra. This stand is extremely over-engineered for a “weightless” effect as you raise and lower it, but ultimately the only practical feature it brings is the ability to move the display up and down. Neither the tilt-adjustable nor the height-adjustable stand includes the ability to rotate the monitor 90 degrees, but rotation is of course supported when the display is connected to a VESA arm.
Pricing and Availability
The Mac Studio and Apple Studio Display are already available to order on Apple’s store, and will begin arriving to customers on March 18. The Mac Studio starts at $1,999, and the Studio Display starts at $1,599. Alongside these products, Apple has also released new Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Mouse peripherals with black finishes, which are all available for order today.
You can follow all of our ‘Peek Performance’ Apple event coverage through our event hub, or subscribe to the dedicated RSS feed.
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Today, Apple covered a lot of ground quickly, and as usual, more details have emerged in the aftermath of the event. We’ve been combing apple.com, Twitter, and other sources to learn more about its new services, iPhones, iPads, Mac Studio, and Studio Display, which we’ve collected below:
Services
- Apple is adding live baseball (when the lockout ends) to TV+. Two games will be broadcast every Friday. The games will be available in United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Korea, and the United Kingdom initially, with more countries to come later.
- Apple will also be producing “MLB Big Inning,” a live show that will air every weeknight and include game highlights.
- Apple also said in its press release that fans in the US and Canada can enjoy a 24/7 livestream of game replays, news, and more.
iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max
- Apple introduced two new colors of iPhones.
- The iPhone 13 and 13 mini’s new color is simply green.
- iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max customers get a darker shade called alpine green.
iPad Air
- The camera hardware appears to be the same as used in the iPhone SE, but the Air, which has a faster chip only supports Smart HDR 3 while the iPhone SE supports version 4 of the photography technology.
- The iPad Air uses a USB 3.1 Gen 2 connector, which doubles its data throughput compared to the model it replaces.
Mac Studio
- The Mac Studio that features an M1 Ultra is a full 2 pounds heavier than the one with an M1 Max.
- The M1 Ultra Max uses an Apple technology called UltraFusion to connect two M1 Max chips “across more than 10,000 signals, providing a massive 2.5TB/s of low latency, inter-processor bandwidth,” which Apple says is more than four times the bandwidth of any other interconnect technology.
- The Mac Studio uses up to 1,000 kilowatt-hours less energy annually than a high-end PC.
- Apple is selling a six-foot Thunderbolt 4 cable for connecting the Mac Studio to the Studio Display for $129.
Apple Studio Display
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz.
- Nano-texture glass costs an extra $300.
- Tilt and height adjustable stand costs an extra $400.
- The Studio Display delivers 96W of charging power.
- The Studio Display is compatible with the following iPads:
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation or later)
- iPad Pro 11-inch
- iPad Air (5th generation)
- A look at the evolution of Apple displays by Joey Banks:
An evolution of displays. pic.twitter.com/n39BEbGv3T
— Joey Banks (@joeyabanks) March 8, 2022
You can follow all of our ‘Peek Performance’ Apple event coverage through our event hub, or subscribe to the dedicated RSS feed.
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Today’s Peek Performance Apple event included a new iPad Air that replaces the model that was released in the fall of 2020 and features an M1 chip, 5G connectivity, and an Ultra Wide front-facing camera.
The new Air comes in five colors: Space Gray, Starlight, pink, purple, and blue. The chip has been upgraded from the A15 to the M1, bringing it in line with the chip used in the iPad Pro. Apple also upgraded the front-facing Ultra Wide 12MP camera, so it now supports Center Stage, allowing the camera to keep participants in the camera frame during FaceTime and other video calls. The Air adds 5G connectivity and a USB-C port that’s two times faster than before too.
Other than the new colors, the design of the iPad Air remains the same with a Touch ID top button, 10.9” diagonal Liquid Retina display that features 264 pixels per inch and Apple’s True Tone technology, but not ProMotion. The iPad Air comes in 64GB and 256GB storage configurations like the model it replaces too.
With the move to an M1 chip and support for Center Stage, the gap between the iPad Air and the 11” iPad Pro is smaller than ever. Perhaps the narrowing of the gap is temporary and we’ll see it widen again when the iPad Pro is next updated. However, the two iPads are so close in specs now that the new Air is probably the better choice for most users, especially if they can get by with 64GB of storage.
You can follow all of our ‘Peek Performance’ Apple event coverage through our event hub, or subscribe to the dedicated RSS feed.
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In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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As usual, Apple sprinkled facts, figures, and statistics throughout its presentation today. Here are highlights of some of those metrics from the event that was held online from Apple Park in Cupertino, California.
iPhone SE
- 5G connectivity
- 64, 128, and 256GB storage capacities
- 4 grams lighter than the iPhone SE it replaces
- An A15 Bionic chip with a 6-core CPU consisting of 2 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores
- A 4-core GPU
- A 16-core Neural Engine
- IP67 water resistance
- Up to 2 hours more battery life when watching video
- Support for Smart HDR 4 photography
iPad Air
- M1 chip
- 5G connectivity
- 64 and 256GB storage capacities
- The Wi-Fi-only model saves you 1 gram of weight for a total weight of 461 grams (1.02 pounds) compared to the Wi-Fi plus Cellular model
- A USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 port that is 2x faster at 10Gbps than the one on the model it replaces
- Ultra Wide 12MP camera that supports Center Stage
Mac Studio
- 2 base configurations featuring the M1 Max and new M1 Ultra
- Up to 20‑core CPU
- Up to 64‑core GPU
- Up to 128GB unified memory
- Up to 800GB/s memory bandwidth
- 4 Thunderbolt ports on the rear of the Mac Studio
- 2 Thunderbolt ports on the front of the Mac Studio with the M1 Ultra and 2 USB-C ports on the front of the M1 Max model
- 10Gb Ethernet
- M1 Max:
- Up to 9 streams of 8K ProRes video playback
- 57 billion transistors
- Up to 11 trillion operations per second
- Supports 5 displays
- M1 Ultra
- Up to 18 streams of 8K ProRes video playback
- 114 billion transistors
- Up to 22 trillion operations per second
- Supports 5 displays
- Up to 8TB of storage with 7.4GB/s read times
- Compared with a 27” iMac with a 10-core Intel Core i9 using a computational fluid dynamics test
- Mac Studio with an M1 Max is 2.7x faster
- Mac Studio with M1 Ultra is 5.3x faster
- In an 8k render test using a 27” iMac with Radeon Pro 5700 XT graphics card
- Mac Studio with an M1 Max is 3.5x faster
- Mac Studio with M1 Ultra is 5x faster
Studio Display
- 27” diagonally
- 5K resolution
- 218 pixels per inch
- 600 nits of brightness
- 1 billion colors
- 12 MP Ultrawide camera with a 122-degree field of view
- 3 USB-C and 1 Thunderbolt 3 ports
- 6-speaker system
You can follow all of our ‘Peek Performance’ Apple event coverage through our event hub, or subscribe to the dedicated RSS feed.
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In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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Today, Apple updated its budget-model iPhone SE with a new A15 Bionic chip, 5G connectivity, better battery life, and other modern iPhone features.
As with the previous model, the new SE comes in three colors: Midnight, Starlight, and (Product)RED. With the new A15 Bionic chip, Apple says the new SE’s graphics are 1.2x faster than the 2nd generation model it replaces. The addition of the A15 Bionic means iPhone SE users can enjoy advanced features like Live Text too.
A combination of the new chip, different battery chemistry, and changes to the design also allows the SE to run for up to 2 hours longer on its battery in video playback tests. With a 20W charger, the SE can fast charge from 0-50% in 30 minutes too.
The iPhone SE has a 12MP camera with a sensor that is capable of Apple’s Deep Fusion technology. The update also supports Smart HDR 4 and photographic styles, which first appeared on the iPhone 13. Although the camera’s sensor and the hardware that drives it makes this a new camera system, the lens hardware itself appears to be unchanged.
The iPhone SE’s glass has received an upgrade too. It uses the same shatter-resistant type of glass as the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro lines.
Finally, the iPhone SE carries a $429 starting price tag. That’s $30 more than the prior generation.
Other features of the iPhone SE remain the same. The model uses Touch ID embedded in its Home button and has the same 4.7” display as the model it replaces. Like the previous model, the new SE is also IP67 rated for water resistance. The new SE offers 64, 128, and 256GB storage capacities too.
With an A15 Bionic chip, which powered the previous-generation iPad Air, the new iPhone SE is an excellent choice for anyone who wants a smaller iPhone. It would have been nice to see it adopt Touch ID in the power button, as the iPad Air did, but regardless, today’s announcement is a nice refresh of Apple’s most affordable iPhone.
You can follow all of our ‘Peek Performance’ Apple event coverage through our event hub, or subscribe to the dedicated RSS feed.p
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
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If you didn’t follow the livestream or announcements as they unfolded today, you can replay it on Apple’s Events site and catch the product videos on Apple’s YouTube channel.
The keynote video can be streamed here and on the Apple TV using the TV app. A high-quality version will also be available through Apple Podcasts as a video and audio podcast. There is also an American Sign Language version of the event, which is available here.
More videos after the break.
You can follow all of our ‘Peek Performance’ Apple event coverage through our event hub, or subscribe to the dedicated RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Apple announced the following pre-order and availability dates for the products announced today:
iPhone 13 and 13 mini in Green and the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max in Alpine Green
Pre-Order: Friday, March 11th
Availability: Friday, March 18th
Locations: Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, the UK, the US, and more than 30 other countries
iPhone SE
Pre-Order: Friday, March 11th
Availability: Friday, March 18th
Locations: Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, the UK, the US, and more than 30 other countries
iPad Air
Pre-Order: Friday, March 11th
Availability: Friday, March 18th
Locations: 29 countries and regions, including the US
Mac Studio and Studio Display
Pre-Order: Today
Availability: Friday, March 18th
Locations: Not specified
You can follow all of our ‘Peek Performance’ Apple event coverage through our event hub, or subscribe to the dedicated RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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This week on AppStories, Federico and John talk about how to get more out of Twitter while avoiding doom scrolling, through a combination of advanced Twitter features, third-party apps, and Shortcuts.
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, Federico and John talk about the upcoming Apple ‘Peek Performance’ event, a curious bug John ran into in Shortcuts for the Mac, and Federico’s experiments with car-based shortcuts for dictation input.
→ Source: appstories.net
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next:
Monthly Log: February 2022 Metroid running at 4K on Federico’s MacBook Pro
- Federico shared how he’s using symbolic links to sync his Dolphin emulator saves across Windows and macOS using Dropbox.
- John explains his lightweight system for organizing files using folders, tagging, and search.
MacStories Weekly: Issue 310
- John recommended Diagrams, an excellent charting tool.
- Federico created a shortcut for batch-converting his saved Timery timers into individual shortcuts.
- John shared a tip on how to mimic the iPhone and iPad’s scroll-to-top gesture on the Mac.
- Plus:
- App Debuts
- Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord
- Interesting links from around the web
- A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts
- and more
Up Next
Next week on Club MacStories:
- On March 8th, at 5:00 pm Eastern US time, we’ll be holding a live audio Town Hall in the Club MacStories+ and Club Premier Discord community. Join Federico, John, and Alex for reactions to the day’s events and to ask any questions you may have. More details about the Town Hall are available in the Announcements channel on Discord.
- In MacStories Weekly 311, John will publish a shortcut for tweeting links to web articles via Typefully.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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Since it debuted, Nintendo Switch Online’s utility has been primarily limited to initiating voice chats and other online features in the Switch games that support them. That’s still the core of version 2.0, but the app has been redesigned and adds a couple of nice new features.
The new design divides the screen into a scrolling row of friends along the top, thumbnails of the games you own that support online services, like Animal Crossing, Super Smash Brothers Ultimate, and Splatoon 2, and the app’s Voice Chat feature. It’s a simple, good-looking design, but the abundance of blank space, if you’re not using voice chat, reveals just how little else the app has to offer.
Tapping on a friend’s Mii shows you what they’re playing or when they were last online.
The row of friends indicates who is currently online and who you’ve marked as a ‘Best Friend,’ which pins their Mii avatars to the beginning of your friends list. Tapping on a Mii shows you what someone who is online is playing or when they were last online. The game-specific thumbnails act as launchers for each game’s service, and voice chat is only activated if you first start a game on the Switch in a mode that supports it.
Nintendo Switch Online walks you through the process of starting a voice chat and lets you manage your visibility to friends.
A small but welcome touch is the ability to copy your friend code in the app’s settings. Previously you had to grab your Switch, dig into your profile, and manually copy the information if you wanted to send it to someone. Personally, that’s been a huge drag on how often I share my friend code, so I appreciate the change.
It’s good to see Nintendo Switch Online updated, but it’s still a little disheartening to think that it took the company five years to get to a version 2.0 with such modest feature additions. Still, the update is an improvement, and hopefully, it’s also a sign that Nintendo is prepared to invest more time and effort into the app as a way to enhance the Switch experience.
Nintendo Switch Online is available as a free update on the App Store.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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For small businesses, it can be difficult to stay on top of clients, leads, and projects that are evolving every day. Here’s how Daylite can help supercharge your team to shine brighter, handle more clients, close more deals, and execute more projects. Designed for Mac, iPhone, and iPad exclusively.
Daylite empowers small businesses by improving team efficiency and making collaboration easy—everything is organized, searchable, and accessible (even offline). You can easily access information and segment data tailored to your specific client’s history. You can manage and share everyone’s schedules, project status, and next steps.
Seamless Apple Integration
Daylite is the only Mac CRM and productivity app that integrates with Apple devices and most of the built-in Apple apps and features, like direct Apple Mail integration. You and your team can capture all email communication in one place and create opportunities, appointments, and tasks right from your Apple Mail.
Linking
Its linking capability is what makes Daylite shine. You can link emails, notes, tasks, projects, appointments, and other records to existing contacts in Daylite. This enables teams to quickly and clearly view an organization’s structure and access the information they need in a unique way.
CRM + Project Management
Daylite’s productivity-focused design helps you and your team get more done throughout the full customer lifecycle. From meeting prospects and winning business to managing the moving pieces on projects, all the way through to following up on referrals and repeat business, it’s all done in Daylite.
If you live by the Mac, you’ll love Daylite. Start your free 30-day Daylite trial today!
Our thanks to Daylite for sponsoring MacStories this week.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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This week, Federico shares why he’s enjoying Elden Ring so much, and John recommends Kimi, an HBO Max thriller with a tech twist.
Apple’s Upcoming ‘Peek Performance’ Event
On March 8th at 5:00 pm Eastern US time, we’ll be holding a live audio Town Hall in the Club MacStories+ and Club Premier Discord community. Join Federico, Alex, and me for reactions to the day’s events and to ask any questions you may have. More details about the Town Hall are available in the Announcements channel on Discord.
Federico’s Pick
- Elden Ring
- Gameplay trailer
John’s Pick:
- Kimi starring Zoë Kravitz on HBOMax
- Trailer
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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As tweeted by Federico, Apple has announced an online media event for March 8th, 2022 at 10:00 am Pacific:
Apple event confirmed. March 8th, 10 AM PST. Peak performance! pic.twitter.com/SiLrmMzuvA
— Federico Viticci (@viticci) March 2, 2022
Based on the latest speculation and rumors, Apple is expected to introduce a revision of the iPhone SE and iPad Air. Other announcements could include the base-model iPad, which has historically been revised in the spring, and new Apple silicon Mac minis.
Of course, MacStories readers can expect comprehensive coverage on MacStories and AppStories, which will extend to Club MacStories too.
You can follow all of our ‘Peek Performance’ Apple event coverage through our event hub, or subscribe to the dedicated RSS feed.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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One of my earliest MacStories reviews was of OutlineEdit 1.0, a Mac-only outlining app that caught my eye with its attention to the kind of details that are a must for creating carefully structured outlines quickly. Version 3.0 recently landed on the Mac App Store and at its core, OutlineEdit is just as capable as ever at effortlessly turning ideas into outlines. The changes introduced with version 3.0 include refinements to existing features, as well as a handful of new features that extend OutlineEdit’s capabilities. Let’s take a look.
A sampling of OutlineEdit’s many keyboard shortcuts.
OutlineEdit’s strengths since version 1.0 lie in its spare UI and keyboard shortcuts. When I create an outline, I want my focus to be on the ideas I’m organizing, not on formatting the outline. OutlineEdit makes that easy with the kinds of outlining tools you expect like Tab to indent and Shift+Tab to outdent from wherever you happen to be on a line. Those are conventions followed by lots of outlining apps and text editors, but OutlineEdit goes further, focusing as much on the structure of your outline as on the text you’re typing.
For example, if you’re editing in the middle of a line and hit the return key, OutlineEdit creates a new empty bullet in your outline instead of splitting the line at the cursor with a return character like a text editor would. It takes a little getting used to, but the interaction also feels right in the context of an outline where the emphasis is on moving from idea to idea as you build each node of your outline. Of course, you can still split a line if you want with ⌃+return.
Hover the pointer over the disclosure triangle to get a visualization of related lines.
Every editing action is tied to a keyboard shortcut, making OutlineEdit fast to use once you’ve committed some of the shortcuts to memory. You can fold at any level of an outline, fold or expand all levels at once, hoist a level to focus on it, hiding the others, and group multiple selected lines under another line with a keystroke. Lines can also be moved up and down through your outline using the keyboard. One of my favorite touches is that hovering the pointer over a line’s disclosure triangle shows you the lines grouped under it by underlining the current item with a dashed line and bracketing the items beneath it. It’s an excellent visualization of the relationship among the branches of your outline.
The plus button next to each line opens for adding images, notes, categories, and more.
In addition to the traditional bullets of an outline, OutlineEdit also lets you attach notes to a bullet, which appear beneath it in smaller gray text. Images can also be included in an outline, which is new to version 3.0, as can checkboxes, which, when toggled on, appear next to every line of the outline.
Here, I’m using blue and green categories to highlight a couple of lines of an outline.
Categories, which are color-coded tags that can be applied to individual lines of an outline, have been expanded in version 3.0. The Categories button is in the bottom right-hand corner of OutlineEdit’s window. Click on it to add up to 10 categories per outline and assign sets of predefined colors to them. Categories can then be applied by clicking the plus button on the far right side of every line of your outline. Once applied, the categorized line is highlighted with the category’s color, and a new color-coded button for the category appears at the bottom of the window. Click the category’s button to filter your outline by that category. It’s a quick way to focus on parts of an outline that aren’t part of the same section but are related for other reasons.
OutlineEdit’s statistics.
It’s not new to version 3.0, but the other bit of UI along the bottom of OutlineEdit’s window is a series of statistics that you can turn on and off in the app’s preferences. By default, the stats show the number of items in your outline and the total number of indent levels. Other statistics available include the character and word count, the time spent creating the outline, and the number of items checked off using the app’s optional checkboxes that can be turned on to display to the right of each line.
OutlineEdit’s Home view for managing your outlines and accessing templates.
OutlineEdit takes a unique approach to managing files. You can create new outlines using the menu system or the app’s separate menu bar app. Version 3.0 of the app also allows outlines to be saved as drafts with a button located in the top right-hand corner of the window, which is faster than dealing with picking a destination folder and name but might be more useful if saving happened automatically.
OutlineEdit’s UI for managing and using templates.
OutlineEdit 3.0 also adds support for templates. An outline can be added as a template from OutlineEdit’s menu bar app or its Home view. If you create an outline from a template, an unsaved copy is made for editing, preserving the original template for reuse later. Finally, it’s worth noting that OutlineEdit offers a total of 10 brand new light and dark themes.
I’ve enjoyed using OutlineEdit again for the first time in quite a while. The app isn’t radically different from what I reviewed in 2016, but that’s okay. The app’s strength continues to be its its editor, which makes it easy to create structured outlines quickly. New features like the addition of images, templates, themes, and category filtering all extend out from the app’s core editor, making version 3.0 of OutlineEdit the best version of the app yet.
There remain a handful of areas I’d like to see improved further, though. First, it’s Mac-only, which will be a deal-breaker for anyone who wants to work on their outlines using an iPad or iPhone too. Second, exporting to plain text is limited. With support for features like images, I understand that not everything OutlineEdit can do can be translated to plain text easily, but I was hoping I could use OutlineEdit to open existing Markdown files with bulleted lists for editing, but I can’t. You can, however, copy an outline to the clipboard as plain text and paste it into other documents or export it as a PDF, OPML, or rich text file. I also wish checkboxes weren’t an all-lines-or-nothing proposition and would appreciate the ability to customize the glyphs used for each level of an outline.
Still, if you’re looking for a dedicated outliner and don’t need iPad, iPhone, or plain text support, OutlineEdit is an excellent choice. The app has one of strongest keyboard-driven editing cores I’ve seen for organizing your thoughts into outlines.
OutlineEdit is available on the Mac App Store for $32.99.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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This week on AppStories, we survey the many Apple hardware rumors circulating and take a stab at predicting the new hardware we’ll see in 2022.
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, Federico and John share their favorite features of the Mac launcher app Raycast, which John recently reviewed for Club MacStories+ members.
→ Source: appstories.net
Because Club MacStories now encompasses more than just newsletters, we’ve created a guide to the past week’s happenings along with a look at what’s coming up next:
AV Club Voting Begins Don’t forget to vote for the latest AV Club pick in the Club MacStories+ Discord. Head to the Announcements channel for the details and to vote for one of the following four choices:
- Horizon Forbidden West
- Elden Ring
- The Afterparty
- Suspicion
We’ll discuss the videogame or show selected as a community with a live Discord Town Hall event that is tentatively set for March 15th. For those unable to join live, we’ll publish the conversation to the Club MacStories Town Hall podcast feed after the event, as we did earlier this month for the Matrix movie series.
AV Club is a monthly event held in the Club MacStories+ Discord community. Club members vote on a movie, TV show, videogame, book, or music to enjoy as a group. It’s like a book club, but for all kinds of media. Our Discord community is one of the many perks for Club MacStories+ and Club Premier members.
MacStories Weekly: Issue 309 * Federico shared a tip on how to prevent accidental Lock Screen activations. * John shared a collection of alternative read-later actions. * John also explained why simple shortcut utilities are so powerful on the Mac, using a shortcut for adding date stamps to text files system-wide on the Mac as an example. * An all-new episode of MacStories Unplugged in which Federico and John look forward to the end of winter, Federico on his trips to the local dog park, plus John gets some Pokémon Legends: Arceus tips and is upset about Nintendo closing its eShop for 3DS and Wii U. * Plus: + App Debuts + Highlights from the Club MacStories+ Discord + Interesting links from around the web + A sneak peek at what’s next on MacStories’ podcasts + and more
New Club MacStories+ and Club Premier Discount
Typefully is a beautifully designed Twitter utility for writing, scheduling, and publishing tweets and threads from the makers of Mailbrew.
Club MacStories+ and Club Premier members can get 30% off on their first year’s subscription to Typefully by visiting the Club Discounts page.
Support MacStories and Unlock ExtrasFounded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for over six years.
In that time, members have enjoyed nearly 400 weekly and monthly newsletters packed with more of your favorite MacStories writing as well as Club-only podcasts, eBooks, discounts on apps, icons, and services. Join today, and you’ll get everything new that we publish every week, plus access to our entire archive of back issues and downloadable perks.
The Club expanded in 2021 with Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Club MacStories+ members enjoy even more exclusive stories, a vibrant Discord community, a rotating roster of app discounts, and more. And, with Club Premier, you get everything we offer at every Club level plus an extended, ad-free version of our podcast AppStories that is delivered early each week in high-bitrate audio.
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A tweet notification from Tweetbot. This one took about four minutes to arrive – not too bad considering they’re not based on push notifications.
We’ve been keeping an eye on Tapbots’ rapid development pace for Tweetbot on iPhone and iPad over the past few months (we gave Tweetbot 6 a MacStories Selects award in December), and I continue to be impressed by how Tweetbot is growing and adding new features thanks to its new business model and Twitter’s new API.
In today’s 7.1 update, Tweetbot has gained support for background notifications. These notifications, unlike push notifications, are managed by iOS/iPadOS’ background app refresh system, which comes with some benefits and limitations that Tapbots has outlined here. In terms of why this matters for users, background notifications alllow Tweetbot to support notifications for more types of activities: you can now enable notifications for new followers, people who quote one of your tweets, and – my favorite – new tweets from a specific user. The latter can be enabled on a user’s profile page (pictured below) or by long-pressing someone’s profile picture in the timeline.
Enabling notifications for specific users.
Being notified when a specific user tweets was one of the features I was missing from the official Twitter app, so I’m glad Tapbots figured out a way to add it to Tweetbot. Since Tapbots’ system is based on Apple’s background app refresh technology and they can’t control the timing of notifications, Tweetbot’s version of these alerts won’t likely be as immediate as the Twitter app, but that’s fine as long as I get a list of new tweets from specific users.
I look forward to testing these notifications over the next few days. Tweetbot 7.1 is available on the App Store for iPhone and iPad; hopefully, we won’t have to wait much longer for Tweetbot 7 to arrive on macOS too.
→ Source: apps.apple.com
This week on AppStories, we conclude our tour of new apps we are trying for the first time or revisiting.
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On AppStories+, we highlight our favorite changes coming to iOS and iPadOS 15.4 and macOS 12.3, including Face ID With a Mask, Universal Control, and Shortcuts refinements.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
→ Source: appstories.net
Over three years ago, Tweetbot removed the app’s stats view as a result of Twitter API changes. Today, that view is back in Tweetbot 7 for the iPhone and iPad, thanks to the social media company’s increased willingness to open its platform to third-party developers like Tapbots.
The view includes a graph at the top, followed by statistics detailing your timeline activity for the last week, including Likes, Replies, Tweets, Retweets, Quotes, and Follows. You can swipe across the graph to see each category by day or tap the categories under the graph to jump straight to that view.
Tweetbot 7 also includes new dark themes called hej and bumblebee. Hej features a slate blue background with yellow highlights, while bumblebee has a near-black background with brighter yellow accents.
The pace of Tweetbot updates has picked up significantly in recent months, which is fantastic. I missed the app’s stats view, so it’s nice to see its return. However, with each new feature and refinement to Tweetbot’s iOS and iPadOS apps, the Mac app looks more and more dated. The two versions are badly out of sync in terms of features too. As someone who spends a lot of time on the Mac, that’s disappointing and something that I hope will change soon.
Tweetbot 7 is available as a free update on the App Store for the iPhone and iPad. However, some of the app’s features require a subscription.
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Today, Apple announced Tap to Pay, a new contactless payment option coming later this year for the iPhone XS and later.
According to Apple’s press release:
Tap to Pay on iPhone will be available for payment platforms and app developers to integrate into their iOS apps and offer as a payment option to their business customers. Stripe will be the first payment platform to offer Tap to Pay on iPhone to their business customers, including the Shopify Point of Sale app this spring. Additional payment platforms and apps will follow later this year.
The new payment system leverages NFC and the iPhone’s existing privacy-oriented Secure Element, which is part of Apple Pay existing technology infrastructure.
Apple’s press release explains how Tap to Pay will work from users’ perspective:
At checkout, the merchant will simply prompt the customer to hold their iPhone or Apple Watch to pay with Apple Pay, their contactless credit or debit card, or other digital wallet near the merchant’s iPhone, and the payment will be securely completed using NFC technology. No additional hardware is needed to accept contactless payments through Tap to Pay on iPhone, so businesses can accept payments from wherever they do business.
Although Tap to Pay won’t require new hardware, it will need to be incorporated into participating apps. Apple says developers can expect a Tap to Pay SDK in an upcoming iOS beta.
It’s good to see that Tap to Pay will work with a broad array of credit cards, debit cards, Stripe, and other payment processors. However, it’s disappointing that Tap to Pay will be US-only at launch, although it’s not surprising either. I use my iPhone for payments a lot, so I’m glad to see the addition of Tap to Pay, which will make that possible in even more circumstances.
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Calendar app Fantastical has added new and redesigned scheduling features that should improve short-term and long-term event planning for many of its users. Openings is a brand new feature for letting others know when they can schedule time on your calendar. Fantastical’s Calendly-like meeting organizing system has been refined too, and the app now includes a new quarter view for long-term planning.
Setting up a schedule Openings template.
Fantastical 3.6 adds a new dimension to its scheduling functionality. The new feature is called Openings, and it’s a way to create time slots when others can book time with you, using a link generated by Fantastical. Fantastical already has a feature called Proposals, which was also updated today, that lets you, as an event organizer, suggest multiple times for an event, get feedback from participants, and, ultimately, lock in a time that works best for everyone.
Openings is a little different. It’s not designed to set up a particular event. The feature is a way to tell other people when you’re available if they need to schedule time with you. If someone wants to set up a call or meeting, you can send them your Openings link, and then they can pick a time from the slots you’ve made available, cutting through some of the back and forth emailing that typically happens when trying to agree on a time.
Fantastical’s Openings feature supports the creation of multiple templates giving each a name, description, associated calendar, and even a customizable URL slug. Next, the app lets you pick the times you are willing to meet with people and specify how far in advance they can schedule a meeting with you. Finally, you can choose whether meeting requests are automatically or manually accepted.
Recipients can pick from the times you’ve made available to meet.
Personally, I’m not a fan of this method of scheduling for a lot of the reasons explained by Nicole Nguyen last weekend in The Wall Street Journal. However, if you’ve got a lot of people demanding slots on your calendar, Fantastical’s implementation works well and is a nice perk for anyone who was paying a separate service for this sort of feature.
Proposals has been redesigned to make it easier to find the best time for a meeting. Source: Flexibits.
The second part of Fantastical’s update is a redesign of its existing Proposals feature. If you haven’t used the feature before, it’s designed to make it easy to set up a meeting with multiple participants. Create an event in your calendar and add invitees, and pick multiple proposed times using the ‘Propose Another Time’ button, from which your guests can pick.
As the organizer of a meeting, you have several other options. You can generate a meeting proposal link that lets guests add themselves to your meeting proposal. You can also either add the event to your calendar once the group you’ve invited unanimously agrees on a date and time or do so manually. Fantastical provides fine-grained control over when you are notified of responses and whether your invitees can see one another in the invitation too.
Recipients who receive your invitation are taken to a webpage where they can choose which times work best for them or pick none. The response form asks for their name and email address and provides the option to add comments for the organizer. I don’t need a scheduling tool like this very often, but in my testing over the past week or so, I’ve found that it’s easier than before to see at a glance what time works best for most people.
Quarter view on the iPad.
Quarter view on the iPhone.
The other notable feature released today is a bird’s eye view of your calendar by quarter. With three months shown at once, space is limited, so don’t expect to manage your daily events in this view. Still, it’s effective for identifying what days you’re free and for getting a general sense of how busy you will be at various points in the quarter. On the iPhone, events are reduced to colored bars in a sort of heat map since the text would be too small to be readable.
Scheduling events time for meetings and calls is never easy. With Fantastical 3.6, Flexibits’ refinement of its existing Proposals feature and the new Openings functionality offer the app’s most complete solution to scheduling yet. If a lot of people need time on your calendar or you’re organizing lots of meetings or calls, Fantastical’s scheduling tools are worth considering.
Fantastical is a free update, but its scheduling feature requires a subscription to its Premium tier subscription. As part of the update, Flexibits is resetting its 14-day free trial, so anyone who has previously used Fantastical but currently doesn’t can try it again.
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Update: Play has been temporarily removed from the App Store by its developer Marcos Tanaka due to YouTube API limitations that caused some videos to be added to the app without all of their metadata. A fix is in the works that Tanaka hopes will allow him to put the app back on the App Store soon.
Today, Marcos Tanaka released Play, an iPhone, iPad, and Mac app for saving links to YouTube videos for later. The app doesn’t save the videos themselves. Instead, it saves their URLs, along with metadata, making it easy to organize, sort, filter, and rediscover videos that might otherwise fall by the wayside.
Play is an excellent example of how purpose-built apps often outshine more general solutions. There are many ways to save a YouTube video for later, from a bare URL pasted in a text file to a bookmarking or read later app. YouTube has its own solution, too, with its Watch Later playlist. Each solution I’ve tried in the past works to a degree, but by focusing solely on the experience of saving YouTube links for watching later, Play outshines them all.
Adding a video using Play’s action extension.
Any app that’s designed to store media for later needs multiple ways to get content into the app easily, which Play excels at. The app includes an action extension on iOS and iPadOS that allows you to tag video URLs with previously-saved tags or a new one before saving the video to Play. The inline tagging is a nice touch because that initial bit of organization added in the moment goes a long way toward making it easier to navigate videos in the app later.
You can also add YouTube URLs inside Play for iOS and iPadOS one at a time or in batches. The advantage of adding URLs one at a time is that the app detects if a YouTube link is on the clipboard and automatically opens the view for assigning tags and adding the video. All versions of the app also support adding videos using drag and drop, with the iPhone and iPad allowing multiple videos to be dragged into the app at once. You can add videos using Shortcuts too, which I’ll cover below.
Play can handle long lists of videos with no problem.
The Mac version of the app works a little differently. You can add one or more videos at a time, but there’s no auto-detection of links on the clipboard, although I understand that the feature is slated for an upcoming release of the app. Another difference with the Mac version of the app is that it doesn’t include a share or Safari extension, which would be a nice addition.
Play’s list and grid layouts.
Play’s main iPhone and iPad UI offers a choice between grid and list views. The grid view includes each video’s thumbnail, title, and channel name, while the list view is more compact and adds the date you saved the video, the date it was published, and its length. On the Mac, the choice is between a compact table view and list views, with table view resembling the list view in the Finder.
The Mac’s table view.
Regardless of the view you pick, you have multiple options for sorting and filtering your videos. You can sort by Date Added, Date Published, Title, or Channel, ordered by newest or oldest first. You can also toggle whether watched videos are visible and filter the list by any of the tags you’ve assigned to videos. Watched videos that remain visible are identifiable by the fact that they appear dimmed compared to unwatched ones. Play’s main UI also offers search by Title, Channel, or Tag. Overall, the search, filtering, and sorting options make navigating a large collection of YouTube videos significantly easier than any other app I’ve used.
Play includes powerful filtering and sorting options.
Your collection of videos syncs across devices via iCloud, and you have the option in settings of automatically marking videos you view as watched or deleting them. From settings, you can also batch process videos, selecting multiple videos for tagging, marking as watched or new, or deleting.
On the iPad, you’ve got four widget options.
The app features three sizes of widgets on the iPhone and Mac and four on the iPad. I’ve enjoyed keeping a large widget with my latest saved videos on my iPad’s Home Screen. The widgets are editable, allowing you to alter the accent color of the widget and apply filters and sorting to the videos displayed. However, if you’re running iOS or iOS 15.4 beta 1 or macOS 12.3 beta 1, there’s a bug that currently prevents you from editing the widgets. (Update: iOS and iPadOS 15.4 and macOS 12.3, beta 2 fix this issue. As a result, Play’s widgets are now editable when running the latest developer beta).
Play features a terrific set of Shortcuts actions.
Last but by no means least, Play supports Shortcuts on all platforms. One of my gripes about many apps that save links or other media for later is that they tend to be very good at getting media into their apps but not out again. Play excels at both, making it an excellent choice for customized video workflows.
Play includes the following actions:
- Add Video
- Create Tag
- Add Tag
- Remove Tag
- Mark as Watched
- Get Video
It’s a powerful selection, of which Get Video is my favorite because it includes many of the filtering options I mentioned above as parameters. Not only can you retrieve videos based on their title, but you can also specify a channel, how the videos are sorted, which tags are included, and the date before or after which they’re added to the app. That action alone provides an enormous amount of flexibility when combined with other apps.
Play working hand-in-hand with Downie.
There’s an added bonus on the Mac: Support for Charlie Monroe’s excellent YouTube downloading utility, Downie. With a right-click on any saved video in Play or by pressing ⌘D, Downie is launched, and the video begins to download. I love this feature because it makes downloading videos for watching later on my Apple TV dead simple.
I, along with Club MacStories+ members have been putting Play through its paces for almost two months as part of the Beta Beat channel of our Discord community, and what’s struck me about the app is how quickly it has become a staple across all of my devices. It has removed the temptation of interrupting what I’m doing to watch a video I come across because I know I’ll have a hard time finding it again later. Instead, I send it to Play, revisiting it later when I’m enjoying some downtime.
Play is available on the App Store as a one-time universal purchase for $1.99.
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For the past seven years, Six Colors’ Jason Snell has put together an ‘Apple report card’ – a survey that aims to assess the current state of Apple “as seen through the eyes of writers, editors, developers, podcasters, and other people who spend an awful lot of time thinking about Apple”.
The 2021 installment of the Six Colors report card is now out, and you can find an excellent summary of all the submitted comments along with charts featuring average scores for different categories on Six Colors.
I wasn’t able to participate in last year’s report card, but I’m happy Jason invited me back to share some thoughts and comments on what Apple did in 2021. As it turns out…I had a lot of opinions I wanted to share this year, particularly about the Mac. This may be surprising coming from me – a longtime iPad Pro user – but I’m incredibly fascinated by Apple’s new direction with the Mac platform and how it’s changed thanks to Apple silicon.
I’ll have much more to share about macOS and the M1 Max MacBook Pro I’ve been testing in the near future. In the meantime, I’ve prepared the full text of my answers to the Six Colors report card, which you can find below. Once again, I recommend reading the whole thing on Six Colors to get the broader context of all the participants in the survey.
Mac How would you rate Apple’s performance in the Mac in 2021? Consider new Mac models, the Apple Silicon transition, new macOS versions, and anything else you deem relevant. 5 is best, 1 is worst. ⇾ 4
Comment on the Mac The greatest compliment I can pay to Apple’s renewed approach to the Mac is that, for the first time in a decade, they got an iPad user like myself interested in the Mac again.
While I was intrigued by the first-generation Apple Silicon computers but not to the point of feeling like I was missing out on something, the new MacBook Pros are the kind of generational leap that is too important and groundbreaking to ignore – even if macOS hasn’t been my operating system of choice for years. This isn’t to say I plan on switching from the iPad Pro as my primary computer; however, the speed, battery life, incredible performance, and fantastic display of the new MacBook Pro is helping me rediscover the Mac in a way I didn’t think possible a few years ago.
Compared to when I left the Mac years ago, the platform I found is one where there’s greater parity of features and apps with iOS and iPadOS, which allows me to seamlessly switch between working on the iPad and Mac without feeling like I have to learn a new idiom or reset my expectations every time. Years ago, my problem was finding iPad counterparts of established Mac apps; now, my priority is making sure there are Mac versions of the iPad apps I use on a daily basis. Such is the ecosystem Apple has built up over the past decade.
The most important app that I can now access on the Mac is, unsurprisingly, Shortcuts. I’m thrilled by the arrival of Shortcuts on macOS and Apple’s commitment to it as the future of automation, but the first version of the app is also a symptom of larger problems underlying macOS: software quality of apps and limitations of SwiftUI. I understand the desire to “start fresh” with a new Shortcuts app for Mac by also rewriting the whole thing in SwiftUI, but that technical decision resulted in a plethora of bugs that continue to affect the app on all platforms for new and existing users – including those who had no issues whatsoever with Shortcuts in iOS 14. It’s almost as if launching Shortcuts on the Mac made the app worse than before for everyone else.
I’m optimistic that Apple is aware of these issues and working to resolve them with an accelerated timeline (the current developer beta of macOS Monterey already features an improved Shortcuts app), but none of this should have happened in the first place, and I hope this story of “dogfooding” serves as a wake-up call at Apple about the longstanding problems and limits of SwiftUI. I should also mention the mysterious disappearance of Universal Control from macOS Monterey – a sign that Apple still hasn’t perfected the art of estimating which features announced at WWDC will make it by year’s end.
iPhone How would you rate Apple’s performance on the iPhone in 2021? ⇾ 3
Comment on the iPhone The new iPhone is…fine? By this, I don’t mean to sound like one of those people who claim that 2021 was a “boring” year because we got an “S model” of the new iPhone. What I mean is that I personally only care about two of the new features in the iPhone 13 Pro lineup: battery life, which is outstanding on the 13 Pro Max, and the ProMotion display, which I love. Everything else is either not meant for me or not my taste.
I dislike the colors of the iPhone 13 Pro, and I don’t understand why we can’t get a pure black iPhone or an iPhone Pro with more fun and vibrant colors. I have no idea what do with Cinematic Mode, ProRes video, and Photographic Styles, but I’m glad they exist for other people. I can’t tell if the new chip is faster than before because I don’t perform CPU-intensive tasks on my iPhone or play 3D games on it. Macro photography is neat, but I’m not going outside much these days, and there’s only so many macro shots of your dog’s nose I can capture. The camera improvements with 3x optical zoom and better low light performance are good, but – at least for me – not revolutionary. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I had to double-check what was new in the iPhone 13 Pro on Apple.com.
Part of me also wonders if maybe this is a software problem? iOS 15 is, by and large, an addendum to iOS 14 that didn’t bring any meaningful changes to the features that made iOS 14 so popular and fun. Is it time for the iPhone to get more multitasking options, customization features, or more powerful widgets on the Home Screen? Time, and iOS 16, will tell.
iPad How would you rate Apple’s performance on the iPad in 2021? ⇾ 4
Comment on the iPad Speaking of software holding back hardware, there’s no better example of this predicament than the latest generation iPad Pro with an M1 chip. The new iPad Pro, particularly in its 12.9” flavor with Liquid Retina XDR display, is a beautiful, lightweight, fast, modular computer and the best iteration of this form factor to date. At the same time, the new iPad Pro is more of the same that doesn’t really unlock anything new in terms of “pro” computing despite its M1 SoC and adoption of Thunderbolt 4. As I argued in my review, iPadOS 15 brought some welcome updates for power users in terms of keyboard integration and multi-window management, but it didn’t add any major new functionalities: it only refined the iPad’s existing foundation. Widgets on the Home Screen are nice, but their lack of inline interactivity is in direct opposition to the ” pro” nature of the iPad Pro. So, once again, it still feels like we’re waiting for the iPad Pro’s next shoe to drop. Is it proper integration with external displays? System-wide access to shortcuts modeled after macOS Monterey? A more desktop-like Home Screen? More options for picking window sizes in Split View and Slide Over? We’ll have to see at WWDC.
In my opinion, what saves the iPad line in 2021 is the arrival of the redesigned iPad mini. I love it. By adopting the iPad Pro’s industrial design with no Home button and smaller bezels, Apple was able to make the iPad mini’s display bigger but the overall device smaller, all while bringing the device into the modern era of iPadOS gestural multitasking. It doesn’t matter that the iPad mini doesn’t have a mini-LED display or a Magic Keyboard; at least for now, I love it as it is, and it’s become my favorite “consumption” computer for watching videos, reading, and listening to music. I’m glad Apple decided to revive this product in 2021; I just hope we won’t have to wait three years for another update.
Apple Watch How would you rate Apple’s performance on the Apple Watch in 2021? ⇾ 2
Wearables (including Apple Watch) How would you rate Apple’s performance in Wearables overall in 2021? ⇾ 3
Comment on Wearables AirPods Pro, which are the wireless earbuds I use, were not updated in 2021, and I’m still skeptical about the redesigned AirPods 3 – at least based on reactions I’ve seen from people close to me who were previous AirPods 2 users. The new shape doesn’t work for them, and I’m intrigued to see how this story will evolve over time. On the other hand, I was surprised by how much I liked the sound and design of the Beats Fit Pro.
The Apple Watch Series 7 is the definition of a boring update that I only purchased because I wanted to sell my Apple Watch Series 6 and switch to a base model aluminum Watch without cellular. The screen is slightly bigger, there is a QWERTY keyboard, which is actually kind of nice, and there’s support for fast charging. That’s it. Meanwhile, watchOS is still infuriatingly limited when it comes to watch face personalization and updates to older watch faces and complications. The Apple Watch Series 7 gets the job done, but if I weren’t selling my old Watch, I wouldn’t have bought it. I can’t really tell I’ve upgraded to a new Watch.
Apple TV (hardware/OS) How would you rate Apple’s performance on Apple TV hardware and tvOS in 2021? ⇾ 3
Comment on Apple TV If you were to ask me to recall what’s new in tvOS 15 off the top of my head, I don’t think I’d be able to answer that. The ability to see HomeKit cameras on the big screen maybe? The redesigned video player?
None of this matters for me because Apple did the one thing I wanted to see in TV hardware, and they did it extremely well: they redesigned the Siri remote and brought back physical buttons. Saying that a new TV remote had a positive, meaningful impact on my daily life may sound like an exaggeration, but given the amount of TV we watch in these pandemic times, it absolutely isn’t. I love that I can easily change volume with physical buttons or navigate the tvOS UI with a clickwheel. I bought three new Siri remotes in 2021 and placed them everywhere I have an Apple TV.
Is it weird to love a TV remote? Is this love the result of how much I fundamentally despised the old one?
But seriously, what’s new in tvOS 15?
Services How would you rate Apple’s performance in services in 2021? ⇾ 4
Comment on services Of all the services I’m supposed to grade here, I do not use (either because I can’t or don’t want to) Apple News+, Apple Fitness+, or Apple Card, and I don’t have any particular thoughts about AppleCare. However, I think Apple did a good job expanding Apple Arcade to include classic games and ‘App Store greats’ – basically using game preservation as a way to build a back catalogue of content, which is clever – and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the evolution of Apple TV+. I enjoyed season 2 of Ted Lasso (despite its false and distasteful start) and season 2 of For All Mankind, and I loved Foundation. Apple Music had a pretty quiet year with no major changes in the iPhone and iPad app, which is why I find myself more excited about Apple TV+ these days.
A lot of people in our community dislike Apple’s transformation into a hardware company that also sells services for recurring revenue; I think it’s fun, and I like how you can mix and match the services you subscribe to and unlock different experiences on Apple platforms based on your needs and preferences. If an audiobook service is next, that’s likely another one I’ll subscribe to.
HomeKit/Home How would you rate Apple’s performance in HomeKit/home tech in 2021? ⇾ 1
Comment on HomeKit/Home automation At the moment, Apple does not have a Home strategy.
They have a Home app, and they have a HomePod mini, which is “mini” in comparison to…nothing since the original, regular-size HomePod was discontinued. At this point, it’s fair to say that Apple is merely the maker of a HomeKit API and aggregation dashboard (the Home app). If Apple wants to compete with Amazon and take back control of the home from the Echos of the world, they need to make more hardware, and they need to make it fast. And that’s not even to mention the clunky and outdated design of the Home app, the lack of interactive HomeKit widgets on iOS, or absence of Home complications on the Watch. I hope we see any kind of new story from Apple regarding the Home in 2022.
Overall reliability of Apple’s hardware How would you rate the overall reliability of Apple’s hardware in 2021? ⇾ 5
Apple software quality How would you rate the overall quality of Apple’s software, including operating systems, bundled apps, and sold apps, in 2021? ⇾ 4
Comment on software quality See my notes above about Shortcuts on all platforms. I don’t have anything else to add, but I want to mention how surprised I was to see how well Apple handled the criticism surrounding Safari in the iOS/iPadOS 15 beta and iterated on it quickly.
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Genius Scan makes scanning and managing documents with an iPhone or iPad simple, fast, and efficient. The app works the way you do and includes a flexible set of powerful, modern tools that are always with you. Its scanning engine is fast and accurate, delivering crisp, clear scans on the go, using your device’s camera or by picking images from the app’s system file picker, your photo library, or as part of a custom shortcut.
Just place a document in front of your device’s camera. Genius Scan has advanced edge detection that quickly picks out the page against its background, using powerful AI and cropping multiple scans and gathering them into a single PDF for sharing or archiving. The app’s scanning algorithms also clean up artifacts, shadows, and unclean edges, to give you fantastic results every time.
Rescanning is easy too. There’s no need to rescan an entire document from scratch because Genius Scan lets you delete or replace individual pages with a few taps. It’s a workflow that’s as intuitive as it is efficient.
Genius Scan features highly accurate optical character recognition, enabling full-text searching of your scans and the ability to copy the text for use elsewhere. The app also supports machine learning-based file naming, Shortcuts, extensive sharing options, Split View and Slide Over on the iPad, and much more. There’s a big update coming soon too!
Used by everyone from students to doctors and pilots, Genius Scan offers pricing to fit all needs. Genius Scan Basic is free and fully functional with no watermarks, scanning limits, third-party ads, or tracking. Genius Scan+ unlocks background uploading support to cloud services like Dropbox and Google Drive, OCR, locking the app with Touch ID, PDF encryption, and smart document naming for just $7.99. Also, a Genius Cloud subscription adds document sync and backup for peace of mind for $2.99/month or $29.99/year.
So download Genius Scan today, to support these independent, honest, privacy-conscious developers and put the App Store’s best scanner in your pocket.
Our thanks to Genius Scan for sponsoring MacStories this week.
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This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico and John cover their first joint Unwind pick, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, plus MacStories highlights.
Federico and John’s Joint Pick:
- Pokémon Legends: Arceus
- More on this week’s pick:
- Pokémon Legends: Arceus Reviews Are Calling It The Franchise’s Best (And Messiest) Entry In Years
- In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pokémon are finally mysterious again
- Pokémon Legends: Arceus Sold 1.43 Million Units In Japan In Just Three Days
MacStories Rewind
- CARROT 5.5 Debuts Redesigned Weather Maps with Expanded Customization Options
- Preserve and Play the Original Wordle for Decades with WordleForever
Follow us on Twitter * Federico Viticci * John Voorhees
Follow us on Instagram * Federico Viticci * John Voorhees
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This week on AppStories, we look back at the MacStories Starter Pack coverage last week, digging into the themes and details of each of the stories we wrote and the ways you can incorporate everything into your own workflows.
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, a little behind the scenes of the MacStories Starter Pack, along with a detailed discussion of the bug fixes and other changes to Shortcuts in iOS and iPadOS 15.3 and our wishes for the app’s future.
→ Source: appstories.net
Playing the original Wordle offline with WordleForever.
Update: It appears that WordleForever is only supported on iOS/iPadOS 15.4 at the moment, which are available as public betas. I was not aware of the fact that older versions of iOS/iPadOS had a bug in the Shortcuts app that prevented WordleForever from working properly. If you want to play with WordleForever now, you’ll have to install iOS/iPadOS 15.4.
Like many others over the past week, when I saw the news that Wordle had been acquired by The New York Times, I immediately felt a mix of two feelings: I was genuinely happy (and still am!) for Wordle creator Josh Wardle, who managed to turn a simple web game into a successful venture; and I was concerned The New York Times would inevitably ruin the beauty and simplicity of the original game. And I still am.
So in the spirit of game preservation (a topic I care deeply about) and out of skepticism regarding the future of Wordle as a NYT product, I teamed up with Finn Voorhees to create WordleForever, a shortcut that lets you back up the entire Wordle game offline – on your device – using Apple’s Shortcuts app so you can keep playing the game for the next few decades. With WordleForever, you can put the original Wordle on your iPhone or iPad Home Screen and play the original game (with the same words as everyone else) for years to come.
WordleForever is made possible by the fact that the original Wordle consists of an HTML page and a JavaScript file containing thousands of words the game will use in the future. That’s all there is to it. My shortcut doesn’t do anything wild or shady behind the scenes; it simply downloads the two files that are publicly accessible at the following addresses by anyone with a web browser:
- https://powerlanguage.co.uk/wordle/ (HTML source)
- https://powerlanguage.co.uk/wordle/main.e65ce0a5.js (JS script and word database)
For those curious: the entire Wordle database of words is contained in the aforementioned JS file. Here is a screenshot of what the word list looks like. (I blurred future words to avoid spoilers.)
Thanks to Finn’s help, I was able to figure out how to put the JavaScript code inline within the original Wordle HTML. After assembling a single string of HTML text, Shortcuts then saves everything to a Wordle.html file in iCloud Drive/Shortcuts. The game is then played thanks to Apple’s ‘Show Web Page’ action, which loads the Wordle.html file from the Files app and presents it as a local webpage on your iPhone or iPad. If you’ve ever saved a webpage as an .html file on your Mac and previewed it offline using Safari or Google Chrome, this is the same system, only done with Shortcuts.
The file saved by WordleForever in the Files app.
You can see all the actions that power WordleForever in a single screenshot:
How WordleForever works.
The first time you run WordleForever, you’ll be asked to download the original game to the Files app. You have to do this only once. After that, you’ll be able to play Wordle inside Shortcuts or, better yet, add the WordleForever shortcut to your Home Screen as an icon and play the game directly from the Home Screen:
The initial setup process for WordleForever.
When you install WordleForever, you’ll obviously lose your existing progress and streaks from the regular Wordle website. However, thanks to Apple’s ‘Show Web Page’ action, you’ll be able to start a new streak and monitor progress for the offline version of the game going forward. As you can see in my screenshots, I have a new streak going in WordleForever and I can even use the original sharing functionality of Wordle.
Unfortunately, it appears that a bug is preventing the ‘Copy’ button from working in the share sheet of WordleForever right now; however, as you can see in the image at the top of this article, you can share results with the Messages app, copy results there, and paste them elsewhere. For example, you could paste them in my WordleBot shortcut to share more accessible Wordle scores on social media.
You can copy results from WordleForever via the Messages extension in the share sheet right now. Then, you can share them with WordleBot (right) if you want to.
Because WordleForever is the original Wordle game, you’ll get access to the same words as everyone else playing the game. In my case, this means I can tap the WordleForever icon on my Home Screen and get a new word to guess every day past midnight.
We created WordleForever for personal use only, and we’re not alone: given Wordle’s open nature as a website that anyone can access and inspect, a number of projects have popped up recently that aim to preserve the original game’s database of words, aesthetic, and intuitive mechanics. For instance, the original game can also be played via the Internet Archive already.
Like others, I hope that the new owners of Wordle won’t ruin the game; like others, I’ve also learned my lesson with such things on the Internet before, which is why I created WordleForever. With this shortcut, you’ll be able to play Wordle’s collection of thousands of words for years to come. That is, assuming the Shortcuts app will still be around or that you’ll still want to play this game.
You can download WordleForever for free below and find it in the MacStories Shortcuts Archive.
WordleForeverWordleForever lets you play the original Wordle game by Josh Wardle for as long as you want by downloading an offline copy of the HTML webpage on your device. Because Wordle is an HTML webpage with a single JavaScript file, WordleForever only needs to download these two files to keep playing the game for a few decades, completely offline.
Get the shortcut here.
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CARROT Weather 5.5 is out with a focus on weather maps. The entire maps UI has been redesigned and expanded with the same sort of deep customization options found throughout the rest of the app. It’s an excellent update that’s all about visual design, so get ready for a bunch of screenshots.
Watching the rain sweep across the Chicago area.
The app’s precipitation map, which opens by default the first time you open the maps feature, includes a toggle at the top of the screen for switching between the current conditions and a forecast of the next several hours. There’s a new eyedropper button on the map that activates the Inspector tool too. Tap it, and crosshairs appear in the center of the map view, along with the current rate of precipitation at that location, which updates as you drag the map around under the crosshairs. With the Inspector tool, you can very quickly get a sense of things like precipitation rates for an approaching storm.
CARROT Weather 5.5 includes data from individual radar stations, a guide to understanding their data, and an Inspector tool for precise location-based measurements.
If you want to see the readings from individual weather radar stations, tap the radio transmitter button on the map. As you tap on radars on the map, you’ll get a view of what that station is reporting. Fortunately, developer Brian Mueller has also included an in-app guide to explain how the stations work and how to interpret the data.
There are six total map styles.
There are a total of three map styles to choose from: three light and three dark themes that can be displayed on a round or flat Earth. Picking the round option and zooming out will give you a bird’s eye view of the entire globe, while the flat option is a projection-style 2D map.
A few of CARROT Weather’s many map options.
In addition to the precipitation map, CARROT Weather can display five other maps that can be accessed using the Map Options button in the lower right-hand corner of an iPhone’s screen, including:
- Temperature
- Rain Totals
- Snow Depth
- Wind
- Humidity
Each map supports multiple layers of additional data that vary depending on the map. For example, the Precipitation map has layers for radar and precipitation, weather warnings and watches, storm cells, lightning strikes, tropical storms, cloud cover, and pressure fronts. The other layers also support the Inspector tool. The opacity of layers can be adjusted, and for the Precipitation map, three different color palettes are available. The maps can also be added to your Home Screen in small, medium, and large sizes on the iPhone, plus extra-large on the iPad.
CARROT Weather 5.5 has three radar themes to pick from.
As I write this, a potentially significant snowstorm is bearing down on the Chicago area where I live. Winter Weather Alerts have been issued, schools have been preemptively closed, and I’m queuing up some podcasts to listen to as I dig out tomorrow after I publish this. The timing couldn’t be better to test CARROT Weather’s maps, which have been impressive. The maps load quickly, the animations are smoother than ever, and combined with the Inspector tool, it’s easy to quickly get a sense of how soon a storm will arrive at your location and how much rain or snow it will dump on you.
Most of the map layers are part of the CARROT Weather Premium subscription, while individual radar stations, the Inspector tool, and the weather map widgets are included with a Premium Ultra subscription. CARROT Weather 5.5 is available to download from the App Store.
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Unite 4 for macOS can turn any website into an app for your Mac. The app uses a lightweight, WebKit-powered browser as a backend, allowing you to easily create isolated, customizable apps from any site. It’s a terrific way to get those sites you visit every day out of a tab and into a dedicated, standalone app.
Unite 4 has dozens of features and customization options that make it a terrific alternative to resource-hogging Electron apps or uninspired Mac Catalyst implementations. The apps you create are easy to set up, fast, and only limited by your imagination:
- Create dedicated apps for your favorite streaming services like Netflix and Disney+
- Save your laptop’s battery by using Unite for Slack, Discord, and WhatsApp with full notification support
- Listen to music services like Apple Music or Spotify
- Enjoy podcasts with Overcast
- Organize your notes in a dedicated Roam Research app
- Never again lose your Figma design work among a sea of Safari tabs
- Limit the ability of apps like Facebook to track you across sites
- Check your Instagram feed
- Track your finances with Robinhood
No matter which sites you use, Unite can turn them into apps for your Mac with customizable colors, an icon that fits the version of macOS you use, dark mode, support for the macOS Keychain, floating windows, and even menu bar-based apps that appear with a single click.
This week only, MacStories readers can get 20% off when you purchase Unite 4 at bzgapps.com/macstories or by using the promo code ‘MacStories’ at checkout.
Unite is free to try for 14 days and is available as part of a Setapp subscription too.
Download Unite 4 today and turn your favorite websites into your favorite apps too.
Our thanks to Unite 4 for sponsoring MacStories this week.
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This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico shares his favorite season of Brooklyn 99 and Horizon Zero Dawn, which he’s been playing in advance of the release of Horizon Forbidden West, and John explains why Ghost of Tsushima, Director’s Cut is so good on the PlayStation 5.
Federico’s Pick:
- Brooklyn 99 (Final Season)
- Horizon Zero Dawn
John’s Pick:
- Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut
MacStories Rewind
- 2022 MacStories Starter Pack
- AppStories, Episode 257: New Apps We Are Trying or Revisiting
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Editor’s Note: Taking Apple Music Discovery into Your Own Hands is part of the MacStories Starter Pack, a collection of ready-to-use shortcuts, apps, workflows, and more that we’ve created to help you get the most out of your Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
Apple Music’s tools for discovering new music could be better. A lot has been written about the problems, which I’m not going to rehash here. Instead, I’ve got a long list of tips, apps, and workflows you can use to discover new music now.
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I’ve collected these apps and tips over many thousands of hours of listening and written about some of them here and for Club MacStories members before. However, this is the first time I’ve gathered and expanded those tips and workflows in one comprehensive story.
Apple Music Playlists Apple Music offers a mix of algorithmic and curated playlists. Of the two types, I prefer Apple’s curated playlists. Even if you’re an album-centric listener, it pays to listen to a selection of these curated playlists now and then because they’re the best way Apple Music currently has to discover new artists.
Apple regularly updates its curated playlists with new music, so they’re worth revisiting periodically to see what’s new. The playlists I listen to tend to add a few songs every week, which is nice, but I wish that at least some of the curated playlists turned over more quickly. After I’ve listened to the few new songs on a favorite playlist, the rest of it feels stale fast. Still, returning to a core list of playlists every few weeks is one way of the ways I discover a lot of new music.
The best way that I’ve found to find playlists that match your tastes is to head to one of Apple Music’s genre sections, which can be accessed by heading to the bottom of the Browse section and choosing Browse by Category. You’ll find a good mix of playlists on each genre’s page. Also, be sure to check out playlists curated by Apple Radio DJs because the ones I’ve tried have all been very good.
Nothing beats exploring Apple Music’s playlists yourself, but I’ve collected a handful of my favorites below in case you’re curious. My tastes tend toward Alternative and Indie/Indie Pop, and if that’s your thing, you might like these too:
- ALT CTRL
- New in Alternative
- Breaking Alternative
- Untitled
- Matt Wilkinson’s Playlist
- Superbloom
MusicHarbor MusicHarbor.
MusicHarbor by Marcos Tanaka, which was the MacStories Selects App of the Year in 2020, is an app we’ve covered multiple times. The app scans your Apple Music or Spotify library and lets you pick the artists you want to follow. Then, MusicHarbor collects the latest and upcoming releases of the artists you follow along with music videos and organizes them in chronological feeds. It’s a fantastic way to keep on top of new releases and know when new music is coming.
Bookmarks are a great way to save new releases for later.
New music is usually released on Fridays, so I make it a habit to check MusicHarbor most Friday mornings as I’m getting ready to start my day. Browsing through the releases, I’ll open what looks interesting in Apple Music to build a queue for the morning. Other times, I’ll take advantage of MusicHarbor’s bookmarking feature, which keeps interesting releases from getting lost among other releases. Alternatively, you can populate a designated MusicHarbor playlist with new releases.
Adding upcoming releases to my calendar.
I also have a calendar dedicated to upcoming media releases, which I use with MusicHarbor. With a couple of clicks, the app adds an all-day event to my New Releases calendar with an Apple Music link in the notes field, so it’s easy to find the album when it becomes available.
Neptunes Neptunes.
I recently wrote about Neptunes, a menu bar app that can display current track information in your menu bar and integrates with Last.fm. The app also has a handy set of global hotkeys that can be set for certain features. The hotkey that I’ve found most useful marks tracks as ‘Loved’ on both Apple Music and Last.fm. I’ve tied that hotkey to a button on my Stream Deck, so as I listen to Apple Music and hear something I like, I can tap the ‘Loved’ button. The workflow serves two purposes. First, marking the song as loved in Last.fm helps tune its recommendations. Second, the designation serves as a flag that I use in Marvis Pro to surface newly discovered music, which I’ll cover in a moment.
Last.fm Some recent Last.fm recommendations.
Last.fm has been around a long time. I’ve used the service on and off for years, but until last December when Federico piqued my interest in it again, I hadn’t used Last.fm since 2015. One of the problems I had with the service in the past was the lack of support for the service in third-party apps, which has changed. With Marvis Pro’s support of Last.fm on iOS and iPadOS and Neptunes’ support on the Mac, I finally had the tools I needed for the service to track most of my listening history.
For the first couple of months that I used Last.fm again, its recommendations were a dated time warp of songs from 2015 when I last used it heavily. After about eight weeks of regular use, though, the recommendations on Last.fm’s website have caught up with my current tastes and are fantastic. I don’t listen to music on Last.fm, but I enjoy browsing its recommendations periodically throughout the week and picking a few artists to try in Apple Music. It’s been a solid addition to my suite of music discovery tools and is effortless, thanks to Neptunes and Marvis Pro.
Marvis Pro and My Revisit View Marvis Pro.
Marvis Pro is a third-party Apple Music player that we’ve covered here and on Club MacStories. The app’s design is fantastic, it integrates with Last.fm, and, best of all, it’s highly customizable. Marvis is organized around a Home view that is divided into customizable sections. Using an extensive set of filtering and sorting options, Marvis lets you create sections that are essentially smart playlists.
The rules that fuel my Revisit section.
I’ve got several sections in Marvis, but the one I use most often for music discovery is called Revisit. As you can see from the screenshot above, Revisit resurfaces music from the last 18 months that I’ve marked as loved but have played fewer than five times. As I listen to my favorite playlists and hear something new that I like, I hit the ‘Love’ button on my Stream Deck, populating the Revisit section of Marvis Pro with new music. Then as the section’s name says, I revisit those songs on Marvis Pro, shuffling through the list and often exploring the albums from which the tracks were pulled. My Revisit list has made a big difference to my setup because one-off songs that I like no longer disappear into my huge pool of ‘loved’ songs never to surface again.
Apple Music Channel in News Apple Music on Apple News.
Finally, I should mention a hidden gem in Apple News. The service includes an Apple Music channel that has a surprisingly low profile. You can find a link to the channel at the bottom of Apple Music’s Browse section or by searching for ‘Apple Music’ in News. The channel includes an excellent selection of feature stories covering artists, their albums, recaps of the week on Apple Music, and more.
I follow sites like Chorus.fm and Pitchfork’s album reviews on RSS, which is where I get most of my music news and reviews, but the Apple Music channel is an excellent Apple Music-specific supplement to those sites.
What’s Next? Last.fm’s API isn’t easy to use, but it opens up some interesting music discovery possibilities.
Like many others, I find Apple Music frustrating to use, especially when I want to listen to something new. I’m happy with my current strategies for finding new music, but I also know they could be substantially improved with better tools built directly into Apple Music itself. Barring that, one area that I’m currently exploring is combining Last.fm’s API with Shazam’s music recognition and perhaps other open APIs to extract Last.fm’s excellent similar artist and music recommendations data from the service using Shortcuts, so I can have that information delivered to me on demand without visiting Last.fm’s website.
That’s it from me for our first-ever MacStories Starter Pack. I hope you enjoyed the shortcuts, workflows, app roundups, and review. It’s been fun for us to unpack our annual app experiments in one consolidated and organized event. We’ve already heard from a lot of readers in the Club MacStories+ Discord community about how they’re implementing what we’ve shared and are modifying all to suit their own needs, which is fantastic to see. If you’ve come up with an interesting remix of something we’ve shared, get in touch. We’d love to hear about it.
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Apple has just published its financial results for Q1 2022. The company posted revenue of $123.95 billion. Apple CEO Tim Cook said:
“This quarter’s record results were made possible by our most innovative lineup of products and services ever,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We are gratified to see the response from customers around the world at a time when staying connected has never been more important. We are doing all we can to help build a better world — making progress toward our goal of becoming carbon neutral across our supply chain and products by 2030, and pushing forward with our work in education and racial equity and justice.”
Expectations for Q1 2022 and the Year-Ago Quarter (Q1 2021) Apple didn’t provide guidance for Q1 2022, but going into today’s earnings call, Yahoo Finance reported the following analyst expectations::
The consensus mark for earnings is currently pegged at $1.89 per share, unchanged over the past 30 days and indicating 12.5% growth from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter.
Graphical Visualization After the break, we’ve compiled a graphical visualization of Apple’s Q4 2021 financial results.
Details and Analysis from Twitter
Apple revenue pops 11% to $123.9 billion, Cook says supply chain improving https://t.co/p6Rzp90clU
— CNBC (@CNBC) January 27, 2022
LM: No quarterly guidance but some insights: Solid year-over-year revenue growth and expect a March revenue record despite supply constraints. Revenue growth rate will decline sequentially, partially because there was more channel fill in the March 2021 quarter of iPhone 12.
— MacJournals.com (@macjournals) January 27, 2022
LM: Returning $27 billion to shareholders included around $3B in dividends and over $14B in open-market repurchases of 93M Apple shares.
— MacJournals.com (@macjournals) January 27, 2022
2/3 of Apple Watch buyers are new to the product.
— Horace Dediu (@asymco) January 27, 2022
Apple services margin: 72.4%
— Horace Dediu (@asymco) January 27, 2022
See the new Apple active devices number in context: pic.twitter.com/pLnvsoHywa
— Horace Dediu (@asymco) January 27, 2022
Apple reports 1.8 billion active devices !!!!
— Horace Dediu (@asymco) January 27, 2022
Tim Cook to CNBC on China: “We grew 21% in China, which we’re very proud of. It was an all time revenue record for us in the country … We had a very strong customer response to the iPhone 13 family and in particular, we set a record number of upgraders in China…” (1/2)
— MacJournals.com (@macjournals) January 27, 2022
To summarize:
Revenues grew 11.2%
EPS grew 25%
iPhone grew at 9.2% rate
Mac grew at 25%
Services grew at 24%
Wearables/Home grew at 13% rate
iPad shrank at 14% rate (due to supply constraints/priority allocation to iPhone) pic.twitter.com/XheQrlFzJd— Horace Dediu (@asymco) January 27, 2022
11% growth on that base is astounding. https://t.co/E5wxxFHTf1
— Matt Rosoff (@MattRosoff) January 27, 2022
Apple just released 1Q22 earnings:
$123.9 billion of revenue
$2.10 earnings per share (EPS)My estimates were:
$127.1 billion of revenue
$2.13 EPSI had the highest estimates out there. Consensus was way back at $118B of revenue and $1.88 EPS.
— Neil Cybart (@neilcybart) January 27, 2022
$AAPL Q1 2022:
- Revenue up 11% to $123.9 billion
- Profit up 20% to $34.6 billion
- iPhone up 9%
- Mac up 25%
- iPad down 14%
- Wearables/Home/Accessories sales up 13%
- Services up 24%— Emil Protalinski (@EPro) January 27, 2022
EARNINGS: Apple Q1 EPS $2.10 vs. $1.89 Est.; Q1 Revs. $123.95B vs. $118.66B Est. • $AAPL https://t.co/prBBoqVA6n pic.twitter.com/DB2Ir2TWfM
— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) January 27, 2022
Tim Cook to CNBC: “The last two weeks of the quarter were the best two weeks for iPhone customer demand during the quarter. That’s not odd because that is associated with gift giving, but it bodes well to the momentum …” (1/2)
— MacJournals.com (@macjournals) January 27, 2022
CNBC: Services $19.52B. iPhone $72.6B in revenue. Mac revenues $10.85B. iPad Revenues $7.25B. iPad was the only segment that didn’t beat analyst estimates, and CNBC says Apple says the iPad was severely supply constrained.
— MacJournals.com (@macjournals) January 27, 2022
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Fujitsu iX1300.
Editor’s Note: The Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1300 Is Perfect for Anyone Whose Paperless Workflow Still Start with Paper is part of the MacStories Starter Pack, a collection of ready-to-use shortcuts, apps, workflows, and more that we’ve created to help you get the most out of your Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
I’ve had a couple of different Fujitsu scanners over the years. In the early days, I used my scanner a lot. It helped me cut down on the paper in my life, which was great. However, over time, I found myself using my scanner less and less as banking, taxes, bills, and other paper-heavy areas of life became increasingly digital. As time wore on, and I found myself rarely, if ever, turning to my library of scanned documents, I also realized I didn’t need to scan and keep as much as I’d thought.
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So when Fujitsu sent me their latest ScanSnap iX1300 scanner to try, I was skeptical. I wondered if there was still a place for scanners in the home or whether the many excellent scanning apps available on the iPhone and iPad were good enough. For most people who don’t need to scan more than a few pages of paper ever so often, I think apps or a scanner built into a home printer are adequate. However, if you run a business with workflows that involve paper, you’re working from home in a paper-oriented industry, or you simply find yourself needing to digitize paper documents regularly for whatever other reason, the iX1300 is an excellent choice.
The S1300i is a little smaller, but as a practical matter, you need more space or yere will be paper all over your floor.
What’s fascinating to me about the ix 1300 is that it’s actually slightly bigger than the ScanSnap S1300i model that I already owned, but I would never have guessed it. That’s because the way the two scanners work is quite different, which makes a considerable difference in how much space they demand. However, that’s not the only edge the newer iX1300 has, so let’s take a closer look at what sets it apart from its predecessor.
My older scanner is a little smaller than the iX1300, but I didn’t realize that before comparing them side-by-side because the desk space of each option demands is substantially different. The S1300i takes paper in the top inserted top-down with the front facing the back of the scanner tray. Each page scanned is spat out the front of the device parallel with the surface on which it’s sitting. That means you need enough space for the scanner’s footprint, plus room to collect the pages deposited in front of the scanner. Otherwise, the sheets you scan will be scattered across the floor.
The iX1300 has a similar scanning tray configuration, but you insert the paper top-down facing the front of the scanner. Instead of spitting the scanned pages back at you horizontally on the table the scanner is sitting on, the pages loop back up and collect vertically at the front of the scanner. Here’s a video to show you how it works:
As you can see, the iX1300 is quick, scanning at 30ppm. If you’re scanning dozens of pages, you may feel like you’re waiting, but a handful of pages is finished before you know it.
Frontloading scans works great for one-off thicker items like this Pikachu card.
Another nice feature is that the iX1300 can be fed documents from the front, which is used for thicker documents. I’ve used the front loader to scan passports and driver’s licenses, which the scanner sucks in, scans, and spits back out the front in a couple of seconds. Those aren’t the kind of documents I scan often, but it just so happens that in the 10 weeks or so that I’ve been testing the iX1300, I flew to Europe and had to provide a copy of a driver’s license to my bank, so maybe that kind of scanning is not as unusual as I thought.
Fujitsu doesn’t advertise the iX1300 as a photo scanner. It’s primarily for documents, but I tested it with some old family photos that we wanted to send to a friend too. The pictures were old and faded, so the quality of the scan mattered less than the cleanup I was able to do with Pixelmator Pro. From a scanning standpoint, though, the process was fast and painless.
Uploading important legal documents with ScanSnap Home.
One feature I’ve appreciated more than I expected is the iX1300’s WiFi support. It’s easy to connect the scanner to your WiFi network. Once set up, scans are sent to your Mac, running the ScanSnap app wirelessly. The advantage of WiFi support is flexibility. Although the scanner can be connected using a USB cable, its absence when using the iX1300 in WiFi mode allows you to put it out of reach of your Mac. It’s a small thing, but because I don’t need the scanner daily, I can plug it in an out-of-the-way place where it’s still ready to scan. In contrast, I used to keep the S1300i unplugged and in a drawer, which meant more time to set it up, so I used it less. Now, the iX1300 sits on a bookshelf, plugged in, and ready to go whenever I need it.
Organizing documents with ScanSnap Home.
What’s not substantially improved from my older scanner to this one is the ScanSnap Home app, which gets the job done but pushes its document management system and cloud service a little more than I’d like. That said, ScanSnap Home works well on an M1 Mac, and I haven’t had any trouble managing my documents once they’re saved to my Mac.
The iPad app’s UI won’t win any awards, but it gets the job done.
Scans can be initiated from an iOS or iPadOS device too. The ScanSnap app is very simple, but tap its Scan button, and any document in the iX1300 will immediately begin scanning and be delivered to your iPhone or iPad over WiFi. You can do simple edits like page rotation in the ScanSnap app, but you’re best off using the share sheet to store your scanned documents in Files or another file provider because the ScanSnap app’s storage doesn’t show up in Files.
The ScanSnap iX1300 is currently $280 on Amazon, so it’s a relatively substantial purchase that I wouldn’t suggest anyone make if they only scan a page or two a month. However, if paper documents are still something you need to deal with regularly, the iX1300 is an excellent choice. Especially if you have limited space, such as in a home office, and speed matters to you, this is a much better option than trying to use your iPhone or a clumsy flatbed scanner built into a printer.
The ScanSnap iX1300 comes in black and white and is available from Amazon and other retailers.
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My Save to Matter shortcut.
Editor’s Note: Reverse-Engineering the Matter API and My ‘Save to Matter’ Shortcut is part of the MacStories Starter Pack, a collection of ready-to-use shortcuts, apps, workflows, and more that we’ve created to help you get the most out of your Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
For the past few months, I’ve been enjoying and keeping an eye on the development of Matter, a new read-later service that aims to combine a powerful text parser with elegant design, social discovery features, annotations, and the ability to listen to articles as audio. I’m not one to typically care about the latest VC-backed startup that promises to revolutionize reading articles with social features, but Matter struck me for a few reasons: the app’s reader mode is gorgeous; the ability to annotate articles with highlights is great; and, more importantly, it has the best, most human-sounding text-to-audio conversion engine I’ve ever tested.
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Something else happened a few months ago: Matter introduced an official plugin to sync your article highlights as Markdown notes to Obsidian. Integration with PKM-style apps is a hot trend right now in the modern crop of read-later services (John covered this very topic here), so I wasn’t shocked to see that Matter joined Readwise in supporting Obsidian with a plugin. Something about it piqued my interest though:
If Matter didn’t have a public API, how could the Obsidian plugin even sync to the Matter service?
Obviously, there had to be an API involved behind the scenes, which Matter hadn’t announced yet, but which I could potentially reverse-engineer and integrate with Shortcuts. And that’s exactly what I’ve been doing for the past month.
My experiments with the still-unannounced Matter API have developed on three separate fronts, and I’m going to share the results in three different places:
- Today on MacStories, I’m going to share a one-click shortcut called Save to Matter that lets you save any article to your Matter queue directly from the share sheet or anywhere else on iOS, iPadOS, or macOS without having to use the Matter extension;
- Tomorrow on MacStories Weekly for Club MacStories members, I will share MatterBot, an advanced Matter shortcut that lets you take complete control over your Matter queue with support for exporting annotations as Markdown or even downloading articles as MP3 files;
- Next week for Club MacStories+ and Premier members only, I will share MatterPod, another advanced shortcut that lets you turn your Matter queue into a Matter podcast feed hosted on your own web server.
Before we dive in, I also want to confirm that I privately reached out to the folks at Matter weeks ago about my experiments, and they were cool with me writing about my findings and sharing shortcuts I’ve built for the Matter API.
With that being said, let’s take a look at how you can get started with the Matter API and the Save to Matter shortcut.
Getting Your Matter API Token The most important detail you have to understand about the Matter API is that it’s only officially supported in a limited number of Matter-compatible tools for now. For instance, when you install the Matter Safari extension on a Mac, that extension authenticates you using the Matter API. Or, as I mentioned above, when you install the Obsidian plugin for Matter, that plugin communicates with the Matter API behind the scenes.
For Shortcuts to work with the Matter API, we need an authorization token that is specific to your Matter account. However, there isn’t a page on the Matter website where you can go, log in, and get a token yourself – as is often the case for web services that have a REST API. Which is where Obsidian comes in.
For my Matter shortcuts to work, you will need to have Obsidian and the free Matter plugin installed on your devices. You can find the Matter plugin in the Community Plugins section of Obsidian; once installed and enabled, open the plugin’s settings page in the Obsidian app and you’ll be prompted to authorize the plugin with a QR code. To perform this one-time authorization, open the Matter app on your iPhone or iPad, go to Profile ⇾ Settings ⇾ Connected Accounts ⇾ Obsidian and scan the QR code. The Matter app will authorize the Obsidian plugin, which will start syncing article highlights to a folder in your Obsidian vault.
Once the Matter plugin for Obsidian is set up, it’ll start syncing highlights to your vault.
At this point, while it may not look like it, we have everything we need to start communicating with the Matter API from Shortcuts.
My experiments started by assuming that the Obsidian plugin had to store an authorization token somewhere in the filesystem. My assumption was correct. Located inside the .obsidian/plugins/matter/ folder (all Obsidian vaults store plugins in that hidden directory), you’ll find a data.json file. After the Obsidian plugin has been authorized via the Matter app, the JSON file gets updated with an accessToken key. The value of the key is your private Matter token that can be used to make authenticated calls to the Matter API. But where can we find the proper endpoints to make requests to the Matter API if it hasn’t been announced yet and there’s no documentation for it?
Poking Around the Matter API Once again, I went back to the source code of the Matter plugin for Obsidian, which is available in a GitHub repository here. In the source code for the API, I found this URL:
https://api.getmatter.app/api/v11/library_items/highlights_feed
At that point, I felt like I was getting closer to a solution. I assumed that https://api.getmatter.app/api/v11/ was the base URL for the API, with /library_items/highlights_feed/ being the endpoint to retrieve your article highlights with a GET request. This is where I had to get creative and spend some time trying different ideas until I found what I was looking for. Most modern REST APIs are similar and share a consistent endpoint structure. You make GET requests to retrieve data, and you make POST requests to upload data to an API. I wanted to start by figuring out how I could save a new URL to my Matter account using the API, so I began testing out various potential endpoints with POST requests in Shortcuts. Eventually, I discovered this API endpoint:
https://api.getmatter.app/api/v11/save/
I had my authorization token and the correct API endpoint; all that was missing was the parameter to actually send a URL for an article I wanted to save to my Matter queue. I assumed that the parameter Matter wanted was a url one, so I tested it out in Shortcuts and, sure enough, it worked.
The API call to save URLs to Matter.
With all the pieces in place, it was time to build a shortcut.
Save to Matter The first Matter shortcut I’ve built is called Save to Matter, and it lets you save any link from Safari or other apps directly to Matter using Shortcuts instead of the Matter extension. This also means you can run this shortcut for multiple URLs passed as input (from the share sheet, other shortcuts, Obsidian Shortcut Launcher, or other input sources), and they will all be saved to Matter in one go – making this a nice solution to batch export multiple URLs to Matter directly via the API.
For my Matter shortcuts to work, you’ll need to have Obsidian and the Matter plugin installed. Once again, there is no other way to generate a private Matter API token right now, so Shortcuts always needs to fetch the token generated for Obsidian from the JSON file stored in the plugin sub-directory inside your Obsidian vault. The fact that the token was created for Obsidian doesn’t, well, matter; the token will authenticate any request to the Matter API and it’s specific to your Matter account, so don’t share it with anyone.
The nice thing about this approach is that Shortcuts can fetch the token automatically for you with no manual interaction necessary. Upon installing the shortcut, you’ll be asked to pick the folder of your Obsidian vault in Files/Finder, and that’s it. Using the new Files actions in iOS 15/Monterey, which I have explained in depth here, Shortcuts can retrieve the token stored in the plugin folder for you so you don’t have to do any copy and paste to grab the token yourself. For this to work, however, you will need to have iOS/iPadOS 15.3 or macOS Monterey 12.2 installed.
In iOS/iPadOS 15.3, Shortcuts can read files from hidden folders, like the one where Obsidian stores plugin data.
The rest of the shortcut is just a Repeat with Each loop that takes URLs passed as input to Shortcuts and saves them all to the Matter API. Run the shortcut in Safari’s share sheet for an article you want to save on an iPhone or iPad, and a couple of seconds later, you’ll see an alert saying that the URL was successfully saved to Matter. Open the Matter app, and the article will be there in the queue, waiting for you to read or listen to. It’s simple, secure, fast, and, best of all, doesn’t require interacting with the Matter extension in the share sheet.
Saving articles to Matter.
As I mentioned at the outset, this is only one of the shortcuts I’ve built for the Matter API based on this technique. In tomorrow’s issue of MacStories Weekly for Club MacStories members and in a separate story for Plus and Premier members next week, I’ll share MatterBot and MatterPod, two advanced shortcuts that display your entire Matter article queue and let you create a private podcast feed for your Matter account, respectively.
MatterBot (left) and MatterPod, coming tomorrow and next week to Club MacStories.
Stay tuned for the additional Matter shortcuts I’ll share on Club MacStories. In the meantime, you can download Save to Matter below or in the MacStories Shortcuts Archive and get started with the Matter plugin for Obsidian here.
Save to MatterSave URLs directly to your Matter queue using the Matter API. The shortcut supports saving multiple URLs at once. A Matter API authorization token is required for this shortcut to work.
Get the shortcut here.
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This week on AppStories, Federico and John share a collection of apps they are trying for the first time or revisiting, including email apps, a new Mac launcher, an Apple Music utility, a podcast player, and a read-it-later app.
Subscribe here.
On AppStories+, Apple surprises us with the publication of its interview with Federico about Shortcuts for Mac, plus a conversation about the difficulty of letting go of a project when you get stuck.
→ Source: appstories.net
Editor’s Note: Customizing Your Workflows with Deep Links is part of the MacStories Starter Pack, a collection of ready-to-use shortcuts, apps, workflows, and more that we’ve created to help you get the most out of your Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
In my story yesterday, I covered how I manage links to content I come across every day. Today’s story is also about linking, but it’s not about collecting and processing the content you stumble across. Instead, it’s about creating links between the apps you use to tie your projects and the content related to them together in a cohesive way.
Deep linking between apps isn’t new, but it has seen a resurgence of interest. Part of that seems to be a natural extension of the popularity of internal linking systems in note-taking apps, but it’s also thanks to apps like Hook, the entire purpose of which is to help users link the content inside their apps together more easily.
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When you step back and think about productivity apps, most involve some sort of list. You’ve got lists of messages in your email client, events in your calendar, documents in your text editor, and so on. Those lists, which serve as inboxes for an app’s content, are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, having everything consolidated and organized into lists is valuable. That’s true of the kinds of links I wrote about yesterday, but even more so for things like upcoming appointments and tasks. Apps like calendars and task managers exist because there are better solutions than a pile of scribbled notes to yourself.
It’s easy to get lost in a long task list when you should only be focused on the task at hand.
On the other hand, though, any list has the power to distract you the moment you open it. You go looking for one thing but end up browsing everything or following up on something else. Before you know it, you barely remember why you opened the app in the first place. For me, the trick to staying on task when I open any app full of distractions is to find a way to go straight to what I need, bypassing the distractions entirely with the help of a deep link.
Linking to Gmail in Mimestream.
Email is one of the best examples of this sort of setup. As I explained in my story about my email setup on Monday, getting information out of whatever email client I’m using and into Obsidian where I can integrate it with my own notes helps keep my inbox under control. When I pull text out of an email message and paste it into my notes, I do my best to get everything I need. However, when there’s a back and forth conversation about a topic, it can be valuable to go back and see the entire context of the conversation, which I can do by linking to the original message thread.
A Bright Future for Deep Linking Not every app supports this sort of linking, but fortunately, many of the best do. Below, you’ll find a list of apps to get you started that are some of my favorites. There are many others, of course, but these are all top-notch choices to give you a feel for what is possible. Wherever possible, I’ve suggested apps that work on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac because, like apps, deep links don’t do you much good if you work across multiple platforms, but your links only work on one.
A draft of this story linked to two Safari webpages.
The single exception that I want to mention at the outset is Hook. The Mac-only app can create links between content in apps when you invoke its global hotkey. For some apps, this works even though the app’s developer doesn’t explicitly offer a URL scheme to create deep links.
The other powerful feature of Hook is its ability to create bidirectional links between multiple apps. I can link an email message in my task manager without Hook, but when I follow that link back to my email client, there’s no automated route back to the task manager. Hook creates that second link back to the email message. The app also lets you connect more than two items together too, facilitating navigation among all the items.
Visiting one of the webpages in the screenshot above, you can see it links back to my Obsidian document too.
Hook has a tremendous amount of potential if you work solely on a Mac, but since I don’t, my use of it is limited. That said, the developers have said in their user forums that an iOS version of the app is being developed, and I’ll be interested to see whether the links it creates will work cross-platform.
With that promise of a potentially even better linking future on the horizon, let’s take a look at some of the most common productivity app categories, so you can start setting up your own linking system today.
Email Linking to email messages in GoodTask.
As I covered on Monday, Mimestream, the Mac-only email client, allows you to copy the Gmail link to a message. That’s not as handy as having a link that would take you back to the message in Mimestream, but deep linking is on Mimestream’s roadmap, so for now, I’ve been content using Gmail URLs. On the plus side, those links to the Gmail web app work equally well on the Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
Todoist is one of many popular apps that integrate with Spark, creating a link back to your email conversation.
If you prefer to use just one email app that supports deep linking on all platforms, though, I’d suggest using Spark. The app uses a combination of its own deep links that integrate with many popular task managers and note-taking apps like Things, Todoist, OmniFocus, Bear, Agenda, and more, allowing users to create tasks or notes in those apps that link back to conversations in Spark.
Unfortunately, standalone links to Spark conversations are web URLs, not deep links.
Spark can also create unique URLs for each of your messages that aren’t tied to a particular app. I’ve used this feature for a long time, and it works well. My only complaint is that when you create a link to a message that isn’t part of one of Spark’s app integrations, the URL takes you to a web version of your message instead of the Spark app. I’m not sure what that’s the case, but I’d prefer to be taken back to Spark, which is how the linking works when coupled with one of the apps Spark supports.
It’s worth mentioning that you can also grab the mail:// URL of a message from Apple’s Mail app on the Mac using AppleScript or Hook. Also, on iOS or iPadOS, messages can be dragged into many apps to create links back to them.
Note-Taking Apps Creating a deep link to a document in Bear.
All of my projects start as text. I suppose that’s part of being a writer, but I think note-taking is an excellent way to organize your thoughts no matter what you do. For projects like this week’s Starter Pack, I always create a planning note, where I record ideas and organize research materials. As a project comes together, I’ll link to the articles I’m writing, so I can use the planning note as a table of contents and hub for the details surrounding the articles and any special production details I need to track. With the planning note in hand, I can copy a deep link to it for pasting in tasks related to the project or calendar events for related calls. The process is simple, but by having a hub from which other notes branch off and to which other apps can point, I’m never more than a click or two away from the information I need about a project.
As I’m sure many readers are aware, the note-taking app I’ve been using for about a year is Obsidian, which supports deep links that open on the Mac, iPhone, or iPad. You can get even more granular than note level if you want, linking down to the level of a heading or block of text, but for my purposes, linking to the full note works fine.
Deep links can be copied in Craft’s sidebar.
Obsidian is far from alone in its ability to create links back to specific notes. Craft, Drafts, and Bear all support similar linking functionality. Moreover, all four apps offer links that work on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, making them all fantastic ways to create a text-based hub for your next project.
Another notes-adjacent app that effectively uses linking is MindNode. The app’s outlining and mind mapping functionality make it the perfect companion to note-taking apps and text editors, and with its URL scheme, you can drop a link to your mind map into whatever document you’re working on, short-circuiting the process of hunting for the app or your mind map. It’s a simple URL scheme that makes it easy to work with, and it works on both iOS and macOS.
Calendars The notes field in Calendar apps isn’t just for Zoom call links. It’s a great place for links to notes too.
A calendar app’s notes field is a natural place for links to other apps. Video conferencing apps like Zoom and Webex add links to launch their apps and start calls automatically when you accept a call invitation, but the notes field is a great place to link your notes or an agenda for a meeting too.
I link the days in my weekly planning note to those dates in my calendar for a quick way to check my schedule.
But there’s more you can do with calendar apps and deep links. Apps like Calendar 366, Agenda, and Fantastical all support URL schemes making it possible to integrate your events and calendars with other apps.
Each app takes a different approach, so it’s worth checking out each to see what they offer. For example, Calendar 366 offers parameters that allow you to deep link to any of its calendar views, such as day, week, month, or list, but Fantastical only supports opening its mini calendar or full window, which opens in whatever view you last used.
Linking notes to dates and calendar events in Agenda.
Agenda is different because it revolves around notes that are assigned to dates in your calendar. The app also integrates with Reminders. The advantage of Agenda is how simple it makes bringing notes, events, and tasks together in one place tied together with deep links. Connecting a note to a calendar event is just a click away, which adds a link back to the Agenda note in the event’s notes field. Of course, you can also copy the link manually if you want to drop it into a different app.
Task Managers Many of the most popular task managers support linking to individual tasks including:
- GoodTask
- Things
- OmniFocus
- Todoist
I don’t think there’s a lot to gain from linking to individual tasks most of the time. The one exception to this is if you keep extensive notes in your task manager that you want to reference. For example, Things has a full-blown Markdown editor baked into the app.
From the editing view (left) and reading view (right), you can see how I’m linking to a seven-day Kanban view of my tasks in GoodTask.
The GoodTask view linked to in my Obsidian weekly planning note.
I’ve found that I get more value from deep linking views inside task managers than linking to individual tasks. For example, I use GoodTask to link a seven-day Kanban board-style list view in a weekly planning note that I use to organize my work week. Things has similar functionality and easily the best documentation of a URL scheme that I’ve seen in any app. Likewise, OmniFocus’ URL scheme supports opening both its built-in and custom perspectives.
When to Use Deep Linking Remember when this was the only automation game in town?
In the early days of iOS automation, URL schemes were all we had. They linked users to locations deep inside apps and allowed us to pass data from one app to another using x-callback-urls. You can still do that, but these days, I find it more effective to pass data around using Shortcuts instead of URLs. That hasn’t diminished my fondness for URL schemes, though.
Apps that offer URL schemes tend to be the same apps that have created thoughtfully designed Shortcuts actions that can do the same things as their URL schemes, which begs the question: why use deep linking where there’s a Shortcuts action that does the same thing? Perhaps it’s my text-centric workflow, but I find it easier and more convenient to use those links directly in whatever app I’m using instead of maintaining a long list of single-action shortcuts.
I’ve already mentioned how I link Obsidian documents in tasks and calendar notes, but the place where linking among apps comes together most often is in Obsidian itself, the app I use to write and plan projects. Many of the links in my Obsidian notes are internal links to other notes, but increasingly, those links exist alongside deep links into other apps.
Linking other apps in my notes is where deep linking has made the greatest difference in the way I work.
For instance, I try to balance my workload by loosely planning each week in advance. I use a simple note divided by day followed by a list of what I plan to work on those days. The point isn’t to recreate what I keep in GoodTask, but instead to pick the four or five important tasks that I want to accomplish that day. To help keep that list simple, I link it to a seven-day Kanban-formatted task list in GoodTask. I also link each day to that date in Fantastical. That way, with a single click, I can open GoodTask or Fantastical to the exact view I want for additional context about my tasks and schedule.
The fun part about my weekly note is that it’s automatically generated each week by taking advantage of a combination of Obsidian plugins and a shortcut that’s triggered using Obsidian Shortcut Launcher, the subject of Federico’s Starter Pack story today. What I like about this weekly planning note is that it shows the advantage of mixing and matching automation techniques in a single workflow that takes advantage of the strengths and conveniences of each.
The benefit I’ve enjoyed as a result of deep linking is twofold. First, it allows me to take a project-oriented approach to tasks and to do so entirely in portable, lightweight plain text. Everything I need for certain tasks is a click of a link away, which ties into the second benefit, which is focus. You’ve probably heard this referred to as contextual computing. I prefer to think of it as a project-based workflow because, along with Shortcuts and other automation tools, it allows me to customize the tools I use in a way that serves my work instead of forcing me to alter how I work to suit the apps I use. However you look at it conceptually, learning the URL schemes offered by the apps you use and using them to tie your apps together to suit your needs is a powerful approach that I highly recommend trying.
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First spotted by 9to5Mac, Apple has expanded its Personal Safety Guide that serves as a hub for information about device and data access when your safety is at risk. New details in the guide cover AirTags, which have received a lot of attention as stories have surfaced of their use to stalk people, but the guide is broader than that, covering a wide range of topics. As Apple explains at the beginning of the guide:
This user guide is a personal safety resource for anyone who is concerned about or experiencing technology-enabled abuse, stalking, or harassment. It can help you sever digital ties with those you no longer want to be connected to and outlines the personal safety features that are built into Apple devices.
In addition to accessing the Personal Safety Guide on Apple’s website, it’s available as a downloadable PDF.
Regarding AirTags and other Find My accessories, Apple’s guide explains what the device’s alerts mean, providing users with the context necessary to know how to respond. The guide also offers suggestions of what to do if an unknown device is following them.
It’s good to see Apple’s Personal Safety Guide actively maintained. Apple has built-in safety measures for devices like AirTags, but it’s equally important that users know how to take advantage of those safety features, which the Personal Safety Guide should help with.
→ Source: 9to5mac.com
Obsidian Shortcut Launcher is a free plugin that works on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
Editor’s Note: Obsidian Shortcut Launcher is part of the MacStories Starter Pack, a collection of ready-to-use shortcuts, apps, workflows, and more that we’ve created to help you get the most out of your Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that, over the past year, Obsidian has become as essential to my workflow as Shortcuts. As I have been thoroughly documenting in the My Obsidian Setup series for Club MacStories members, Obsidian – which is the MacStories Selects 2021 App of the Year – is more than a text editor: it’s something more similar to an OS for writers that encompasses note-taking, Markdown writing, journaling, research, and more. At this point, just like I can’t imagine using Apple devices without Shortcuts, I can’t imagine taking notes or writing articles without Obsidian.
Which means that it shouldn’t surprise anyone either that I wanted to combine my two favorite apps and figure out a way to integrate Obsidian with Shortcuts.
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Today, I’m thrilled to introduce Obsidian Shortcut Launcher, a free Obsidian plugin – available in the Community Plugins section of the app – that lets you trigger shortcuts as commands from Obsidian. With Obsidian Shortcut Launcher (or ‘OSL’), you’ll be able to trigger any shortcut you want from Obsidian, passing along values such as the text of the document you’re working on, its name, text selection, and more. Obsidian Shortcut Launcher is free to use and works on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
Obsidian Shortcut Launcher is the result of weeks of planning and work from me and Finn Voorhees, and it has created an entirely new dimension in how I use Obsidian and Shortcuts on a daily basis. Because OSL is available in Obsidian’s Community Plugins list, you can find its source code here. Read on below to find out how OSL works behind the scenes, how I’ve been using it for my setup, and how you can start using it yourself with Obsidian and your favorite shortcuts.
Quick Video Tour You can read Obsidian Shortcut Launcher’s full documentation below, but if you want to get started with the plugin quickly, we also made a video that goes through the process of creating your first launcher and using Obsidian and Shortcuts together.
Installing Obsidian Shortcut Launcher You can find the plugin in Obsidian’s Community Plugins section. Just search for ‘Obsidian Shortcut Launcher’, install it, then enable the plugin to start using it in Obsidian.
Installing OSL as a community plugin in Obsidian.
Creating Launchers for Shortcuts Creating launchers for Shortcuts in Obsidian.
OSL works by creating “launchers” for shortcuts you want to run in the Shortcuts app. These launchers show up as individual commands in Obsidian.
You can create a new launcher for Shortcuts in OSL’s settings by tapping the ‘New’ button. When creating a new launcher, there are three main fields you have to configure:
- Command Name: The name of the launcher. This will appear as a command in Obsidian. This name can be anything you want and does not need to match the name of the shortcut.
- Shortcut Name: The exact name of the shortcut you want to launch in Shortcuts app.
- Input Type: The input you want to pass from Obsidian to the Shortcuts app. See next section for more details.
Passing Input Values from Obsidian
Obsidian Shortcut Launcher lets you run shortcuts with input text sent by Obsidian. There are seven different input types you can pass from Obsidian to Shortcuts:
- Selected Text: The current text selection from Obsidian.
- Current Paragraph: The text of the paragraph the cursor is currently in. (Not available in Reading mode.)
- Entire Document: The entire text of the current document.
- Link to Document: The Obsidian URL to the current document.
- Document Name: The name of the current document, without file extension.
- Document Path: The relative path to the current document in your Obsidian vault.
- Selected Link/Embed Contents: The contents of the file referenced in an [[internal link]] under the cursor. If the internal link points to a note, the full text of the note will be passed to Shortcuts as input; if the internal link points to an attachment (e.g. an image), the file will be encoded with base64 first and passed to Shortcuts as base64-encoded text. (Not available in Reading mode.)
(Please note: you can also run shortcuts without any input from Obsidian. In that case, just use any value you want, but ignore it in Shortcuts.)
Here is an example of an Obsidian command that has passed the name of the current document to a shortcut in the Shortcuts app:
As example of triggering a shortcut that fetches the current document’s name.
And here is how you can receive attachments from Obsidian and decode them using base64 in Shortcuts:
You can even pass attachments from Obsidian to Shortcuts thanks to OSL.
Passing Multiple Values with Custom Separators OSL also features a ‘Multiple’ option that lets you pass multiple values at once to a shortcut. When you select this option, you can choose multiple input types, which will be passed to Shortcuts all at once with a separator.
By default, the separator character is , (a comma), but you can change it to be whatever you want. To access multiple input values in Shortcuts, use the ‘Split Text’ action and enter a value for the Custom Separator.
Running Shortcuts with Input from Obsidian OSL commands show up in Obsidian’s native command palette and can be assigned hotkeys.
Text passed by OSL to a shortcut is available in the default ‘Shortcut Input’ variable of the Shortcuts app. In the case of files passed as base64-encoded text, you will have to decode the input first using the dedicated ‘Decode Base64’ action in Shortcuts.
Due to system limitations, on iOS and iPadOS 15 OSL needs to leave Obsidian and open the Shortcuts app to run a shortcut. That’s because shortcuts can only be invoked by other apps with a URL scheme on iOS and iPadOS 15.
On macOS Monterey, OSL can run shortcuts in the background – without opening the Shortcuts app at all – thanks to shell commands. When using OSL on a Mac, you can trigger shortcuts as commands without leaving Obsidian – a powerful experience that perfectly complements the app.
How I’ve Been Using Obsidian Shortcut Launcher Obsidian Shortcut Launcher is changing how I use Obsidian because it allows me to turn my shortcuts into quasi-native features of Obsidian. Particularly on macOS, where OSL can trigger shortcuts in the background – without launching the Shortcuts app at all – the plugin enables me to take any existing shortcut and use it as part of my Obsidian workflow.
For instance, I can now publish articles to MacStories’ WordPress installation directly from Obsidian thanks to an OSL command. When I run the ‘Publish Article to WP’ command in Obsidian, OSL takes the text of the current document and passes it to my Publish to WordPress shortcut, which I’ve been using for years now. In other text editors, I’d have to manually copy the article text, then open the Shortcuts app and run the shortcut myself; with Obsidian and OSL, I can press a single hotkey and the command I’ve configured takes care of communicating with Shortcuts for me.
Posting to WordPress from Obsidian thanks to OSL.
On a similar note, I’ve connected Obsidian and Shortcuts with OSL commands to upload image attachments to our CDN and, perhaps more interestingly for our readers, a command that runs a shortcut that backs up the current note to three different locations: local storage, iCloud Drive, and Dropbox. Now when I’m working on an important story that I want to back up across multiple services, I just need to press a single hotkey and Obsidian will trigger the related shortcut in the Shortcuts app.
Even as the person who came up with the idea for OSL, I’m still thinking of all the possibilities opened up by the ability to send different input types from Obsidian to Shortcuts. For this reason, I also wanted to know from someone who’s been using OSL for over a month now on how the plugin fits in their workflow. Here’s what our very own John Voorhees said:
I’ve been playing around with versions of Obsidian Shortcut Launcher since Christmas, and it’s become one of the Obsidian plugins I use the most. What’s struck me most about it is how handy it is to have simple utility shortcuts available to handle small tasks as I write. I have a launcher that builds the titles of documents by having Shortcuts look up the current episode number of AppStories or issue number of MacStories Weekly from their RSS feeds, so I don’t have to. I’ve also been using a shortcut to look up Twitter bios. I highlight a name of someone in a note, invoke OSL with Obsidian’s command palette, and it fetches their bio from Twitter’s website.
On the more complicated end of things, I have a shortcut that I’ll be sharing Friday with Club MacStories members that draws on the Periodic Notes and Buttons plugins along with OSL to create a weekly note where I plan my week. The note includes links to the next seven days of tasks in GoodTask’s Kanban view and links each day of the week to that day in Fantastical, so I can easily access my schedule for that day as I plan my work. It’s a terrific example of the sort of advanced automation that is possible when you combine Shortcuts with Obsidian.
Get Started with Obsidian Shortcut Launcher You can get started with Obsidian Shortcut Launcher by searching for it in Obsidian’s Community Plugins section and installing it in the app. The plugin is free to use and download, and you can check its source code in the official GitHub repo here.
My thanks to Finn Voorhees for helping me create this plugin and the Obsidian developers for working with us on accepting it in the Community Plugins section. I hope you’ll like the flexibility afforded by this plugin and that you’ll find it as useful as we did at MacStories. I can’t wait to see how you’re going to combine Obsidian and Shortcuts with Obsidian Shortcut Launcher.
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Editor’s Note: Getting a Handle on Links By Treating Them Like Email is part of the MacStories Starter Pack, a collection of ready-to-use shortcuts, apps, workflows, and more that we’ve created to help you get the most out of your Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
I’ve had a link problem for a long time. Links accumulate everywhere: in Messages, mail clients, text files, Discord, Trello, research tools, and elsewhere else imaginable. If they weren’t digital, I’m sure I’d be tripping over links on my way to the kitchen for breakfast each morning.
Part of my problem is an occupational hazard. Links to apps, articles I may want to link on MacStories, images on our CDN, podcast episodes uploaded for publication, and materials from advertisers are just a small sampling of the links I deal with every day.
But links are part of everyone’s lives. Friends and family send us links to things to read, videos to watch, itineraries for trips, and a lot more. Companies send us links to things we buy online and deals we want to check out. Most of all, though, there are the many links we collect ourselves throughout our day. The Internet touches every aspect of our lives, which means links permeate every corner of our days, yet links are collected, organized, and processed haphazardly on an ad hoc basis by most of us.
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Over the holidays, I sat down to think about links and how I deal with them. It didn’t take long to realize that thinking about links in the abstract is about as useful as thinking about email messages and tasks. The trouble is that links can represent almost anything from a short video that will take two minutes to watch to an expensive purchase that you will need hours to research. They vary widely in importance, the attention required to deal with them, and relevancy. As a result, it doesn’t do you much good to treat links without also considering what they represent.
Leaving links locked inside the app where you found them isn’t much use either. I’d never considered that links could benefit from a more structured processing approach like email or tasks, but having just reorganized my approach to email, I realized that they absolutely can. The trick is to keep the system lightweight and flexible and to be willing to delete most of your links to avoid clutter.
Apple’s Shared with You feature is good at surfacing links from Messages, but it won’t help you manage them.
Before looking at some apps to help wrangle your links, I want to focus on the system itself a bit more. It needs to be lightweight because it shouldn’t become a chore to process links, or you won’t do it. Instead, the links will build up in whatever app bucket you toss them in, where they won’t do anyone any good. A link bucket that you never revisit may as well be a digital landfill. Don’t set yourself up for failure by setting up a system that creates busywork for yourself.
Your system also needs to be flexible enough to handle anything from a short article you want to read later when you have some free time to a YouTube video or research material for a big project you’re researching.
It’s important to be willing to let go of links by deleting them too. As you’ll see from my own system below, I’m not suggesting you delete all of your links. There are materials you come across online that are worth keeping long-term, but digital clutter is real. We live in a time of incredible media abundance and powerful search. If you don’t get to a link, that’s okay. Most links you delete are easy to find again too. Unless I can articulate a clear reason why I should save a link – a vague notion that I may get to it or it may be useful someday doesn’t count – I delete it.
Browsing my link inbox on the iPad mini.
Okay, with all that in mind, it’s time to cover the system I’ve come up with and the apps I’m using to implement it, which starts with a link inbox. One important way that links aren’t like email is that email messages have an inbox, and links don’t. You may dread heading to your email client’s inbox, but at least you know where to go to deal with them. Links don’t flow into a single bucket on their own. Some will wind up in your email inbox, but most of mine come from a wide variety of other sources.
GoodLinks’ Safari extension is excellent on the Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
The link inbox that I’ve settled on with a couple of exceptions is GoodLinks, an app that I’ve used on and off since it was first launched. I’ve tried keeping lists of links in text editors, dropping links into task managers, and other solutions, but none has worked as well as GoodLinks for several reasons:
- The app is available on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac
- Adding links is simple thanks to share sheet support, a Safari extension, Shortcuts actions, and other automation support
- Tags and toggles for read/unread and starred/unstarred provide lightweight but effective ways to organize links
- The app’s iPad and Mac three-pane view makes reviewing saved links fast and efficient
- Support for Shortcuts and a custom URL scheme along with AppleScript and Hook support on the Mac make the app easy to integrate with other tools
- It’s as easy to delete links as it is to add them
GoodLinks’ thoughtfully designed share extension is a big part of why the app works so well as a link inbox.
GoodLinks’ share extension and Safari extension are critical to its role as my link inbox. The linchpin to the setup is that GoodLinks lets me add tags when I save a link. That provides just enough organization up front to make dealing with links easier later.
For example, if I come across a link to a story that I might want to write about on MacStories, but might save for MacStories Weekly instead, I’ll tag it with ‘link-post’ and ‘weekly.’ That way, when I go through my latest links and filter by tag, I see the link in both places and can decide then whether it should be a link post on MacStories or a link in the Club MacStories newsletter. Coupled with the fact that GoodLinks autocompletes my existing tags, I can move quickly without the mental overhead of making a final decision on how I plan to use a link later.
I used to paste link after link at the bottom of a note in Obsidian.
The second part of the process is reviewing my links. I used to have a task to check potential story links most weekdays, but instead, I’ve incorporated a scan of those links into reviewing my Obsidian dashboard note, which I do most evenings. A task is a good reminder too, but I have so many recurring tasks already that I prefer to keep a link to my unread GoodLinks links (goodlinks://x-callback-url/unread) in my Obsidian dashboard note. Thanks to a third-party plugin, with the click of a button that URL opens so I can process my latest unread links.
Setting up a button that opens your unread GoodLinks items is simple. First, make sure you have the Buttons plugin for Obsidian installed. You can find it in the Community Plugins section of Obsidian’s settings and GitHub. Second, paste this code into the note where you want to add the button, which will look like the screenshot below in Obsidian’s Live Preview and Reading modes:
button
name GoodLinks Unread
type link
action goodlinks://x-callback-url/unread
color green
Now a single button takes me directly to my Unread link list in GoodLinks.
The processing part is important because it prevents GoodLinks from becoming an everything bucket black hole where links go, never to be seen again. One feature that GoodLinks doesn’t have that I wish it did is the ability to filter them by date added or a range of dates, which would simplify periodic reviews of newly added links. Instead, I rely on whether a link has been read or unread. By marking reviewed links ‘read,’ I always know which ones I haven’t reviewed yet.
GoodLinks’ three-pane view makes it an excellent app for reading, or skimming, which is what I do as I process links.
Many people use GoodLinks as a read-later app because its third pane does such a nice job of rendering most webpages in an uncluttered way. I don’t use GoodLinks for reading. Instead, I rely on the app’s link viewer to help me quickly skim what each link is about, whether to keep it and then where to put it.
I could store items in GoodLinks long-term, but that would defeat the purpose of using it as an inbox. Instead, I immediately delete links that I’ve already used. The remaining read links are reference materials for future projects like shortcuts I plan to build and stories I want to write. Every week or two I go through those links and move them somewhere else, which is the final step in this process.
My long-term research projects and archival material are stored in DEVONthink.
Most of the links I save in GoodLinks become links in MacStories Weekly, media recommendations on MacStories Unwind, or sources for upcoming articles and link posts on MacStories, then they’re deleted. Everything else goes one of two places: Obsidian or DEVONthink.
If I’ve collected several research links for something I want to buy or a story I plan to write that I haven’t started yet, I pull those links out of GoodLinks and put them in an Obsidian note where I can add some context. That sort of note serves as medium-term storage for ongoing and upcoming projects.
DEVONthink gets used very judiciously for any materials that I find that I want to keep long term. I think of this as my library. It’s an archive of historical information that would be hard to find again and could be used for historical context in the future.
Stories like this retrospective on the first year of the App Store provide valuable historical context for future stories I’ll undoubtedly write.
A good example is the research I did when we marked the tenth anniversary of the App Store in 2018. A lot of the web doesn’t age well and finding stories from 2008 about the launch of the App Store was challenging. I saved that research because those early stories that included things like interviews with people at Apple and developers are likely to provide useful context about the App Store in future stories I write.
The process of saving stories with useful anecdotes and details is ongoing.
For the same reason, I’ll save articles like the recent interview in the Hollywood Reporter interview with Ridley Scott in which he touched upon Apple’s 1984 Super Bowl ad introducing the Mac. That’s the sort of interesting tangential tidbit about Apple from a broader article that won’t be easy to locate in a year or two in my experience.
Everything in DEVONthink is saved as a .webarchive file so it can be accessed even after whatever the link points to disappears from the web. Thanks to DEVONthink’s powerful search, that material is easy to retrieve again when I need it. Another good option for this sort of database is Keep It.
Most of my read-later reading happens in Matter these days.
However, for every rule and system, there’s an exception, and for me, that’s most web articles that I save to read later. Currently, I’m saving those to Matter, which has an excellent web parser, the option to listen to articles as audio, and a host of modern features that make it a better fit with my needs than apps like Instapaper, Pocket, or Abyss.
That said, nothing goes into Matter that I might need to use elsewhere. Matter lets you share stories one at a time, sync highlights to Obsidian, and export everything as HTML, but it’s still far less flexible than GoodLinks, which has excellent Shortcuts support for processing multiple links at once. In contrast, Matter has a single Shortcuts action for adding items to your queue. As a result, for longer articles that may also be used for my MacStories work, I sometimes save links in both Matter for reading and GoodLinks for processing, which isn’t ideal. Hopefully, Matter will add options to filter and export links from its app via Shortcuts in the future.
Three apps for processing links: GoodLinks, Matter, and DEVONthink.
At first, I was hesitant to create an additional inbox for myself dedicated to links, but I’m glad I did. With GoodLinks, I now have a central place to process the links that I run across every day no matter how they come into my life. If it’s research for a story, something I want to buy, a link to an album someone recommended to me, or almost anything else, it starts in GoodLinks. The only exception is reading materials that I often send straight to Matter if I don’t read it in my RSS client first.
Links are no longer tucked away in nearly every app I use. That has removed the mental overhead and wasted time of searching for them. GoodLinks provides just the right amount of structure to ensure processing them is fast too. Combined with a willingness to delete links aggressively, I also know that the links I move from GoodLinks to Obsidian or DEVONthink are ones that are worth keeping. Of all the workflow changes I’ve made so far this year, this is one of my favorites because it’s been a simple change to make that has yielded immediate results.
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Breath of the Wild, framed with SwitchFrame in Shortcuts.
Editor’s Note: Frame Nintendo Switch Screenshots with SwitchFrame is part of the MacStories Starter Pack, a collection of ready-to-use shortcuts, apps, workflows, and more that we’ve created to help you get the most out of your Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
Following the release of version 11.0 of the Nintendo Switch firmware in December 2020, I released ShortSwitch, a shortcut that simplified the process of importing screenshots and videos from a Nintendo Switch console on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone or iPad. ShortSwitch continues to be one of my favorite utilities I’ve built in the Shortcuts app, and it’s become my default way of transferring media from the Switch to my iPhone before tweeting it. With ShortSwitch, you don’t need to scan the second QR code displayed on the console, and you can quickly preview or save multiple files at once. It still works reliably, and you can download it here.
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That said, I’ve always wondered if I could improve another aspect of screenshots captured on the Nintendo Switch: framing them with a physical device template of a Switch console, just like I can frame iPhone, iPad, and Mac screenshots with Apple Frames. So a few months ago, Silvia and I got to work. After finding a Switch template we liked, Silvia modified it, and I was able to put together SwitchFrame – a shortcut that frames Switch screenshots with a classic Nintendo Switch console featuring red and blue Joy Cons.
SwitchFrame builds upon the same techniques I’ve been using for years in my Apple Frames shortcut, but it’s obviously much simpler given that it’s limited to a single platform. When you run SwitchFrame, the app will scan your photo library for images with a resolution of 1280x720 or 1920x1080 (720p and 1080p, respectively). Images that match these resolutions will then be presented in a list, sorted from most recent to oldest.
Because Shortcuts’ ‘Find Photos’ action cannot filter photos by more specific metadata, it’ll try to find any pictures that match the given resolutions – including some that aren’t Nintendo Switch screenshots at all. There’s nothing I can do about this.
Once you’ve selected the screenshots you want to frame, you’ll be presented with a few options:
- Save to Photos
- Save to Files
- Copy to Clipboard
- Share
- Preview
These actions are pretty self-explanatory (again, they’re modeled after the same flow found in Apple Frames), and they allow you to quickly export or share framed screenshots with other apps on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. These actions are contained in a single ‘Choose from Menu’ block, so if you want to add your own actions to the list, you can do so very easily in Shortcuts.
Running SwitchFrame.
Unlike Apple Frames, SwitchFrame will not combine multiple framed screenshots into a single image, stitching them together horizontally. I did this since I think it’s more common to find standalone Switch screenshots on videogame publications and social media. At the end of the process, you’ll end up with nicely framed Nintendo Switch screenshots that look something like this:
A Nintendo Switch screenshot, framed with SwitchFrame.
A legit shiny Zacian I got thanks to GameStop’s U.S. distribution and John’s trip to a GameStop location in Chicago. Thanks, John.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find Switch templates with more color options for the Joy Cons or a good template for the latest Nintendo Switch OLED model, which I would like to support in SwitchFrame. If you’re aware of any solid template options for these, please let me know and I’ll work on supporting them with SwitchFrame.
I’ve also updated my original ShortSwitch shortcut with SwitchFrame integration. With the latest version of ShortSwitch, you can frame screenshots immediately upon importing them wirelessly from a Nintendo Switch. This is, by far, the fastest way to go from a screenshot captured on Nintendo Switch to a framed image shared on social media, and it’s all thanks to the Shortcuts app.
You can run SwitchFrame upon importing screenshots with ShortSwitch.
Whether you’re a videogame writer, podcaster, or just someone who plays lots of Nintendo Switch games and likes to share their screenshots on social media, I think you’re going to like the convenience offered by SwitchFrame. The shortcut makes Switch screenshots look more fun and professional, and I’ve been enjoying posting them on Twitter and Discord. I know I’m going to have fun later this week sharing screenshots taken in Pokémon Legends: Arceus with SwitchFrame.
You can download SwitchFrame below and find it, alongside the updated version of ShortSwitch with SwitchFrame integration, in the MacStories Shortcuts Archive.
SwitchFrameFrame Nintendo Switch screenshots with a physical Nintendo Switch frame. By default, the shortcut looks for any screenshots with a resolution of 1280x720 or 1920x1080 in your Photos library and asks you to pick one; however, you can also pass screenshots imported with the ShortSwitch shortcut and frame them with SwitchFrame instantly.
Get the shortcut here.
ShortSwitchWirelessly transfer screenshots or videos from a Nintendo Switch to an iPhone or iPad. After entering ‘sharing mode’ on a Switch console, the shortcut can connect to the Switch, fetch media, and enable you to save items to Photos or Files, copy them to the clipboard, share them via the share sheet, or frame them with the separate SwitchFrame shortcut.
Get the shortcut here.
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Editor’s Note: Why I Abandoned the Search for the Perfect Email App and Am Making Do With a Hybrid Approach is part of the MacStories Starter Pack, a collection of ready-to-use shortcuts, apps, workflows, and more that we’ve created to help you get the most out of your Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
I’ve been revisiting my approach to email every year for what seems like forever. No matter which app I picked, I was never satisfied. On one level, that’s surprising because I don’t think my email needs are unique or complex. Even so, the features I value in an email app are ones that I care about a lot. The trouble is that a lot of MacStories readers could say the same thing but would pick an entirely different set of features they care about the most. This is a problem and conversation that goes back to the early days AppStories, and really, long before even that.
As 2021 came to a close, I knew something had to change and that I’d have to let go of my longstanding preference of using the same app across all of my devices. I don’t abandon that approach lightly because I don’t like the mental overhead of juggling multiple apps with different features to accomplish the same task. However, what started as patience as I waited for Apple to modernize Mail or a third-party developer to build something better, began to feel like stubborn inflexibility on my part. I knew it was time to make the most of an imperfect situation by cobbling together a hybrid solution that I hope will provide readers with some pointers on how they can improve how they manage email too.
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Before I get to the apps I’m using to manage my email day-to-day, I want to cover how I dealt with my email backlog. My email accounts get messy as the end of the year approaches because it’s our busy season at MacStories. I used to feel bad about it, but I don’t anymore. It’s not my job to have a perfectly organized inbox, which is good because it can be a mess at times. Still, a backlog of messages makes any email app harder to use no matter how good it is, so I spent some time over the holidays tidying up.
Cleaning Up and Starting Fresh First, I canceled my SaneBox account. I’ve used the service for years, and it has many useful features, but when I took a hard look at it, I wasn’t using many of them. It has the advantage of separating important email messages from unimportant ones, but the trouble is that just because a message is from someone I don’t know doesn’t mean it’s not important, which meant I had to regularly look in multiple places to see if I’d missed something potentially important. So, instead of leaving it to a robot to decide what I should see, I decided to take control of that process myself. More on that in a bit.
One of the few features that I knew I’d miss with SaneBox is its SaneBlackHole, a way to banish messages so you’d never hear from their sender again. I knew I’d need to replicate that too, which I’ve also done, and cover below.
Clean Email’s web app includes built-in filters to start bulk processing email quickly.
Second, I knew I needed to get a better handle on my inbox because without automated filtering, more messages were about to start flowing through it. For efficiency’s sake, I turned to Clean Email, a service that I’ve used on and off for several years. The service, which requires a subscription, connects to your email account and scans your messages. If you’re not comfortable with that, I understand, but for what it’s worth, the company says it doesn’t look at the contents of your messages, although it does analyze things like the subject line, sender, headers, and other metadata.
Clean Email also has apps for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Once your messages have been scanned, you can filter and sort them in a wide variety of ways that make it easy to quickly identify messages that can be deleted or archived in bulk. Some of this sort of thing can be done inside Gmail’s web UI, but Clean Email goes further and is easier to use in my experience.
Clean Email’s suggestions, like these about starred messages and notifications in my inbox, let you target low-priority messages first.
Clean Email, which has a web app as well as an iPhone and iPad app, comes with several built-in filters that show you how many of your messages fall into each category. I ran some of those filters and a few more of my own, deleting social network notifications and other junk and archiving old read messages that I hadn’t bothered to archive. I bulk unstarred a lot of old messages too.
Clean Email includes a long list of filters and built-in actions for managing messages.
Going into the cleanup, I figured that anything more than six months old was probably safe to archive without a careful review. However, I left my most recent unread messages untouched and applied finer-grained filters to more recent messages to avoid deleting or archiving something I might need to find again. The process wasn’t scientific, but when I got to the point where I was making judgments about individual messages more than I was bulk processing them, I stopped and moved on.
Clean Email can do a lot besides bulk managing of messages, including some of the tasks SaneBox excels at, like sender blocking and real-time message filtering. The service also has tools to automatically archive unread newsletters, conversation muting, and notifications when your email address shows up in online security breaches. Another interesting feature is the ability to tell Clean Email to only keep the most recent message from a sender, which can prevent lower priority emails about products you want to track from piling up. If that sort of ongoing maintenance is attractive to you, an annual subscription may be worth it, but if you just want to clean out your inbox, you can get a lot of value from a single month.
Clean Email is $9.99/month and $29.99 annually for one email account and $19.99/month or $49.99 annually for five accounts. There’s also a 10 account option.
What I Need from an Email App Apple Mail’s lack of modern features ruled it out as my default email client.
With my inbox in better shape, it was time to figure out the apps I’d use day-to-day for managing my email accounts. As much as I find some of the features of modern email clients intriguing, my needs are pretty simple. Between personal and MacStories accounts, I have about ten accounts that are mine or that I monitor. That’s a lot, but only a few are very active and receive time-sensitive messages. Still, I need to check on all of them periodically, so I need settings that I can vary per account to match how I use them.
I also need excellent search, which rules out Apple Mail and a host of other apps. It’s surprising how few email clients are good at search, but nothing is more frustrating than hunting for a message that you know you kept but can’t find.
I use deep links in the notes field of GoodTasks to return to messages related to my tasks.
Even more important than search, though, is deep linking. I’ll dig in deeper about how I’m using linking between several apps later this week, but one of the most critical places is email. Nothing makes an inbox spiral out of control more than one that’s used as a task manager. Like many others, I’ve used a combination of star labels and marking messages as unread as a way to flag important messages that require follow-up. The problem is that you can rarely tell by looking at the subject of a message what needs to be done, so that’s not a very good system.
Old habits are hard to break, but I’ve demoted the importance of my email app’s inbox and reduced my reliance on it by getting information out of it as quickly as possible and linking the original message for future reference as needed. The beauty of deep linking is that I can then archive that message and get back to it even though it has moved from my inbox into my message archive.
The final feature I’ve been looking for, ever since our brief use of Hey, which ended when Basecamp’s founders caused a third of its employees to quit, is a way to quickly process new messages. One of Hey’s strengths is the way it creates a focused environment for first-cut processing of new messages. I’ve missed that sort of lightweight approach to inbox management ever since and wondered if there was another app that did something similar (spoiler: there is).
Alright, with all that in mind, let’s dive into the apps. I’ve got three apps to cover, which along with Clean Email, may seem like a lot, but hear me out. It’s not as convoluted as it might seem at first.
Mimestream Mimestream is a Gmail client that’s currently in beta.
The heart of my system is Mimestream, a Mac-only Gmail client. It’s by far the best email app I’ve used on any Apple platform despite being a beta. The app is developed by a former Apple Mail engineer, and it shows. The UI has a distinct Apple Mail feel to it without feeling like a clone.
I held off on trying Mimestream for a long time. I wasn’t eager to push my messages through a beta app, and the lack of iOS and iPadOS versions of the app were a big strike against the app initially. Another downside is that Mimestream is Gmail-only. However, all but one of my accounts is a Gmail account, so that was less of an issue for me.
In the end, I decided to take the plunge with Mimestream around November last year, taking my time to set it up the way I wanted and exploring every feature, as I used it alongside Spark.
Mimestream ticks three important boxes for me:
- Search
- Deep Linking (mostly)
- Design
Mimestream’s search is fast and flexible.
Mimestream’s search is the best I’ve ever used in an email app and on par with Google’s Gmail app, which I keep installed on my iPhone and iPad for those times when search fails me elsewhere. The search results are fast and can be confined to searches of specific metadata like Address, Subject, Attachments, and Labels, helping to pinpoint specific messages. But most of all, Mimestream’s search is reliable, which is far more than I can say for most email apps, including Apple’s, unfortunately.
Mimestream has native deep linking on its roadmap, but for now, you can link to the Gmail URL for messages.
Mimestream also ticks the deep linking box – sort of. The feature isn’t implemented yet but is on Mimestream’s public feature roadmap and will presumably generate links to take you directly back to an email conversation inside Mimestream. However, you can already link to messages by grabbing their Gmail URL, which isn’t quite as good but has been a reliable stopgap. In practice, I try to extract the information I need from messages and save them in a note upfront, so I don’t need to go back to a message, but when I do, the Gmail web version is usually sufficient context.
I’ve even approximated SaneBox’s SaneBlackHole feature using Gmail’s blocking functionality, which I use for things like link farming requests that I get several times each week. Mimestream’s three-dot menu button in each message’s header includes an option to open a message in Gmail, where, with a few more clicks, I can block a sender and send their message to spam. I’d prefer if this was built into Mimestream and don’t know if Google’s APIs would even permit it, but it’s not been a burden given the volume of messages I want to block most days.
Mimestream includes a lot of nice design details like using the pinch to zoom gesture to zoom in on tiny text.
The design of Mimestream is excellent too. One of the things I don’t like about Spark is that messages are static. There’s no way to zoom in on an image or to make tiny text more legible. Plus, Mimestream has a completely familiar, native feel and responsiveness that’s missing from so many other Gmail clients that are usually thin wrappers around a web view. Email apps have to manage a lot of information in their UIs, and a good design like Mimestream’s goes a long way to making the app useable.
Mimestream’s roadmap says that iPhone and iPad apps are under consideration. I hope so because not having the app on other devices is a big mark against it. That said, the reality is that I handle most of my email on my Mac, so it’s a situation I can tolerate for the time being. Also, it’s not like I don’t have other options, including Spark.
Spark On the Mac, I only get notifications of comments to messages by MacStories team members.
I haven’t completely abandoned Spark for Mimestream for two reasons. First, its teammate sharing feature is very good. I don’t use it a lot, but when Federico and I want to discuss how to respond to someone, it’s nice to be able to do it inline with the message instead of having the conversation on Discord or over iMessage. On the Mac, I’ve set up Spark so it only sends me notifications of comments and messages from the MacStories team.
On the iPhone and iPad, Spark is my go-to email client.
Second, the lack of Mimestream on the iPhone and iPad makes sticking with Spark on those platforms an obvious choice. The app also has the benefit of deep linking and third-party app integrations that I can take advantage of when I’m using it instead of Mimestream. However, because my primary Mac is a MacBook Air, and I try not to spend long parts of my day using email anyway, I’ve been able to use Mimestream for the vast majority of my email already.
Triage 2 Triage 2 helps me clean out the junk in my inbox in short spurts from my iPhone, so when I’m back at my desk, only messages I want to see remain.
There’s more to my email setup, though. I’ve also rediscovered an app that Federico reviewed nearly 10 years ago: Triage 2, which fills the gap left by abandoning Hey quite nicely. When I realized that most of my email needs could be satisfied by a Mac-only app, I wondered if there were apps that do for email what apps like Remind Me Faster and Thum do for Reminders and Calendar. Both of those apps are simple, focused companion utilities that aren’t meant to replace Reminders or Calendar. Instead, they complement those apps making them easier to use on mobile devices.
Triage 2 does exactly that. It is iPhone only, but its design works better than I expected on an iPad, especially the iPad mini. Messages are displayed as a stack of cards, and by default, you swipe left and right to archive or keep them in your inbox but marked as read. Alternatively, you can swipe messages to delete them or mark them as unread in your inbox. You can also choose to see all of the messages in your inbox, but the default is to show just new ones, which is what I typically use. If you want, you can reply and forward messages too, which can be handy for messages that can be handled quickly.
Triage 2’s settings let you tailor its swipe actions and the recency of the messages it shows to your needs.
By focusing on new messages and requiring a decision before moving on to the next message, Triage has created a focused environment that is limited in what it does, but what it does is substantial. If I have a couple of minutes, I can flick through a handful of messages, and by the end, I’ve deleted a bunch that I won’t see the next time I open Mimestream. Occasionally, I’ll also respond to one or two messages that are easy to answer quickly. But best of all, I don’t wonder whether there’s something important in my inbox that’s being neglected.
Messages that you leave in your inbox are labeled as ‘Triaged’ by Triage 2, which makes them easy to find again if you have other messages in your inbox that haven’t been processed with the app. Mimestream doesn’t support Smart Folders or saved searches, which I hope is added, but you can search by tag within a single inbox, which makes refocusing on those messages simple.
Triage is free to use with one email account. The free version also adds a ‘Sent with Triage’ footer to any messages you send with it, and it includes periodic ads for the full version of the app, which unlocks unlimited account support, and removal of the app’s tagline and ads for $9.99/year.
Triage is the most recent addition to my email setup, and I’ve loved it. I started with the default setup, but over time, I’ve switched to swiping left to delete and right to mark as unread. That way, I clean out any unwanted messages quickly and leave the rest waiting as unread when I open Mimestream next. I’ve also limited the app to showing messages from the past seven days because I only use Triage to deal with my most recent messages.
So here we are in 2022, and I’m using three different email apps – four if you count my occasional use of Gmail search on my iPhone and iPad or Clean Email. It’s not ideal, but I’m also happier with the setup than I’ve been in a very long time. However, it does shine a light on the messy state of the email app market. There are a lot of reasons for it, but it’s a surprisingly weak field for a productivity app that people use every day, which makes Apple’s neglect of its own Mail app all the more surprising. Apple Mail is fine, but it hasn’t kept up with modern email features, its search functionality is spotty, and its lack of meaningful share sheet and Shortcuts integration make it a message silo that is out of step with modern app design. Email is so integral to all devices and used so universally that it’s hard to understand why Apple doesn’t make it a feature that sets its devices apart from the competition.
Still, I’m heartened by Mimestream. I know better than to bet it all on one promising but incomplete beta app, but the pace of development (it was updated twice in the week I was working on this story) and quality of the beta make me optimistic that a reliable, third-party email client with all the table stakes features and a thoughtful design is still possible and, hopefully, can thrive.
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URL Cleaner for iOS.
Editor’s Note: Clean Up URLs and Remove Tracking Parameters with URL Cleaner is part of the MacStories Starter Pack, a collection of ready-to-use shortcuts, apps, workflows, and more that we’ve created to help you get the most out of your Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
Picture this:
You’ve just come across an interesting article or product you want to share with someone, so you copy the URL and you’re ready to send it over iMessage, tweet it, link it on your site – you name it. Then, you notice that the URL has a bunch of ugly tracking parameters appended to the end of it. I’m sure you’ve seen them too: it’s those ?utm and soc_src1 and similar strings of text that some web publishers rely on to monitor where traffic is coming from and track other parameters about clicked URLs. For a publisher, those bits of data can actually be useful; for the end user, however, I’ve always wished there was an easy way for apps or extensions to “clean up” URLs and return the vanilla version of a link without any tracking parameter attached.
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So, for the debut of our MacStories Pack event, I decided to fix the problem myself with a shortcut I appropriately called URL Cleaner. With this shortcut, which you can download for free at the end of the story and find in the MacStories Shortcuts Archive, you’ll be able to instantly remove popular tracking parameters from any URL and get a “cleaned up” version of it copied into the system clipboard. Best of all, URL Cleaner has been specifically optimized for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, taking advantage of desktop-specific actions in macOS Monterey all while remaining integrated with the share sheet and Siri on iPhone and iPad.
Let’s take a look.
Behind the Scenes of URL Cleaner First of all, I should give a shout out to friend of MacStories and developer Robb Knight, who released an app called TrackerZapper a few months ago. TrackerZapper is a free utility that sits in your Mac menu bar and removes tracking parameters from links you copy. Given that TrackerZapper is open source, I wondered if I could turn its core feature into a shortcut that worked on all platforms where the Shortcuts app is available. So, following Robb’s kind permission, I was able to take TrackerZapper’s built-in list of well-known tracking parameters, expand it with a few additions, and turn it into a regular expression for Shortcuts that quickly removes all matched parameters from URLs.
Using regex to remove tracking parameters from URLs.
I designed URL Cleaner to be used in a variety of ways. At its most basic level, you can run URL Cleaner manually in the Shortcuts app or from the Home Screen widget on iOS/iPadOS. In that case, the shortcut will try to find a URL you’ve already copied to the clipboard. If no URL is found, you’ll be asked to enter one manually. The latter option is more useful on macOS, where you may have copied a URL to the clipboard a while back, so it’s not the most recent item in your clipboard history anymore, but you can still get to it with a clipboard manager (I’ve been trying Raycast for that lately, and I like it).
Using a clipboard manager like Raycast on macOS, you can enter URLs you copied a while back into URL Cleaner’s input prompt.
URL Cleaner can also receive a URL as input from the share sheet (on iPhone or iPad) or from another shortcut, which means you can use URL Cleaner as a headless, drop-in function of other shortcuts. If you often find yourself dealing with URLs in your shortcuts and want to make sure they’re always “clean” URLs with no tracking parameters attached, here’s what you can do: in your shortcut, use the ‘Run Shortcut’ action and select URL Cleaner as the shortcut you want to run as a function; then, make sure the input of this action is the URL you want to clean up. When the shortcut runs, it’ll invoke URL Cleaner in the background, which will process the URL, copy a cleaned version of it to the clipboard, and pass it as output back to the original shortcut. I’ve started using URL Cleaner as a function in dozens of my shortcuts, and I love it.
You can run URL Cleaner as a function of another shortcut.
I also want to point out how I’ve optimized URL Cleaner for macOS Monterey with a new technique that brings some additional intelligence to Shortcuts.
On Monterey, Shortcuts offers an action called ‘Get Current URL from Safari’ that can read the URL of the Safari tab that is currently active. I wanted to use this action so that you could trigger URL Cleaner from the menu bar or with a hotkey to clean up the URL of the Safari tab currently open. The problem is that the action fails if a) Safari is closed or b) you don’t use Safari as your Mac browser to begin with. To circumvent the issue but retain the convenience of this action, I added an AppleScript step that checks whether or not Safari is open; if it is, the shortcut runs the ‘Get Current URL from Safari’ action; otherwise, it ignores the Safari action and tries to fetch URLs with the methods I described above.
We can use AppleScript to check if Safari is running.
If Safari is running, Shortcuts can use a Monterey-only Safari action.
I plan to explore this technique more in depth in the next Automation Academy lesson for Club MacStories Plus and Premier members, which will be all about advanced tips and techniques for Shortcuts on macOS Monterey. Essentially, Shortcuts for Mac lacks a built-in action to check if a particular app is running; because AppleScript can do it though, it was easy enough to drop in a script that checks for Safari’s status and passes back a response.
Regardless of how you run URL Cleaner, the result at the end will always be the same: you’ll get a notification that displays the cleaned URL, which will also be copied to the clipboard so you can paste it elsewhere.
I should also note that, if you want, you can modify URL Cleaner by adding more tracking parameters that should be removed from URLs. To add more parameters to URL Cleaner’s default list, just enter a single pipe character | and the tracking parameter you want to remove in the ‘Text’ action at the beginning of the shortcut, as pictured below. You can repeat this process with as many parameters as you want and URL Cleaner will still run in a couple of seconds.
Adding more parameters to URL Cleaner is easy.
So that’s URL Cleaner. It’s a genuinely useful shortcut I’ve been using for the past few weeks, both as a standalone utility and as part of other shortcuts as a function I can execute in the background. It only felt appropriate to share URL Cleaner as the first shortcut for the MacStories Starter Pack, but stay tuned: I have lots more to share through the rest of the week.
URL CleanerClean up URLs by removing tracking parameters from them. The shortcut supports a built-in list of widely known tracking parameters (courtesy of Robb Knight), and can be easily expanded to remove more tracking parameters from URLs.
Get the shortcut here.
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BetterTouchTool is an indispensable Mac app that has stood the test of time. The app was one of the first covered by MacStories back in November 2009. In those early days, BetterTouchTool was a simple app for adding customizable gestures to MacBook trackpads and the Magic Mouse.
Nowadays, the app can configure gestures for the Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad (1-3), it enables full Touch Bar customization, allows users to define keyboard shortcuts, including a powerful Hyper Key, bind the buttons of mice, create custom mouse gestures, customize the Siri Remote, and connect and configure MIDI devices. Also, it works great together with the new Shortcuts app on macOS Monterey.
BetterTouchTool’s developer, Andreas Hegenberg, recently introduced a new feature that is rapidly evolving: the “Notch Bar”. It is in an early development stage but already has quite a few fans, and now, Andreas would love to get your feedback on the feature to make it even better.
The Notch Bar is a customizable menu bar add-on that allows you to create completely custom bars with only the functions and widgets you regularly use. It works best on screens with a Notch, but can also be used on standard screens. It leaves your standard menu bar intact but hidden, so you can easily switch between standard and Notch Bar modes - e.g. by setting a keyboard shortcut to do so.
The Notch Bar comes with lots of default widgets, e.g. to show an emoji picker, calendar events, Shortcuts, weather, date/time, or your clipboard history. It can easily be extended using custom and third-party script widgets too. For example, the amazing Crypto Touch Bar app can now export crypto widgets for the Notch Bar.
For more info on the Notch Bar and a Quick Start Guide, please have a look at:
- The Notch Bar documentation
- The community forum
Here are a few examples of how Andreas is using the Notch Bar himself:
And don’t forget to send Andreas your feedback and ideas how to improve the Notch Bar.
BetterTouchTool comes with a 45-day trial, after which you can choose between a license that includes all updates for 2 years and a lifetime license.
For a limited time, MacStories readers can purchase BetterTouchTool for 20% off by using the coupon code MACSTORIESBTT at checkout. So, don’t delay. Go to folivora.ai to learn more about this fantastic Mac app and take advantage of the special limited-time, 20% discount on BetterTouchTool.
Our thanks to BetterTouchTool for sponsoring MacStories this week.
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This week on MacStories Unwind, Federico revisits The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, a game originally released for the Game Boy Advance in 2004, and John enjoys an action-thriller movie starring Samuel L Jackson, Maggie Q, and Michael Keaton about a pair of globe-trotting assassins.
Federico’s Pick:
- The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
- Available online at:
- Lukie Games
- DK Oldies
- Available online at:
John’s Pick:
- The Protégé
- IMDb Plot Summary
- Wikipedia
MacStories Rewind
- Federico Shares a Starter Pack of Shortcuts on Apple’s App Store
- AirBuddy 2.5: A Refined Experience That Adds Shortcuts Integration and Other New Features
- WordleBot 1.1, Now Fully Accessible with Native Emoji-to-Image Conversion
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Monday, we’re launching a brand new special event: The MacStories Starter Pack. The idea is simple. As our busy OS review season winds down, Federico and I dig into a wide range of experiments every year. We build shortcuts, try new apps, and look for new ways to get more out of the technology we use. This year, we’ve collected the best of what we’ve learned from that annual process into a series of stories we’ll publish over the course of next week.
You’ll find a lot of variety in what we’ve got planned, but the common thread is that every story will have something you can take away and use right away. There will be shortcuts, app recommendations, workflow ideas, and more, spanning everything from ways to work more efficiently to making the most of your downtime. We think you’ll love what we’ve got in store for you.
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Would you be shocked to learn that Federico has a bunch of shortcuts lined up for the Starter Pack? I’ve had a front row seat to what has to be one of Federico’s most inspired periods of shortcut creation ever. I won’t spoil his surprises, but what Federico has in store for next week represents weeks of reverse engineering, testing, and refinement of a collection of shortcuts that is incredibly useful on all of Apple’s platforms and will include two advanced, Club MacStories-only automations. Federico also has a special surprise for Obsidian users that I’ve been testing and has quickly become a cornerstone to my own note-taking and writing workflows.
The MacStories Starter Pack isn’t just about automation, though. A substantial part of what I do at MacStories changed in 2021 with the introduction of Club MacStories+ and Club Premier. Most of those changes happened behind the scenes, but changes in how we produce everything from Club newsletters to podcasts strained my existing workflows. As I headed into the holidays, it was clear that the old ways of doing things had to be rethought and adapted to last year’s changes and where MacStories is heading in 2022.
As a result of my holiday workflow experiments, I’ve done more than mix up the apps I use. I’ve also reconsidered how those apps fit together, which is something that is more important to me than ever and dovetails nicely with the app interoperability trend that Federico and I recently covered on AppStories. I also spent the holiday season reevaluating how I manage the torrent of information that crosses my desk every week, so I spend less time looking for things and more time writing about them.
Next week, I’ll share the apps I’m using, how I’ve improved the way they fit together, and how I’m managing more information more efficiently than ever. Along the way, I’ll share what’s worked, along with tips and strategies on how to adapt the workflows to suit your own needs. I’ll also round out the week with a hardware review.
The MacStories Starter Pack will begin Monday and continue throughout the week with new daily stories on MacStories. We’ll have special treats just for Club MacStories members on Friday, too, so be sure to stop by the site throughout the week to get the latest installment of the Starter Pack. We’ve got a Starter Pack hub and RSS feed you can follow too.
The MacStories Starter Pack is just the start of what promises to be a big 2022 at MacStories. Our WWDC coverage, the Summer OS Preview Series, each fall’s review season, and the MacStories Selects Awards have become traditions that the MacStories community looks forward to every year. With the Starter Pack and plans we’re working on for the spring, our goal is to offer something special you can look forward to throughout the year, regardless of whether an Apple event is on the horizon. We’ve got a packed schedule in store for everyone in 2022 and can’t wait to get started next week with our first-ever MacStories Starter Pack.
You can follow the MacStories Starter Pack on our hub, or subscribe to the dedicated Starter Pack RSS feed.
Support MacStories DirectlyClub MacStories offers exclusive access to extra MacStories content, delivered every week; it’s also a way to support us directly.
Club MacStories will help you discover the best apps for your devices and get the most out of your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Plus, it’s made in Italy.
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Source: App Store.
Today, the App Store published an interview with our very own Federico Viticci, who shared seven shortcuts for users who want to learn more about what Apple’s automation app enables on the Mac. Federico explains his interest in Shortcuts in the interview:
It’s all about removing friction from everyday tasks.
As the story recounts, Shortcuts has been Federico’s obsession for years and the tool that permeates every aspect of what we do at MacStories.
To help newcomers get started exploring and building their own shortcuts, Federico shared seven shortcuts that work on the Mac, iPhone, and iPad that are linked in the App Store’s article and can also be found in the MacStories Shortcuts Archive:
Create ReminderQuickly create a new reminder from anywhere on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad. Optionally, the shortcut can also attach a URL previously copied to the clipboard as a rich link to the reminder.
Get the shortcut here.
Open Copied LinkQuickly open a link previously copied to the clipboard with Safari. The shortcut works on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
Get the shortcut here.
Get Image ResolutionGet the resolution of any image passed as input. This shortcut supports images copied to the clipboard, the iOS and iPadOS share sheet, picking images from Files, or images selected in Finder on macOS. The shortcut can also run as a Quick Action on macOS.
Get the shortcut here.
Load Calendar SetThis shortcut lets you reopen one of your existing calendar sets in Fantastical. Optionally, you can also pair a specific set with a specific calendar view in Fantastical.
The shortcut works on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, and it uses Fantastical’s native Shortcuts integration.
Get the shortcut here.
LookUp DefinitionLook up a word definition using LookUp. The shortcut lets you choose among different definition types, and it can also add a word to a collection.
Get the shortcut here.
Things Checklist TemplateCreate a task with a checklist in Things based on a fixed template that is stored in the Shortcuts app.
Get the shortcut here.
Get Articles from ReederView articles saved for later in Reeder. You can choose a specific article from your read-later account in Reeder, or open a random article in the app.
Get the shortcut here.
These and many more shortcuts are available for free on the MacStories Shortcuts Archive, a collection that has grown to over 200 shortcuts, that run the gamut from simple, single-purpose utility shortcuts to complex shortcuts comprised of hundreds of actions like MusicBot.
Support MacStories DirectlyClub MacStories offers exclusive access to extra MacStories content, delivered every week; it’s also a way to support us directly.
Club MacStories will help you discover the best apps for your devices and get the most out of your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Plus, it’s made in Italy.
Join Now
On 512 Pixels, Stephen Hackett argues that Apple should bring back Dashboard, a macOS feature that disappeared with Catalina. Dashboard gave users access to Apple and third-party widgets: single-purpose utilities that were a lot like the widgets on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac today, except they were better because they were also interactive.
Widgets’ lack of interactivity on the Mac is compounded by the fact that they share a panel with notifications and are hidden behind a click on the menu bar’s clock. I couldn’t agree more with Stephen’s conclusion:
Apple needs to rethink this and let this new class of widgets breathe, being able to use the entire screen like the widgets of yore could. Bringing back Dashboard is an obvious solution here, and I’d love to see it make a return.
The Dashboard metaphor worked for widgets before and it could work again, but I’d love to see Apple make the desktop the Dashboard, letting users mix files, folders, and widgets the same way I can mix apps and widgets on my iPhone or iPad.
→ Source: 512pixels.net