MacStories Unwind: Mac OS X Turns 20, Shortcuts Links Temporarily Break, and a Big Reflector Update

[audio_player src=”https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/0de98bba-5e4d-4879-94dc-8c76a3a88322/episodes/a315d22d-8b6b-42b4-9f52-eb5148f74f1e/audio/4db1d1d1-464d-4b32-b1f7-40291d4e77e4/default_tc.mp3” mime_type=”audio/mpeg” total_duration=”00:27:02” caption=”“] [subscribe_to_unwind] Spo … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Recently-Created Shortcuts Links Are Currently Broken

iCloud links to shortcuts broke sometime in the past 24 hours. Instead of opening the Shortcuts app and allowing users to install a shared shortcut, tapping a shortcut link displays an alert with the message ‘Shortcut Not Found,’ explaining that the link may be invalid or the sho … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

20 Years Ago, Mac OS X Set the Stage for Today’s Apple

It’s hard to believe that it’s been two decades since Mac OS X was released. I wasn’t a Mac user in 2001, but as a tech fan, I followed the release of OS X and the later switch to Intel closely, which was what finally convinced me to buy my first iMac. https://youtu.be/SjlLG1EzJ2 … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

AppStories, Episode 210 – Imagining the Perfect Read-It-Later App

This week on AppStories, we discuss the features and approaches we’d like to see in the ideal read-it-later app. Sponsored by: DEVONthink – The one place for storing and working with all your documents, snippets, and bookmarks RevenueCat – In-app subscriptions made easy. Get star … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Spotify Updating Home Hub with Recently Played Section, Deeper Podcast Integration

As announced by Spotify last week, the company is rolling out a refreshed home hub in its mobile app featuring a new Recently Played section, an easier way to stream new releases from your favorite artists, and shortcuts to play and resume podcast episodes with one tap: About a y … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

The Pleasures of Conversing via Voice Text

Fun story by Rachel Syme, writing for The New Yorker last week, on rediscovering the simple pleasure of sending audio messages (voice texts) to friends during the pandemic: Voice texts (also called audio messages), by contrast, are text messages with a pulse, phone calls with non … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Reflector 4 Updated with Modern UI and M1 Mac Support

Reflector 4, an app for mirroring iPhones, iPads, and other devices to the Mac, has been updated with a new design, M1 Mac support, and new onscreen device frames. Whether you’re making screencasts, demoing apps for a group, or in a classroom environment, Reflector lets you wirel … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Ulysses: The Ultimate Writing App for Mac, iPad and iPhone [Sponsor]

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 … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

MacStories Unwind: Federico Test Drives a High-End iPad Dock, We Recap Reviews of Panic’s Nova and Sofa, and the Sad, Perplexing HomePod News

[audio_player src=”https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/0de98bba-5e4d-4879-94dc-8c76a3a88322/episodes/ed41c727-3c0d-4e0e-a8a3-ea690eb381bc/audio/507b95d9-c76d-4cf9-aa04-a977bcf479ec/default_tc.mp3” mime_type=”audio/mpeg” total_duration=”00:32:37” caption=”“] [subscribe_to_unwind] Spo … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

AppStories, Episode 209 – Can Apps Still Surprise Us?

This week on AppStories, we consider why surprising apps seem increasingly rare and share some of the apps that have surprised us the most over the past year. Sponsored by: Crypto Pro – Cryptocurrency portfolio tracker app. Get month of Premium with code AS2021. DeleteMe – Remove … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Nova Review: Panic’s Code Editor Demonstrates Why Mac-like Design Matters

I’ve been writing code for nearly a decade, and throughout all of that time, I’ve never quite been satisfied with a code editor. Each one I’ve tried has annoyed me in various ways, and eventually, I find myself looking elsewhere. My code editor is the app I use more than any othe … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Apple’s Perplexing Home Strategy

Zac Hall, writing for 9to5Mac, explains why Apple’s move to discontinue the original HomePod last Friday raises a number of questions about its home strategy and is cause for concern that extends beyond the HomePod itself: Apple discontinuing HomePod isn’t impossible to understan … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Apple Maps Adds COVID-19 Vaccination Sites in the US

In a press release today, Apple announced that its Maps app has been updated to include the COVID-19 vaccination locations. According to the company: Apple today updated Apple Maps with COVID-19 vaccination locations from VaccineFinder, a free, online service developed by Boston … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Downtime Organizer Sofa Adds Apps, Audiobooks, Board Games, Deeplinking, Backups, and More Themes

Sofa is a terrific downtime organizer. Since its release, the app has seen frequent updates that have added features and refinements that make it an excellent one-stop destination for collecting media you want to enjoy later. We’ve covered the app before, so I won’t revisit its c … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

First Impressions: Kensington’s StudioDock Aims to Turn Your iPad Pro into an Expandable Desktop Workstation

Nearly a year ago in the middle of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic here in Italy, I published an article that would turn out to feel obsolete in less than a month: in my Modular Computer story, I detailed my experiments with various accessories for the iPad Pro and how th … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Goodbye Spotlight, Hello Raycast [Sponsor]

Raycast is a native Mac productivity tool that defies definition because it’s so much more than just a replacement for Spotlight. By invoking Raycast from your keyboard, you can launch any app, but you can also: Search for and access your files Use third-party apps and services l … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Apple Has Discontinued the Original HomePod

Matthew Panzarino at TechCrunch broke the news late Friday that Apple has discontinued the original HomePod. In a statement to TechCrunch Apple said: HomePod mini has been a hit since its debut last fall, offering customers amazing sound, an intelligent assistant, and smart home … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

MacStories Unwind: Adobe Fresco, a New Portable Sonos Speaker, The Fitness+ Studio, and Podcast News

[audio_player src=”https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/0de98bba-5e4d-4879-94dc-8c76a3a88322/episodes/5c4e7649-1068-4f42-be93-d940fb417975/audio/c6580ca9-bc79-46de-aa51-c872fbbecebb/default_tc.mp3” mime_type=”audio/mpeg” total_duration=”00:27:28” caption=”“] [subscribe_to_unwind] Spo … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Sonos Announces the AirPlay 2-Compatible Roam Portable Speaker

Sonos has officially announced the Sonos Roam, a battery-powered, portable speaker that supports AirPlay 2 and several other interesting features. The speaker, which comes in white and black, doesn’t ship until April 20th, but you can preorder it now. It remains to be seen how th … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Adobe Fresco: A Fun and Powerful iPad Drawing and Painting App For Pros and Novices

I’m not an artist by any stretch, so when I started poking around Adobe’s Fresco, the drawing and painting app for the iPad and iPhone, I approached the app with trepidation. I shouldn’t have. Fresco is undeniably a ‘pro’ iPad app. The app has a deep set of sophisticated features … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

AppStories, Episode 208 – Reading Newsletters

This week on AppStories, we dig into how we manage and read email newsletters. Sponsored by: Microsoft Lists – A Microsoft 365 app that helps you track information and organize work. Privacy – Smarter payments. Get $5 to spend on your first purchase. [subscribe_to_appstories] | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Apple Launches Kid-Friendly Podcast Collections

Apple has partnered with Common Sense Media to curate collections of podcasts for kids in the US. The shows are picked by Common Sense Media, an organization whose editors have a long history of helping parents and educators find age-appropriate media for children. The shows curr … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

DEVONthink: Get Organized to Conquer the World [Sponsor]

DEVONthink is the one-stop, comprehensive solution for all your document and information management needs on the Mac and iOS. With DEVONthink, all of your documents, snippets, bookmarks, and more are available in one place, paired with powerful tools for organizing, managing, and … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Men’s Health Goes Behind-the-Scenes at Apple’s Fitness+ Studio

Men’s Health was given a behind-the-scenes tour of Apple’s 23,000 square foot Fitness+ studio in Santa Monica, California. The publication also interviewed Jay Blahnik, Apple’s senior director of fitness for health technologies, and COO Jeff Williams for the story. From the story … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Apple Has Apparently Pulled the Plug on the iMac Pro

Apple hasn’t made an official announcement the iMac Pro’s future, but the Mac’s product page speaks volumes. As first reported by MacRumors, the configurable models of the iMac Pro are no longer available for purchase. The only remaining iMac Pro on Apple’s online store is the $4 … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

MacStories Unwind: A New Note-Taking Research App for the Mac, Spotify’s List of New and Upcoming Features Continues to Grow, and It’s Now Easier to Move Your iCloud Photo Library to Google Photos

[audio_player src=”https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/0de98bba-5e4d-4879-94dc-8c76a3a88322/episodes/eaf5e023-09e1-4a77-adb9-9d7880ca63a8/audio/16d6e6e9-11ea-4964-8f63-ca02d4d6273a/default_tc.mp3” mime_type=”audio/mpeg” total_duration=”00:24:16” caption=”“] [subscribe_to_unwind] Spo … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Apple Clarifies Ability to ‘Set Default’ Audio Apps in iOS 14.5

Earlier today, Apple provided TechCrunch with a fascinating clarification regarding the ability in iOS and iPadOS 14.5 to pick “default” audio apps for music, podcast, and audiobook playback. From Sarah Perez’s article: Apple has clarified that the iOS 14.5 beta is not actually a … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Eve Systems Announces That Its New Eve Energy Smart Plug and Eve Weather HomeKit Devices Will Support Thread

Ever since I got a glimpse of what Thread could mean to home automation by pairing a Nanoleaf A19 bulb with a HomePod mini, I’ve been excited about the technology’s future. We’re still in the early days of adoption by device manufacturers. However, today, Eve Systems announced a … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Apple Launches Service for Transferring iCloud Photos and Videos to Google Photos

As reported today by Juli Clover at MacRumors, Apple is now allowing iCloud Photos users to transfer a copy of their data to Google Photos. This joins the growing suite of tools provided on Apple’s Data and Privacy web page, which also include downloading copies of your data, cor … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Coppice: Visual Note-Taking and Research for the Mac

Apps that help you organize and connect ideas aren’t new, but it’s a hot category right now. There are note-taking apps, many of which offer wiki-style back-linking, outliners, diagramming apps, mind mapping apps, and more. The approaches vary as widely as the ways people process … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

AppStories, Episode 207 – Shortcuts Wish List, 2021 Edition

This week on AppStories, we take a hard look at Shortcuts, an app we rely on every day, and consider how we’d like to see Apple evolve the app this year and beyond. Sponsored by: Fitbod – The fitness app for personalized exercise plans. Get 25% off your membership. Impending: The … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Spotify Adding Genre and Mood Filters for Liked Songs

Fascinating new option announced by Spotify last week, coming soon to the app’s ‘Liked Songs’ default playlist: Your “Liked Songs” on Spotify are a collection of you—spanning every genre you’ve ever enjoyed and each mood you’ve experienced. Some days, you might be looking to play … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Organize Your Inbox (and Never Waste Time on Email Again) with SaneBox [Sponsor]

SaneBox is your personal email assistant that automatically organizes your inbox, saving you valuable time. SaneBox works with your existing email service, making sure that only the most important messages reach your inbox. The rest of your messages are neatly tucked away in desi … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

MacStories Unwind: Scanning and Budgeting iOS App Updates, Overcast’s New Watch App, a Brand New Mac Utility, and a Shortcuts Update

[audio_player src=”https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/0de98bba-5e4d-4879-94dc-8c76a3a88322/episodes/10c907ac-25ec-4bda-8d1f-6f0ccab3053d/audio/25cfce52-272f-4695-9de3-fbd3b4856ad0/default_tc.mp3” mime_type=”audio/mpeg” total_duration=”00:23:13” caption=”“] [subscribe_to_unwind] Spo … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Overcast Revamps Apple Watch App and Shortcuts Actions

In the latest update to his popular podcast app, developer Marco Arment has shipped a completely overhauled version of Overcast for Apple Watch. The update not only resolves some longstanding issues with the old Watch client but also debuts playback speed controls, chapter skippi … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Apple Frames, Now with Support for the 2020 iPad Air

In the last update to Apple Frames – my shortcut to put screenshots captured on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch inside physical device frames – from December, I added support for the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max. Since the introduction of revamped widgets in iOS 14, Apple F … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

DarkModeBuddy: Automatic Light and Dark Mode Switching Based on Ambient Light

Gui Rambo, the maker or AirBuddy, the Bluetooth headphone and peripheral menu bar utility that I’ve covered before, has released a new app called DarkModeBuddy that can automatically switch between light and dark mode on Mac laptops based on ambient light levels. DarkModeBuddy ru … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

The Mortality of Software

I meant to link this great article by Jason Snell a couple weeks ago: Every time an app I rely on exposes its mortality, I realize that all the software I rely on is made by people. And some of it is made by a very small group of people, or even largely a single | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Nudget Review: Budgeting Made Simple

Nudget1 is a budgeting app designed to streamline the daily input of expenses. Developer Sawyer Blatz created a gorgeous and extremely efficient interface to make budgeting feel light and fun. With my beloved bank Simple closing this year, I’ve been looking for new solutions for … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

AppStories, Episode 206 – What Should the iPad Steal from the Mac?

This week on AppStories, we flip last week’s episode around and ask which hardware and software features the iPad should steal from the Mac. Sponsored by: DEVONthink – The one place for storing and working with all your documents, snippets, and bookmarks [subscribe_to_appstories] | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Spotify Announces It Will Offer a New CD-Quality, Lossless Streaming Music Tier Later This Year

At its Stream On event today, Spotify announced that it is adding a new CD-quality lossless tier to its music streaming service later this year. Spotify says the high-resolution streaming is one of its users’ most-requested features and that it is working with speaker manufacture … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Genius Scan 6.0: A Sophisticated iPhone and iPad Scanning App for All Kinds of Users

My scanning needs are modest. I occasionally need to scan a receipt or document for personal or work reasons, but the frequency with which I do that has steadily declined over the years. I have a Fujitsu ScanSnap scanner, which is excellent, but if it broke, I wouldn’t replace it … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 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 8 years of listening carefully to its users. The app tracks your Mac’s: Battery Bluetooth devices CPU GPU Storage Memory Network connection And, with a helper app, yo … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

MacStories Unwind: A Crazy Word Game from Matthew Inman of The Oatmeal, Logitech’s New HomeKit Doorbell, A For All Mankind Podcast and New Emoji are Coming

[audio_player src=”https://cdn.simplecast.com/audio/0de98bba-5e4d-4879-94dc-8c76a3a88322/episodes/97f5da93-8e8a-441f-a6a2-f8a8e1d9de61/audio/f370f165-3162-4467-b2c3-c45d628c195f/default_tc.mp3” mime_type=”audio/mpeg” total_duration=”00:24:21” caption=”“] [subscribe_to_unwind] Spo … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Apple Updates Its Platform Security User Guide

Yesterday, Apple updated its Platform Security User Guide to cover new hardware and software features on its platforms. The guide is broken down into hardware security, system security, encryption and data protection, app security, services security, network security, development … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

AppStories, Episode 205 – What Should the Mac Steal from the iPad?

This week on AppStories, we consider the hardware and software features that the Mac should steal from the iPad. Sponsored by: HelloFresh – Click this link and use code appstories10 for 10 free meals, including free shipping! [subscribe_to_appstories] | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Logitech Circle View Doorbell Offers Superior Camera Hardware with the Benefits of HomeKit Secure Video

For nearly a year, I had a Logitech Circle View camera perched above the front door of my house, which allowed me to keep an eye out for visitors and deliveries. The wide-angle lens was able to capture my front stoop as well as my yard, providing an excellent perspective on what … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago

Emojipedia Previews the Emoji Included in the Second Beta of iOS and iPadOS 14.5

Earlier today, Apple released the second developer beta of iOS and iPadOS 14.5, which includes new emoji. The latest additions, which include 217 emoji when you account for skin tone and other variations, have been cataloged by Jeremy Burge at Emojipedia. Highlights include coupl … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 years ago