1Password can now unlock automatically when unlocking your Mac. The feature is now available to 1Password 8 users. You’ll need to enable it in settings. You can set the “reset” timer between 10 minutes and never. Of course, this all depends on your own environment and comfort level, but if you find yourself annoyed by... Continue reading →

In this deep dive, we look deeper into Focus Modes and bust some myths holding people back. This truly is one of the most transformative features Apple offer...

My workflow for creating setups, where your Mac automatically configures itself for a specific type of work, has changed. In this video I explain why I like ...

Here’s a clever little trick using Moom and my extended Apple Magic Keyboard to make the most of your window sizing with very little effort.More info on Moom...

In the latest Labs Deep Dive we took a look at the best workflows and uses for perhaps Apple’s most underutilized app, Freeform.▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ All About MacSpark...

I’m building out my system in Apple Reminders as I research a future project. In the latest Deep Dive session, I shared what I’m doing with Apple’s impressiv...

Some Labs members have asked if there is a way to do transcription privately and without using third-party applications. You can! In this video, I demonstrat...

I had to chuckle when I read this Verge article about Meta’s attorneys botching their document redactions during the FTC antitrust trial. Having spent three decades in the legal racket, it was shocking to me how often lawyers (and their staff) were completely flummoxed by the idea of digital redaction. Way more often than not,... Continue reading →

Charlie Chapman, the developer behind Dark Noise — the white noise generator I use constantly — is back with a another Mac application that feels custom-tailored for me. It’s called Framous, and it allows you to take screenshots on your Apple devices and elegantly frame them inside an appropriate Apple device bezel. As someone who... Continue reading →

One of the best features Apple has added in recent years is Focus Modes. I use them every day across all my devices, and they have become an essential part of how I manage my attention, my work, and even my personal life. At its core, a Focus Mode is a filter between you and... Continue reading →

There’s a new version of one of my favorite window managers. However, with the upcoming built-in Window Management features coming with macOS Sequoia, do we even need a third-party window manager? Well … it depends. A Look at Moom 4 - 00:00 Keyboard Shortcuts for Everything - 02:32 More on Moom 4's Palette - 02:56 Moom with Shortcuts - 04:15 Moom 4 or Window Management in macOS Sequoia? - 05:12 --- Download the Shortcut shown in this video: https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/84d93ea764324969a7f68200ea338e61 Moom 4: https://manytricks.com/download/moom ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ All About MacSparky ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 📄 Read my Blog https://www.macsparky.com 📚 Browse through the MacSparky Field Guides https://learn.macsparky.com ⚙️ Join the MacSparky Labs https://www.macsparky.com/join/ 🗞️ Subscribe to the MacSparky Newsletter https://sparky-media-inc.ck.page/2eb4ea7041 🎙️I’m the co-host of three podcasts on Relay FM: Mac Power Users 🖥️ https://www.relay.fm/mpu Automators ⚙️ https://www.relay.fm/automators Focused 👓 https://www.relay.fm/focused

Using Alfred with the Bypass for Shortcuts Workflow from Stephen Millard, I can launch, edit, and even extract URLs from shortcuts very fast. In this video, I explain how it works.

I've heard from several members asking how I'm using the Stream Deck with Apple Mail. Here's an explanation along, with downloadable links to referenced scri...

A Labs member wrote in about combining Mac-based automation (in his case setting a Focus mode) with a Stream Deck profile change. You can do this! There are a few tricks though, and in this video I show you the ropes.

Now that we’ve had Desktop Widgets on macOS for a while, here’s the current state of my widgets. I also share a few tips to make using them more pleasant on your Mac… This is a post for MacSparky Labs Members. Care to join? Or perhaps you need to sign in?

I’m pleased to welcome a new sponsor to MacSparky: Whisper Memos. I love this app’s blend of utility and simplicity. You just open the app and start talking. It uses AI technologies to get an excellent transcription of your words, separated logically into paragraphs. You then get an email with an AI-generated subject line, so... Continue reading →

I share the Productivity toolset I use in this video, as I put the finishing touch to my Productivity Field Guide.▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ All About MacSparky ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬📄...

OmniFocus is an amazing productivity tool, but getting access to your data could be easier. The Packal Alfred Scripts can really help. These scripts let you search and jump around your OmniFocus projects with just a few keystrokes. They’re fast, they work great, and they’ll save you tons of time. Once installed, you access your... Continue reading →

During MacSparky Labs events, I often get asked about how I manage duplicates on my Mac. I use Gemini from MacPaw, part of my Setapp subscription. Here I wal...

When I saw that my friend and fellow nerd, Tim Stringer, bought a new Stream Deck, I knew it would be an excellent interview for the Friends of Dave series i...

Bartender got an update, and it’s a doozy. In this video, I walk through all the new features and how you can tame your menu bar with Bartender.

When I saw that my friend and fellow nerd, Tim Stringer, bought a new Stream Deck, I knew it would be an excellent interview for the Friends of Dave series in the MacSparky Labs. We did the interview with a live audience, and Tim did not disappoint.… This is a post for the Early Access... Continue reading →

When I saw that my friend and fellow nerd, Tim Stringer, bought a new Stream Deck, I knew it would be an excellent interview for the Friends of Dave series in the MacSparky Labs. We did the interview with a live audience, and Tim did not disappoint. In this video, Tim talks about his Stream Decks and how he uses them, along with some great tips for getting started with Stream Deck.(This “Friends of Dave” interview was recorded with a live audience, 27 October 2023. It was edited for continuity.)elgatohttps://elgato.com📄 Check out my Blog https://www.macsparky.com 📚 Browse through the MacSparky Field Guides https://learn.macsparky.com ⚙️ Join the MacSparky Labs https://www.macsparky.com/join/ 🗞️ Subscribe to the MacSparky Newsletter https://sparky-media-inc.ck.page/2eb4ea7041 🎙️I co-host three podcasts on Relay FM:Mac Power Users https://www.relay.fm/mpu Automators https://www.relay.fm/automators Focused https://www.relay.fm/focused

I’m a fan of the new Sonoma Desktop Widgets. However, I also make a living making screencasts and having all those widgets on screen can sometimes be a pain. There is a setting you can toggle under the Desktop & Dock settings: The problem with this, of course, is that it’s a pain in the... Continue reading →

As you get better at making automated tools for your Mac, you’ll realize how scarce unique key combinations become as your number of keyboard-triggered automations increases. That’s where the Hyper Key comes in. This video explains what the Hyper Key is, how to set it up, and how to use it. 00:00 - Intro 00:42 - What is the Hyper Key? 01:57 - Programming Hyper Key 03:38 - Using the Hyper Key 04:41 - In Conclusion Geek Meter – 1 You’ll be shocked at how easy it is to create a Hyper Key with BetterTouchTool. BetterTouchTool https://folivora.ai Karabiner-Elements https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬MacSparky Links▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ The Blog https://www.macsparky.com The MacSparky Field Guides https://learn.macsparky.com The MacSparky Labs https://www.macsparky.com/join/ The Mac Power Users Podcast https://www.relay.fm/mpu The Automators Podcast https://www.relay.fm/automators The Focused Podcast https://www.relay.fm/focused The Newsletter https://sparky-media-inc.ck.page/2eb4ea7041 MacSparky on Mastodon https://mastodon.social/@macsparky MacSparky on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/macsparky/

With help from several Labs members, I’ve completed my camera cart build. Now it’s time for a walkthrough video.00:02 - Intro00:14 - Cart Overview00:51 - Car...

I’ve spent too much time complaining about Siri lately. That’s not because Siri doesn’t deserve criticism (it does!) but because my job is to help you get the most out of this stuff, even when the underlying tech could be better. So I’m going to do a series of videos explaining some of my favorite... Continue reading →