Apple Unveils Its Self Service Repair Program

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 expe … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

AppStories, Episode 271 – Apps with Great Shortcuts Support

This week on AppStories, we share our favorite third-party apps with deep Shortcuts integration. [subscribe_to_appstories] Sponsored by: Kolide – Endpoint security powered by people. Try Kolide for 14 days free; no credit card required. Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple. Sour … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Last Week, on Club MacStories: A Shortcuts Workshop, an Email Utility, Giveaways, and a Shortcut for Bundling Other Shortcuts

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 … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Kolide: Endpoint Security for Teams That Slack - Try Kolide for Free Today! [Sponsor]

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, … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

MacStories Unwind: Severance

[audio_player src=”https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/0de98bba-5e4d-4879-94dc-8c76a3a88322/episodes/163b0b5c-0332-41d1-99e9-0bb667ab0c06/audio/225a1589-498f-4523-a13e-b6b609555270/default_tc.mp3” total_duration=”00:28:33” caption=”“] [subscribe_to_unwind] This week on MacStories Un … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Automating Podcast Sessions in Audio Hijack 4 with Shortcuts and Timery

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 … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Apple’s 2022 Environmental Progress Report and a Tour of Daisy, the iPhone Recycling Robot

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 d … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Automation April: Never Forget to Stop a Timery Time Tracking Timer Again

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 ti … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

AppStories, Episode 270 – Our Latest Automation April Shortcuts

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. [subscribe_to_appstories] Sponsored by: Kolide … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Last Week, on Club MacStories: A Space Wallpaper Shortcut, Developer Interview, Utilities to Extend Shortcuts, and Giveaways

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 … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Kolide: Endpoint Security Powered by People; Try for Free! [Sponsor]

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 wher … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

MacStories Unwind: WeCrashed and Wet Leg

[audio_player src=”https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/0de98bba-5e4d-4879-94dc-8c76a3a88322/episodes/876ac674-9f0a-429d-aac4-7a4c62dae97f/audio/0983c0ae-c856-4ebf-a1b0-c57d91e0fad3/default_tc.mp3” mime_type=”audio/mpeg” total_duration=”00:27:42” caption=”“] [subscribe_to_unwind] Thi … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Automation April: 10 Shortcuts for Mac Multitasking, Markdown, Reminders, Music Lyrics, Twitter, and More

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 develop … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Apple Announces Winners of Its Shot on iPhone Macro Challenge

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 … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

AppStories, Episode 269 – Automation April: Interviews with the Developers Behind Pushcut and Working Copy

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. [Apple Podcasts iFrame] Sponso … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Apple Podcasts Follower Metrics Are Now Available

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 us … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Automation April: myTunes, a Personalized Music Video Channel

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 pa … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Tim Cook Delivers Keynote Speech to Privacy Group

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 … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Pixelmator Pro 2.4 Adds New Color Adjustment and Effects Layers, Plus 200+ Vector Images

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 Pr … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Best Everyday Shortcut: A New Automation April Shortcuts Contest Category

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 … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Last Week, on Club MacStories: Discord App Giveaways, an Obsidian Listen and Read Later Setup, and Automating Note Management

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 … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Kolide: Endpoint Security for Teams That Slack - Try Kolide for Free Today! [Sponsor]

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, … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

MacStories Unwind: Never Let Me Go by Placebo, Magic Rays of Light, and Slow Horses

[audio_player src=”https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/0de98bba-5e4d-4879-94dc-8c76a3a88322/episodes/642e8475-689e-457a-b1bf-1044fc0d6896/audio/d33556d6-58b1-42cc-9044-f04cb980ef86/default_tc.mp3” mime_type=”audio/mpeg” total_duration=”00:26:37” caption=”“] [subscribe_to_unwind] Thi … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Automation April: A Three-Part Shortcuts Workflow for Syncing Timestamped Research Notes with Videos

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 iP … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

AppStories, Episode 268 – Automation April: Our Shortcuts Setups

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. [subscribe_to_appstories] Sponsored by: Kolide –  Endpoint security powered by people. Try Kolide for 14 days free … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Apple Announces That WWDC 2022 Will Be Online-Only from June 6 - 10

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 rele … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Automation April: 10 Shortcuts for Apple Translate, Live Text, Finder Images, Pixelmator Pro, and More

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 … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Last Week, on Club MacStories: Automation April, MacStories Unplugged, a Developer Interview, a Reader Setup

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’ … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Enter Your Shortcuts in the Automation April Shortcuts Contest

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 … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Kolide: Endpoint Security Powered by People; Try for Free! [Sponsor]

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 wher … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

MacStories Unwind: PS Remote Play and Xbox All-Access

[audio_player src=”https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/0de98bba-5e4d-4879-94dc-8c76a3a88322/episodes/2942f798-d8c9-4d4c-9267-973d2bd5c64b/audio/117972b3-d5e5-4748-aa27-0ce4f2afd14f/default_tc.mp3” mime_type=”audio/mpeg” total_duration=”00:26:11” caption=”“] [subscribe_to_unwind] Thi … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Introducing Automation April: A Month-Long Community Event About Automation, Featuring Shortcuts, Interviews, Discord Workshops, and a Shortcut Contest

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 … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

CARROT Weather 5.6 Adds Locations Lists, New Layout Sections, and More

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 fo … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Paper’s 10th Anniversary

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 e … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

AppStories, Episode 267 – State of the Platforms, with Apple’s Vivek Bhardwaj

This week on AppStories, we had the pleasure to interview Apple’s Vivek Bhardwaj about Universal Control, Shortcuts, Live Text, and more. [subscribe_to_appstories] On AppStories+, Federico and John discuss the irony that the Studio Display contains the hardware of a base-model iP … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Last Week, on Club MacStories: The 8th Installment of Federico’s Obsidian Series, John’s Studio Setup, and an Afterparty Town Hall

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 Town Hall: The Afterparty AV Club is a monthly event held in the Club MacStories+ Discord community. Club me … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Apple TV+’s CODA Wins Best Picture at the Oscars

Last night was a big night at the Oscars for Apple. In just the second year that Apple TV+ has been eligible for an Oscar, the streaming service’s film CODA won the award for Best Picture. CODA was also honored with the award for Best Adapted Screenplay, and CODA star Tony Kotsur … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

MenuBar Stats: Advanced System Monitoring [Sponsor]

MenuBar Stats is a suite of 9 menu bar modules for monitoring your Mac that has been developed over the course of 9 years of listening carefully to customer feedback. The app tracks your Mac’s: Battery Bluetooth devices CPU GPU Storage Memory Network connection And, with a helper … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

MacStories Unwind: The Valve Steam Deck, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Dune

[audio_player src=”https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/0de98bba-5e4d-4879-94dc-8c76a3a88322/episodes/6c809680-f719-4814-88d1-0ad68b4e6fb7/audio/395d6fcc-ebe2-45be-ab53-415398d23ce3/default_tc.mp3” mime_type=”audio/mpeg” total_duration=”00:28:41” caption=”“] [subscribe_to_unwind] Thi … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Overcast Redesign Enhances Podcast Navigation with an Emphasis on Playlists and Recent Episodes

I’ve used a lot of different podcast apps over the years, but the one I return to most often and have used the most is Overcast by Marco Arment. The app’s customizability, Smart Speed and Voice Boost audio enhancement technologies, and Shortcuts support are unrivaled among podcas … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Alto’s Adventure: Spirit of the Mountain Released on Apple Arcade

Alto’s Adventure has long been one of my favorite iOS games. Originally released in 2015, the game has been updated over the years with features like zen mode and released on multiple platforms. Today, a remastered version known as Alto’s Adventure: Spirit of the Mountain is avai … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Apple Expands Analytics and Other Features Available to Podcasters

Source: Apple. Today, in a post on the Apple Podcasts for Creators webpage, Apple announced an expansion of the podcast analytics it offers, which podcasters can sign up to use at Apple Podcasts Connect. Apple is adding a new metric called Followers, the term Apple uses to descri … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

AppStories, Episode 266 – iOS, iPadOS, and macOS Updates In-Depth

This week on AppStories, we dig into the details of the iOS and iPadOS 15.4 and macOS 12.3 updates that were released by Apple last week. [subscribe_to_appstories] On AppStories+, a look at the first Mac Studio and Studio Display reviews. We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers wit … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Last Week, on Club MacStories: Calliope 1.2.0, the M1’s New Computing Baseline, and an Upcoming A.V. Club Town Hall

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 312 Calliope 1.2.0 is out with under-the-hood changes to the Club sign-in system. The M1 ra … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

ComicTrack: A Beautifully-Designed, Flexible Way to Organize Your Comic Book Reading

ComicTrack is a new app from Joe Kimberlin for tracking and organizing the comic books you’ve read, are currently reading, and want to read. The idea is similar to his excellent videogame tracking app, GameTrack, but applied to comics. I’ve been using ComicTrack for a couple of w … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Collections: A Powerful Database with iCloud Sync [Sponsor]

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 solut … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

MacStories Unwind: Federico’s Surprise

[audio_player src=”https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/0de98bba-5e4d-4879-94dc-8c76a3a88322/episodes/c2399e50-9390-43f1-b7f9-7caa70b37ba0/audio/d38eeb21-2cf0-4f1f-9f89-bde54c187cba/default_tc.mp3” mime_type=”audio/mpeg” total_duration=”00:25:45” caption=”“] [subscribe_to_unwind] Thi … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago

Mac Studio and Studio Display Review Roundup

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 o … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 2 years ago