The Bear Team Releases Public Beta of Lettera, a New Mac Markdown Editor

Today, the team behind note-taking app Bear announced the public beta of Lettera, a new Mac text editor, based on Panda, an earlier beta that was used to work out the Bear 2.0 text editing engine. That immediately caught my eye because I’ve been using Panda for months. In fact, i … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 30 minutes ago

MacStories Setups Update: Batteries, Chargers, E-Ink Note-Taking, and Videogames

It’s beta season, which is as good an excuse as any to mix up our setups with new gadgets and apps. Between travel, preparing for our OS review research and writing sprint, and revisiting Apple system apps, the past few months have resulted in changes to our setups. Summer travel … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 hours ago

Apple Improves Screen Time for Parents, but There’s Room to Grow

One of Apple’s tentpole features at WWDC was a ground-up makeover to Screen Time that’s designed to give parents more granular and reliable control over their kids’ device use. I got a demo of the changes while I was at Apple Park, and they’re extensive. That’s good because Scree … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 20 hours ago

iPadOS 27 (Finally) Lets You Automate Window Placement with Shortcuts

MultiSwitcher for iPadOS 27. This has probably flown under the radar over the past week as Apple users’ attention has (rightfully so) focused on Siri AI and Liquid Glass updates, but there’s a little treat hidden in Shortcuts for iPad power users that deserves a proper mention. I … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 1 day ago

Three Features Coming to Photos This Fall via Apple Intelligence

Photo editing is getting some of the most interesting Apple Intelligence features this fall. At WWDC, Tyler Stalman interviewed Jon McCormack, Apple’s Vice President of Camera and Photos Software Engineering, and Della Huff, the company’s Senior Manager of Camera and Photos Produ … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 3 days ago

MacStories Weekly: Issue 517

This week, in addition to the usual links, app debuts, and recap of MacStories' articles and podcasts:Did Apple Just Permanently Change the Way They Announce OS Updates?, by JonathanApple at Human Scale, by JohnSafari for iOS 27: Where's the Share Button?, by FedericoSiri Betas, … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 4 days ago

Podcast Rewind: WWDC Reactions, Computex News, and Interviews with Apple Design Award Winners

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts: AppStories This week, Federico and John are joined by Myke Hurley and Chris Lawley to share their first impressions of the WWDC keynote and discoveries in the hours following the presentation. And in a second special … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 6 days ago

WWDC 2026: Between Seasons

It’s my last day at Apple Park for my seventh in-person WWDC, and as I’m waiting for my final briefing just outside the Steve Jobs Theater – ever so magnificent in its polish, and yet always so strangely calm a place – I keep returning to a thought that’s been circling my head, b … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 7 days ago

Hello Weather: Half Off for WWDC Week, Just in Time for Summer [Sponsor]

Summer and WWDC arrive together this year, and Hello Weather is ready for both. It’s one of the most beloved indie weather apps around, and right now it’s half off, which makes it a great time to give it a try as your daily driver. Hello Weather has always been known for its simp … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 7 days ago

WWDC 2026: macOS 27 Icon Refinements

During this year’s WWDC keynote, Apple announced improvements to icons for all of its first-party apps. The company says that by “integrating additional layers of Liquid Glass directly into the icon artwork itself,” icons now “appear sharper and more defined.” It’s certainly a no … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 8 days ago

WWDC 2026: By the Numbers

Every WWDC keynote announcement contains a multitude of statistics that often fly by. Something percent faster this, another percent faster that – it’s a lot to take in. Well, we’ve combed through the keynote, press releases, and website to pick out all the important points, alon … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 8 days ago

visionOS 27: The MacStories Overview

Source: Apple. Siri AI is coming to spatial computing, but that’s not all Apple announced for visionOS 27 during yesterday’s WWDC keynote. Vision Pro users have new capabilities and platform improvements to look forward to this fall, too, and we’re going to dive into all of it. S … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 8 days ago

Apple Highlights New Services Features Coming This Fall

Source: Apple. As much as I love the keynote, one of the parts of WWDC I look forward to the most each year is Apple’s roundup of features and changes coming to its services alongside the fall’s OS updates. The company delivered on my hopes this morning with quite a long list of … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 9 days ago

watchOS 27: The MacStories Overview

Source: Apple. During yesterday’s WWDC keynote, Apple introduced the latest software for the Apple Watch, watchOS 27. As with the other Apple platforms, much of the focus this year was on Siri AI, but there are plenty of quality-of-life improvements to look forward to as well. Le … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 9 days ago

macOS 27 Golden Gate: The MacStories Overview

Source: Apple. Apple’s crack marketing team has once again put their heads together and come up with another California landmark to use as the namesake for the latest version of macOS. During the WWDC keynote, we were introduced to macOS 27 Golden Gate. As with all of Apple’s pla … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 9 days ago

The Third Generation of Apple’s Foundation Models and AFM Core Advanced

I just came back to my hotel room after a long day at Apple Park (I documented most of it in my Instagram stories, including a very cool shot), and, like everyone else here in Cupertino, I’m still processing the information overload from the past 12 hours. The MacStories team alr … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 9 days ago

iOS and iPadOS 27: The MacStories Overview

Source: Apple. During today’s WWDC keynote, Apple unveiled updates across its family of OSes. The keynote itself was very different in structure from previous years, with a lot of the focus on Siri and Apple Intelligence, which, for the most part, are fully cross-platform. (For m … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 9 days ago

Siri AI and the Latest in Apple Intelligence: The MacStories Overview

Source: Apple. The big question coming into today’s WWDC keynote was what Apple would have to offer in terms of AI – or, as the company refers to it, Apple Intelligence. Given Apple’s behind-the-scenes struggles, delayed features, and partnership with Google to re-architect its F … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 9 days ago

WWDC 2026: Small Details and Compatibility Lists

Source: Apple. Today’s WWDC 2026 keynote had an unusual structure, in that it didn’t explicitly section off each operating system to discuss its new features. Instead, with the focus on Siri and Apple Intelligence, Apple talked about a select few improvements before flashing a hu … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 9 days ago

WWDC 2026: Apple Publishes Keynote Video

Source: Apple. As usual, this year’s WWDC was a packed event. Apple introduced Siri AI, Apple Intelligence features powered by a new architecture, quality-of-life platform improvements, safety features for children, and numerous other changes across its OSes. Supported By Unread … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 9 days ago

Clic for Sonos: The Native App Sonos Should’ve Made, Now Up to 50% Off [Sponsor]

I make Clic because Sonos speakers sound incredible, and the app you use to control them should feel just as good. It’s a premium Sonos companion built natively for Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. Unlike AirPlay, Clic tells your speakers to … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 10 days ago

Podcast Rewind: Automation Wishes, RG Rotate Impressions, Lessons from Shipping Apps, and Heading to Apple Park

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts: AppStories This week, Federico and John share their WWDC automation wishes. On AppStories+, they share more details on their research setups for the summer. NPC: Next Portable Console This week, we update listeners on … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 13 days ago

MacStories Weekly: Issue 516

This week, in addition to the usual links, app debuts, and recap of MacStories' articles and podcasts:Next Stop, WWDC, by JohnA WWDC Channel, Codex Computer Use, and More, by JonathanSmall Changes, Big Wins, by Jonathan This Story is for Club Members Get weekly newsl … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 13 days ago

Decoding “Developer” in a Changing App Landscape

Boy, have things changed. A lot. When I started writing at MacStories over a decade ago, there was a long list of beloved native Mac apps. It was a stable group of excellent apps, but there weren’t many new ones coming on the scene. Instead, developers were focused on iOS and iPa … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 13 days ago

Coming Soon: What’s Next on Apple TV and Apple Arcade in June 2026

It’s a new month, Apple has a slate of new and returning TV shows, new Arcade games are on the way, and Formula 1 is heading to Europe, which means it’s time for a roundup of everything coming to Apple TV and Apple Arcade in June 2026. Let’s dive in. Apple Arcade Apple Arcade is … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 15 days ago

RemCTL 1.0.5, Now with Support for All-Day Reminders and Task Assignments

RemCTL 1.0.5 with support for task assignments and all-day reminders. I wanted to share a quick update to RemCTL, my CLI for Reminders that I released last week, which brings almost every Reminders feature to your agent or terminal of choice. As it turns out, I forgot to support … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 15 days ago

2026 Apple Design Awards Winners Announced

With WWDC right around the corner, Apple has revealed the winners of the annual Apple Design Awards. The Awards are given to an app and game from a pool of 36 finalists in the following categories: Delight and Fun Inclusivity Innovation Interaction Social Impact Visuals and Graph … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 16 days ago

Designed in California: An Apple History Podcast from Myke Hurley and Jason Snell

Apple has one of the richest and most interesting histories in Silicon Valley. It’s the story of a startup, a company that nearly failed, and a remarkable comeback all rolled into one that’s punctuated by some of the most beloved products in tech history, along with some duds. To … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 17 days ago

Monthly Log: May 2026

In this month's edition of the Monthly Log:What’s Old Is New: My Return to Bear, by DevonNot All Writing Is the Same: Rethinking How I Create and Organize Documents with Obsidian, Notion, and Antinote, by John This Story is for Club Members Get weekly newsletters, ex … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 18 days ago

Podcast Rewind: macOS 27 Wishes, Pictonico!, Lessons in Pranking, and Packing for WWDC

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts: AppStories This week, Federico explains how he’s using the recently-released Notion developer platform before he and John share their wishes for macOS 27. On AppStories+, John asks Federico about the technical underpi … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 19 days ago

MacStories Weekly: Issue 515

This week, in addition to the usual links, app debuts, and recap of MacStories' articles and podcasts:My Setup, by JonathanGadget Grab Bag, by JohnRegion-Free Computer Use in Codex for Mac with Cua Driver, by Federico This Story is for Club Members Get weekly newslet … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 20 days ago

BenQ’s More Affordable 5K Display Offers Mac Users Greater Flexibility with Some Trade-Offs

Source: BenQ Until last fall, I was the happy owner of a first-generation Studio Display. In most respects, it was great. The screen was crisp, the colors vibrant, and it included many quality-of-life features other displays lack. Features like the Studio Display’s built-in USB-C … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 20 days ago

Introducing RemCTL: The Power-User Reminders CLI for macOS and AI Agents

RemCTL in the macOS Terminal app. Today, I’m pleased to release my latest free and open source project: RemCTL, a power-user Reminders CLI that, unlike others, exposes all the latest Reminders features as of iOS and macOS 26. RemCTL supports reading and writing subtasks, tags, se … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 21 days ago

Mindspace: A Private All-in-One Journal App Made for iPad [Sponsor]

Mindspace is a journal for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac that pulls everything you’d normally find scattered across multiple apps into a single scrollable timeline. The app pulls your writing, photos and videos, voice notes, mood and habit trackers, locations, and tasks together to t … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 24 days ago

Podcast Rewind: iOS and iPadOS 27 Wishes, CrankBoy, a Comfort Zone Q&A, and WWDC Preparation

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts: AppStories This week, Federico and John share their wishes for iOS and iPadOS 27. On AppStories+, we tackle Visual Intelligence and whether there are any use cases that aren’t creepy. NPC: Next Portable Console This w … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 26 days ago

MacStories Weekly: Issue 514

This week, in addition to the usual links, app debuts, and recap of MacStories' articles and podcasts:Antinote, by JonathanIt's All Just Software, by JohnObsidian into Claude and App Quality, by Jonathan This Story is for Club Members Get weekly newsletters, exclusiv … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 27 days ago

Introducing the All-New MacStories Shortcuts Archive

Alongside Federico’s release of Shortcuts Playground, we have a new and improved Shortcuts Archive page. The design adopts a new modular card system for navigation, search, filtering, and the shortcuts themselves, making it easier than ever to find what you’re looking for from am … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 28 days ago

Shortcuts Playground Remote: The Generative Shortcut That Makes Other Shortcuts

Shortcuts Playground Remote, the shortcut to create shortcuts. After months of work and debugging, I launched Shortcuts Playground, a plugin for Claude Code and Codex that lets you create shortcuts for Apple’s Shortcuts app with natural language. The plugin is free and open sourc … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 28 days ago

Introducing Shortcuts Playground: Create Apple Shortcuts with Claude Code or Codex

Shortcuts Playground in Claude Code. Today, I’m pleased to introduce something I’ve been working on for the past six months: Shortcuts Playground, a plugin for Claude Code and Codex that can create any shortcut for Apple’s Shortcuts app using natural language. With Shortcuts Play … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 28 days ago

Book Beats: Reading to the Rhythm

Tracking the books you read is well-trodden App Store ground. So is making music playlists. But what if you combined the two? The result is Book Beats, a new iPhone and iPad app from Olea Studios’ Casey and Lisa Doyle, that does just that, managing to elevate books and music in a … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 29 days ago

Real Madrid Immersive Documentary Releases This Friday on Apple Vision Pro

Source: Apple. Apple’s push into immersive sports continues this Friday with the release of Real Madrid: The Weight of Greatness, an immersive documentary centering on the world’s most decorated football club. With a running time of 20 minutes, the short film records the action s … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 29 days ago

Apple Intelligence-Infused Accessibility Features Promise Greater Flexibility and Power

Source: Apple. In what I expect will be an overarching theme at WWDC 2026, Apple’s Accessibility group took the wraps off an impressive collection of features coming later this year. The announcement, which is timed to lead into Global Accessibility Awareness Day on Thursday, emp … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 1 month ago

Apple Announces Its 2026 Apple Design Award Finalists

Today, Apple announced the finalists for the Apple Design Awards in six categories: Delight and Fun Inclusivity Innovation Interaction Social Impact Visuals and Graphics Each category includes three finalists for a total of 18 apps and games from across Apple’s platforms: Delight … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 1 month ago

Indigo: A Clever Mashup of Bluesky and Mastodon in One Timeline

Last week, Soapbox Software (Ben McCarthy and Aaron Vegh) released Indigo, an iPhone, iPad, and Mac app that offers a unique take on social media, allowing you to log into both Bluesky and Mastodon in a single app. In the increasingly fractured social media landscape we live in, … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 1 month ago

BetterTouchTool: Now with a Powerful Launcher for Your Mac [Sponsor]

BetterTouchTool has long been one of the Mac’s most versatile customization tools, offering deep control over trackpad and mouse gestures, keyboard shortcuts, Stream Deck buttons, Floating Menus, window actions, Apple Shortcuts, and more. The latest version adds a powerful new Sp … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 1 month ago

Podcast Rewind: Swapping Apps, Multiple Steam Controllers, Matt’s New Cult, and John’s High-Tech Shoes

Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts: AppStories This week, John and Federico kick off the app swap challenge, with each of them giving the other three apps to use. We’ll be checking in on how it’s going each week with a final roundup of the results of th … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 1 month ago

MacStories Weekly: Issue 513

This week, in addition to the usual links, app debuts, and recap of MacStories' articles and podcasts:The Automation Calculus Has Changed, by JohnIt’s Time Apple Bit the Bullet With Their Own Fitness Band, by JonathanMy Favorite Tips and Tricks for Working with Codex Inside ChatG … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 1 month ago

Apple Recognizes Developer Community Leaders

Source: Apple. Yesterday, Apple published a new page on its Developer site highlighting the contributions of 50 prominent members in the Apple developer community. The page recognizes individuals from around the world and across a variety of disciplines, from technical writing, c … | Continue reading


@macstories.net | 1 month ago