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Om podden
AppStories is a weekly exploration of the world of apps by MacStories’ Federico Viticci and John Voorhees. Each week, they discuss the best new apps, the impact of apps on our culture, and cover the stories behind popular apps. Hosted by Federico Viticci and John Voorhees.
The podcast AppStories is created by Federico Viticci, John Voorhees. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
Avsnitt
How We're Using AI
20 april 2025 |
54 min
This week, Federico and John revisit the fast-paced world of artificial intelligence to describe how they’re using a variety of tools for their everyday workflows.
On AppStories+, John shares his theory of the way we’ll look at AI models in the future.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Notion – Try the powerful, easy-to-use Notion AI today.
Links and Show Notes
How We’re Using AI
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Time for Calendars
13 april 2025 |
34 min
This week, Federico and John survey their favorite calendar apps, discussing the strengths and weaknesses of each.
On AppStories+, Federico shares Shortcuts tips for working with Google’s Gemini API and the highly structured data it returns. Plus he and John share their concern and cautious optimism for the future of Shortcuts.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
Links and Show Notes
Calendar Apps
-
Calendar Apps
- Apple Calendar
- Raycast Calendar Integration
- BusyCal
- Mac App Store
- iOS and iPadOS App Store
- Setapp
- Read more in Club MacStories Weekly
- Dato
- Fantastical
- Week Number
- Notion Calendar
- Timepage
- Week Calendar
- Agenda
- Calendar 366 II
- Structured
- FirstSeed Calendar
- minical
-
Also Mentioned:
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Return of the Utility Grab Bag
6 april 2025 |
31 min
This week, Federico and John share some of their favorite utility apps, including Amphetamine, Text Lens, Gifski, Folder Peek, Mic Drop, Keka, and Marked.
Then, on AppStories+, Federico and John extend their conversation about utilities with six more favorites.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Rogue Amoeba: makers of incredibly useful audio tools for your Mac. Use the code
MS2504through the end of April to get 20% off Rogue Amoeba’s apps. [[more]]
Links and Show Notes
Follow Up
- BarCuts issues fixed
- Zen Browser
Our Favorite Utilities
- John
- Amphetamine
- Gifski
- Mic Drop
- Also mentioned: Week Number
- Federico
- Text Lens
- Also mentioned: Text Sniper and CleanShot X
- Folder Peek
- Keka
- Text Lens
- Joint Pick
Menu Bar Tangent
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Pick 3: Automations
30 mars 2025 |
40 min
This week, Federico and John take listeners on a tour of the wide variety of automations they’ve been working on so far this year, including shortcuts, Claude projects, and Zapier zaps.
On AppStories+, Federico and John dig a little deeper into some of the more complex automations that they’ve been working on in 2025.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
This episode is sponsored by:
- BetterTouchTool – Get ready for BTT Mobile. Visit the BetterTouchTool community to learn more.
- Notion – Try the powerful, easy-to-use Notion AI today.
Links and Show Notes
Pick 3: Our Latest Automations
- Federico’s Audio Transcription Automation
- John’s Fetch Podcast Details Shortcut
- Federico on Using AI Actions with Newer AI Models
- Unread’s Shortcuts Integration
- Federico’s Use of a Simple API for Transcribing of YouTube Videos
- John’s Podcast Clips Claude Project
- Also mentioned
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From Dashboard Widgets to Breaking News: Mark Gurman's Path to Bloomberg
23 mars 2025 |
47 min
In this special interview episode, Federico and John welcome Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman to discuss his 16-year journey covering Apple. Mark shares how he started as a teenage app developer before joining 9to5Mac and eventually Bloomberg. The conversation explores Mark’s most memorable scoops, the evolution of Apple news coverage, his relationship with Apple, and advice for aspiring tech journalists.
On AppStories+, Federico and John get into the weeds to explore the hardware and apps Mark Gurman uses and discuss Apple’s acquisition of Pixelmator.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Memberful – Easy-to-Use Reliable Membership Software
- Drafts – Where text starts. New and expired subscribers can use the link to get your first year of Drafts for $9.99.
- Tripsy – Your Travel Toolkit. Use the link for 25% off a lifetime purchase or 30% off a 1-Year subscription.
Links and Show Notes
An Interview with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman
- Dashcode
- Mark Gurman’s writing at Bloomberg
- Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter
- Stories and topics covered:
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Shortcuts Utility Apps Revisited
16 mars 2025 |
32 min
This week, Federico and John explore a collection of Shortcuts helper utilities that extend functionality beyond the built-in system actions, sharing how these apps address gaps in Apple’s Shortcuts implementation across the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
On AppStories+, John interviews Federico about his recent story that concludes web applications often provide superior experiences to native apps on iPad, examining how this trend reflects broader challenges in the iPad ecosystem.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Incogni – Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code APPSTORIES with this link and get 60% off an annual plan.
Links and Show Notes
Shortcuts Utility Apps
- AppStories, Episode 145: Shortcuts Utility Apps
- Shortcuts Helper Apps
- Actions
- MenuBot
- AI Actions
- Shortery
- Actions for Obsidian
- Browser Actions
- Alex Hay’s Apps, now developed by Snailed It
- BarCuts
- Text Workflow
- Also mentioned
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Our Self-Imposed Tech Deadlines
9 mars 2025 |
35 min
This week, Federico and John share their self-imposed tech deadlines for the hardware and software they use.
On AppStories+, Federico and John follow up their tech deadlines with the hardware they expect to add to their setups in 2025.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Memberful – Easy-to-Use Reliable Membership Software
Links and Show Notes
Our Tech Deadlines
- Federico
- Absent significant improvements in iPadOS 19, Federico will add a Mac to his setup.
- Unless ChatGPT starts integrating more tightly with apps, Federico will cancel his subscription.
- Absent new exclusives, Federico will sell his PS5.
- John
- Barring substantial iPadOS improvements, John plans to experiment with Android tablets.
- If Apple’s cellular modems extend the battery life of the iPhone 17 Pro phones, John may drop out of Plus Club.
- If Apple supports third-party plugins for Final Cut Pro for iPad, John will consider moving more of his video editing to the iPad.
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The Missing Middle
2 mars 2025 |
32 min
This week, Federico and John examine the widening gap between consumer and enterprise apps, asking what happened to prosumer and small business app market.
On AppStories+, John doesn’t buy Apple’s explanation of why the iPhone 16e doesn’t have MagSafe and has an email-adjacent theory about task managers.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Incogni – Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code APPSTORIES with this link and get 60% off an annual plan.
Links and Show Notes
Why Aren’t Developers Making Prosumer and Small Business Apps Anymore?
- Todoist
- Fantastical
- PDFpen
- Beeper
- Adium
- GroupMe
- Slack
- Discord
- Microsoft Teams
- Notion
- Shortwave
- Claude
- Memberful
- GitHub
- 1Password
- Google Workspace
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5 for 5: Five Predictions, Five Years
23 februari 2025 |
30 min
This week, Federico and John make five app predictions for the next five years covering everything from App Intents and automation to the fate of the App Store.
On AppStories+, John talks through a very specific use case for Apple’s new iPhone 16e.
We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.
To learn more about an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.
This episode is sponsored by:
- P – The water reminder and hydration app.
Links and Show Notes
5 for 5: Five App Predictions for the Next Five Years
- Additional Reading:
- Apple Intelligence: The MacStories Overview
- iOS and iPadOS 18: The MacStories Review
- macOS Sequoia: The MacStories Review
- Gemini 2.0 and LLMs Integrated with Apps
- Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.2: A Deep Dive into Working with Siri and ChatGPT, Together
- Apple Reveals A Partial Timeline for the Rollout of More Apple Intelligence Features
- Apple’s Commitment to AI Is Clear, But Its Execution Is Uneven
- Widgets and What Apple’s Recent Expansion of App Intents Might Mean for the Shortcuts App
- An App Store First: Delta Adds Patreon Link for Purchase and Perks
- The Delta Videogame Emulator Launches on the App Store
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A Classic Pick 2: Hidden Gems
16 februari 2025 |
31 min
This week, Federico and John each pick two apps you may or may not have heard of or considered using and explain why you should give them a try.
On AppStories+, we extend our picks with several more apps we’ve been testing recently. Learn more at appstories.plus.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Memberful – Easy-to-Use Reliable Membership Software
- Incogni – Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code APPSTORIES with this link and get 60% off an annual plan.
Links and Show Notes
Classic Pick 2: Hidden Gems Edition
- Federico’s Picks
- John’s Picks
- ScreenFloat
- MassReplaceIt
- Also Mentioned:
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Thoughts on Covering AI Our Way
9 februari 2025 |
36 min
This week, Federico and John say goodbye to the AppStories+ pre-show and hello to the new post-show. Then, for the main event, they update listeners on how MacStories plans to cover AI news and tools.
Links and Show Notes
Thoughts on Covering AI
- AI Companies Need to Be Regulated An Open Letter to the U.S. Congress and European Parliament
- Apps and Services Mentioned:
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.
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Life Tracking, Journaling, and the Vision Pro with Devon Dundee
2 februari 2025 |
34 min
This week, Federico and John are joined by Devon Dundee of the Magic Rays of Light podcast to talk about his approaches to life tracking and journaling and how the Apple Vision Pro has become his primary computer.
Links and Show Notes
Life Tracking, Journaling, and the Vision Pro
- Awesome Habits
- Chronicling
- Collections
- Everlog
- Apple Vision Pro
- More Apps
- Follow Devon Online:
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.
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Three Browsers Are Better Than One with Matt Birchler
26 januari 2025 |
35 min
This week, for episode 420 Federico and John are joined by Matt Birchler, co-host of Comfort Zone and many other projects to talk about web apps, email, AI, and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
Links and Show Notes
Web Apps, AI, and the Future of App Stores
- Browsers
- How Chinese AI Startup DeepSeek Made a Model that Rivals OpenAI
- Matt’s Recent App Favorites
- Quick Reviews
- Where to Find Matt Birchler
Check out our Desk Setups: https://www.macstories.net/setups/
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An Apple Intelligence Wish List
19 januari 2025 |
31 min
This week, Federico and John look ahead to WWDC and beyond to consider how Apple Intelligence could be used to change the way we use our iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
Links and Show Notes
An Apple Intelligence Wish List
- A more conversational Siri
- Developer Tools
- Pixelmator Team to Join Apple
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Apple Prophecies and Predictions for 2025
12 januari 2025 |
29 min
This week on AppStories, Federico and John predict what we’ll see from Apple in 2025. From agentic AI to App Intents and Siri, they explore what will shape the year ahead and the implications to users and developers.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Memberful – Easy-to-Use Reliable Membership Software
Links and Show Notes
Apple 2025 Predictions and Prophecies
Federico:
- There will be more agentic AI than ever
- Even more Chromium browsers with AI features
- Apple will acquire a smaller AI company like Mistral
- More smart glasses will be released as will custom community firmware for the Meta Ray-Bans
- Vision Pro apps will come to Android XR
- Game streaming apps will come to the iPhone
- Someone will try to get a Sony PS4 emulator approved by Apple app reviewers
John:
- A shakeout of AI apps
- App Intents adoption will be slow
- The Apple Watch will gain new sensors and Apple and Massimo will settle their blood oxygen dispute
- AI will continue to slow development of other OS features
- We’ll see more innovative game controllers for the iPhone
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Affiliate Linking Policy[Link](Apple Prophecies and Predictions for 2025)
Our Holiday Nerd Projects
22 december 2024 |
25 min
This week, Federico and John round up the tech and productivity projects they have planned for their annual holiday break.
Links and Show Notes
Holiday Nerd Projects
- Mentioned
- ChatGPT
- Claude
- NotebookLM
- Zapier
- Retroid Pocket 5
- Obsidian
- Logitech Creative Console
- Mac mini and retro gaming
- TRMNL
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The AppStories Year in Review
15 december 2024 |
30 min
This week, Federico and John explore the trends that shaped the App Store in 2024.
Links and Show Notes
The 2024 Trends that Shaped the App Store
- Government Regulation and Antitrust Enforcement
- Apple Details How It Plans to Comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act
- Understanding Apple’s Response to the DMA
- AppStories, Episode 369 – Digging into the DMA
- AltStore Is Now Available in the EU
- The EU Pulls iPadOS Into the DMA Fray
- Apple Changes How the Core Technology Fee Works and Confirms that Its Alternative Business Terms Will Apply to iPad Apps This Fall
- European Commission Preliminarily Finds That Apple Has Violated the Digital Markets Act
- Apple Announces New Changes to the Browser Choice Screen and Default Apps on iOS and iPadOS in the EU
- The European Commission Opens Two iOS Interoperability Proceedings Against Apple
- Understanding the DOJ’s Antitrust Complaint Against Apple
- AppStories, Episode 377 – Why the DOJ Claims Apple Is a Monopoly
- The Vision Pro
- Apple Releases Immersive Short Film Submerged and Announces Upcoming Immersive Content
- visionOS 2: The MacStories Review
- Apple Announces New Immersive Video Content for the Vision Pro
- visionOS 2: The MacStories Overview
- A Comprehensive Guide to Gaming on the Apple Vision Pro
- The Apple Vision Pro Developer Strap
- Artificial Intelligence
- Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.2: A Deep Dive into Working with Siri and ChatGPT, Together
- Apple’s Commitment to AI Is Clear, But Its Execution Is Uneven
- iOS and iPadOS 18: The MacStories Review
- AI Companies Need to Be Regulated: An Open Letter to the U.S. Congress and European Parliament
- Wired Confirms Perplexity Is Bypassing Efforts by Websites to Block Its Web Crawler
- Indie Developers: The Foundation of the Vision Pro and the Future of App Intents
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The 2024 MacStories Selects Awards
9 december 2024 |
55 min
This week, Federico and John reveal the winners of the 2024 MacStories Selects Awards, which celebrate the exceptional design, innovation, and creativity of apps across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch.
Links and Show Notes
The 2023 MacStories Selects Awards
- MacStories Selects 2024: Recognizing the Best Apps of the Year
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Transit
- Best New App: Croissant
- Runner-Up: Simple Scan
- Best App Update: Sofa 4
- Runners-Up: Remind Me Faster 5.2 and GoodLinks 2
- Best New Feature: Play’s Channels Inbox
- Runners-Up: Sequel Magic Lookup and Halide’s Process Zero
- Best Watch App: Chronicling
- Best Design: Shareshot
- Runner-Up: Reeder
- Best Mac App: Moom 4
- Runner-Up: Bezel
- Readers’ Choice: Play
- Runner-Up: Sequel
- App of the Year: Delta
- Runner-Up: Raycast
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Assistive AI Automation Tools
1 december 2024 |
48 min
This week, Federico and John consider the differences between assistive and generative AI and cover the sort of automation tasks for which assistive AI is useful.
Links and Show Notes
Assistive Versus Generative AI
- Context, Consent, and Control: The Three C’s of Data Participation in the Age of AI
- What Is Agentic AI?
- AI Companies Need to Be Regulated: An Open Letter to the U.S. Congress and European Parliament
- Apple’s Commitment to AI Is Clear, But Its Execution Is Uneven
- Apple Frames 3.3 Adds Support for iPhone 16 and 16 Pro, M4 iPad Pro, and Apple Watch Series 10 (feat. An Unexpected Technical Detour)
- ChatGPT’s Last Mile Solution for Apple Frames: ImageMagick
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A Cavalcade of Nightmares
24 november 2024 |
67 min
This week, John is joined by his NPC: Next Portable Console co-host Brendon Bigley for a conversation about Control Ultimate Edition coming to the Mac, Bluesky, a friendly interrogation about the apps and gear Brendon uses, and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Capacities – A novel approach to note-taking.
Links and Show Notes
A Conversation with Brendon Bigley
Control Ultimate Edition Is Coming to the Mac
- Control Ultimate Edition Is Coming to the Mac Early Next Year
- Whisky
- Apple is rumored to be working on a game-specific app store
Bluesky
- MacStories Is on Bluesky
- Cross-Posting
- Other apps
A Friendly Interrogation
- Email: Gmail
- Task Manager: Tot
- Writing
- Web Host
- RSS and Read-Later
- Readwise Reader
- Also mentioned
- Podcasting
- Hardware
- Audio Hijack
- Ableton Live
- Camo Studio
- Also mentioned: SoundSource
- Podcast Host: Transistor.fm
- Also mentioned:
iOS Game Recommendations
Follow Brendon’s work
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What Kind of Person Are You?
17 november 2024 |
37 min
This week, Federico and John interview Robb Knight, John’s co-host on Ruminate, a show about the open web, snacks, and the occasional videogame about Mastodon, ActivityPub, and the apps Robb uses day-to-day.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Notion: Try the powerful, easy-to-use Notion AI today.
Links and Show Notes
A Conversation with Robb Knight
- Ruminate
- Ruminate is a bi-weekly podcast exploring the weird web, offbeat snacks, and more hosted by John Voorhees and Robb Knight. Every other Tuesday, John and Robb bring the weird web to your podcast player with their latest online discoveries, oddball snacks, and the occasional videogame obsession. It’s a fun and entertaining mix that will broaden your Internet horizons and amuse you at the same time.
- A Selection of Robb’s Projects
- We Got Family podcast https://wegot.family
- EchoFeed https://echofeed.app
- Pokedon https://pokedon.rknight.me
- What Robb Uses
- Hardware
- First Mac: 2009 iMac
- Current Mac: - 16" M2 Max with 64GB of memory and 1TB storage
- Apps
- Task Management: Godspeed
- Email: Mail
- Writing: Obsidian
- Code: Visual Studio Code, GitHub Copilot, and PHP Storm
- RSS: NetNewsWire for the Mac andReeder Classic for iOS synced with Miniflux
- Hardware
- Follow Robb
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The Apple Version of Comic Sans
10 november 2024 |
51 min
This week, Federico and John 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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Memberful – Help Your Clients Monetize Their Passion.
- Inoreader – Build your own newsfeed with Inoreader
Links and Show Notes
A Conversation with Chris Lawley
- Chris Defends Himself
- Pixelmator Team to Join Apple
- Hush
- A Friendly App InterrogationInterrogation
- Lire
- Read-later and bookmarks
- Writing
- Obsidian
- Also mentioned:
- Drafts
- Chris’ Dark Knight theme for Drafts
- Pair of Thieves Black V-necks
- Podcast Recording
- Video Recording
- Video Editing
- Final Cut Pro for iPad
- Task Manager
- Reminders
- Email
- Apple Mail
Follow Chris’ work:
- Chris Lawley’s YouTube channel
- The Untiled Site
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Wrist Browsing
3 november 2024 |
32 min
This week, Federico and John 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.
Links and Show Notes
watchOS 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
- Follow Jonathan’s work at MacStories
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Raycast, Tailscale, and Day One with Comfort Zone's Niléane Dorffer
27 oktober 2024 |
41 min
This week, Federico and John are joined by Niléane Dorffer who writes at MacStories and is a co-host of Comfort Zone, a podcast 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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Memberful – Help Your Clients Monetize Their Passion.
- Notion – Try the powerful, easy-to-use Notion AI today.
Links and Show Notes
Introducing Niléane Dorffer
- Comfort Zone
- Latest episode:
Raycast
- MacStories Coverage of Raycast:
Tailscale
- MacStories Coverage of Tailscale:
Day One
- Related MacStories Coverage:
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
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iPad mini Review: The Third Place
22 oktober 2024 |
48 min
This week, Federico and John announce that AppStories is now on YouTube and discuss the Club MacStories Fall Membership Drive and listener follow-up before digging into Federico’s iPad mini review and the concept of “The Third Place.”
Links and Show Notes
AppStories Main Show
AppStories is Available on YouTube
The Club MacStories Fall Membership Drive
- Kicking Off Club MacStories’ Fall Membership Drive with Deals and Perks
- Join us today at 11 AM Eastern U.S. time for a special live event in the Club MacStories+ Discord channel
Follow-Up
- Mesh Gradient Ultimate is a very good Mac app for making gradients
Federico’s iPad mini (A17 Pro) Review
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A Desk Setup Update
13 oktober 2024 |
31 min
This week, Federico and John share the changes they’ve made to their desk setups in recent months and the philosophies that have driven those changes.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Notion: Try the powerful, easy-to-use Notion AI today.
Links and Show Notes
Our Desk Setups
John
- Large Balolo desk shelf with modular accessory attachments, including the latest addition of Balolo’s Tablet Holder
- AppStories listeners can get 10% off by using the code
macstoriesat checkout - Other Balolo accessories I use include:
- Phone Qi2 charger accessory
- Headphones hook
- Apple Watch charging mount
- Loupedeck or Stream Deck mount
- AppStories listeners can get 10% off by using the code
- Harmon Kardon SoundSticks III speakers
- Trendnet 2.5Gbps switch
- Satachi 2.5Gbps dongle
- Steelcase Gesture chair
- Video setup
- Also mentioned:
Federico
- Gigabyte M27U monitor
- CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt dock with Apple Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable
- Custom-built eGPU with NVIDIA 4090 Founders Edition (more details on NPC)
- LG C2 65” OLED
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Our iPhone Lock Screen and Control Center Controls
6 oktober 2024 |
35 min
Federico and John share the iPhone Lock Screen and Control Center controls that they’re currently using them.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Memberful – Help Your Clients Monetize Their Passion
Links and Show Notes
Software and Hardware Requests for Listeners
- John wants a great gradient creation app
- Something similer to Shareshot without the screenshot framing
- Also mentioned:
- Federico is looking for a small to medium-sized portable, battery-powered speaker that supports Spotify Tap and Wi-Fi for Spotify Connect (not Sonos)
Our Lock Screen and Control Center controls
- Podcast mentioned
- Lock Screens
- John
- Quick Note
- Remind Me Faster
- Paku
- Mercury Weather
- Halide
- Federico
- Quick Note
- Flashlight
- Remind Me Faster
- Reminders
- John
- Control Center
- John
- Page one
- Remind Me Faster
- Volume and Brightness
- Focus Modes
- Voice Memos
- Quick Note
- Home
- Now Playing
- CARROT Weather
- Personal Hot Spot
- Light and Dark Mode
- Timers and Alarms
- Page two
- Sceens
- Kitchen lights
- Office lights
- Office power outlets
- Page one
- Federico
- Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth
- Now Playing
- Shortcuts
- AirPlay
- Timer
- Calculator
- Camera
- AirDrop
- Flashlight
- Quick Note
- Remind Me Faster
- HomeKit devices
- Cellular
- Shazam
- Screen Recording
- John
- Also mentioned:
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iOS 18 App Updates We Love
29 september 2024 |
36 min
This week, Federico and John share their favorite app updates that take advantage of what’s new in iOS 18.
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.
Links and Show Notes
AppStories+ Subscriber Pre-Show
Visit 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:
- Also mentioned
- The Meta Orion AR Glasses
iOS 18 App Updates We Love
- Paku
- GoodLinks
- Also mentioned:
- Play
- Shareshot
- SwitchBuddy - Control Mark
- Remind Me Faster
- Ticci Tabs
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macOS Sequoia: The MacStories Review
22 september 2024 |
27 min
This week, Federico and John cover the highlights of macOS Sequoia, a good update that feels unfinished.
Links and Show Notes
macOS Sequoia: The MacStories Review
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iOS and iPadOS 18: The MacStories Review
16 september 2024 |
67 min
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.
Links and Show Notes
AppStories+ Pre-Show
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
- Coming Tuesday:
- watchOS 11: The MacStories Review
- macOS 15 Sequoia: The MacStories Review
- Coming Wednesday:
- visionOS 2: The MacStories Review
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Productivity Powerhouses (Part 2)
8 september 2024 |
44 min
This week, Federico and John finish their tour of the apps they use for work and play to be productive.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Memberful – Help Your Clients Monetize Their Passion
Links and Show Notes
Productivity Powerhouses (Part 2)
- Follow-Up
- Read Later, Automation, Media, and More
- Federico
- Readwise Reader
- Clip from AltStore on iOS
- Shortcuts
- Sofa
- Unwatched and Play for video
- John
- Federico
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Productivity Powerhouses (Part 1)
1 september 2024 |
35 min
This week, in part 1 of a two part series, Federico and John explore the note-taking, task management, and RSS readers that make them more productive.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Sentry – Mobile crash reporting and app monitoring. Try it for free.
Links and Show Notes
Productivity Powerhouses: Note-Taking, Task Management, and RSS Readers
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The Future of Apps
25 augusti 2024 |
36 min
This week, Federico and John celebrate episode 400 by considering what the future will hold for apps 400 more episodes from now.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Balance – A thoughtfully designed personal finance and budgeting app from one of our own Club MacStories members.
Links and Show Notes
Follow Up
The Future of Apps
- The Atomization of Apps
- Glasses and Audio Widgets
- Related:
- Web Apps
- 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
- Related:
- App Customization
- Will the Digital Hub Change?
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Hardware Ideas Apple Should Steal
18 augusti 2024 |
44 min
This week, Federico and John look at the gadget landscape to find inspiration for expanding Apple’s hardware lineup.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Memberful – Help Your Clients Monetize Their Passion
Links and Show Notes
App 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
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Rethinking Podcast Apps
11 augusti 2024 |
33 min
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 episode is sponsored by:
- Setapp – the place to get apps. Use the code appstories20 at checkout for 20% off.
Links and Show Notes
Rethinking Podcast Players
- Apps Discussed
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watchOS 11 Preview
4 augusti 2024 |
47 min
This week, John is joined by Jonathan to preview watchOS 11, which is one of the most feature packed OSes being updated this fall.
This episode is sponsored by:
- 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.
Links and Show Notes
watchOS 11 Preview
- watchOS 11: The MacStories Public Beta Preview
- Topics Covered:
- Smart Stack and Live Activities
- Interactive widgets
- Topics Covered:
- Health and Fitness
- Training Load
- Other apps mentioned
- Vitals
- Pausing Goals
- Fitness app customization on iOS
- Training Load
- Watch Faces
- Suggested photos for watch face
- Translation
- Similar to iOS app in functionality
- Cycle Tracking
- Maps adds hikes in US national parks
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macOS Sequoia Preview
21 juli 2024 |
36 min
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.
Links and Show Notes
macOS Sequoia
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iOS and iPadOS 18 Preview
15 juli 2024 |
41 min
This week, Federico and John run down the highlights of the iOS and iPadOS 18 public betas that were released today.
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.
Links and Show Notes
The iOS and iPadOS 18 Public Betas
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A Feature-Packed Fall
7 juli 2024 |
40 min
This week, Federico and John cover the developer features they’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.
Links and Show Notes
Features for the Fall
- Related Developer Sessions
- App Intents
- Core ML
- Translation API
- SwiftUI
- AccessorySetupKit
- Journal API
- Embedded Swift
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The Tip Jar
30 juni 2024 |
36 min
This week, Federico and John share tips on iPadOS, macOS, RSS, cross-platform file transfers, and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Sofa – Be More Intentional with Your Downtime.
Links and Show Notes
Tip 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
- 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
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Rethinking Email
23 juni 2024 |
32 min
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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- ScreenCastsONLINE: Get The Most Out of Your Apple Devices. Save 20% on your plan.
Links and Show Notes
AI Follow-Up
- [How We’re Trying to Protect MacStories from AI Bots and Web Crawlers – And How You Can, Too](https://www.macstories.net/stories/ways-you-can-protect-your-website-from-ai-web-crawlers/)
- [Wired Confirms Perplexity Is Bypassing Efforts by Websites to Block Its Web Crawler](https://www.macstories.net/stories/wired-confirms-perplexity-is-bypassing-efforts-by-websites-to-block-its-web-crawler/)
Rethinking Email
- Apps Discussed
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The Pizza Is the Model
16 juni 2024 |
31 min
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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Notion: Start turning ideas into action. Try it free today.
Links and Show Notes
WWDC Recap
- Related:
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:
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WWDC 2024: The AppStories Interviews with ADA and Swift Student Challenge Distinguished Winners
14 juni 2024 |
41 min
Today, for a special episode of AppStories recorded at Apple Park, Federico and John interview ADA winners Devin Davies, the maker of Crouton, Katarina Lotrič and Jasna Krmelj from Gentler Streak, and James Cuda and Michael Shaw of Procreate, plus Adelaide Humez and Dezmond Blair, Distinguished Winners of Apple’s Swift Student Challenge.
This episode is sponsored by:
- 1Password Extended Access Management – Secure Every Sign-In for Every App on Every Device
Links and Show Notes
Today’s episode is available on the MacStories YouTube Channel too
2024 Apple Design Award Winner Winner Interviews
- Devin Davies (Crouton)
- Katarina Lotrič and Jasna Krmelj (Gentler Streak)
- James Cuda and Michael Shaw (Procreate Dreams)
- Related:
2024 Swift Student Challenge Distinguished Winners
- Dezmond Blair
- Dezmond is 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
- Adelaide is a high school student from Lille, France. Her winning app allows users to create a journal of their dreams, based on emotions.
- Adelaide’s app: Egretta
- Related:
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WWDC 2024: Intelligence Briefings
12 juni 2024 |
29 min
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
Links and Show Notes
visionOS 2 and Apple Intelligence
Related Coverage:
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
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WWDC 2024: Keynote First Impressions
11 juni 2024 |
63 min
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:
- 1Password Extended Access Management: Secure every sign-in for every app on every device.
Links and Show Notes
MacStories’ 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
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Final WWDC 2024 Preparations and Predictions
9 juni 2024 |
39 min
Recorded live in the Club MacStories Discord, Federico share their final preparations and plans for WWDC 2024 along with some last-minute predictions.
This episode is sponsored by:
- CleanMyMac X: Your Mac. As good as new. Get 15% off today with code APPSTORIES15.
- 1Password Extended Access Management: Secure every sign-in for every app on every device.
Links and Show Notes
Preparations for WWDC
- What’s in my WWDC 2024 Bag?
- Review Preparation
- Context for our Predictions
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Our 2024 watchOS and tvOS WWDC Wishes, Plus Two New Podcasts
3 juni 2024 |
40 min
This week, Federico and John introduce Comfort Zone and NPC: Next Portable Console, two new MacStories podcasts and share their wishes for watchOS and tvOS updates.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Raycast – A collection of powerful productivity tools all within an extendable launcher. Fast, ergonomic and reliable.
Links and Show Notes
Two New MacStories Podcasts
- Comfort Zone
- Hosts:
- Christopher Lawley
- Niléane Dorffer
- Matt Birchler
- Art: Scout Wilkinson
- Music: Will LaPorte
- Subscribe: [subscribe_to_cz]
- Hosts:
- NPC: Next Portable Console
- Hosts:
- Brendon Bigley
- Federico Viticci
- John Voorhees
- Art: Brendon Bigley
- Music: Will LaPorte
- Subscribe: [subscribe_to_npc]
- Hosts:
watchOS Wishes
- Related coverage:
tvOS Wishes
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Our 2024 macOS and visionOS WWDC Wishes
26 maj 2024 |
47 min
This week, Federico and John continue their annual wishlists with a look at macOS and visionOS.
This episode is 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 15% off today with code APPSTORIES15
Links and Show Notes
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:
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Our 2024 iOS and iPadOS WWDC Wishes
19 maj 2024 |
40 min
This week, Federico and John kick off their annual WWDC wishes episodes with a conversation about the changes they’d like to see made to iOS and iPadOS 18.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Things: a beautiful native app for Apple Vision Pro.
Links and Show Notes
Our iOS and iPadOS 18 Wishes for WWDC
- Context:
- Also mentioned:
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The Trouble with iPadOS
13 maj 2024 |
42 min
This week, Federico and John examine iPadOS and the ways it has failed to get the basics right.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Concepts – Sketch, Note, Draw.
- Celtreos – The shoot-em-up game with tiny ships, big weapons, waves of foes, power-ups and obstacles.
Links and Show Notes
The Trouble with iPadOS
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A Roomful of Suits: AltStore and Delta with Riley Testut
5 maj 2024 |
34 min
This week, Federico and John 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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Tailscale: Secure remote access to shared resources. Sign up today.
- Notion: Start turning ideas into action. Try it free today.
Links and Show Notes
An Interview with Riley Testut
- AltStore
- 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:
- Other coverage:
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Apple's Swift Student Challenge
29 april 2024 |
46 min
This week, Federico and John 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, John is joined by 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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- DetailsPro – Design with SwiftUI, no coding required.
Links and Show Notes
Student Interviews with Susan Prescott, Harshitha Rajesh, and Roscoe Rubin-Rottenberg
- Swift Student Challenge
- Coding Resources
- Swift Playgrounds
- Swift.org Getting Started
- 100 Days of Swift
- Introducing SwiftUI
- Harvard CS50 course
- Other Apple Coding Resources
Interviews with Past Swift Student Challenge Winners
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Obsidian Setup Check-In
21 april 2024 |
38 min
This week, Federico and John revisit their Obsidian systems, themes, and favorite plugins.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Genius Scan – A scanner in your pocket.
- Jam: Developer-friendly bug reports in 1 click.
Links and Show Notes
An 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
- A shallow system of numbered folders organized by areas, projects, and related notes
- 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
- John
- Our Themes
- Federico
- John
- Minimal and testing Border
- Plugins
- Federico
- MacStories Plugins
- Club MacStories Plugins
- Footnote Shortcut
- Settings Search
- Home Tab
- Templater
- Actions for Obsidian
- Commander
- John
- Federico
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A Classic Mac Pick 2
14 april 2024 |
34 min
This week on AppStories, Federico and John return with a classic Pick 2 episode focused on the Mac.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Jam: Developer-friendly bug reports in 1 click.
- Notion: Start turning ideas into action. Try it free today.
- Tailscale: Secure remote access to shared resources. Sign up today.
Links and Show Notes
A Classic Mac Pick 2
- rcmd
- via Link Dump #3
- Keep It
- MacWhisper
- Fork
- Lightning Round of Safari Extensions
- John
- Federico
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Are We Entering a Post-App World?
7 april 2024 |
35 min
This week, Federico and John explore whether we’re experiencing the beginning of the end of apps and consider what might replace them.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Genius Scan – A scanner in your pocket.
- Jam – Developer friendly bug reports in 1 click.
Links and Show Notes
Are We Entering a Post-App World?
- Trends that may point to a post-app world:
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Why the DOJ Claims Apple Is a Monopoly
31 mars 2024 |
45 min
This week, Federico and John explain what’s going on with the US Department of Justice’s lawsuit against Apple that claims the iPhone-maker is monopolizing the smartphone market.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Copilot Money – The best money tracker, with native iOS and Mac apps. Try it free.
- Jam – Developer friendly bug reports in 1 click.
- Tailscale – Secure remote access to shared resources. Sign up today.
Links and Show Notes
The US Department of Justice’s Antitrust Complaint Against Apple
- Understanding the DOJ’s Antitrust Complaint Against Apple
- Additional Reading:
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Shortcuts Wishlist (2024 Edition)
24 mars 2024 |
44 min
This week, Federico and John take a hard look at Shortcuts to discuss what needs fixing and the new features they hope to see Apple announce at WWDC this year.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Memberful – Easy-to-Use Reliable Membership Software
- Jam: Developer friendly bug reports in 1 click.
- Notion: Do your most efficient work with Notion AI. Try it free today.
Links and Show Notes
Ruminate
Shortcuts Wishlist
- iOS and iPadOS 17: The MacStories Review
- macOS Sonoma: The MacStories Review
- AppleScript: Shortcuts Bridge or Crutch?
- MacStories Starter Pack: Introducing Obsidian Shortcut Launcher, A Free Plugin to Trigger Shortcuts from Obsidian
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Why'd You Download That?
17 mars 2024 |
35 min
This week, Federico and John take a look at their latest app downloads on a variety of Apple devices.
This episode is sponsored by:
- TelemetryDeck – privacy-first app analytics and usage data that’s not evil. Get 3 month free for any paid plan with checkout code APPSTORIES (new customers only)
- Jam – Developer friendly bug reports in 1 click.
Links and Show Notes
Why’d You Download That?
- Empty Fasting
- Chronicling
- Also Mentioned: Tempo
- Speechify
- Also Mentioned: NaturalReader
- Shonen Jump
- Table of Contents
- Windora
- PastePal
- Tower and Kaleidoscope
- Also Mentioned: Working Copy
- Text Workflow
- Prologue
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Examining Apple App and OS Design Trends
10 mars 2024 |
35 min
This week, Federico and John examine Apple’s Sports and Journal apps and visionOS for clues to what their designs may mean for the next major revisions of Apple’s OSes.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Memberful – Help Your Clients Monetize Their Passion
Links and Show Notes
Examining Apple App and OS Design Trends
- Sports
- Journal
- visionOS
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Introducing the MacPad
4 mars 2024 |
51 min
This week, Federico introduces the world to the MacPad, a hybrid Mac/iPad that he built from an M2 MacBook Air and 11" iPad Pro, and John quizzes him on the build process, software involved, and what it’s like to use.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Concepts: Sketch, Note, Draw.
- 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.
- Notion: Do your most efficient work with Notion AI. Try it free today.
Links and Show Notes
The MacPad
- MacPad - How I Created the Hybrid Mac-iPad Laptop and Tablet That Apple Won’t Make
- The Hardware and Accessories
- M2 MacBook Air (13", 1 TB model)
- 11" iPad Pro (4th gen.)
- Rolling Square Edge Pro Core magnetic clips
- iFixit toolkit
- PopSocket (PopGrip)
- ESR cover for iPad Pro
- JETech sleeve for 13" laptops
- GL-iNet Beryl AX3000 portable router
- CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt dock
- 90-degree angled USB-C connector
- GameSir G8 Galileo game controller
- Apps Mentioned:
- Luke Miani’s headless MacBook Air video
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Apple Vision Pro Entertainment Apps
25 februari 2024 |
33 min
This week, Federico and John share some of their favorite visionOS entertainment apps.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Memberful – Help Your Clients Monetize Their Passion
- Porkbun – Get $1 off your next domain name with the code APPDEVFOO1.
Links and Show Notes
Vision Pro Entertainment Apps
- Federico’s Apps
- John’s Apps
- NowPlaying
- OneCast
- Blackbox for Vision
- Stak!
- Compatibility Mode Games
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Exploring visionOS
18 februari 2024 |
42 min
This week, Federico and John move on from hardware to explore visionOS, where it hits, where it misses, and what they’d like to see in the future from the OS.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Paste – Endless clipboard for Mac and iOS devices
- Crouton – A home for your favorite recipes from wherever you find them
Links and Show Notes
Exploring visionOS
- Discover visionOS
- Learn about visionOS
- Designing for visionOS
- Blackbox: Rebooting an inventive puzzle game for visionOS
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Apple Vision Pro: Hardware First Impressions
11 februari 2024 |
50 min
This week, Federico and John tell the story of how Federico got his Apple Vision Pro before sharing their first impressions of the Vision Pro hardware.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Memberful – Easy-to-Use Reliable Membership Software
- Bills to Budget – Get your Bills paid on time and your Budgets under control, with Bills to Budget!
- 1Blocker – Enjoy websites without distractions
Links and Show Notes
All Roads Lead to Rome Via Cincinnati
- The story of how Federico’s Apple Vision Pro made it from North Carolina to Rome
Apple Vision Pro Hardware First Impressions
- Apple Vision Pro Travel Case
- Syntech Hard Carrying Case in medium
- 30.5-inch Wood Curved Lap Desk Table Tray with Handles
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Digging into the DMA
4 februari 2024 |
41 min
This week, Federico and John consider how Apple’s response to the Digital Markets Act will change the world of apps for developers and users in the EU.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Notion: Do your most efficient work with Notion AI. Try it free today.
Links and Show Notes
Digging into the DMA
- Understanding Apple’s Response to the DMA
- Apple Shares List of Alternate Browsers That Will Be Available to EU Users in iOS 17.4
- Apple Details How It Plans to Comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act
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Workflow Experiments
28 januari 2024 |
31 min
This week, Federico and John Federico and John explore workflows they’ve been trying in a variety of apps.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Memberful - Help your clients monetize their passion. Get started for free today!
Links and Show Notes
Workflow Experiments
- John’s Obsidian Note Organization System
Federico Experiments with: - Omnivore - Apple Podcasts at 1.2x speed - Journal - MacStories review
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Apple Vision Pro Preparations, Questions, and Apps
21 januari 2024 |
38 min
This week, Federico and John kick Apple Vision Pro preparations into high gear, sharing the questions they still have about the device and discussing the apps developers are working on.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Notion – Do your most efficient work with Notion AI. Try it free today.
- 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.
Links and Show Notes
Magic Rays of Light Joins MacStories
- Magic Rays of Light Joins MacStories
- We Are Bringing Magic Rays of Light, Our Podcast about Apple TV, to MacStories
Vision Pro
- Our Apple Vision Pro coverage last week:
- Apple Details Vision Pro’s Launch Day Entertainment Options
- New Apple Vision Pro Hands-On Accounts From Engadget and The Verge
- A Survey of Popular Apps Currently Compatible With Apple Vision Pro
- Every Apple Vision Pro Accessory Option
- Apple Releases a Guided Tour of Vision Pro and Shares a Making Of Video
- Apps We’re Looking Forward to Trying:
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Magic Rays of Light Joins MacStories, Plus Our Favorite Media Tracking Apps
14 januari 2024 |
41 min
This week, Federico and John are joined by Sigmund Judge and Devon Dundee, the hosts of Magic Rays of Light, a weekly show that explores the world of Apple TV and Apple Arcade, which has joined MacStories, to discuss the show’s move to MacStories as well as tvOS and the apps we use to track media.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Memberful – Easy-to-Use Reliable Membership Software
Links and Show Notes
Magic Rays of Light Joins MacStories
- Visit macstories.net on Monday, January 15th for more about Magic Rays of Light joining MacStories.
Media Tracking Apps
- Apps Covered
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The Return of the Classic Pick 2
7 januari 2024 |
35 min
This week, Federico and John pick two apps they’ve been enjoying recently.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Notion – Do your most efficient work with Notion AI. Try it free today.
Links and Show Notes
A Classic Pick 2
-
John’s Picks
- Natural Reader
- Also mentioned: Every Word
- MirrorPlay
- Natural Reader
-
Federico’s Picks
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[[include: appstories_subscri
Fixing the Share Sheet
17 december 2023 |
32 min
This week, Federico and John rethink the share sheet and other ways Apple’s platforms share data.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Zocdoc – Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
- Notion – Do your most efficient work with Notion AI. Try it free today.
Links and Show Notes
MacStories is on Threads
Fixing the Share Sheet
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The 2023 MacStories Selects Awards
11 december 2023 |
46 min
This week, Federico and John introduce the annual MacStories Selects award winners.
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.
Links and Show Notes
The 2023 MacStories Selects Awards
- MacStories Selects 2023: Recognizing the Best Apps of the Year
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Pixelmator
- Best New App: Orion
- Runners Up: Chronicling
- TotK Travel Guide
- Best App Update: Sequel 2.0
- Runner Up: Longplay 2.0
- Best New Feature: Things’ Shortcuts support
- Runner Up: Mercury Weather Trip Forecasts
- Best Design: Mercury Weather
- Runner Up: Matter
- Best Watch App: Broadcasts
- Runner Up: Flighty
- Best Mac App: Mimestream
- Runner Up: Bartender 5
- Readers’ Choice: Ivory
- App of the Year: Widgetsmith
- Runner Up: Ivory
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What If?: Exploring Alternative Apple Timelines
3 december 2023 |
34 min
This week Federico and John explore alternative Apple timelines by asking the question: What if?
This episode is sponsored by:
- Dropzone 4 – The essential drag and drop productivity enhancer.
Links and Show Notes
What If?: Exploring Alternative Apple Timelines
- What if the iPod had never been released?
- What if the iPad had never been released?
- The iPad at 10: A New Product Category Defined by Apps
- A brief history of the iPad, Apple’s once and future tablet
- What if the Pippin had been a hit?
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Nerding Out for the Holidays (Part 2)
26 november 2023 |
34 min
This week, Federico and John conclude their tour of their geeky holiday projects.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Notion – Do your most efficient work with Notion AI. Try it free today.
- Vitally – A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting.
Links and Show Notes
Nerding Out for the Holidays (Part 2)
- Federico’s iPad Keyboard Project
- John’s Backup Project
- easystore 14TB drive
- Note: 18TB model is sold out
- easystore 14TB drive
- Federico’s Search for the Things of Read Later Apps
- John’s Continued Exploration of the Boox Tab Ultra
- Boox Tab Ultra
- Aya Neo
- Obsidian on the Tab Ultra
- Federico’s Apps, TV, and Videogames
- John’s Movies, TV, and Videogames
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Nerding Out for the Holidays (Part 1)
19 november 2023 |
34 min
This week, Federico and John share their geeky holiday season tech projects.
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.
Links and Show Notes
Nerding Out for the Holidays
- John’s 5th Generation iPod Video Restoration Project
- Apps mentioned:
- Parts and Tutorials
- iFixit
- iFlash.xyz
- Elite Obsolete Electronics
- KOKKIA i10s Bluetooth Transmitter
- Federico’s Battery Situation
- The Multi-Battery Lifestyle
- Federico’s Battery Situation and the Switch
- John Obsidian Plugin Exploration and Related Organization System
- Federico’s Wi-Fi Experiments
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Getting Your Digital Life in Order
12 november 2023 |
26 min
This week, Federico and John tackle the struggle with staying organized in the face of the never-ending stream of files and other information.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Notion – Do your most efficient work with Notion AI. Try it free today.
Links and Show Notes
Getting Your Digital Life in Order
- Apps Discussed
- Systems
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The Trouble with Task Management
5 november 2023 |
30 min
This week, Federico and John explore why there are so many good task managers, but none is a perfect fit with the way they work.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Zocdoc – Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
- Vitally – A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting.
Links and Show Notes
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Apple's Scary Fast Event with Stephen Hackett
31 oktober 2023 |
37 min
This week, John is joined by Relay FM’s Stephen Hackett for a recap and thoughts on Apple’s Scary Fast event, which was recorded live in the Club MacStories+ Discord.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Notion – Do your most efficient work with Notion AI. Try it free today.
Links and Show Notes
Apple’s Scary Fast Event
- Apple Introduces the New MacBook Pro in Three M3 Chip Configurations
- Apple Reveals New M3 iMac
- Apple’s October 2023 Scary Fast Event: All The Small Things
- Apple’s October 2023 Scary Fast Event: By the Numbers
- Apple Announces Pricing and Availability Dates for New MacBook Pros and iMac with M3 Chips
- Apple’s October 2023 Scary Fast Event: Replay Today’s Keynote
- Apple’s ‘Scary Fast’ Event Brings the M3 to Life
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Web Apps and Services
22 oktober 2023 |
38 min
This week, Federico and John cover the web apps they use and why they’re sometimes preferable to native apps.
This episode is sponsored by:
- CleanMyMac X – Your Mac. As good as new. Get 5% off today.
- Electric – Unbury yourself from IT tasks. Get a free pair of Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones when you schedule a meeting.
- Vitally – A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting.
Links and Show Notes
Web Apps and Services
- The cult of Obsidian: Why people are obsessed with the note-taking app
- Obsidian
- Mailchimp
- Building Calliope: A Technical Journey Through MacStories’ Big Software Project
- Grammarly
- Twist
- Matter
- Raindrop.io
- Home Assistant
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Building a Link Gathering Machine
15 oktober 2023 |
39 min
This week, John surprises Federico with a link gathering machine he designed for processing and reading the web.
This episode is sponsored by:
- CleanMyMac X – Your Mac. As good as new. Get 5% off today.
Links and Show Notes
John’s Link Gathering Machine
Hardware
Core Apps
- Kiwi Browser
- Matter (web only)
-
Other Apps Discussed
-
Chrome Extensions
-
Bookmarklet
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Apple Vision Pro and Apps
8 oktober 2023 |
48 min
This week, Federico and John spend time with the visionOS simulator and consider the design of the Apple Vision Pro system apps and what to expect from third-party developers.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Zocdoc – Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
- CleanMyMac X – Your Mac. As good as new. Get 5% off today.
- Notion – Do your most efficient work with Notion AI. Try it free today.
Links and Show Notes
Announcements
- Expanding the MacStories Team
- Paid AppStories+ Apple Podcasts subscriptions have been discontinued
- You can subscribe to AppStories+ directly or as part of a Club MacStories Premier membership instead.
Apple Vision Pro Apps
- A selection of stories from MacStories past Apple Vision Pro coverage:
- Apple Vision Pro: A Watershed Moment for Personal Computing
- AppStories, Episode 335 – Federico’s Experience with Apple Vision Pro
- Apple Announces visionOS App Evaluation Process, Labs, and Developer Kits
- Unity Launches PolySpatial Beta Program for visionOS Developers
- David Smith on Adapting Widgetsmith’s Weather Features to visionOS
- Developers’ Early Experiments with visionOS
- Apple Releases visionOS SDK and Developer Tools
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tvOS 17: The MacStories Review with Sigmund Judge
2 oktober 2023 |
31 min
This week, Federico and John are joined by tvOS expert Sigmund Judge, who just finished writing his tvOS 17 review for MacStories, to understand what has changed in tvOS and where it might be heading.
This episode is sponsored by:
TV Forecast – Track, Explore and Discover Your Favorite Shows and Movies
Links and Show Notes
tvOS 17 with Sigmund Judge
- tvOS 17: The MacStories Review
- Sigmund Judge
- Magic Rays of Light podcast
- Threads
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Widgets Everywhere
24 september 2023 |
27 min
This week, Federico and John take a look at some of their favorite apps with interactive widgets for iOS 17, iOS 17, and macOS Sonoma.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Fitbod: Get stronger, faster with a fitness plan that fits you. Get 25% off your membership.
Links and Show Notes
Widgets Everywhere
- Widgetsmith
- Home Widget
- Hue Widgets
- TV Remote
- Marvis Pro and WidgetPod
- LivePod
- Timery
- Pocket Casts
- Widgle
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iOS and iPadOS 17: The MacStories Review
18 september 2023 |
71 min
This week, Federico and John dig into Federico’s review of iOS and iPadOS 17.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Setapp – Power up your efficiency.
- Things 3 – Ready for iOS 17, watchOS 10, and macOS 14
- Daylite CRM – Spend less time managing your business and spend more time doing what you love. Regain control now!
- HelloFresh – Use code 50appstories for 50% off plus free shipping.
- Electric – Unbury yourself from IT tasks. Get a free pair of Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones when you schedule a meeting.
Links and Show Notes
iOS and iPadOS 17: The MacStories Review
- iOS and iPadOS 17: The MacStories Review
- Also mentioned:
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Apple's 2023 Watch and iPhone Event
13 september 2023 |
60 min
This week, Federico and John are joined by Alex live in the Club MacStories+ Discord community for a special episode covering their initial impressions of Apple’s Wonderlust media event, which introduced new iPhones, Apple Watches, and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
- Vitally: A new era for customer success productivity. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting.
- CleanMyMac X: Your Mac. As good as new. Get 5% off
Links and Show Notes
Apple’s Wonderlust Media Event
- Apple’s Fall Media Event Keynote
- Apple’s iPhone 15 and 15 Pro Models: The MacStories Overview
- Apple’s September 2023 Wonderlust Event: Replay Today’s Keynote and Product Videos
- Apple Announces Availability Dates for New iPhones and Apple Watches
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Bookmarking Apps Revisited
3 september 2023 |
46 min
This week, Federico and John look at the history of bookmarking apps, their relationship to read-later apps, how their use of bookmarking apps has changed, and their favorite modern bookmarking apps.
This episode is sponsored by:
- AudiOn: Record, edit, share: Tell your story with AudiOn. Try it free now.
- Electric: Unbury yourself from IT tasks. Get a free pair of Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones when you schedule a meeting.
Links and Show Notes
Bookmarking Apps
- Historical Context
- The Relationship of Bookmarking Tools and Read-Later Apps
- Everything Apps for Bookmarking
- Modern Bookmarking Apps
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Gadget Show & Tell
20 augusti 2023 |
44 min
This week, Federico and John look back at the gadgets they’ve accumulated over the summer and share what’s worked and what hasn’t.
This episode is 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 for 50% off plus free shipping.
Links and Show Notes
Summertime Gadget Show and Tell
- John
- GL-iNet Beryl AX3000 WiFi 6 travel router
- Home Assistant Yellow
- Eve Room
- Audio-Technica ATH-M70X Closed-Back Dynamic Professional Studio Monitor Headphones
- Chargers and Batteries
- In the Kitchen
- Coming Soon…
- Federico:
- OtterBox MagSafe battery
- Anker Lightning battery
- Beats Studio Buds+
- CableConn USB-C cablehttps://www.amazon.it/gp/aw/d/B09LY9GWS5)
- SUCIKORIO Neon Strisica LED light strips for outside and inside
- Meross Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini (EU version)
- Meross Smart Wi-Fi Indoor/Outdoor Plug (EU version)
- Gardena smart irrigation system
- Aqara camera G3
- Zyxel network switch
- Aqara Water Leak Sensor
- Aqara Smart Hub M2
- Anker PowerPort III 65 W
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A Classic Pick 2
13 augusti 2023 |
31 min
This week, Federico and John each share two app recommendations in a classic Pick 2 episode.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Fitbod: Get stronger, faster with a fitness plan that fits you. Get 25% off your membership.
Links and Show Notes
A Classic Pick 2
- Peak
- Matter
- MarkEdit
- Also mentioned:
- Home Assistant
- Also mentioned:
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Why The Way Apps Are Made Has Changed
6 augusti 2023 |
29 min
This week, Federico and John 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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Concepts - Sketch, Note, Draw.
- Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
Links and Show Notes
Why The Way Apps Are Made Has Changed
- Read-it-later app Pocket to shut down its Mac app on August 15th
- John’s Mastodon post about Pocket discontinuing its Mac app
- Modern Life is Rubbish by Blur
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Where Is The App Economy Heading?
30 juli 2023 |
33 min
This week, Federico and John look at 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.
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.
Links and Show Notes
Where Is The App Economy Heading?
-
Apps Discussed
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macOS Sonoma and iOS and iPadOS 17 Public Betas
23 juli 2023 |
41 min
This week, Federico and John to talk about Safari, videoconferencing, Messages, and gaming on macOS Sonoma, plus stickers and widgets on iOS and iPadOS 17.
This episode is 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 shipping.
Links and Show Notes
macOS Sonoma Public Beta Preview Continued
iOS and iPadOS 17 Public Beta Preview
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watchOS and macOS Sonoma Public Beta Previews
16 juli 2023 |
54 min
This week, John is joined by Alex Guyot to talk about the watchOS 10 and macOS Sonoma public betas.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Concepts - Sketch, Note, Draw.
- Fitbod: Get stronger, faster with a fitness plan that fits you. Get 25% off your membership.
Links and Show Notes
watchOS 10 and macOS Sonoma Public Beta Previews
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The Web Apps We Use
9 juli 2023 |
30 min
This week, Federico and John explore the web apps and services they use and how they use them.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
Links and Show Notes
The Web Apps We Use
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Do Wishes Come True? (Part 2)
2 juli 2023 |
43 min
This week, Federico and John conclude a look back at their pre-WWDC OS wishes for iOS 17, watchOS 10, and tvOS 17 and look at which came true.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Notion – Do your most efficient work with Notion Projects. Try it free today.
Links and Show Notes
Grading our OS Wishes, Part 2
- Related Stories
- Related Wishes Episodes
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Do Wishes Come True? (Part 1)
25 juni 2023 |
41 min
This week, Federico and John revisit their pre-WWDC OS wishes, including visionOS, macOS, and iPadOS, and look at which came true.
This episode is 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.
Links and Show Notes
Grading our OS Wishes
- Related Stories
- Related Wishes Episodes
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The Impact of OS Updates on Third-Party Apps
18 juni 2023 |
38 min
This week, Federico and John consider the impact that this year’s OS releases will have on third-party apps.
This episode is 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 Certified Veterinary Nutritionists. Prepped in our kitchens with free delivery to your door. Get 50% off.
Links and Show Notes
The Impact of OS Updates on Third-Party Apps
- Apps Discussed
- More
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What's Next for Notes, Reminders, and Macs
11 juni 2023 |
46 min
This week, John is 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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- DetailsPro – Design with SwiftUI, no coding required. 50% off throughout June.
- CleanMyMac X – Your Mac. As good as new. Get 5% off today.
- Daylite – Regain Control of Your Business With Daylite
Links and Show Notes
Apple Notes, Reminders, and New Macs
- WWDC 2023: Notes and Reminders to Gain Significant Productivity Features This Fall
- WWDC 2023: Mac Hardware Roundup
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WWDC 2023: Swift Student Challenge Winners, The MacStories Interviews
9 juni 2023 |
32 min
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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Setapp – An efficient way to get and distribute apps on macOS, iOS, and web.
Links and Show Notes
2023 Swift Student Challenge Winner Interviews
- Damian Perez, an East Bay student who developed an app for his girlfriend who is a medical student
- Henri Bredt, a UX design student from Germany who built an interactive e-Piano in a retro-style-design that teaches users’ how to read sheet music, with a focus on an interactive beginners course
- Maria Eduarda Cabral de Lucena, a student from Brazil and participant in Apple’s Developer Academy who developed an app that introduces the benefits of Yoga in hopes of bringing users’ a sense of relief and well-being that can be life-changing
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WWDC 2023: Apple Design Awards: The AppStories Interviews
9 juni 2023 |
53 min
Today, 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 Endling, Leon Sasson of Rise: Energy and Sleep, and Jakob Lykkegaard of Lykke Studios the maker of stitch.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Setapp – An efficient way to get and distribute apps on macOS, iOS, and web.
Links and Show Notes
2023 Apple Design Awards Interviews
- Zach Gage (Knotwords)
- Swupnil Sahai (SwingVision)
- Philipp Nägelsbach (Endling)
- Leon Sasson (Rise: Energy and Sleep)
- Jakob Lykkegaard (stitch)
- Related:
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WWDC 2023: Federico's Experience with Apple Vision Pro
7 juni 2023 |
39 min
In today’s WWDC episode of AppStories, Federico shares his experience with Apple Vision Pro answering questions from John, Alex, and Club MacStories members.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Setapp – An efficient way to get and distribute apps on macOS, iOS, and web.
Links and Show Notes
Apple Vision Pro
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WWDC 2023: A Stage Manager in iPadOS 17 Deep Dive, Plus Notes, Reminders, StandBy, and More
7 juni 2023 |
41 min
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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Setapp – An efficient way to get and distribute apps on macOS, iOS, and web.
Links and Show Notes
WWDC 2023: Deeper Into The Week’s Announcements
- With iPadOS 17, Stage Manager Is (Finally) Moving in the Right Direction
- Notes
- Reminders
- StandBy
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WWDC 2023: Keynote First Impressions
6 juni 2023 |
37 min
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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Setapp – An efficient way to get and distribute apps on macOS, iOS, and web.
Links and Show Notes
WWDC 2023 Keynote First Impressions
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WWDC 2023: Final Thoughts and Predictions
4 juni 2023 |
54 min
This week Federico and John recorded their last-minute thoughts and predictions for WWDC before a live audience in the Club MacStories+ Discord community.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Setapp – An efficient way to get and distribute apps on macOS, iOS, and web.
- DetailsPro – Design with SwiftUI, no coding required. 50% off throughout June.
- CleanMyMac X – Your Mac. As good as new. Get 5% off today.
- Zocdoc – Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
Links and Show Notes
Our Final Pre-WWDC Thoughts and Predictions
- MacStories at WWDC
- The Format of WWDC
- New Macs
- Pack Your Sunscreen, It’s Going to Be a Long Keynote
- What We’re Excited About
- watchOS
- High-End Headset Display Rumors
- Thoughts on iOS
- Gaming
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Our xrOS Wishes
28 maj 2023 |
47 min
This week, Federico and John talk about Logic Pro for iPad and their wishes for Apple’s rumored mixed reality OS, xrOS.
This episode is 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.
Links and Show Notes
Logic Pro for iPad
- MacStories Hands-On: Podcast Editing with Logic Pro for iPad
- Hands on with Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad
Our xrOS Wishes
- System Features
- Communications
- Stage Manager
- A Virtual Desktop
- Federico’s Hover Theory
- Fitness
- Mindfulness
- Live Sports and Music
- TV and Movies
- Videogames
- Pick 3: Our Top Overall Wishes
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Our macOS Wishes
21 maj 2023 |
41 min
This week, Federico and John share their wishes for macOS 14.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Factor – Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door.
Links and Show Notes
Our macOS Wishes
- Safari
- Stage Manager
- More multitasking wishes
- Spotlight
- Calendar
- Notes
- Reminders
- Syncing app settings
- Music
- Shortcuts
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Our watchOS 10 and tvOS 17 Wishes
14 maj 2023 |
45 min
This week, Federico and John explain the changes to watchOS and tvOS that they’d like to see made in 2023.
Links and Show Notes
watchOS 10 and tvOS 17 Wishes
- watchOS 10 Wishes
- Charge Notifications on the Mac
- Widgets
- Shortcuts
- The Apple Watch Ultra’s Action Button
- The Workout App
- More Information and Guidance About Fitness Statistics
- tvOS 17
- A Floating Song Lyrics Panel
- Quadbox
- An Improved Apple Music Channel
- Live Music Event Programming
- Stage Manager on tvOS
- Siri and HomeKit Integration
- Better Home Screen Organization
- A Manual Queing System
- Add More Sources to Up Next
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Our iPadOS 17 Wishes
7 maj 2023 |
42 min
This week, Federico and John continue their wish list series with their wishes for iPadOS 17.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Zocdoc – Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
Links and Show Notes
Our iPadOS Wishes
- Clamshell mode
- Separate Stage Manager from Multi-windowing
- Controlling Stage Manager
- Controlling Audio and Video inputs and outputs
- Universal Control
- System wishes
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Our iOS 17 Wishes
30 april 2023 |
55 min
This week, Federico and John kick off their annual OS wishes series with a long list of rapid-fire wishes for iOS 17.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Hit The Island – Funn Media’s innovative, fun, and deceptively simple game for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
Links and Show Notes
Follow-Up
- MacStories Unwind Expands to Club MacStories with Unwind+
- Federico’s Mac Setup
Our iOS 17 Wishes
- Control Center
- Lock screen widgets
- Home screen widgets
- System features
- Shortcuts
- Music
- Safari
- Phone
- Apple Podcasts
- App Store
- Reminders
- Home
- A Passwords App
- Notes
- Files
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Return to macOS
23 april 2023 |
55 min
This week, Federico explains his return to the Mac, including his hardware setup and the apps he’s using, and John recommends some apps he should try.
This episode is sponsored by:
- 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
appstoriesat checkout. - Hit The Island – Funn Media’s innovative, fun, and deceptively simple game for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
- Factor – Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Get 50% off your first box.
Links and Show Notes
Federico’s Return to the Mac
- Hardware
- Software
- John’s App Emporium Recommendations
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Automation April: Third-Party Apps with Great Shortcuts Support
16 april 2023 |
37 min
This week, Federico and John dig into third-party apps with excellent shortcuts support.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Viso – Beautiful minimal image viewer for macOS.
Links and Show Notes
Automation April Update
- S-GPT 1.0.2 Brings Date and Time Awareness, Integration with macOS Services Menu, Passthrough Mode, Better HomePod Support, and More
- Automation April: The Loupedeck Live S Is a More Portable and Affordable Automation Control Panel for the Mac
- S-GPT 1.0.1
Apps with Excellent Shortcuts Support
- Bike Outliner
- FoodNoms
- Actions for Obsidian
- Things 3
- Actions
- Albums
- Fantastical
- Book Tracker
- Anybox
- MusicBox
- Crouton and Pestle
- Calory and WaterMinder
- Surfed
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Automation April: A Link Management Workflow and S-GPT
9 april 2023 |
50 min
This week, John explains his 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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Zocdoc – Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
Links and Show Notes
Link Management and Integrating ChatGPT with Apple’s OSes
- Automation April: Thinking About Linking
- Linking Apps:
- Introducing S-GPT, A Shortcut to Connect OpenAI’s ChatGPT with Native Features of Apple’s Operating Systems
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Automation April: Shortcuts Check-In
2 april 2023 |
37 min
This week, Federico and John check in on the shortcuts they use the most and the types of tasks they get the most bang for the buck from by automating.
Links and Show Notes
Automation April
- Remembering Alex Hay, the Maker of Toolbox Pro, During Automation April
- Coming Soon: The Second Annual Automation April Community Event Featuring Shortcuts, Interviews, Discord Workshops, and a Shortcut Contest
Shortcuts Check-In
- Apple Frames 3.0: Completely Rewritten, Support for iPhone 14 Pro and Dynamic Island, New Devices, Multiple Display Resolutions, and More
- ShareMenu 2.0, Now with Better macOS Integration and Support for More Input Types
- Things 3.17 Overhauls the App’s Shortcuts Actions
- My Obsidian Setup, Part 5: Appending Text and Webpage Links to Specific Sections of My ‘Dashboard’ Note
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A Classic Pick 2
26 mars 2023 |
44 min
This week, Federico and John each pick two apps they’ve been enjoying recently and explain why.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Squarespace – Make your next move. Enter offer code APPSTORIES at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
- Setapp – More than 230 powerful apps. Try it free for 7 days.
Links and Show Notes
Pick 2
- John
- Federico
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Revisiting RSS
19 mars 2023 |
51 min
This week, Federico and John revisit RSS to talk about how syncing services and apps have changed and share how their use of RSS has evolved.
This episode is 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.
Links and Show Notes
RSS Revisited
- Early Days
- An Email Tangent
- RSS Sync Services
- RSS Apps Discussed
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Listener Q&A
12 mars 2023 |
57 min
This week, Federico and John answer listener questions about apps, automation, podcasting, tattoos, and more.
This episode is 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.
Links and Show Notes
Listener Q&A
- Editorial
- Instapaper
- Obsidian
- Adobe Podcast
- Earthworks Ethos
- Neumann KMS 104 Plus
- Nuova German LED light strip
- Delonghi La Specialista EC9335M
- Ditre Italia sofa
- Fully sit/stand desk
- Dyson V12 Detect Slim
- Red Rising series
- 20th Century Boys manga
- 8BitDo Ultimate Wireless Bluetooth Controller with Charging Dock for Nintendo Switch
- NYXI Wizard controller
- NYXI Transparent Style Wireless Joy-pad with 8 Colors LED For Switch/Switch OLED
- Hori Switch Split Pad Pro
- Play Asia
- Tracers in the Dark: The Global Hunt for the Crime Lords of Cryptocurrency by Andy Greenberg
- Standing on the Shoulders of Giants by Oasis
- Octopath Traveler II
- Blanc
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The Future of Web Browsers
5 mars 2023 |
42 min
This week, Federico and John cover the increasing competition among web browsers and the emerging features they find most useful.
This episode is 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.
Links and Show Notes
The Future of Web Browsers
- Browsers covered:
- Federico’s story about Command-K bars
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Apple Watch Ultra and the Watch Apps We Use
26 februari 2023 |
37 min
This week, Federico and John compare notes on the Apple Watch Ultra, including what makes it special and what frustrates them, and share the apps they’re using regularly.
This episode is 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.
Links and Show Notes
- Italian shutters
- Lutron HomeKit-enabled blinds
- Upscaling the Nintendo Switch
Apple Watch Ultra and Apps
- Apple Watch Ultra
- Apps
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Artificial Intelligence and Apps (Part 2)
19 februari 2023 |
46 min
This week, Federico and John conclude their mini-series on artificial intelligence with a conversation about the apps they’ve used that include AI features.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Things – Now with Deep Shortcuts Integration
- Issuu – Get started with Issuu today for FREE or sign up for an annual premium account and get 50% off
Links and Show Notes
Apps and AI
- Notion AI
- Readwide Reader’s Ghostreader
- Ice Cubes
- Using ChatGPT to Help Write SwiftUI Code in Streaks
- Playlist AI
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Artificial Intelligence and Apps (Part 1)
12 februari 2023 |
51 min
This week, Federico and John 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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Sofa – Be more intentional with your downtime.
- Daylite – Not just another CRM, the small business app that grow your business and Mac users love!
- Squarespace – Make your next move. Enter offer code APPSTORIES at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
Links and Show Notes
Artificial Intelligence
- ChatGPT Is a Blurry JPEG of the Web | The New Yorker
- 7 problems facing Bing, Bard, and the future of AI search
- This is how Microsoft will compensate websites Bing and ChatGPT steals information from
- CNET pauses publishing AI-written stories after disclosure controversy
- ChatGPT jailbreak forces it to break its own rules
- Getty Images is suing the creators of AI art tool Stable Diffusion for scraping its content
- Replace Grammarly Premium with OpenAI ChatGPT
- CNET’s AI Journalist Appears to Have Committed Extensive Plagiarism
- Elon’s Crumbling Empire + Generative A.I. Goes to Court
- How ChatGPT Will Destabilize White-Collar Work
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Mastodon Web, Mac, and Utility Apps
5 februari 2023 |
46 min
This week, Federico and John conclude their look at Mastodon apps with web and Mac clients, plus Mastodon utilities.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Zocdoc – Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
- Fitbod – Get stronger, faster with a fitness plan that fits you. Get 25% off your membership.
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
Links and Show Notes
Mastodon Web, Mac, and Utility Apps
- iPad Mastodon app follow-up
- Mastodon instances mentioned:
- Web Apps
- Mac
- Wooly (beta)
- Mammoth (beta)
- Official Mastodon client
- Utilities
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Mastodon Clients for iOS and iPadOS
29 januari 2023 |
47 min
This week, Federico and John cover the iPhone and iPad Mastodon apps they’ve been testing and share what they like and don’t about each.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Issuu – Get started with Issuu today for FREE or sign up for an annual premium account and get 50% off
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
Links and Show Notes
Mastodon Clients for iPhone and iPad
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Imagining Apps for an Apple VR Headset
22 januari 2023 |
40 min
This week, Federico and John imagine the kinds of apps that may emerge for an Apple VR headset.
This episode is sponsored by:
- CleanMyMac X – Your Mac. As good as new. Get 5% off today.
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
Links and Show Notes
Imagining Apple VR Apps
- Inside the Tech Powering Apple’s Envelope-Pushing, Risky Mixed Reality Headset
- Apple Delays AR Glasses, Plans Cheaper Mixed-Reality Headset
- Apple Vision? Apple Reality? What Apple Could Name Its AR/VR Headset
- Meta Quest Pro review: get me out of here
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Read-Later Apps
15 januari 2023 |
48 min
This week, Federico and John look at the history of read-later apps and 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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Fitbod – Get stronger, faster with a fitness plan that fits you. Get 25% off your membership.
- Squarespace – Make your next move. Enter offer code APPSTORIES at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase…
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
Links and Show Notes
Read Later Apps
- The History of Read-Later Apps
- Why Are Read-It-Later Apps Suddenly Hot?
- Matter: A Fresh Take on Read-Later Apps
- Federico on Readwise Reader
- Readability Directs Shared Articles to Own Servers, Cuts Out Original Publishers
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Gone but Not Forgotten: The Third-Party Apps (Part 2)
8 januari 2023 |
46 min
This week, Federico and John conclude their ‘Gone but Not Forgotten’ series with more third-party apps, including productivity, communications, and entertainment apps, plus games.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
- Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
- Issuu: Get started with Issuu today for FREE or sign up for an annual premium account and get 50% off
- Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code APPSTORIES at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
Links and Show Notes
Gone but Not Forgotten: Third-Party Apps (Part 2)
- Bento
- Growl
- Editorial
- Adium
- Bowtie
- CandyBar
- Fontcase
- iPhone 4 Case Program
- Instacast
- Mr. Reader
- ProTube
- Rdio
- Articles, CoverSutra, and Groceries
- MacHeist
- Rolando
- Jelly Car
- Flappy Bird
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The 2022 MacStories Selects Awards
21 december 2022 |
66 min
This week, Federico, John, and Alex introduce the fifth annual MacStories Selects award winners and interview the MacStories Selects Lifetime Achievement award winner, Greg Pierce, the creator of Drafts.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Kolide – Maintaining endpoint security shouldn’t mean compromising employee privacy. Check out our manifesto: Honest Security.
- RevenueCat – Subscription management built for mobile apps.
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
- MasterClass: This holiday, give one annual membership and get one free! Click this link now.
Links and Show Notes
2022 MacStories Selects Awards
-
Best New App: MusicBox
- Runner-Up: Runestone
-
Best App Update: Audio Hijack 4
- Runner-Up: Spring 4
-
Best New Feature: Marvis Pro’s customizable sections
- Runner-up: Timery’s Live Activities
-
Best Watch App: Timery
-
Best Mac App: Raycast
- Runner-up: Bike
-
Best Design: Pixelmator Photo
- Runner-up: CARROT Weather
-
Readers’ Choice Award: CARROT Weather
-
App of the Year: Marvis Pro
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Gone but Not Forgotten: The Third-Party Apps (Part 1)
12 december 2022 |
39 min
This week, Federico and John extend last week’s ‘Gone but Not Forgotten’ theme to third-party apps, including Dropbox text editors, Twitter apps, email clients, and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
Links and Show Notes
TOPIC
Gone but Not Forgotten: The Third-Party Apps (Part 1)
- I Am Rich
- Dropbox Text Editors
- Twitter apps
- Pinbook
- Email Clients
- https://www.macstories.net/news/loren-brichter-talks-about-pull-to-refresh-patent-and-design-process/
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Gone but Not Forgotten
4 december 2022 |
47 min
This week, Federico and John explore the Apple apps and features that have disappeared from its platforms in recent years.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
- Kolide – Maintaining endpoint security shouldn’t mean compromising employee privacy. Check out their manifesto: Honest Security.
- Memberful – Monetize your passion with membership.
Links and Show Notes
Gone but Not Forgotten
- Warren Buffet Paper Wizard
- Texas Hold’em
- Cards
- iPhoto
- iPhoto for iOS Review
- iWeb
- Aperture
- Music Memo
- Apple Podcasts’ Reel-to-reel UI
- Apple Watch’s Friends Circle
- Dashboard
- Target Display Mode
- 3D Touch
- File and Folder Pinning in the Files App
- Coverflow
- Slofies
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Nerding Out for the Holidays (Part 2)
27 november 2022 |
35 min
This week, Federico and John conclude their two-part series on their nerdy holiday projects with home automation, RSS, WiFi, and other plans.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
Links and Show Notes
Nerdy Holiday Projects (Part 2)
- Federico’s TV Lighting Project
- John Revisits RSS
- Federico Considers a New WiFi Setup
- Mastodon
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Nerding Out for the Holidays (Part 1)
20 november 2022 |
36 min
This week, Federico and John share the nerdy holiday season projects they’ve lined up in part 1 of a two-part series.
This episode is 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.
Links and Show Notes
Nerdy Holiday Projects (Part 1)
- Level Lock+ (John)
- Windows 11 (Federico)
- Live TV Setup (John)
- Channel Master SMARTenna+ (discontinued)
- HomeRun HD Extend (discontinued)
- Plex
- Channels
- Read-later app bakeoff (Federico)
- Catching up on gaming (John)
- Federico’s Home Screen makeover
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A Close-Up Look at Anybox and Spring
13 november 2022 |
39 min
This week, Federico and John dig into two excellent apps they’ve been enjoying recently: Anybox, a bookmark and file organizer, and Spring, a third-party Twitter client.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Memberful – Monetize your passion with membership.
Links and Show Notes
Anybox and Spring
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Calendars, Communications, and More Revisited
6 november 2022 |
43 min
This week, Federico and John pick up where they left off in episode 300 by revisiting episode 200 about calendar apps, communications, home assistants, and Federico’s first surprise of 2021.
This episode is sponsored by:
- MasterClass – Get unlimited access to EVERY Class and get 15% off an annual membership.
- Memberful – Monetize your passion with membership.
- Kolide – We believe that maintaining endpoint security shouldn’t mean compromising employee privacy. Check out our manifesto: Honest Security.
Links and Show Notes
Calendars, Communications, and More Revisited
- AppStories, Episode 300: App Trends Revisited and Reconsidered
- Calendar apps
- Team Commuications
- Time Zones
- Music
- Marvis Pro
- Soor
- MusicBox
- MusicHarbor
- AppStories, Episode 293: Let’s Fix the Music App
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macOS Ventura: The MacStories Review
30 oktober 2022 |
46 min
This week, Federico and John cover Apple’s controversial App Store advertising moves before going in-depth on John’s macOS Ventura review to discuss Stage Manager, System Settings, and Shortcuts.
This episode is sponsored by:
Links and Show Notes
macOS Ventura
- macOS Ventura: The MacStories Review
- EPUB version for Club MacStories members
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Stage Manager in iPadOS 16
24 oktober 2022 |
57 min
For today’s second episode of AppStories, Federico and John explore Federico’s story about Stage Manager in iPadOS 16, including its bugs, missing features, and design flaws.
This episode is 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 simple.
Links and Show Notes
Stage Manager in iPadOS 16
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The New iPad and iPad Pro Review: Mixed Signals
24 oktober 2022 |
40 min
This morning, Federico and John get into the details of Federico’s review of the latest iPad Pro and the new 10th generation iPad.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Concepts – Infinite, Flexible Sketching.
Links and Show Notes
Federico’s New iPad and iPad Pro Review
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App Trends Revisited and Reconsidered
16 oktober 2022 |
56 min
This week, Federico and John 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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Things – The award-winning to-do app.
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
- Kolide – Kolide believes that maintaining endpoint security shouldn’t mean compromising employee privacy. Check out our manifesto: Honest Security.
- Kosmik – For All Mindkind
Links and Show Notes
App Trends Revisited and Reconsidered
- Revisiting App Trends from Episode 100
- The evolution of rich notifications
- Subscription apps
- Apple services on third-party hardware
- iPads and keyboard control
- Mac and iPad app convergence
- Considering What’s Next for Apps
- Text-based app command systems
- Stage Manager’s role in app convergence
- A Stage Manager API
- Adaptable UIs for the home
- Augmented and mixed reality
- Automation and Shortcuts
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Return to the App Grab Bag
9 oktober 2022 |
45 min
This week, Federico and John return to the app grab bag to cover more of their favorite releases and updates from the past several weeks.
This episode is 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, made simple.
Links and Show Notes
Return to the App Grab Bag
- Marvis Pro
- Obsidian
- Runestone
- Apple Watch Ultra Action Button Apps
- Halide
- Just Press Record
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Widgets, iPhone Photography, and the Apple Watch Ultra with David Smith
2 oktober 2022 |
50 min
This week, Federico and John 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
This episode is sponsored by:
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
- MasterClass – Get unlimited access to EVERY Class and get 15% off an annual membership.
- Trade – Save big, support small roasters. Get $30 off your first order.
Links and Show Notes
An Interview with David Smith
- Widgetsmith
- MacStories Coverage:
- From David’s website:
- Some of David’s other apps
- Follow David Smith
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Lock Screen Widgets, Focus Filters, and Shared with You Apps
25 september 2022 |
37 min
This week, Federico and John 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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Rogue Amoeba: Save 20% in celebration of the 20th anniversary.
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
Links and Show Notes
Lock Screen Widgets, Focus Filters, Shared with You Apps
-
More Lock Screen widget apps
-
Focus Filter apps
-
Shared with You 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.
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iOS 16 Apps with Great Lock Screen Widgets
18 september 2022 |
37 min
This week, Federico and John cover some of their favorite new apps and updates that feature iOS 16 Lock Screen widgets.
This episode is 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 more here.
Links and Show Notes
iOS 16 Apps with Great Lock Screen Widgets
- LockFlow
- Launcher
- LockLauncher
- Contact Widgets
- Link HUB
- Apollo
- Overcast
- Marvis Pro
- Widgetsmith
- MusicBox
- Things
- Todoist
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.
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iOS 16: The MacStories Review
12 september 2022 |
42 min
This week, Federico and John 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.
This episode is sponsored by:
Links and Show Notes
iOS 16: The MacStories Review
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.
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macOS Ventura with Jason Snell
4 september 2022 |
56 min
This week, John is joined by special guest Jason Snell to talk about macOS Ventura, including iCloud Shared Photo Library, Stage Manager, Shortcuts, and System Settings.
This episode is sponsored by:
- 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 more here.
- Sourcegraph – Universal Code Search. Move fast, even in big codebases. Try it now.
Links and Show Notes
macOS Ventura
-
Special guest, Jason Snell
-
Ventura Previews
- Jason
- John
- macOS Ventura: The MacStories Preview
- [# iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura Public Beta Previews](https://appstories.net/episodes/286)
-
iCloud Shared Photos Library
- Jason’s Photos book
-
Stage Manager on the Mac
-
Shortcuts for Mac
-
What Happened to System Settings?
- Jason
- One of macOS Ventura’s key new features already needs a massive overhaul
- [Ways to make macOS Ventura System Settings better](https://sixcolors.com/post/2022/08/ways-to-make-macos-ventura-system-settings-better/
- Jason
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Let's Fix the Music App
28 augusti 2022 |
51 min
This week, Federico and John roll up their sleeves to talk about the Music app and how it could be improved.
This episode is 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.
Links and Show Notes
Let’s Fix the Music App
- Federico on Music in his iOS and iPadOS 14 review
- John on Music in his macOS Big Sur review
- Third-party apps mentioned
- Shazam turns 20
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What Makes a Great Modern Shortcuts Action?
21 augusti 2022 |
43 min
This week, Federico and John 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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- RevenueCat – Subscription management built for mobile apps.
- Setapp – More than 240 powerful apps. Try it free for a month.
- Sourcegraph – Universal Code Search. Move fast, even in big codebases. Try it now.
- Kolide – It helps you nail third party audits and internal compliance goals with endpoint security for your entire fleet. Learn more here.
Links and Show Notes
What Makes a Great Modern Shortcuts Action?
- Gallery of third-party app examples
- Alex Hay’s Twitter thread on predicate filters in Shortcuts
- Other apps discussed:
- Automation April: myTunes, a Personalized Music Video Channel
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2022 OS Preview: watchOS 9
14 augusti 2022 |
54 min
This week, John is 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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Concepts - Infinite, Flexible Sketching.
- Trade – Save Big, Support Small Roasters. Get $30 off your first order.
- Memberful – Monetize your passion with membership.
- Sourcegraph – Universal Code Search. Move fast, even in big codebases. Try it now.
Links and Show Notes
watchOS 9 Preview
- What’s the Deal with Alex Guyot?
- [[Alex Guyot Chains 5 Apps with Drafts](https://www.macstories.net/links/alex-guyot-chains-5-apps-with-drafts/
- Drafts 4 Review
- Automating iOS: A Comprehensive and Updated Guide to Launch Center Pro
- Alex’s watchOS 9 preview story:
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How iOS and iPadOS 16 Are Affecting Our Lives
7 augusti 2022 |
49 min
This week, Federico and John consider how iOS and iPadOS 16 are affecting their work and personal lives.
This episode is 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 – Universal Code Search. Move fast, even in big codebases. Try it now.
Links and Show Notes
How iOS and iPadOS 16 Are Affecting Our Lives
- MacStories Unplugged: Fried Pickles and Buttermilk: A Tour of Southern Cooking
- A Month with iOS and iPadOS 16: A New iPad Era
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Our 'Recently Added' Apps
31 juli 2022 |
41 min
This week, Federico and John dig into the Recently Added folders on their iPhones and the stories they tell about what they’ve been up to lately.
This episode is 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.
- Memberful – Monetize your passion with membership.
Links and Show Notes
Our Recently Added Apps
- Cubox
- Upnext
- Ephemera
- Poinpy
- Slice
- Into the Breach
- CubeSmart
- LG ThinQ
- Arlo Secure
- Widgetsmith
- Enjoy
- My Verisure
- Lock Launcher (currently in beta only)
- Footpath
- NEA Smart 2.0
- Tweetbot and Duolingo
- Momentum
- On the Way: Road Trip Planner
- Watch Calendar
- Wanderlog
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2022 OS Preview: The System Apps (Part 2)
24 juli 2022 |
54 min
This week, Federico and John conclude their in-depth look at changes coming to Apple’s system apps on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, including Home, Notes, Reminders, and Shortcuts.
This episode is 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 fleet. Learn more here.
- Sourcegraph – Universal Code Search. Move fast, even in big codebases. Try it now.
Links and Show Notes
iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura System Apps, Part 2
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2022 OS Preview: The System Apps (Part 1)
17 juli 2022 |
53 min
This week, Federico and John continue the MacStories Summer OS Preview Series with part one of their 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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Concepts - Infinite, Flexible Sketching.
- RevenueCat – Subscription management built for mobile apps.
- Sourcegraph – Universal Code Search. Move fast, even in big codebases. Try it now.
Links and Show Notes
iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura System Apps, Part 1
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iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura Public Beta Previews
11 juli 2022 |
67 min
To kick off our Summer OS Preview Series, Federico and John 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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Concepts - Sketch, Note, Draw.
- Kolide – Kolide can help you nail third party audits and internal compliance goals with endpoint security for your entire fleet. Learn more here.
- Sourcegraph – Universal Code Search. Move fast, even in big codebases. Try it now.
- Memberful – Monetize your passion with membership.
Links and Show Notes
iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura Public Beta Previews
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Exploring Reading and Research Apps
3 juli 2022 |
45 min
This week, Federico and John survey some of their favorite reading and research apps across all of Apple’s platforms.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Concepts - Sketch, Note, Draw
- Sourcegraph – Universal Code Search. Move fast, even in big codebases. Try it now.
Links and Show Notes
Reading and Research Apps
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Mac App Spotlight
26 juni 2022 |
46 min
This week, Federico and John share some of their favorite Mac apps, including new discoveries and old favorites.
This episode is 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 ship better mobile apps
- LinkedIn – Rethink your B2B marketing with a $100 credit on your next campaign
Links and Show Notes
Mac App Spotlight
- Federico’s Picks
- John’s Apps
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App Grab Bag
19 juni 2022 |
40 min
This week, Federico and John reach into the App Grab Bag and pull out five recommendations for listeners to try.
This episode is 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 – Universal Code Search. Move fast, even in big codebases. Try it now.
Links and Show Notes
App Grab Bag
- Our App Grab Bag Recommendations
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What WWDC 2022 Means for Apple's Platforms
12 juni 2022 |
49 min
This week, Federico and John take a step back to consider the future of WWDC and what this year’s announcements mean for each of Apple’s platforms.
This episode is 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 and ship better mobile apps.
- Memberful – Monetize your passion with membership
Links and Show Notes
WWDC and the Future of Apple’s OSes
- Related Coverage:
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WWDC 2022: App Shortcuts, New Actions, and What We Didn't Get
10 juni 2022 |
31 min
In the latest installment of AppStories’ special WWDC series, Federico and John talk about how they 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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Kolide – Endpoint security powered by people. Try Kolide for 14 days free; no credit card required.
Links and Show Notes
Shortcuts
- iOS and iPadOS 16: The MacStories Overview
- Other Recent WWDC Coverage on MacStories
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WWDC 2022: The M2 MacBook Air and macOS Ventura
9 juni 2022 |
35 min
In the latest installment of AppStories’ special WWDC series, Federico and John are joined by Myke Hurley to talk about the M2 MacBook Air, as well as Stage Manager and gaming on macOS Ventura.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Kolide – Endpoint security powered by people. Try Kolide for 14 days free; no credit card required.
Links and Show Notes
The M2 MacBook Air and macOS Ventura
- M2 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro: The MacStories Overview
- macOS Ventura: The MacStories Overview
- Other Recent MacStories WWDC Coverage:
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WWDC 2022: iPadOS' Desktop-Class Features and Updates to Reminders
8 juni 2022 |
28 min
In 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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Kolide – Endpoint security powered by people. Try Kolide for 14 days free; no credit card required.
Links and Show Notes
iPadOS Desktop-Class Features and Reminders
- iOS and iPadOS 16: The MacStories Overview
- iOS and iPadOS 16: The Tidbits
- Other Recent WWDC Coverage on MacStories
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2022 Apple Design Award Winners: The AppStories Interviews
7 juni 2022 |
36 min
For today’s special bonus episode of AppStories, Federico and John interview the creators of three 2022 Apple Design Award winning apps and games: Claire d’Este of Savage Interactive, the maker of Procreate, Curtis Herbert of Breakpoint Studios, the creator of Slopes, and Joe Lee of Netmarble, the developer of MARVEL Future Revolution.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Kolide – Endpoint security powered by people. Try Kolide for 14 days free; no credit card required.
Links and Show Notes
Apple Design Winner Interviews
- The ADA Winners
- The Interviewees’ Apps
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WWDC 2022: Keynote Overview and Reactions
7 juni 2022 |
78 min
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.
This episode is 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.
Links and Show Notes
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Our macOS 13 Wishes
29 maj 2022 |
46 min
This week, Federico and John conclude their annual OS wishes series with a look at what they want to see in macOS this year at WWDC.
This episode is 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 and ship better mobile apps.
Links and Show Notes
Our macOS 13 Wishes
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Our iPadOS 16 Wishes
22 maj 2022 |
56 min
This week, Federico and John tackle iPadOS and the changes they’d like to see come to iPad this year, and they revisit some of their Shortcuts wishes for 2022.
This episode is 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 it now.
Links and Show Notes
Our iPadOS Wishes
- Context: iOS and iPadOS 15: The MacStories Review
- Apps Mentioned:
- The Curious Case of Apple’s Missing App Integrations for Shortcuts
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Our watchOS and tvOS Wishes
15 maj 2022 |
56 min
This week, 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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- 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 and ship better mobile apps.
Links and Show Notes
watchOS
- Alex Guyot’s most recent watchOS reviews:
tvOS
- A sampling of Myke Hurley’s tvOS coverage on Relay FM’s Connected:
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Our iOS 16 Wishes
8 maj 2022 |
56 min
This week, Federico and John kick off their annual ‘OS wishes’ series with a look at their wishes for iOS 16, including everything from system-level features to the iPhone’s built-in apps.
This episode is sponsored by:
- 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 and ship better mobile apps.
Links and Show Notes
Our iOS 16 Wishes
- Context:
- Wishes
- Interactive Widgets
- More Widget Sizes
- The Lock Screen
- Notifications Redesign
- More Home Screen Wishes
- Multitasking
- Files
- Keychain and Reading List
- Music
- Notes
- Share Sheet
- Reminders
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Gaming on Apple Platforms
1 maj 2022 |
54 min
This week, Federico and John revisit the state of gaming on Apple’s platforms considering hardware, OS support, services, and the games themselves.
This episode is 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 and ship better mobile apps.
Links and Show Notes
Gaming on Apple Platforms
- MacStories Controller Coverage
- Apple Controller Rumors
- Controllers
- Streaming Games on Apple Platforms
- App and Game Preservation
- App and Game Preservation Coverage on MacStories
- Games John Is Currently Playing on iOS
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Apps with Great Shortcuts Support
24 april 2022 |
57 min
This week, Federico and John share their favorite third-party apps with deep Shortcuts integration.
This episode is 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 your free 15-day trial of CrowdStrike Falcon Pro today.
Links and Show Notes
Apps With Great Shortcuts Integration
- Round 1 – Text
- Round 2 – Everything Apps
- Round 3 – Utilities
- Round 4 – Media and Social
- Round 5 – Alone in a Crowd
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Our Latest Automation April Shortcuts
17 april 2022 |
45 min
This week, Federico and John dig into the collection of shortcuts that they’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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Kolide – Endpoint security powered by people. Try Kolide for 14 days free; no credit card required
- Sourcegraph – Universal Code Search. Move fast, even in big codebases. Try it now.
- RevenueCat – Subscription management built for mobile apps
Links and Show Notes
Our Latest Automation April Shortcuts
-
Federico
-
John
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Automation April: Interviews with the Developers Behind Pushcut and Working Copy
10 april 2022 |
46 min
This week, Federico and John 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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Kolide – Endpoint security powered by people. Try Kolide for 14 days free; no credit card required
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple
- Drafts – Where Text Starts. Try it free now.
- Sourcegraph – Universal Code Search. Move fast, even in big codebases. Try it now.
Links and Show Notes
Developer Interviews
- An interview with Rodrigo Araújo and Victor Araújo
- An interview with Anders Borum creator of
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Automation April: Our Shortcuts Setups
3 april 2022 |
44 min
This week, Federico and John introduce Automation April, a month-long community celebration of automation on Apple’s platforms and share their Shortcuts library setups.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Kolide – Endpoint security powered by people. Try Kolide for 14 days free; no credit card required.
- Things – The award-winning to-do app
- Sourcegraph – Universal Code Search. Move fast, even in big codebases. Try it now.
Links and Show Notes
Automation April: Our Shortcuts Setups
- Introducing Automation April
- Introducing Automation April: A Month-Long Community Event About Automation, Featuring Shortcuts, Interviews, Discord Workshops, and a Shortcut Contest
- Follow @AutomationApril on Twitter for updates, tips, and more.
- Our Shortcuts Setups
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State of the Platforms, with Apple’s Vivek Bhardwaj
27 mars 2022 |
46 min
This week, Federico and John had the pleasure to interview Apple’s Vivek Bhardwaj about Universal Control, Shortcuts, Live Text, and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Runway – Take Your Releases to the Next Level with Runway.
- 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 and ship better mobile apps.
Links and Show Notes
An Interview with Apple’s Vivek Bhardwaj
- MacStories’ recent coverage of Universal Control
- MacStories’ recent coverage of Shortcuts
- Automation Academy: Diving Deeper into Reminders Actions
- Creating, Modifying, and Signing Shortcuts on macOS
- AppStories, Episode 260 – Shortcuts Wish List, 2022 Edition
- The Curious Case of Apple’s Missing App Integrations for Shortcuts
- MacStories Starter Pack: Introducing Obsidian Shortcut Launcher, A Free Plugin to Trigger Shortcuts from Obsidian
- Federico Shares a Starter Pack of Shortcuts on Apple’s App Store
- The Curious Case of Apple’s Missing App Integrations for Shortcuts
- Getting Started with Shortcuts for Mac and the Stream Deck
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iOS, iPadOS, and macOS Updates In-Depth
20 mars 2022 |
51 min
This week, Federico and John dig into the details of the iOS and iPadOS 15.4 and macOS 12.3 updates that were released by Apple last week.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Sourcegraph – Universal Code Search. Move fast, even in big codebases. Try it now.
- RevenueCat – Subscription management built for mobile apps
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple
- Instabug – Empower mobile teams to monitor, prioritize, and debug performance and stability issues and ship better mobile apps.
Links and Show Notes
iOS and iPadOS 15.4 and macOS 12.3
- iOS and iPadOS 15.4: Hands-On with Universal Control, Face ID with a Mask, and More
- macOS 12.3: The Magic of Universal Control and More
- iPad Air 2022 Review: Refined Balance
- The Curious Case of Apple’s Missing App Integrations for Shortcuts
- HoverBar Duo: The MacStories Review
- Scheduling and Remotely Triggering Shortcuts on the Mac with Calendar and Mail
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iPad Air 2022 Review: Refined Balance
16 mars 2022 |
44 min
In this special bonus episode of AppStories, Federico and John dive into Federico’s review of Apple’s 5th generation iPad Air, which will be available Friday, March 18th.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Concepts – Sketch, Note, Draw.
Links and Show Notes
iPad Air 2022 Review: Refined Balance
Federico’s Review: iPad Air 2022 Review: Refined Balance
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Apple Event Impressions: The New iPad Air, Mac Studio, and Studio Display
13 mars 2022 |
44 min
This week, Federico and John cover their 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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple
- Microsoft Lists – A Microsoft 365 app that helps you track information and organize work.
- New Relic – Monitor, debug, and improve your entire stack. Sign up now and get 100GB of data free, forever - no credit card required.
Links and Show Notes
Apple Event Impressions: The New iPad Air, Mac Studio, and Studio Display
- MacStories’ Apple Event Coverage
- Mac Studio, M1 Ultra, and Apple Studio Display: The MacStories Overview
- Apple’s ‘Peek Performance’ Event: All The Small Things
- Apple’s New iPad Air Adds the M1 Chip, Center Stage Support, and 5G Connectivity
- Apple’s ‘Peek Performance’ Event: By the Numbers
- Apple Unveils the Latest Iteration of iPhone SE with an A15 Bionic Chip and 5G
- Replay Apple’s Peek Performance Keynote and Other Videos
- Apple’s ‘Peek Performance’ Event – Apple Announces Availability of Green iPhones, iPhone SE, iPad Air, Mac Studio, and Studio Display
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Beyond Doom Scrolling: Getting More Out of Twitter
6 mars 2022 |
53 min
This week, 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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple
- Instabug – Empower mobile teams to monitor, prioritize, and debug performance and stability issues and ship better mobile apps
- Wealthfront – Invest for the long term on your terms. Get your first $5,000 managed for free
Links and Show Notes
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2022 Apple Hardware Predictions
27 februari 2022 |
42 min
This week, Federico and John survey the many Apple hardware rumors circulating and take a stab at predicting the new hardware we’ll see in 2022.
This episode is sponsored by:
- RevenueCat – Subscription management built for mobile apps
- Instabug – Empower mobile teams to monitor, prioritize, and debug performance and stability issues and ship better mobile apps
Links and Show Notes
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Shortcuts Code Injection and 10 Innovations Apple Should Adopt from Third-Party Apps
20 februari 2022 |
38 min
This week, Federico explains his experiments with injecting code into shortcuts before he and John cover ten innovations from third-party apps that they would like to see Apple adopt in its system apps and OSes.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Instabug – Ship Quality Apps with Real-Time Contextual Insights
Links and Show Notes
Shortcuts Code Injection
- Behind the Scenes of the MacStories Shortcuts Archive
- Parsing Shortcuts as XML or JSON and Extracting Comments From Them
- Creating, Modifying, and Signing Shortcuts on macOS
- Also mentioned:
10 Innovations Apple Should Adopt from Third-Party Apps
- Stories Mentioned:
- Apps Mentioned:
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Shortcuts Wish List, 2022 Edition
13 februari 2022 |
35 min
This week, Federico and John revisit their 2021 Shortcuts wishes to see what came true and share a long list of additional ways they’d like to see the app evolve in 2022.
This episode is sponsored by:
- New Relic – Monitor, debug, and improve your entire stack. Sign up now and get 100GB of data free, forever - no credit card required.
- Instabug – Ship Quality Apps with Real-Time Contextual Insights
Links and Show Notes
Shortcuts Wish List, 2022 Edition
- Our 2022 Shortcuts Wish List
- Better Safari support on the Mac
- Share sheet integration on the Mac
- Personal automations on the Mac
- More types of triggers
- Improved layout for Shortcuts for Mac’s right sidebar
- Keep Apple app features up to date with shortcuts actions
- Debugging tools
- Copy and paste blocks of actions
- Disable notification alerts when a shortcut is run from the Home Screen
- Global hotkeys
- Shortcuts widgets
- Multiwindow awareness
- The ability to run shortcuts in the background on iPhone and iPad
- Better cross-platform integration
- Also Mentioned:
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New Apps We Are Trying or Revisiting (Part 2)
6 februari 2022 |
35 min
This week, Federico and John conclude their tour of new apps they are trying for the first time or revisiting.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Wealthfront – Invest for the long term on your terms. Get your first $5,000 managed for free.
- Instabug – Ship quality apps with real-time contextual insights
Links and Show Notes
New Apps We’re Trying or Revisiting
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Starting the New Year with New Shortcuts, Workflows, Apps, and More
30 januari 2022 |
40 min
This week, Federico and John look back at their MacStories Starter Pack coverage last week, digging into the themes and details of each of the stories they wrote and the ways you can incorporate everything into your own workflows.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Wix – Create a website you’re proud of.
- Instabug – Ship Quality Apps with Real-Time Contextual Insights
Links and Show Notes
The MacStories Starter Pack
- MacStories Starter Pack: Taking Apple Music Discovery into Your Own Hands
- MacStories Starter Pack: The Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1300 Is Perfect for Anyone Whose Paperless Workflow Still Starts with Paper
- MacStories Starter Pack: Reverse-Engineering the Matter API and My ‘Save to Matter’ Shortcut
- MacStories Starter Pack: Customizing Your Workflows with Deep Links
- MacStories Starter Pack: Introducing Obsidian Shortcut Launcher, A Free Plugin to Trigger Shortcuts from Obsidian
- MacStories Starter Pack: Getting a Handle on Links By Treating Them Like Email
- MacStories Starter Pack: Frame Nintendo Switch Screenshots with SwitchFrame
- MacStories Starter Pack: Why I Abandoned the Search for the Perfect Email App and Am Making Do With a Hybrid Approach
- MacStories Starter Pack: Clean Up URLs and Remove Tracking Parameters with URL Cleaner
Also mentioned:
- Tracker Zapper by Robb Knight
- Ruminate podcast
- Robb Knight’s website
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New Apps We Are Trying or Revisiting
23 januari 2022 |
40 min
This week, 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.
This episode is sponsored by:
- RevenueCat – Subscription management built for mobile apps.
- Instabug – Ship Quality Apps with Real-Time Contextual Insights
- Wix – Create a website you’re proud of.
Links and Show Notes
Apps We’re Trying and Revisiting
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Obsidian In-Depth: More Third-Party Plugins (Part 4)
16 januari 2022 |
41 min
Federico and John continue their coverage of third-party Obsidian plugins and how they use them to customize the app’s functionality.
More Third-Party Obsidian Plugins
- Discovering and Installing Obsidian Plugins
- Obsidian Roundup
- Obsidian’s Discord community and forums
- Obsidian42 - BRAT beta plugin installer
- [Plugin Changelogs plugin](https://github.com/phibr0/obsidian-plugin-changelogs
- Requires Hotkey Helper plugin
- Obsidian support documentation on community plugins
- More Third Party Plugins (all available as community plugins and on GitHub using the links below)
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Obsidian In-Depth: Third-Party Plugins (Part 3)
10 januari 2022 |
40 min
This week, Federico and John embark on a tour of the third-party plugins they use to customize Obsidian.
This episode is sponsored by:
- MindNode – MindNode: What’s on Your Mind?
- Wealthfront – Invest for the long term on your terms.
- Wix – Create a website you’re proud of.
Links and Show Notes
Third-Party Plugins
- Plugins Discussed:
- Admonition
- Advanced Mobile Toolbar
- Advanced URI
- Obsidian42 - BRAT
- Buttons
- Calendar
- Customizable Page Header
- Cycle through Panes
- Dictionary
- Export Markdown with Embeds
- Hotkeys for Specific Files, Hotkeys for Templates, Hotkeys++
- Markdown Insert
- Matter
- MetaEdit
- Minimal Theme Settings
- Natural Language Dates
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App Trends for 2022
19 december 2021 |
30 min
This week, Federico and John look at the trends they expect to see in 2022, including trends that will continue from 2021 and new trends they think will emerge in the new year.
This episode is sponsored by:
Links and Show Notes
Related AppStories Episodes
- Episode 216, Substack, Email, and Data Portability
- Episode 231, The App Customization Trend
- Episode 239, Reminders, Notes, and App Customization
- Episode 251, Obsidian In Depth: The Basics (Part 1)
- Episode 252, Obsidian In Depth: Core Plugins (Part 2)
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The 2021 MacStories Selects Awards
13 december 2021 |
59 min
This week, Federico and John introduce the fourth annual MacStories Selects award winners and interview the first MacStories Selects Lifetime Achievement award winner, James Thomson, the creator of PCalc.
This episode is sponsored by:
- MacStadium – The developer cloud for Mac.
- Memberful – Monetize your passion with membership
Links and Show Notes
The 2021 MacStories Selects Awards
- Other MacStories Selects Awards Coverage
- MacStories Selects 2021: Recognizing the Best Apps of the Year
- The MacStories Selects 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award
- Club MacStories+ Live Town Hall, coming to the Club MacStories Discord community on Tuesday, December 14 at 12:30 PM Eastern Time
- The MacStories Selects Award Winners
- Best New App: Noir
- Best New App Runner-Up: Mela
- Mela website
- Mela on the App Store: (iPhone/iPad and Mac)
- The MacStories Review
- Best App Update: Tweetbot 6
- Best App Update Runner-Up: Sofa 3
- Best New Feature: BetterTouchTool’s Shortcuts for Mac Integration
- Best New Feature Runner-Up: Yoink
- Best Watch App: Streaks
- Best Watch App Runner-Up: Drafts
- Best Mac App: Bartender 4
- Best Mac App Runner-Up: Doppler
- Best Design: Mela
- Mela website
- Mela on the App Store: (iPhone/iPad and Mac)
- The MacStories Review
- Best Design Runner-Up: Craft
- Readers’ Choice Award: Craft
- App of The Year: Obsidian
- Obsidian website
- Obsidian mobile on the App Store
- Club MacStories coverage:
- 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
- My Obsidian Setup, Part 3: My ‘Dashboard’ Note for Quick Links, Todoist Tasks, Saving Ideas, and Keeping Track of Current Projects
- My Obsidian Setup, Part 4: Templates for Weekly Posts and Custom Mobile Toolbar
- My Obsidian Setup, Part 5: Appending Text and Webpage Links to Specific Sections of My ‘Dashboard’ Note
- AppStories Series:
- App of the Year Runner-Up: Craft
- Lifetime Achievement Award: PCalc
- PCalc website
- PCalc on the App Store (iPhone/iPad and Mac)
- A Selection of MacStories and AppStories Coverage
- PCalc 3.9 Adds Dark Mode and the Latest Shortcuts Features, Expanding the App’s Automation Capabilities
- PCalc 3.8 Adds Support for iOS 12’s Siri Shortcuts, Including Powerful Clipboard Commands
- PCalc’s Delightfully Insane About Screen
- Apple Asks PCalc Developer to Remove iOS 8 Widget
- PCalc for Apple Watch
- AppStories, Episode 38 – An Interview with James Thomson, Creator of PCalc and DragThing
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Obsidian In Depth: Core Plugins (Part 2)
5 december 2021 |
43 min
This week, Federico and John continue their series on Obsidian with a look at the app’s core plugins, which enable many of the app’s most advanced features.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Concepts – Sketch, Note, Draw
- Memberful – Monetize your passion with membership
- Linode – Simplify your cloud infrastructure
Links and Show Notes
Obsidian’s Core Plugins
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Obsidian In Depth: The Basics (Part 1)
28 november 2021 |
41 min
This week, Federico and John introduce part one of a new series on Obsidian, explaining what the app is and does, why it’s important, the compromises that come along with using a non-native app, and how they are using it.
This episode is sponsored by:
Links and Show Notes
Getting Started with Obsidian
- Obsidian
- Obsidian Discord and Forum
- Federico’s Obsidian Setup Series for Club MacStories
- 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
- My Obsidian Setup, Part 3: My ‘Dashboard’ Note for Quick Links, Todoist Tasks, Saving Ideas, and Keeping Track of Current Projects
- My Obsidian Setup, Part 4: Templates for Weekly Posts and Custom Mobile Toolbar
- My Obsidian Setup, Part 5: Appending Text and Webpage Links to Specific Sections of My ‘Dashboard’ Note
- Other Club MacStories Obsidian Coverage
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Shortcuts for Mac Deep Dive
21 november 2021 |
48 min
This week, Federico and John explain how Shortcuts for Mac differs from other automation tools, cover some of the roadblocks they’ve hit, and discuss how they’re adapting existing shortcuts to the Mac and building all-new ones.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
- DEVONthink by DEVONtechnologies – The one place for storing and working with all your documents, snippets, and bookmarks
- Ulysses – The Ultimate Writing App for Mac, iPad and iPhone Special Offer)
Links and Show Notes
Shortcuts for Mac Deep Dive
- Related Coverage on MacStories and Club MacStories
- Getting Started with Shortcuts for Mac and the Stream Deck
- Shortcuts for Mac: 27 of Our Favorite Third-Party Integrations
- macOS Monterey: The MacStories Review, Shortcuts section
- The Many Ways To Run Shortcuts in macOS Monterey
- My Obsidian Setup, Part 5: Appending Text and Webpage Links to Specific Sections of My ‘Dashboard’ Note
- A Downloads Folder Cleanup Shortcut
- Controlling HomeKit Devices with HomeControl’s URL Scheme and Shortcuts for Mac
- Other Links
- The Template Gun meets Shortcuts on Six Colors
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More iPhone, iPad, and Mac Tips
14 november 2021 |
33 min
This week, Federico and John dive back into their favorite iOS and iPadOS 15 and macOS Monterey tips.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
- RevenueCat – Subscription management built for mobile apps
Links and Show Notes
More iPhone, iPad, and Mac Tips
- Drawn in part from the following stories:
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Our iPad mini Home Screen Setups
7 november 2021 |
38 min
This week, Federico and John go into detail on their iPad mini Home Screen setups, including how they differ from other devices and their use of widgets, Focus modes, and Shortcuts to manage the setups.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
- RevenueCat – Subscription management built for mobile apps.
Links and Show Notes
Our iPad mini Home Screen Setups
- iPad mini Review: Small Wonder
- The Mighty mini: Adapting Apple’s Diminutive Tablet to Work and Play
- Also mentioned during the show
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.
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Everything New in iOS and iPadOS 15.1
31 oktober 2021 |
32 min
This week, Federico and John dig into SharePlay and the other changes released last week with iOS and iPadOS 15.1.
This episode is sponsored by:
- CleanMyMac X – Your Mac. As good as new. Get 5% off today.
Links and Show Notes
iOS and iPadOS 15.1
- Apple Releases iOS and iPadOS 15.1 with SharePlay, Safari for iPad Fixes, Shortcuts Improvements, and More
- SharePlay Guessing Game by Greg Gardner
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macOS Monterey: The MacStories Review
25 oktober 2021 |
44 min
This week, Federico and John dive into John’s review of macOS Monterey and what it means for users and the future of the platform.
This episode is sponsored by:
- DetailsPro - A Design Tool Made for SwiftUI
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
- The Intrazone, by Microsoft SharePoint – Your bi-weekly conversation and interview podcast about SharePoint, OneDrive and related tech within Microsoft 365.
Links and Show Notes
macOS Monterey: The MacStories Review
- The review:
- Related coverage:
- FaceTime’s Audio and Video Take a Leap Forward With Apple’s Upcoming iPhone, iPad, and Mac OS Updates
- Fast Capture with Quick Note for iPad and Mac: The MacStories Overview
- Reminders’ Smart Lists Put Unprecedented Control in the Hands of Users
- Apple Maps for iOS and iPadOS 15 and macOS Monterey: The MacStories Overview
- FaceTime’s Audio and Video Take a Leap Forward With Apple’s Upcoming iPhone, iPad, and Mac OS Updates
- Shortcuts for Mac: The Future Is Now
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Apple's October Music and MacBook Pro Event
19 oktober 2021 |
56 min
This week, Federico and John are joined by Alex Guyot live in the Club MacStories+ Discord community for a special episode recapping and breaking down everything announced by Apple at its latest online event, including the Apple Music, HomePod, and AirPods 3 announcements and the all-new MacBook Pros.
This episode is sponsored by:
- RevenueCat – Subscription management built for mobile apps
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
- HPE Tech Talk – HPE news, tech insights and world-class innovations. Listen now.
Links and Show Notes
Apple’s October 2021 Event
- Apple Introduces New Apple Music Plan, Siri Features, and HomePod Mini Colors
- Apple Announces New Third-Generation AirPods
- Apple Unveils the New 14 and 16-Inch MacBook Pros Powered by the M1 Pro and M1 Max Systems-on-a-Chip
- Replay Apple’s October 18, 2021 Keynote and Other Videos
- Apple Announces Availability of New HomePod mini Colors, AirPods, New MacBook Pros, and macOS Monterey
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- AppStories
- Federico Viticci
- John Voorhees
- Alex Guyot](https://www.instagram.com/ajguyot)
iOS and iPadOS 15 Top Tips
10 oktober 2021 |
30 min
This week, Federico and John share a long list of iOS and iPadOS 15 tips, highlighting lesser-known features that they are using to get the most out of the latest versions of the OSes.
This episode is sponsored by:
- RevenueCat – Subscription management built for mobile apps
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple
Links and Show Notes
iOS and iPadOS 15 Tips
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Safari Extensions for iPhone and iPad
3 oktober 2021 |
38 min
This week, Federico and John look at the the best of the first Safari extensions released for the iPhone and iPad.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Clean My Mac X – Your Mac. As good as new. Get 5% off today.
- FitnessView – Track your Health data in a different way with insights, widgets and Apple Watch
- iMazing – Manage your iPhone. Your way. Get 30% off iMazing this month only.
Links and Show Notes
Safari Extensions
- Webpage customizaton
- Developer Tools and Fixing Website Annoyances
- Video
- Utilities
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.
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The iPad mini: Small Wonder
26 september 2021 |
34 min
This week, Federico and John go beyond the specs to figure out what it is about the new iPad mini that makes it so special.
This episode is sponsored by:
- 1Blocker - The fastest and most powerful blocker for Safari
- MacStadium – Leading provider of cloud solutions built on Apple Mac hardware.
Links and Show Notes
The iPad mini: Small Wonder
- iPad mini Review: Small Wonder
- Previous MacStories iPad mini coverage:
- eReaders mentioned
- Kindle
- Kobo
- Yomu iOS and iPadOS eBook reader app
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.
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iOS and iPadOS 15: The MacStories Review
21 september 2021 |
61 min
This week, John interviews Federico about his iOS and iPadOS 15 review live in the Club MacStories+ Discord community, covering the challenges of writing this year’s review, Focus mode, Safari changes, Shortcuts, Live Text, the Shelf, listener questions, and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
- MacStadium – Leading provider of cloud solutions built on Apple Mac hardware.
- Daylite – The only CRM made for your Mac.
Links and Show Notes
Federico’s iOS and iPadOS 15 Review
- iOS and iPadOS 15: the MacStories Review
- iOS and iPadOS 15 Review Extras: eBooks, Shortcuts, Making Of, Obsidian Plugins, Safari Extension Beta, and AppStories Live
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A Look at the HomeKit and tvOS Updates Coming Soon
12 september 2021 |
39 min
This week, Federico and John look at Apple’s evolving approach to the way HomeKit devices and entertainment features are incorporated into the company’s OSes.
This episode is sponsored by:
- A Best-in-Class iOS App – A four book series on how to develop and design premier iOS apps, in early access now.
- MacStadium – Leading provider of cloud solutions built on Apple Mac hardware.
- CleanMyMac X – Make sure you can trust your Mac.
Links and Show Notes
Apple’s Upcoming HomeKit and tvOS Updates
- Apple Event Day at MacStories
- Apple’s Fall OS Updates Promise Deeper HomeKit and Entertainment Integration
- Apple’s iOS and ipadOS fall preview page with details on HomeKit updates
- Apple’s macOS Monterey preview page with details on HomeKit updates
- Apple’s tvOS fall preview
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Reminders, Notes, and App Customization
5 september 2021 |
34 min
This week, Federico and John examine the growing trend of app customization in the context of Apple’s system apps focusing on Reminders’ Tag Browser and Smart Lists and Notes’ Tag Browser and Smart Folders.
This episode is sponsored by:
Links and Show Notes
Reminders, Notes, and App Customization
- Reminders’ Smart Lists Put Unprecedented Control in the Hands of Users
- Three Weeks with iOS and iPadOS 15: Foundational Updates
- iOS 15 Preview
- iPadOS 15 Preview
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The Complexity of Defining Great Modern Mac Apps
29 augusti 2021 |
33 min
This week, Federico and John explore the many ways Mac apps can be made today and how the frameworks, along with design choices and other factors are redefining the landscape of apps on the Mac and what constitutes a great Mac app.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Student App Centre – The home of awesome student discounts on premium apps and software.
Links and Show Notes
The Complexity of Defining Great Modern Mac Apps
- The Loupedeck Live, which John reviewed for Club MacStories, includes a configuration app built with Xamarin
- Users lobby 1Password to abandon new Electron version
- Apps Discussed
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Introducing the All-New Club MacStories
22 augusti 2021 |
50 min
This week, Federico and John introduce two new tiers of Club MacStories, run down all the new features of each tier, explain the web app that powers it all, and officially release a back catalog of three months worth of bonus AppStories+ content.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Quill – Messaging to Make Your Team Better
- Technology Untangled – Join Michael Bird as he untangles innovation through a series of interviews, stories, and analyses with some of the industry’s brightest brains.
Links and Show Notes
Introducing Club MacStories
- Introducing the All-New Club MacStories: New Tiers for More Original Content, Discord Community, Search and Custom RSS, and Our New ‘Calliope’ Web App
- Two new Club tiers
- Club plans page
- Club MacStories runs on a new web app called Calliope at club.macstories.net
- AppStories+ Announcement
- Federico is the Professor Oak of Club MacStories
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Sideloading Apps and Games on the iPhone and iPad
16 augusti 2021 |
33 min
This week, Federico and John explore the world of sideloaded apps and games on the iPhone and iPad, including AltStore and the kinds of apps and game emulators it makes possible.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Memberful – Monetize your passion with membership.
- Technology Untangled – Join Michael Bird as he untangles innovation through a series of interviews, stories, and analyses with some of the industry’s brightest brains.
Links and Show Notes
Sideloading with AltStore
- The backstory of what led Federico to re-explore AltStore was told on Connected, Episode 356: Poke a Hole in the Toolbar
- Cydia
- Delta emulator
- Provenance
- Dolphin
- PPSSPP
- Microsoft and backwards compatibility on Remaster, Episode 95
- Auarte PS5 controller clip
- Otterbox Mobile Gaming Clip for MagSafe
- UTM app for running PC virtual machines on iOS devices
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An Interview with Malin Sundberg
9 augusti 2021 |
39 min
This week, Federico and John continue the Summer OS Preview Series with special guest Malin Sundberg, the creator of time tracking app Orbit, for a chat about the development of Orbit, SwiftUI, Shortcuts for Mac, SharePlay, and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Concepts – Sketch, Note, Draw
- Instabug – Ship Quality Apps with Real-Time Contextual Insights
- Technology Untangled – Join Michael Bird as he untangles innovation through a series of interviews, stories, and analyses with some of the industry’s brightest brains
Links and Show Notes
Malin Sundberg
– Website
– Twitter
– Orbit, a time tracking and invoicing app for Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch
– Cup of Tech podcast
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Beta OS Impressions Continued
2 augusti 2021 |
37 min
This week, Federico and John dig into the latest public beta and share their thoughts on changes to Safari on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, Books on the Mac, Quick Note, Focus, and Live Text.
This episode is sponsored by:
Links and Show Notes
- MacStories Unwind
- Previously Published OS Impressions
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Building an Apple-Only Research and Writing Setup
26 juli 2021 |
37 min
This week, Federico and John consider whether changes coming to Apple’s OSes make a system app-only research and writing workflow possible and discuss where there’s room for improvement.
This episode is sponsored by:
Links and Show Notes
The Viability of an Apple-Only Research and Writing Workflow
- Three Weeks with iOS and iPadOS 15: Foundational Updates
- macOS Monterey First Impressions: The Start of a New Era
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An Interview with Guilherme Rambo
19 juli 2021 |
37 min
This week, Federico and John continue the Summer OS Preview Series with special guest Gui Rambo for a chat about SharePlay, Shortcuts for Mac, Gui’s app AirBuddy, SwiftUI, and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
Links and Show Notes
An Interview with Guilherme Rambo
-
Gui’s Apps
-
SharePlay
-
Framework Wishes
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The App Customization Trend
12 juli 2021 |
36 min
This week, Federico and John discuss the emerging trend of app customization, which along with app modularity, lets users control how apps work and look.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Instabug – Ship Quality Apps with Real-Time Contextual Insights.
- DEVONthink by DEVONtechnologies – The one place for storing and working with all your documents, snippets, and bookmarks.
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
Links and Show Notes
Modularity and its Relationship to Customization
- Apps Discussed
- Functional Customization
- Visual Customization
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An Interview with Marcos Tanaka
5 juli 2021 |
32 min
This week, Federico and John continue the MacStories Summer OS Preview Series by interviewing Marcos Tanaka, the creator of MusicHarbor and MusicSmart about the latest changes to Apple’s music-related frameworks, his apps, and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
Links and Show Notes
An Inteview with Marcos Tanaka
-
Marcos Tanaka
-
Apps
-
MacStories Coverage
-
APIs
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Shortcuts Preview
28 juni 2021 |
46 min
This week, Federico and John walk through all the changes coming to Shortcuts this fall, including changes to the Shortcuts editor and the new actions you’ll find in Shortcuts on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
This episode is sponsored by:
Links and Show Notes
Previous MacStories Coverage of Shortcuts Changes Coming in iOS and iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey
- Shortcuts for Mac: The Future Is Now
- iOS and iPadOS 15: The MacStories Overview
- macOS Monterey: The MacStories Overview
- AppStories, Episode 223 – WWDC 2021: Shortcuts for the Mac, iPad Keyboard Navigation, and Developer Tools
- AppStories, Episode 224 – WWDC 2021: Shortcuts’ Folder and File Actions, Quick Note, and Safari
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Federico's Research and Note-Taking Setup
21 juni 2021 |
41 min
This week, Federico and John dig into the latest iteration of the research and note-taking setup that Federico is using to prepare his annual iOS and iPadOS review, which features Obsidian.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Pingdom – Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code APPSTORIES to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2022, and can be used only once.
- Genius Scan – A scanner in your pocket.
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
Links and Show Notes
Federico’s Research and Note-Taking System for His Annual iOS and iPadOS Review
- Obsidian
- Federico’s iOS Review Dashboard:
- Federico’s Collection of WWDC Session Notes with Vertical Splits
- Using Backlinks to Tie Multiple Notes Together
- Buttons Plugin
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2021 Apple Design Award Winners: The AppStories Interviews
15 juni 2021 |
68 min
For today’s special bonus episode of AppStories, Federico and John interview the creators of four 2021 Apple Design Award winning apps and games: Winston Chen, creator of Voice Dream Reader; Esther Huybreghts, Mathijs Demaeght, and Melissa Cash from Pok Pok, creators of Pok Pok Playroom; Brian Mueller, creator of CARROT Weather; and Maria Sayans and David Fernandez Huerta from ustwo games, creators of Alba: A Wildlife Adventure.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Concepts: Sketch, Note, Draw
Links and Show Notes
Apple Design Award Winners Interviewed
- Winston Chen, the developer of Voice Dream Reader, which won an ADA in the Inclusivity category
- Esther Huybreghts, Mathijs Demaeght, and Melissa Cash from Pok Pok, the developers of Pok Pok Playroom, which won an ADA in the Delight and Fun category, and we covered when it launched
- Brian Mueller, the developer of CARROT Weather, which won an ADA in the Interaction category and has been covered often on MacStories
- Maria Sayans and David Fernandez Huerta from ustwo games, the creators of Alba: A Wildlife Adventure, which won an ADA in the Social Impact category
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Three Features That Set iOS 15 Apart
14 juni 2021 |
48 min
This week, Federico and John cover the three features that will sell iOS 15 to most users: Focus Mode, SharePlay, and Live Text and share some of their recent audio gear purchases for lossless streaming and AirPlay. They also take questions from listeners who watched on Instagram Live.
This episode is sponsored by:
- DEVONthink – The one place for storing and working with all your documents, snippets, and bookmarks.
- 1Blocker – Remove ads, trackers, and browse faster.
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
Links and Show Notes
Streamed on Instagram Live
- Rewatch the video of episode 226, which was streamed live on June 11th and is available on Federico’s Instagram profile.
iOS 15
- iOS and iPadOS 15: The MacStories Overview
- Guilherme Rambo has released a beta of WWDC for macOS that uses SharePlay.
Lossless Streaming and AirPlay Show and Tell
- Federico’s xDuoo XD05 Bal USB DAC
- John’s Belkin Soundform Connect AirPlay 2 Audio Adapter
- John’s Mini XMOS XU208 USB Digital Interface by Douk Audio
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WWDC 2021: Safari Web Extensions and Live Text
11 juni 2021 |
31 min
In today’s special WWDC 2021 episode, Federico and John discuss the sorts of tools that could be built with Safari Web Extensions and Federico explains how Live Text works and can be used in practice.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Raycast – Goodbye Spotlight. Hello Raycast.
- Check out Raycast’s new WWDC21 extension for finding and playing session videos via the WWDC for macOS app.
Links and Show Notes
MacStories’ Latest WWDC Coverage:
- 2021 Apple Design Awards Given to Twelve Developers
- Zane Lowe on Apple Music’s Record Label Pages
- Shortcuts for Mac: The Future Is Now
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WWDC 2021: Shortcuts' Folder and File Actions, Quick Note, and Safari
10 juni 2021 |
32 min
In today’s special WWDC 2021 episode, Federico and John take a closer look at the new folder and file actions coming to Shortcuts, discuss the intriguing potential of Quick Note, and are skeptical about some of the Safari design changes.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Raycast – Goodbye Spotlight. Hello Raycast.
- Check out Raycast’s new WWDC21 extension for finding and playing session videos via the WWDC for macOS app.
Links and Show Notes
MacStories’ Latest WWDC Coverage:
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WWDC 2021: Shortcuts for the Mac, iPad Keyboard Navigation, and Developer Tools
9 juni 2021 |
31 min
In today’s special WWDC 2021 episode, Federico and John cover Shortcuts for Mac, new ways to navigate the iPad using the keyboard, and developer tools, including TestFlight for Mac, Swift Playgrounds, and RealityKit 2’s Object Capture.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Raycast – Goodbye Spotlight. Hello Raycast.
- Check out Raycast’s new WWDC21 extension for finding and playing session videos via the WWDC for macOS app.
Links and Show Notes
MacStories’ Latest WWDC Coverage:
- Eddy Cue On Why Spatial Audio Is a Game-Changer
- watchOS 8: The MacStories Overview
- Craig Federighi Provides Deeper Insight Into iCloud Private Relay
- An Overview of the New Privacy Controls Coming to Apple’s OSes
- Apple Begins Streaming Spatial Audio and Lossless Tracks on Apple Music
- Adobe Brings More Creative Cloud Apps to the M1 Macs and Announces New Features Across Its Apps
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WWDC 2021: Keynote Overview and Reactions
8 juni 2021 |
50 min
In today’s first special WWDC 2021 episode, Federico and John cover the highlights of Apple’s keynote, including iOS and iPadOS 15, macOS Monterey, and watchOS 8.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Raycast – Goodbye Spotlight. Hello Raycast.
- Backblaze – Get peace of mind knowing your files are backed up securely in the cloud. Start a free 15-day trial with Backblaze today
- Pingdom – Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code APPSTORIES to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2022, and can be used only once.
Links and Show Notes
MacStories’ WWDC Coverage
- Announcement: MacStories’ WWDC 2021 Coverage
- Apple Publishes Video from WWDC 2021 Keynote
- macOS Monterey: The MacStories Overview
- iOS and iPadOS 15: The MacStories Overview
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Our watchOS 8 and tvOS 15 Wishes
31 maj 2021 |
44 min
This week, Federico and John are joined by MacStories editor and senior developer Alex Guyot to conclude their WWDC wish list series with a look at tvOS and watchOS.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Inoreader – Take Back Control of Your News Feed. Use the code MACSTRY2 for 20% off your first year of Inoreader Pro.
- Pingdom – Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code APPSTORIES to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2022, and can be used only once.
- Linode – Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $100 in free credit.
Links and Show Notes
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Our iPadOS 15 Wishes
24 maj 2021 |
45 min
This week, Federico and John jump back into their pre-WWDC wishlist series with a look at iPadOS and the sorts of OS improvements that are needed for apps to take advantage of the iPad Pro’s new M1 chip.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Appfigures – Analytics, Intelligence, and App Store Optimization Tools. Use the code ‘AppStories3030’ at checkout for a 30% discount for the next 3 months.
- Inoreader – Take Back Control of Your News Feed. Use the code ‘MACSTRY2’ for 20% off your first year of Inoreader Pro.
- Pingdom – Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code ‘APPSTORIES’ to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2022, and can be used only once.
Links and Show Notes
- iOS and iPadOS 14: The MacStories Review
- Modular Computer: iPad Pro as a Tablet, Laptop, and Desktop Workstation
- AppStories, Episode 218 – Our iOS 15 Wishes
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Federico's 2021 iPad Pro Review: Step into the Capture Zone
19 maj 2021 |
65 min
For this special bonus episode, Federico and John dig into Federico’s review of the 2021 iPad Pro to talk about its Liquid Retina XDR display, Thunderbolt, the gap between the iPad Pro’s hardware and its software, the M1 chip, Center Stage, and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Concepts – Sketch Note Draw
Links and Show Notes
- iPad Pro 2021 Review: Future on Standby
- Exclusive iPad Pro wallpapers available to members of Club MacStories
- Other hardware mentioned:
- Apps mentioned:
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Our iOS 15 Wishes
17 maj 2021 |
58 min
This week, Federico and John continue their WWDC wish list series with a deep dive into the iOS 15 features they’d like to see announced at Apple’s annual developer conference.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode – Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $100 in free credit.
- Appfigures – Analytics, Intelligence, and App Store Optimization Tools.
- DEVONthink – The one place for storing and working with all your documents, snippets, and bookmarks.
Links and Show Notes
- iOS and iPadOS 14: The MacStories Review
- Apps mentioned:
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Our 2021 macOS WWDC Wishes
10 maj 2021 |
53 min
This week, Federico and John begin their annual pre-WWDC wish list episodes with their 2021 wishes for macOS.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Appfigures – Analytics, intelligence, and App Store optimization tools. Sign up for free, and then use the code AppStories3030 at checkout for 30% off for the next three months.
- Things – The award-winning to-do app.
- Pingdom – Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code APPSTORIES to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2022, and can be used only once.
Links and Show Notes
What’s New
- Lossless vs. hi-res audio
- Obsidian
- Amazon Kindle Oasis
- Kindle Highlights plugin for Obsidian
- Readwise
- Readwise plugin for Obsidian
- Dataview plugin for Obsidian
Our 2021 macOS WWDC Wishes
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Substack, Email, and Data Portability
3 maj 2021 |
50 min
This week, Federico and John explore the popularity of Substack among writers leaving big media companies, rethink their email workflows after leaving Hey, and consider data portability and the tradeoffs of proprietary app systems.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Pingdom – Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code APPSTORIES to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2022, and can be used only once.
- Backblaze – Get peace of mind knowing your files are backed up securely in the cloud. Start a free 15-day trial with Backblaze today
- Linode – Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $100 in free credit.
Links and Show Notes
- Substack
- Email
- Hey
- What Really Happened at Basecamp
- Connected, Episode 343 – The Jeremies
- Spark
- SaneBox
- The Value of Apps That Don’t Silo Data
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iOS and iPadOS 14.5 In Depth
26 april 2021 |
59 min
This week, Federico and John take an in-depth look at everything coming later this week with iOS and iPadOS 14.5, which will be the subject of a comprehensive review by Federico on MacStories.
This episode is sponsored by:
- AirBuddy – Experience AirPods on your Mac like never before.
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
- Linode – Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $100 in free credit.
Links and Show Notes
- Later this week on MacStories, Federico will publish his comprehensive review of iOS and iPadOS 14.5.
- Related Stories:
- Apple Releases Betas with Face ID Plus Apple Watch iPhone Unlocking, App Tracking Transparency, and Other New Features
- Apple Clarifies Ability to ‘Set Default’ Audio Apps in iOS 14.5
- iOS and iPadOS 14.5 Betas Let Users Pick The Default Streaming Music Service Used by Siri
- Emojipedia Previews the Emoji Included in the Second Beta of iOS and iPadOS 14.5
- Maps Adds Accident, Hazard, and Speed Check Reporting Using the iPhone, CarPlay, and Siri to the iOS 14.5 Beta
- About recalibration of battery health reporting in iOS 14.5
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Music Part 3: Alternative and Companion Streaming Services
19 april 2021 |
65 min
This week, Federico and John conclude their music miniseries with an episode dedicated to alternative and companion streaming services after checking in on Federico’s early experiments with an extensible text editor.
This episode is sponsored by:
- DEVONthink – The one place for storing and working with all your documents, snippets, and bookmarks
- Linode – Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $100 in free credit.
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
Links and Show Notes
What’s New
- Federico may have found the highly-customizable, extensible text editor he’s always wanted, providing a preview of what may be a significant change to his 2021 iOS review workflow.
Alternative and Companion Music Streaming Services
- Bandsintown PLUS
- Amazon Music HD
- Primephonic
- Nugs.net
- Qobuz
- TIDAL
- Roon
- Triode
- Broadcasts
- Also mentioned
- Federico’s Fiio Q5S portable amplifier and DAC
- Sony SRS-RA5000 360 Reality Audio speaker
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Music Part 2: Music Discovery, Playback, and Utility Apps
12 april 2021 |
50 min
This week, Federico and John introduce part two of their Music miniseries, with a focus on third-party music discovery, playback, and utility apps.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Privacy – Smarter payments. Get $5 to spend on your first purchase.
- Pingdom – Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code APPSTORIES to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2022, and can be used only once.
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
Links and Show Notes
What’s New
Music
- Discovery and Utility Apps
- Playback
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Music Part 1: How We Listen
5 april 2021 |
54 min
This week, Federico and John talk about Apple Arcade’s big expansion and the iOS component of John’s retro gaming project before beginning a new mini-series focused on music. For the first installment, Federico and John focus on hardware and services, covering their current setups, how they listen to music, and the services they use.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Backblaze – Get peace of mind knowing your files are backed up securely in the cloud. Start a free 15-day trial with Backblaze today
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
- Privacy – Smarter payments. Get $5 to spend on your first purchase.
Links and Show Notes
What’s New
- Federico on Apple Arcade’s Big Update
- Apple Arcade Expands More Originals and iOS Classics
- Fantasian
- Wonderbox
- Timeless Classics and App Store Greats
- Tenth anniversary of the App Store series on MacStories
Music
- Current Setups
- John
- Harmon Kardon Soundsticks 4 speakers for the Mac
- HomePods and HomePods Mini
- AirPods Pro and AirPods Max
- Powerbeats Pro
- Libratone Zipp
- Federico
- Amazon Echo
- Amazon Spot
- Keeping an eye on the Sonos Roam
- AirPods Max
- Sony WF1000-XM3
- Federico’s Offline Listening
- John
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Apple at Home
29 mars 2021 |
53 min
This week, Federico and John scrutinize Apple’s home strategy from its discontinued Airport routers and HomePod to the Apple TV, HomePod mini, HomeKit routers, the Home app, and more, plus ongoing browser and calendar experiments, and the hunt for an elusive keyboard continues.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
- Privacy – Smarter payments. Get $5 to spend on your first purchase.
- Technology Untangled: – Join Michael Bird as he untangles innovation through a series of interviews, stories, and analyses with some of the industry’s brightest brains.
Links and Show Notes
What’s New
- Federico switches his default browser
- John switches calendar apps
Keyboard Follow-Up
- Satechi Slim X1
- Logitech K380
- Keychron K2
- Myke Hurley’s Friday Keyboard Club
Apple at Home
- Linksys Velop HomeKit Router
- Managing the Internet Access of HomeKit Devices with the Linksys Velop Mesh WiFi Router System
- The Talk Show – Episode 310, Russian Nesting Doll Code
- Home+ 5
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Imagining the Perfect Read-It-Later App
22 mars 2021 |
58 min
This week, Federico and John, who are always on the lookout for new ways to read and process the stories they find, discuss the features and approaches they’d like to see in the ideal read-it-later app.
This episode is sponsored by:
- DEVONthink – The one place for storing and working with all your documents, snippets, and bookmarks.
- RevenueCat – In-app subscriptions made easy. Get started now for free.
- Pinstachio – A modern Pinboard app for your iPhone and iPad.
Links and Show Notes
What’s New
- Federico’s Craft Dashboard
- See chapter art to view Federico’s Dashboard or tap here
- John’s Keyboard and Trackpad Wishes
Imagining the Perfect Read-It-Later App
- AppStories Episode 165: Imagining the Perfect Research App
- Read Later versus Bookmarking Apps
- Federico’s Read-It-Later Setup
- Kindle Oasis
- Push to Kindle bookmarklet
- Read-It-Later and Other Apps Mentioned
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Can Apps Still Surprise Us?
15 mars 2021 |
58 min
This week, Federico and John consider why surprising apps seem increasingly rare and share some of the apps that have surprised them the most over the past year.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Crypto Pro – Cryptocurrency portfolio tracker app. Get month of Premium with code AS2021.
- DeleteMe – Remove your personal info from data brokers. Get 20% off with code APPSTORIES.
- RevenueCat – In-app subscriptions made easy. Get started now for free.
Links and Show Notes
What’s New
- Federico digs into Taio, the recently-launched text editor and clipboard manager, and shares three automations with Club MacStories members
- John explains what it’s like to review a feature-rich app like Adobe Fresco
Can Apps Still Surprise Us?
- Connected, Episode 334 – A Wave of Nostalgia Hit Me in the Face on Relay FM
- Apps discussed
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Reading Newsletters
8 mars 2021 |
40 min
This week, Federico and John dig into email newsletters and how they manage and read them.
This episode is 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.
Links and Show Notes
-
What’s New
- Federico revisits his Home Screen setup
- John dives back into Craft shortcuts and begins rethinking his use of Mac automation including Hazel
-
Newsletter Management and Reading
- The Booming Email Newsletter Business
- RSS
- Email Clients
- Using The Feed in Hey
- Email folders and rules
- Mailbrew
- Substack Reader
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Shortcuts Wish List, 2021 Edition
1 mars 2021 |
44 min
This week, Federico and John take a hard look at Shortcuts, an app they rely on every day, and consider how they would like to see Apple evolve the app this year and beyond.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Fitbod – The fitness app for personalized exercise plans. Get 25% off your membership.
- Impending – The team behind Head’s Up. Now hiring.
Links and Show Notes
-
What’s New
- Federico rethinks his RSS and ‘read later’ workflow as well as his Home Screen setup
- John signs up for a Hey personal account and figures out how to sleep his Mac and eject external drives with the press of a button
-
Shortcuts Wish List, 2021 Edition
- Shortcuts Wishes: The App
- Block folding
- Color-coded actions
- Sub-folders
- More colors and icons
- An action browser
- Debugging tools
- Shortcut locking
- Shortcuts Wishes: Actions
- Multitasking actions
- Better Files integration
- Complex UI building tools
- Safari actions
- The ability to run Swift and JavaScript
- Apple Music service actions
- Simplified Web API integration
- Shortcuts Wishes: Automations
- Deeper HomeKit support
- Apple TV integration with home automations
- Personal automations that can run at set intervals
- App-based triggers
- Proximity and presence triggers
- Shortcuts Wishes: Everything Else
- Widgets
- Trigger shortcuts with inputs via Siri
- Run Apple Watch shortcut complications on the Watch face
- Global hotkeys
- Shortcuts Wishes: The App
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What Should the iPad Steal from the Mac?
22 februari 2021 |
34 min
This week, Federico and John flip last week’s topic around and consider the hardware and software features that the iPad should steal from the Mac.
This episode is sponsored by:
- DEVONthink – The one place for storing and working with all your documents, snippets, and bookmarks
Links and Show Notes
-
What’s New
- Federico on finding the right mix of apps, widgets, and shortcuts on his Home Screens and testing Taio
- John on pushing the boundaries of Shortcuts’ personal and home automations
-
Features We’d Like the iPad to Steal from the Mac
- Time Machine-style backups
- System-level enhancements
- Improved external display support
- Deeper System-Level Shortcuts actions
- Expanded Files support
- Expanded automation triggers
- Control Center
- Improved image file handling
- Gatekeeper and app side-loading
- File sorting options and Music uploading
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What Should the Mac Steal from the iPad?
15 februari 2021 |
43 min
This week, Federico and John consider the hardware and software features that the Mac should steal from the iPad.
This episode is sponsored by:
- HelloFresh – Click this link and use code appstories10 for 10 free meals, including free shipping!
Links and Show Notes
- What’s New
- Features We’d Like the Mac to Steal from the iPad
- Closed lid music playback and other Music features
- Mobile data
- iCloud Time Machine
- Hot-swapping external drives
- Automation
- TestFlight
- MagSafe
- Touch input
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iPhone and iPad Accessory Extravaganza
8 februari 2021 |
41 min
This week, Federico and John discuss the iPhone and iPad accessories they use most and explain a couple of recent failed accessory experiments.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Microsoft Lists – A Microsoft 365 app that helps you track information and organize work.
- iMazing – Back Up and Transfer iPhone Photos Like a Pro!
Links and Show Notes
- What’s New
- Accessories
- MagSafe
- Federico
- John
- Apple Silicon Case in Kumquat
- iPhone Leather Wallet with MagSafe in California poppy
- Belkin BOOST-CHARGE PRO 3-in-1 Wireless Charger with MagSafe in black
- Keyboards, Headphones, and Music
- Battery Packs and Hubs
- Failed Accessory Experiments
- Federico: HomePod mini
- John: Lamicall Gooseneck Tablet Holder
- MagSafe
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Everything but the Text Editor
1 februari 2021 |
43 min
This week, Federico and John cover everything about their writing workflows except the text editor, including research apps, their scratchpad setups, PDF annotation, mind mapping, dictionaries, and shortcuts, along with a segment on text-based podcast editing and transcripts.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Fitbod – The fitness app for personalized exercise plans. Get 25% off your membership.
Links and Show Notes
- What’s New
- Everything but the Text Editor
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App Modularity
25 januari 2021 |
31 min
This week, Federico and John discuss the many aspects of app modularity, including where it started, how it’s supported by Apple, what developers are doing to push modularity forward, and trends to watch for in 2021.
This episode is sponsored by:
Links and Show Notes
- What’s New
- John is automating his Craft workflows
- Federico is moving notes from Apple Notes to Craft
- Federico is working on Spotify shortcuts using Shortcutify
- App Modularity
- Related topic: Do-everything versus single-purpose apps, which we’ve discussed on AppStories before:
- Looking to the past of app modularity to understand where it’s going
- x-callback-url launched
- Instapaper was one of the first apps to adopt x-callback-urls
- Mr. Reader
- Other apps discussed
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Automating Your Home
18 januari 2021 |
42 min
This week, Federico and John share their HomeKit device setups, how they control them, the automations they use, and provide advice on approaching home automation projects.
This episode is sponsored by:
Links and Show Notes
- Two Months with the HomePod mini: More Than Meets the Eye
- It’s Time for a Complete Home App Makeover
- John’s Setup
- Outdoors
- Indoors
- Various Hue lightbulbs
- Nanoleaf Essentials A19 lightbulb
- Eve Door & Window sensors
- Eve Cam
- Eve Energy smartplug
- Eve Motion Sensor
- Netatmo Weather Station
- Ecobee 3 thermostat
- Federico’s Setup
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Workflows Revisited: Calendars, Communications, and a Surprise
11 januari 2021 |
54 min
This week, Federico and John conclude their miniseries on workflows with a look at what they’re using to manage calendar events and team communications. Plus, Federico springs a big app surprise on John and listeners.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
- Fitbod – The fitness app for personalized exercise plans. Get 25% off your membership.
- HelloFresh – Click this link and use code appstories10 for 10 free meals, including free shipping!
Links and Show Notes
- What’s New
- Follow Up
- Calendar Apps
- Team Communications
- Federico’s Surprise
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Workflows Revisited: Task Management
21 december 2020 |
49 min
This week Federico takes listeners along on his recent tour of modern task managers, and he and John discuss the app they have settled on to keep track of their projects and to-dos.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
- Hover – Make a name for yourself. Get 10% off any domain name.
- Linode – Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $100 in free credit.
Links and Show Notes
- Task management apps discussed
- OmniFocus
- Reminders
- Todoist
- TickTick
- Any.do
- Things
- Sorted
- GoodTask
- Federico’s GoodTask themes
- New Wave app theme for iOS and iPadOS
- New Wave widget theme for iOS and iPadOS
- Federico’s GoodTask themes
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The 2020 MacStories Selects Awards
14 december 2020 |
56 min
This week, Federico and John reveal and discuss the 2020 MacStories Selects Award winners and runners-up.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
- Woven – The calendar with the most powerful scheduling tools. Try it free for 21 days.
- Linode – Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get $100 in free credit.
Links and Show Notes
- Best New App: Craft
- Best New App Runner-Up: Widgetsmith
- Best New App Runner-Up: Halide Mark II
- Best App Update: Soor
- Best New Feature: Pixelmator Photo’s ML Super Resolution
- Best New Feature Runner-Up: GoodTask’s Widgets
- Best New Feature Runner-Up: Craft’s Wiki Links and Backlinks
- Best Watch App: CARROT Weather
- Best Watch App Runner-Up: Watchsmith
- Best Mac App: Nova
- Best Mac App Runner-Up: AirBuddy 2
- Best Design: Reeder 5
- Best Design Runner-Up: Nova
- Readers’ Choice Award: Reeder 5
- Readers’ Choice Award Runner-Up: Scriptable
- Readers’ Choice Award Runner-Up: Things
- App of the Year: MusicHarbor
- App of the Year Runner-Up: Tot
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Workflows Revisited: Note-Taking
7 december 2020 |
44 min
This week, Federico and John continue their mini-series focused on breaking down and rethinking the core workflows behind MacStories by tackling note-taking and their adoption of Craft for personal and collaborative notes.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
- Woven – The calendar with the most powerful scheduling tools. Try it free for 21 days.
- Hover – Make a name for yourself. Get 10% off any domain name.
Links and Show Notes
- Craft
- Other Note-Taking Apps Discussed:
- Zettelkasten
- How to Take Smart Notes by Sonke Ahrens
- Andy’s working notes by Andy Matuschak
- Atomic Notes, Cortex, Episode 105 on Relay FM
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Workflows Revisited: Email
30 november 2020 |
50 min
This week Federico and John kick off a new mini-series focused on breaking down and rethinking the core workflows behind MacStories. In this first installment, we revisit how the MacStories team uses email, a long-standing workflow that has changed very little since the site was founded, and why we chose to move to HEY by Basecamp.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
Links and Show Notes
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App Store Changes and Apple's Evolving Relationship with Developers
23 november 2020 |
40 min
This week Federico and John break down the App Store Small Business Program, other App Store and developer changes announced in 2020, and consider what else Apple could do to make the App Store a better place for developers.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
- Hover – Make a name for yourself. Get 10% off any domain name.
- Linode – Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $100 in free credit.
Links and Show Notes
- Apple Reduces App Store Commissions to 15% for Small Businesses Starting Next Year
- Apple announces App Store Small Business Program
- One Week After Launch, Users Already Have Several Options for Alternative Browsers and Email Clients on iOS and iPadOS 14
- Switching Your Default HomePod Music Service to Pandora
- After outcry, Apple will let developers challenge App Store guidelines
- iOS 14.3 will suggest third-party apps to users during the iPhone or iPad setup process
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macOS Big Sur: The MacStories Review
16 november 2020 |
45 min
This week, Federico and John dive into John’s macOS Big Sur review to talk about Control Center, Notification Center and widgets, Mac Catalyst apps, Safari extensions, design, and even the upcoming M1 Macs.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
- Hover: Make a name for yourself. Get 10% off any domain name.
- Woven: The calendar with the most powerful scheduling tools. Try it free for 21 days.
Links and Show Notes
- macOS Big Sur: The MacStories Review
- An eBook version is available for Club MacStories members
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iOS Apps We Want on the Mac
9 november 2020 |
39 min
This week, Federico and John consider the rumor that TestFlight is coming for the Mac and share the iOS apps they hope will find their way to the Mac.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Woven – The calendar with the most powerful scheduling tools. Try it free for 21 days.
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
- Linode – Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $100 in free credit.
Links and Show Notes
TestFlight on the Mac Rumored
iOS Apps We’d Like to See on the Mac
- Federico’s Picks
- Shortcuts
- Scriptable
- Working Copy
- Kodex
- John’s Picks
- Apollo
- Timery
- MusicHarbor
- Anybuffer
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How Widgets Have Changed the Way We Use Our Devices
2 november 2020 |
35 min
This week, Federico and John consider how widgets have changed how they use their iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode – Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $100 in free credit.
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
- Woven – The calendar with the most powerful scheduling tools. Try it free for 21 days.
Links and Show Notes
Apps Discussed
- FoodNoms
- Soor
- Guitar Throwback Apple Music playlist
- Albums GoodTask
- Timery
- Craft
- Calendar 366
- Ermine
- Book Track
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New Apps Enabled by Apple Hardware and OS Advances
26 oktober 2020 |
36 min
This week, Federico and John explore the third-party apps enabled by Apple’s latest hardware and developer frameworks.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Pillow – Sleeping better, made simple.
- Linode – Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $100 in free credit.
Links and Show Notes
- Camera and Photo Editing Apps
- ARKit 4
- The U1 Chip and the Nearby Interaction Framework
- iPad Air Review: Forward-Looking
- HomePod mini
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The New iPad Air: Apple's Most Forward-Looking iPad
21 oktober 2020 |
47 min
In this special episode of AppStories, John interviews Federico about the all-new iPad Air, which Federico has been testing and reviewed on MacStories. Federico explains why the new iPad Air is Apple’s most forward-looking iPad that stands at the intersection of the iPad Pro and the rest of the company’s line-up, and covers every aspect of the hardware, design, and differences compared to other iPad models, along with practical advice on who should consider buying the new iPad Air.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Concepts – Sketch, Note, Draw
Links and Show Notes
- iPad Air Review: Forward-Looking
- Join Club MacStories for brand new, widget-friendly iPad wallpapers, our email newsletters, and many other exclusive perks.
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Apps and the iPhone Event: Apple's Latest Innovations in the Home and Mobile Photography
19 oktober 2020 |
43 min
This week, Federico and John dig into the latest Apple event to uncover new features and innovations coming to the Home app, Siri, and mobile photography.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Previs Pro – Storyboarding App for iOS. Sign up for a chance to win Masterclass for a year.
- Instabug – Application Performance Monitoring Built for Mobile.
- Hover – Make a name for yourself. Get 10% off any domain name.
Links and Show Notes
Show Notes
- Apple’s October 13, 2020 Event
- Apple’s HomePod mini: The MacStories Overview
- Apple’s iPhone 12 Lineup: The MacStories Overview
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iOS and iPadOS 14: The MacStories Review
14 oktober 2020 |
51 min
This week, Federico and John dive into Federico’s annual iOS and iPadOS review to look at big picture trends like Compact UI along with the changes to iPadOS, the Apple Pencil’s new Scribble feature, and Shortcuts.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Fantastical – The calendar app you won’t be able to live without.
- MacStadium – Private clouds and dedicated Macs for developers and teams doing iOS and Mac app development. Start a Mac mini subscription and get two months for the price of one.
- Things – The award-winning to-do app.
Links and Show Notes
- iOS and iPadOS 14: The MacStories Review
- iOS and iPadOS 14 Review Extras: eBooks, Wallpapers, Shortcuts, Podcasts, and Newsletter
- Join Club MacStories today to enjoy all the extras and perks released with Federico’s iOS and iPadOS 14 review and throughout the year
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Must-Have Music Widgets for Your iPhone
5 oktober 2020 |
43 min
This week, Federico and John tour music widgets, one of their favorite categories, exploring the many widgets they’re using to listen to music and follow their favorite artists.
This episode is sponsored by:
- MacStadium – Private clouds and dedicated Macs for developers and teams doing iOS and Mac app development. Start a Mac mini subscription and get two months for the price of one.
- Hover – Make a name for yourself. Get 10% off any domain name.
- Readdle – Essential productivity apps. iOS 14 ready.
Links and Show Notes
- Music widgets from this week’s episode of AppStories:
- Introducing MusicBot: The All-in-One Apple Music Assistant, Powered by Shortcuts
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Our Newly Customized iOS 14 Home Screens
28 september 2020 |
43 min
This week, Federico and John revisit their approaches to their iPhone Home Screens, including the third-party widgets they’re using, and how they are optimizing their mix of apps and widgets since the iOS 14 update. Federico also shares a trick for integrating certain widgets and folders of icons into his wallpaper.
This episode is sponsored by:
- MacStadium - Private clouds and dedicated Macs for developers and teams doing iOS and Mac app development. Start a Mac mini subscription and get two months for the price of one.
- Hover: Make a name for yourself. Get 10% off any domain name.
- Mint Mobile: Cut your unlimited wireless bill to $30 a month.
Links and Show Notes
MacStories Updates
- Club MacStories’ 5th Anniversary Celebration
- MacStories’ ongoing iOS and iPadOS 14 coverage
- MacStories’ ongoing widget coverage
Federico and John’s Home Screens
- Shortcuts Mentioned, which are available in the MacStories Shortcuts Archive:
- Apps Mentioned:
- Soor
- Timery
- The widgets discussed are in beta and are coming soon
- Todoist
- GoodLinks
- The widgets discussed are in beta and are coming soon
- LookUp
- Wikipedia
- Apollo
- Widget Wizard
- MusicHarbor
- Widgeridoo
- lire
- Fantastical
- Ascend
- FoodNoms
- Tempo
- The widgets discussed are in beta and are coming soon
- CardioBot
- Launcher
- IMDb
- World Clock
- Anybuffer
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An Interview with Michael Flarup
21 september 2020 |
40 min
This week Federico and John conclude the MacStories Summer OS Preview Series by interviewing designer Michael Flarup about Mac iconography, the design of Mac Catalyst apps, content-focused design on the iPad, augmented reality, and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Concepts – Sketch, Note, Draw
- Pingdom – Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code APPSTORIES to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2021, and can be used only once.
Links and Show Notes
- Michael Flarup
- Website
- The Comeback of Fun in Visual Design
- Previously on AppStories
- Episode 68: Interviews with Michael Flarup and Marc Edwards
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Apple's New App Review Guidelines
14 september 2020 |
35 min
This week, Federico and John dig into the details of Apple’s new App Review Guidelines, which address game streaming services, advertising, ‘reader apps,’ and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
- MacStadium – Private clouds and dedicated Macs for developers and teams doing iOS and Mac app development. Start a Mac mini subscription and get two months for the price of one.
- Hover – Make a name for yourself. Get 10% off any domain name.
- Tower – The most powerful Git client for Mac and Windows. Get 30% off with code APPSTORIES.
Links and Show Notes
- Apple Updates Multiple App Review Guidelines Addressing Game Streaming Services, In-App Purchases, Advertising, and More
- Fortnite Developer Epic Games Sues Apple Alleging Anti-Competitive App Store and Payment Processing Behavior
- Game On: A Decade of iOS Gaming
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The Many Ways to Use Widgets
7 september 2020 |
43 min
This week Federico and John explain their emerging strategies for using widgets in the Today view, mixed with apps on their Home screens, and on dedicated widget-only Home screens.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Muse – Turn your iPad into a tool for thought.
- Pingdom – Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code APPSTORIES to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2021, and can be used only once.
Links and Show Notes
- Widgets and the App Library: A First Look at Bringing Personality and Customization to Your Home Screens
- AppStories Episode 170 – WWDC 2020: Widgets Come to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac
- iOS and iPadOS 14: The MacStories Overview
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Exploring Apple’s 2020 Gaming Updates
31 augusti 2020 |
46 min
This week Federico and John explore Apple’s 2020 gaming updates, including deeper controller support and a refreshed Game Center, which are coming this fall.
This episode is sponsored by:
- MacStadium - Private clouds and dedicated Macs for developers and teams doing iOS and Mac app development. Start a Mac mini subscription and get two months for the price of one.
- Hover: Make a name for yourself. Get 10% off any domain name.
Links and Show Notes
- Please consider supporting our friends at Relay FM who are raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
- Donate
- MacStories Gaming Coverage:
- Deeper Controller Support and a Revitalized Game Center: Exploring Apple’s 2020 Gaming Updates
- Apple Hits Restart on Game Controller Support
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An Interview with Vidit Bhargava
24 augusti 2020 |
39 min
This week Federico and John continue the MacStories Summer OS Preview Series by interviewing Vidit Bhargava, the creator of LookUp, a dictionary app available on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS, about design, Mac Catalyst apps, and a whole lot more.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Concepts - Sketch, Note, Draw
- Mint Mobile – Cut your wireless bill to $15 a month
Links and Show Notes
- Vidit Bhargava on Twitter
- LookUp
- On iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS
- On the Mac
- MacStories’ Latest Review
- Vidit Bhargava on Medium
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Mac Catalyst Revisited: Apple’s Mac App Strategy Emerges
17 augusti 2020 |
37 min
This week Federico and John revisit Mac Catalyst, the technology used to bring iPad apps to the Mac, to discuss what’s changed since WWDC 2019, debate where Mac Catalyst fits in Apple’s overall app strategy, and share some of their favorite Mac Catalyst apps.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Hover – Make a name for yourself. Get 10% off any domain name.
- Pingdom – Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code APPSTORIES to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2021, and can be used only once.
Links and Show Notes
- Mac Catalyst 2.0: Doubling Down on the Alignment of the Mac and iPad
- Catalyst Can Rescue the Mac and Grow the iPad
- AppStories 134: Mac Catalyst and the First Wave of Apps Built with It
- AppStories 117: Catalyst to the Rescue
- Mac Power Users #513: Catalyst Apps on the Mac with John Voorhees
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An Interview with David Smith
10 augusti 2020 |
48 min
This week Federico and John interview developer David Smith about watchOS, widgets, what the announcements at WWDC this year mean for developers and users, and David’s apps, including a new one he’s working on for the fall.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Concepts - Sketch, Note, Draw.
- Sit Down, Startup – Here’s how to startup. Even when the world goes topsy-turvy. Subscribe to the podcast now.
Links and Show Notes
- David Smith
- Apps
- Website
- Podcast
- Co-Host of Under the Radar with Marco Arment on Relay FM
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An Interview with Guilherme Rambo
3 augusti 2020 |
41 min
This week Federico and John are joined by Guilherme Rambo for the first interview of the MacStories Summer OS Preview Series to talk about Mac Catalyst, SwiftUI, Apple Silicon, the App Store and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Concepts - Sketch, Note, Draw
- Pingdom – Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code APPSTORIES to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2021, and can be used only once.
Links and Show Notes
- Mac Catalyst 2.0: Doubling Down on the Alignment of the Mac and iPad
- Guilherme Rambo
- Apps
- Podcast
- Co-Host of Stacktrace podcast with John Sundell
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What is Great App Design?
27 juli 2020 |
38 min
This week Federico and John consider what makes an app’s design great, the balance between form and function, and some of our favorite app designs.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Pingdom – Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code APPSTORIES to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2021, and can be used only once.
Links and Show Notes
Follow us on Twitter
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Pick Two: Castro and Grammarly
20 juli 2020 |
45 min
This week Federico and John bring back an AppStories classic: Pick 2, an in-depth look at two apps. In this installment, Federico explains why he has been revisiting Castro for listening to podcasts, and John covers the evolution of Grammarly into a terrific grammar and spell-checking app for writers.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Mint Mobile – Cut your wireless bill to $15 a month.
Links and Show Notes
- Follow-Up
- Pick 2
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Relay FM's Approach to Apps with Myke Hurley
13 juli 2020 |
52 min
This week John is joined by Relay FM co-founder Myke Hurley to talk about the apps he uses to stay in touch with the hosts of the network’s shows and manage sponsorship sales, show research, episode production, and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Pingdom: Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code APPSTORIES to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2021.
Links and Show Notes
- Myke Hurley
- Myke’s podcasts on Relay FM
- Relay FM
- Myke on Twitter and Instagram
- Apps and Services Discussed
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Conversations with 2020 Apple Design Award Winners
6 juli 2020 |
71 min
This week Federico and John interview the creators of three 2020 Apple Design Award winning apps and games: Majd Taby of Darkroom, Sam Rosenthal of Where Cards Fall, and Jenova Chen of Sky: Children of the Light.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Miro – The online collaborative whiteboard platform. Sign up for a free account today.
Links and Show Notes
- 2020 Apple Design Awards
- Interviews
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Upcoming System App Updates for iPhone, iPad, and Mac
29 juni 2020 |
32 min
This week Federico and John cover updates coming to Messages, Home, Notes, Reminders, and Safari this fall.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Miro – The online collaborative whiteboard platform. Sign up for a free account today.
- Paperlike, the iPad Screen Protector – write and draw like on paper.
Links and Show Notes
- Everything Changing in Apple Notes and Reminders in iOS and iPadOS 14
- iOS and iPadOS 14: The MacStories Overview
- macOS Big Sur: The MacStories Overview
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WWDC 2020: The Mac, Big Sur, and Shortcuts
26 juni 2020 |
38 min
Wrapping up AppStories’ WWDC coverage, Federico and John talk Apple Silicon, the macOS redesign, and dig into the many changes to Shortcuts.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Spark – Love your email again with the best email client for professionals and their teams.
Links and Show Notes
More on Apple Silicon, Big Sur, and Shortcuts
- On MacStories:
- From WWDC:
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WWDC 2020: iOS and iPadOS 14 First Impressions, Favorite Small Details, and App Clips
25 juni 2020 |
42 min
In today’s special daily WWDC 2020 episode, Federico and John report on their first two days using the iOS and iPadOS 14 betas, obsess about some of their favorite small details, and examine App Clips.
This episode is sponsored by:
- PDF Expert – The best way to read, edit, sign and annotate your PDFs.
Links and Show Notes
More on Widgets and App Clips
Other References
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WWDC 2020: Widgets Come to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac
24 juni 2020 |
35 min
In today’s special daily WWDC 2020 episode, Federico and John look at widgets, the dynamic, but not interactive, extensions available in iPhone, iPad, and Mac apps that provide new ways to deliver quick, glanceable updates to users.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Spark – Love your email again with the best email client for professionals and their teams.
Links and Show Notes
The Latest MacStories’ WWDC Coverage:
- Apple Highlights The Music of WWDC, Including Federico Viticci’s MusicBot
- The Mac’s Transition to Apple Silicon
- Apple Audio: AirPods Receive Automatic Switching, Spatial Audio on AirPods Pro, and HomePod Integrates with Third-Party Music Services
- tvOS 14: The MacStories Overview
- Craig Federighi on Apple’s New Privacy Initiatives
Previously on AppStories:
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WWDC 2020: Keynote Overview and Reactions
23 juni 2020 |
42 min
In today’s first WWDC 2020 episode, Federico and John cover the highlights of Apple’s keynote, including widgets, the App Library, App Clips, and design changes in iOS 14, system-wide sidebars and Apple Pencil updates in iPadOS 14, sleep tracking and the Fitness app in watchOS 7, and macOS Big Sur’s big redesign, Safari, and the transition to Apple Silicon.
This episode is sponsored by:
- PDF Expert: The best way to read, edit, sign and annotate your PDFs.
- Linode: Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $20 credit.
Links and Show Notes
MacStories’ WWDC Coverage:
- macOS Big Sur: The MacStories Overview
- iOS and iPadOS 14: The MacStories Overview
- watchOS 7: The MacStories Overview
- WWDC 2020 Keynote: By the Numbers
- Apple Publishes Video from WWDC 2020 Keynote
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Our iOS WWDC Wishes
15 juni 2020 |
48 min
This week Federico and John cover the latest news about WWDC and conclude their WWDC wishes series with a look at iOS, including Messages, Files, Shortcuts, the share sheet, the App Store, and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Instabug – Fixing Bugs and Crashes Is Now Easier Than Ever. Get two months off discount with the code AppStories2020 at checkout
- Cotton Bureau: Shop Graphic Tees, Hoodies, and More. Use APPSTORIES10 for 10% off.
Links and Show Notes
- iOS and iPadOS 13: The MacStories Review
- Apps mentioned:
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Our macOS WWDC Wishes
8 juni 2020 |
35 min
This week Federico and John continue their WWDC wishes series with a look at macOS, including the bug fixes, system-level changes, and Apple app enhancements they would like to see at WWDC this year.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode – Cloud Hosting and Linux Servers. Get a $20 credit.
- Miro – The online collaborative whiteboard platform. Sign up for a free account today.
Links and Show Notes
- Connected, Episode 296: Gandalf Shot First; Stephen vs. Finder
- Chatology
- Apple Books: A Love Letter to Readers
- Shazam
- Service Station Review: A Handy Utility to Customize Your Finder’s Contextual Menu
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Our watchOS and tvOS WWDC Wishes
1 juni 2020 |
42 min
This week, Federico and John share their wishes for watchOS and tvOS including a fitness app, more customization and complication options, APIs for third-party TV remotes, and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
Links and Show Notes
- Introducing MacStories Perspective Icons: 20,000 Custom Perspective Icons for OmniFocus Pro
- More on the MacStories Perspective Icons
- Apps Discussed
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Imagining the Perfect Research App
25 maj 2020 |
49 min
This week, Federico and John, who have been spending too many of their waking hours investigating research apps on iPadOS and the Mac, discuss the features and approaches they’d like to see in an ideal research app or suite of apps.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Things – Desktop-class productivity for iPad.
Links and Show Notes
- Apps Discussed
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Our iPadOS WWDC Wishes
18 maj 2020 |
50 min
This week, Federico and John share their wishes for iPadOS including audio source control, multitasking, external display support, Search, keyboard and trackpad support, and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode: Cloud Hosting and Linux Servers. Get a $20 credit.
Links and Show Notes
- Apps Discussed
- Related Stories
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The Next Generation of Apps
11 maj 2020 |
29 min
This week, Federico and John discuss the evolution of Apple’s platforms and the new generation apps that are emerging across every platform from the Apple Watch to the Mac and embracing those new technologies and business models.
This episode is sponsored by:
Links and Show Notes
- Steve Troughton-Smith Twitter thread with many of the apps discussed
- Apps Mentioned
- Related Stories
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iPadOS and Pointer Support with Craig Federighi
7 maj 2020 |
50 min
In this special episode of AppStories, Federico interviews Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi about iPadOS, pointer support, and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
Links and Show Notes
More on the latest iPad developments on MacStories:
- The New iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard with Trackpad: The MacStories Overview
- Apple Releases iOS and iPadOS 13.4 with iPad Cursor Support and Keyboard Improvements, iCloud Drive Shared Folders, and More
- Modular Computer: iPad Pro as a Tablet, Laptop, and Desktop Workstation
- Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro: A New Breed of Laptop
- The iPad at 10, a MacStories series commemorating the iPad’s 10th anniversary
Learn more and subscribe to MacStories Unwind, our latest weekly podcast recapping the week at MacStories and more:
Revisit Federico’s interview with Craig Federighi from WWDC 2019 on AppStories:
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The Apps Federico Will Use for His Annual iOS Review
4 maj 2020 |
45 min
This week, Federico and John discuss the apps Federico uses to research, write, and edit his annual iOS and iPadOS review, including the changes he anticipates making this year and the new apps he’s considering.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode – Cloud Hosting and Linux Servers. Get a $20 credit.
Links and Show Notes
- More details are available in Issue 192 of MacStories Weekly, the weekly newsletter shared with Club MacStories members
- Apps Discussed
- OmniFocus
- Federico’s Video Speed-Up Shortcut
- Federico’s image scripts from Beyond the Tablet: Seven Years of iPad as My Main Computer
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Utility Apps Revisited
27 april 2020 |
34 min
This week, Federico and John dig into the utility grab bag to cover eight more of their favorite iOS and iPadOS utility apps.
This episode is sponsored by:
- SaneBox – Clean up your inbox in minutes. Sign up for a two-week free trial and a $25 credit.
Links and Show Notes
Follow-Up
Federico’s Picks
John’s Picks
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The Evolution of Clipboard and Shelf Apps
20 april 2020 |
36 min
This week, Federico and John look back at the origins of clipboard apps on iOS, how they’ve evolved, and the apps they’re currently using on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac to save snippets of information for use elsewhere.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode – Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $20 credit.
Links and Show Notes
Anniversaries and Follow-Up
- MacStories’ 11th and AppStories’ 3rd anniversaries
- Follow-Up
- Universal Purchases
Clipboard Managers and Shelf Apps
- Past iOS Apps
- Current iOS and iPadOS apps
- Mac Apps
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Digital Spring Cleaning
13 april 2020 |
35 min
This week, Federico and John discuss their approaches to digital spring cleaning.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode – Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $20 credit.
Links and Show Notes
- Raindrop.io
- Tot
- ACNH Travel Guide
- Federico’s second Home screen story
- Toolbox Pro
- Introducing MusicBot: The All-in-One Apple Music Assistant, Powered by Shortcuts
- Twitch
- Discord
- Pokemon Home
- Broadcasts
- TV Forecast
- MusicHarbor
- Overcast
- Camera+ 2
- NetNewsWire
- Reeder
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Research Tools
6 april 2020 |
38 min
This week, Federico and John recap MacStories’ iPad at 10 coverage and then compare notes on the research apps they use and approaches they take when working on a big project.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Diarly – Modern Digital Diary. Enter here by April 10, 2020 for a chance to win one of fifteen copies of Diarly.
- Linode – Cloud Hosting and Linux Servers. Get a $20 credit.
Links and Show Notes
- Stories Mentioned
- Apps
- Past Episodes Mentioned
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iPad at 10: The History and Emerging Modularity of Apple's Tablet
30 mars 2020 |
38 min
This week, Federico and John kick off MacStories’ celebration of the 10th anniversary of the iPad’s launch with an episode that reflects on the device’s history, its place in Apple’s product lineup, and the iPad as a modular computing device.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Concepts – Where Ideas Take Shape
- Direct Mail – Create and send great-looking email newsletters with Direct Mail, an easy-to-use email marketing app designed exclusively for the Mac.
Links and Show Notes
- The iPad at 10: A New Product Category Defined by Apps
- The iPad at 10: Emerging from the Shadow of the iPhone
- Coming soon on MacStories.net
- Federico’s past iPad stories
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Stuck at Home
23 mars 2020 |
47 min
This week, Federico and John talk about how the global COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way they relax, work, and approach their days.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode: Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $20 credit.
- Metrical – Build habits, stay productive, be in charge! Use the code APPSTORIES in the app to try Metrical’s pro features free for 30 days.
Links and Show Notes
- Diversions
- Brain.fm
- Nightcap playlist
- MusicHarbor
- Editing FLAC Metadata with Meta for Mac
- Hi-Res FLAC music from HDtracks
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- YouTube Channels for Competitive Pokemon
- Arcade Highlights: Roundguard
- Crossy Road Castle
- Spyder
- Federico’s new read later experiments
- Exercise Apps
- Peloton is offering 90 days free
- Streaks Workout
- Work Apps
- Communications Apps
- Tasks
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Apps We'd Like to See Apple Make
16 mars 2020 |
47 min
This week, Federico and John discuss apps they’d like to see Apple build into iOS and iPadOS 14.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode – Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $20 credit.
- SaneBox – Clean up your inbox in minutes. Sign up for a two-week free trial and a $25 credit.
Links and Show Notes
- Apple is working on a new iPhone app with workout videos, code-named ‘Seymour’
- iOS 14: Major accessibility features, Alipay Apple Pay, wallpaper app integration, more
- Apple Developing Fitness App for iOS 14 That Lets You Download Guided Workout Videos
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iOS and iPadOS Utilities We Love
9 mars 2020 |
43 min
This week, Federico and John explore some of their favorite iOS and iPadOS utility apps.
This episode is sponsored by:
- iMazing – Manage and Transfer iPhone Photos Like a Pro!
- Linode – Cloud Hosting and Linux Servers. Get a $20 credit.
Links and Show Notes
Follow us on Twitter
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App Subscriptions Revisited
2 mars 2020 |
50 min
This week, Federico and John revisit the topic of app subscriptions and what they’ve learned in the nearly three years since they covered subscriptions in episode 5.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Direct Mail – Create and send great-looking email newsletters with Direct Mail, an easy-to-use email marketing app designed exclusively for the Mac.
- Indeed – Post your job today and get a free sponsored job upgrade.
Links and Show Notes
- AppStories, Episode 5: App Subscriptions
- Apps Mentioned
- Apps that Switched to Subscriptions
- New Apps with Subscriptions
- Hybrid
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Apple’s Blending of Apps and Services
24 februari 2020 |
43 min
This week, Federico and John explore how Apple is increasingly blending services with its apps, where the mix has worked, where it hasn’t, and where they expect the trend will lead next.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode – Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $20 credit.
- MyNetDiary – Lose weight and get healthy for life with MyNetDiary.
- SaneBox – Clean up your inbox in minutes. Sign up for a two-week free trial and a $25 credit.
Links and Show Notes
- Key Up and Down Event Follow-Up
- Noto Notetaking app
- Blending Apps and Services
- Apple Music
- Apple Revamps Browse Tab in Apple Music to Surface More Content
- Apple Music’s Beats 1 Introduces New Music Daily with Zane Lowe
- Apple Music Introduces ‘New Music Daily’ Playlist
- Apple Music Introduces Replay, a Rolling Playlist of Your Most-Played Music
- Apple Music Debuts Intelligent Sorting of Alternate Album Versions
- Apple News and Stocks
- Apple Music
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Experimenting with New Tools and Workflows
17 februari 2020 |
44 min
This week, Federico and John explore how they approach testing unfamiliar apps and workflows.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Kensington – The Professionals Choice. Find the right docking solutions for your organization today.
Links and Show Notes
- Pokemon Home
- Connected, Episode 281: Oligarch Modder Community
- MacStories Unplugged, Episode 7 (June 28, 2019): Everything is Research (available to Club MacStories members at club.macstories.net)
- Recent apps Federico and John have been testing
- Pixelmator Pro
- Affinity Photo (Mac and iPad)
- Affinity Designer (Mac and iOS)
- Photoshop (Mac and iPad)
- Femto
- Blockquote Markdown Editor
- Raindrop.io
- OmniFocus 3
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The Beta Releases that Will Change the App Economy
10 februari 2020 |
40 min
This week, Federico and John discuss the updates to Apple’s OSes and developer tools, the changes to the app economy they signal, and the impact they’ll have on users and developers.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Health IQ – Insurance for the Health Conscious. Save up to 41%. Take the quiz now to see if you qualify.
Links and Show Notes
- John’s Grocery list
- Apple’s Latest Betas
- Mac Catalyst
- Past Catalyst Coverage on MacStories and AppStories (Episodes 117, 134, and 135)
- Mac Power Users, Episode 513: Catalyst Apps on the Mac, with John Voorhees
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The Elements of Modern iOS and iPadOS Apps
3 februari 2020 |
49 min
This week, Federico and John discuss the features and technologies that go into building a modern iOS or iPadOS app with examples of some of their favorite implementations.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode – Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $20 credit.
- Direct Mail – Create and send great looking email newsletters with Direct Mail, an easy-to-use email marketing app designed exclusively for the Mac.
Links and Show Notes
- MacStories stories mentioned:
- Apps mentioned
- Adapt, Episode 16 - Having Fun with the iPad
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The Apps That Defined the iPad
27 januari 2020 |
59 min
This week, Federico and John look back at the introduction of the iPad ten years ago, the apps announced onstage, and how the iPad’s app story has changed over the past decade.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode – Cloud Hosting and Linux Servers. Get a $20 credit.
- Health IQ – Insurance for the Health Conscious. Save up to 41%. Take the quiz now to see if you qualify.
Links and Show Notes
- Introducing MacStories Shortcuts Icons Color Edition, Featuring 350 Multi-Color Icons
- My Must-Have Apps, 2019 Edition
- Apple iPad Event — January 27, 2010
- The iPad at 10: A New Product Category Defined by Apps (link going live later on January 27th)
- Rewatching the Original iPad Keynote with commentary by Stephen Hackett of 512pixels.net
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Music Discovery Apps, Websites, and MusicBot
20 januari 2020 |
48 min
This week, Federico and John tackle music discovery apps, third-party music players, websites, and MusicBot.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode: Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $20 credit.
Links and Show Notes
- New Music Daily with Zane Lowe on Beats One
- MusicHarbor
- Miximum
- Albums
- Doppler
- Soor
- Marvis Pro
- MusicBot
- Recommended Websites
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Shortcuts Utility Apps
13 januari 2020 |
42 min
This week, Federico and John cover Shortcuts utilities including Toolbox Pro, Pushcut, and LaunchCuts. They also preview an upcoming Shortcuts utility from Simon Stovring called Data Jar and explain the difference between Shortcuts, shortcuts, Siri Shortcuts, and other terminology.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode: Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $20 credit.
Links and Show Notes
- Shortcuts Terminology
- Shortcuts Utilities
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Getting More Out of Safari for iPadOS
6 januari 2020 |
53 min
This week, Federico and John discuss the sort of sophisticated web apps that can be used with Safari on iPadOS 13 and share a bunch of tips and tricks based on Apple’s latest updates to Safari.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Health IQ – Insurance for the Health Conscious. Save up to 41%. Take the quiz now to see if you qualify.
- Direct Mail – Create and send great looking email newsletters with Direct Mail, an easy-to-use email marketing app designed exclusively for the Mac.
Links and Show Notes
- John on Clockwise, Episode #327: Chiming in the New Year
- MacStories Shortcuts Archive
- Safari section of iOS and iPadOS 13: The MacStories Review
- Desktop-Class Safari for iPad: A Hands-On Look at the Difference the iPadOS Update Makes to Apple’s Browser
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The 2019 MacStories Selects Awards
18 december 2019 |
52 min
This week on AppStories, Federico and John reveal the 2019 MacStories Selects Awards.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode – High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit.
- Kensington The Professionals Choice. Find the right docking solutions for your organization today.
- Re:Schedule – The app that helps you be more productive by organizing your collaboration with your schedule.
Links and Show Notes
Show Notes
- MacStories Selects 2019: Recognizing the Best Apps of the Year
- The Winners
- App of the Year: iA Writer
- Readers’ Choice Award: Drafts
- Best New App: Timery for Toggl
- Best App Update: LookUp 6
- Best App Feature: Overcast Clip Sharing
- Best Watch App: HomeRun
- Best Mac App: Reeder 4
- Best Game: Dead Cells
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Our 2020 App Wishes
9 december 2019 |
48 min
This week, we share our 2020 wishes for Apple’s system apps on iOS and the Mac.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Luna Display – Turn any Mac or iPad into a wireless second display.
- Linode – High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit.
- Kensington – The Professionals Choice. Find the right docking solutions for your organization today.
Links and Show Notes
- Club MacStories Makes a Terrific Holiday Gift
- Mac Power Users, Episode 513
- Connected, Episode 272: If the Issue Persists, Contact Apple
- Other apps mentioned:
- iOS and iPadOS 13: The MacStories Review, What’s Still Missing from Shortcuts
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Pick 2: Reeder for the Mac and iOS
2 december 2019 |
47 min
This week, Federico and John cover one of their favorite RSS client for the Mac and iOS: Reeder by Silvio Rizzi.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Luna Display – Turn any Mac or iPad into a wireless second display.
- MacStadium – Get 50% off your first two months of a Mac mini subscription now w/ code APPSTORIES, or get started with MacStadium’s new Orka private cloud.
- Kensington – The Professionals Choice. Find the right docking solutions for your organization today.
Links and Show Notes
Follow us on Twitter
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Our Favorite HomeKit Gear, Apps, and Automations
25 november 2019 |
47 min
This week, Federico and John dive into their favorite HomeKit devices, apps, and automations.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Luna Display – Turn any Mac or iPad into a wireless second display.
- Linode – High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit.
- Moo: Custom business printing and design. Save 15%.
Links and Show Notes
- Devices
- Apps
- Automation
- Federico’s HomeKit shortcut
- Federico’s HomeKit shortcut
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Interview: How Soulver Reimagined the Calculator with Its Creator, Zac Cohan
18 november 2019 |
49 min
This week, Federico and John are joined by developer Zac Cohan, the creator of Soulver, a combination notepad and calculator that reimagines how calculations are made on the Mac and iOS.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Luna Display – Turn any Mac or iPad into a wireless second display.
- MacStadium – Get 50% off your first two months of a Mac mini subscription now with code APPSTORIES, or get started with MacStadium’s new Orka private cloud.
- Linode – High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit.
Links and Show Notes
- Soulver
- Acqualia
- The Creation of Soulver
- On MacStories:
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Rethinking Apple’s TV App in Light of TV+
11 november 2019 |
40 min
This week, Federico and John share their thoughts on Apple’s new TV+ video streaming TV app, including what works, what doesn’t, and ways they think it could be improved.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode – High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit.
- Kensington: The Professionals Choice. Find the right docking solutions for your organization today.
Links and Show Notes
- Apple TV+, Channels, and the Redesigned TV App: Our Complete Overview
- How To Open the Apple TV+ Front Page and Individual Shows Directly in the TV App
- Shows Discussed
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Our Third Annual Apple Watch Check-In
4 november 2019 |
47 min
This week, in what has become an annual tradition, Federico and John talk about how they’ve set up their Apple Watches, including the complications they use, the third-party apps on which they rely, and what’s in their Watch docks.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Kolide – User focused security for teams that Slack. Try it free for 30 days.
- Direct Mail – Create and send great looking email newsletters with Direct Mail, an easy-to-use email marketing app designed exclusively for the Mac.
- Kensington – The Professionals Choice. Find the right docking solutions for your organization today.
Links and Show Notes
-
HomePod Update
-
Our Apple Watch Setups
- Sleep Tracking with a Second Apple Watch
- 9to5Mac Watch Time – Balancing work, life, and fitness with Federico Viticci
- Napbot
John’s Watch Faces 
Federico’s Series 5 Watch Face and Apps - Sleep Tracking with a Second Apple Watch
-
Apps
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GameClub and a Shortcuts Update
28 oktober 2019 |
44 min
This week, Federico and John talk about GameClub, the classic iOS game service that launched last week, and some of the shortcuts they’ve been working on lately.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode – High performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit.
- Kolide – User focused security for teams that Slack. Try it free for 30 days.
- UpHabit – The app that makes connecting with people you care about part of your routine. Try it for free or take advantage of 60% off for new subscribers.
Links and Show Notes
- GameClub
- Shortcuts Update
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Mac Catalyst with James Thomson Plus Federico's iPhone 11 Pro Camera Story
21 oktober 2019 |
47 min
This week, Federico and John interview James Thomson, the creator of PCalc and Dice, for a developer’s perspective on Mac Catalyst and go behind the scenes of Federico’s iPhone 11 Pro camera story, Eternal City, Modern Photography: The iPhone 11 Pro in Rome.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode - High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit.
- Zapier - The easiest way to automate your work. Start your 14-day free trial today.
- Kolide - User focused security for teams that Slack. Try it free for 30 days.
Links and Show Notes
Mac Catalyst and the First Wave of Apps Built with It
14 oktober 2019 |
41 min
This week, Federico and John discuss Mac Catalyst, the technology for bringing iPad apps to the Mac, and round up some of their favorite Mac Catalyst apps that have been released so far.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Kolide – User focused security for teams that Slack. Try it free for 30 days.
- Direct Mail – Create and send great looking email newsletters with Direct Mail, an easy-to-use email marketing app designed exclusively for the Mac.
- UpHabit – The app that makes connecting with people you care about part of your routine. Try it for free or take advantage of 60% off for new subscribers.
Links and Show Notes
- macOS Catalina: The MacStories Review
- Exclusive eBook version for Club MacStories members
- Other Catalina reviews:
- macOS Catalina review: New era ahead, proceed with caution by Jason Snell
- Review: macOS Catalina Cuts Ties With the Past While Ushering in the Future by Stephen Hackett
- The relationship between Catalyst and SwiftUI and additional Catalyst background
- Mac Catalyst Limitations and Bugs
- Mac Catalyst Apps Discussed
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Building an iOS Media Companion
7 oktober 2019 |
41 min
Federico helps John set up an iPod touch as a media companion for watching TV and movies, enjoying music, and controlling HomeKit devices.
This episode is sponsored by:
- MacStadium – Get 50% off your first two months of a Mac mini subscription now w/ code APPSTORIES, or get started with MacStadium’s new Orka private cloud.
- Linode – High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit.
- Kolide: User focused security for teams that Slack. Try it free for 30 days.
Links and Show Notes
- John’s iPod touch Home screen
- OtterSpot Wireless Charging System
- Just Watch
- IMDb
- TV Forecast
- TV Forecast does have Trakt support!
- iShows
- Television Time
- The origins of John’s fake child:
- Yonks
- GameTrack
- Plex
- Infuse
- Apple Movie Trailers
- Logitech Harmony Remote
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Apple Arcade: The Launch and Favorite Games
30 september 2019 |
47 min
This week, Federico and John cover the all-new MacStories Shortcuts Icons, a set of 300 custom icons for shortcuts that you can add to your Home screen and then revisit Apple Arcade in the wake of its public launch discussing some of their favorite games so far.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Pingdom – Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code APPSTORIES to get 30% off.
- Zapier – The easiest way to automate your work. Start your 14-day free trial today.
- Direct Mail – Create and send great looking email newsletters with Direct Mail, an easy-to-use email marketing app designed exclusively for the Mac.
Links and Show Notes
- MacStories Shortcuts Icons: 300 Custom Home Screen Icons for Your Shortcuts
- Purchase Link
- Club MacStories members can find a 33% discount code in the downloads area of the Club
- Arcade Launches for Some iOS Beta Testers
- Apple Highlights Arcade Titles in New Video
- Apple Unveils Apple Arcade Game Subscription Details
- Apple Arcade: Our Overview of Apple’s New Gaming Subscription Service
- Apple Hits Restart on Game Controller Support
- Viozon iPad Stand
- Games We’ve Played:
- On Deck:
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Shortcuts and Third-Party Apps
23 september 2019 |
44 min
There are major changes to Shortcuts in iOS and iPadOS 13 and coming on September 24th with iOS and iPadOS 13.1. Federico and John explore what the changes mean to third-party apps, who’s using them, and what it means to users.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Things is a best-in-class to-do app for iPad, iPhone, and Mac.
- Linode – High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit.
- Moo – Custom business printing and design. Save up to 35% until September 25.
Links and Show Notes
- Relay FM is raising money to help fight childhood cancer
- Please help us by joining them to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital with a donation
- Shortcuts and Third-Party Apps:
- The Shortcuts section of Federico’s iOS and iPadOS 13 review
- PCalc 3.9 Adds Dark Mode and the Latest Shortcuts Features, Expanding the App’s Automation Capabilities
- Other Apps Discussed
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iOS and iPadOS 13: The MacStories Review
19 september 2019 |
50 min
Federico’s iOS and iPadOS 13 review is out, so we’ve got a special episode of AppStories all about the big-picture changes to the OSes, the evolution of Shortcuts into a Siri development tool supported by third-party developers, the balancing act Apple performs when updating apps distributed to hundreds of millions of users, and lots of interesting little details about iOS and iPadOS 13.
This episode is sponsored by:
Join Club MacStories for lots of great iOS and iPadOS 13 review extras:
- 2 eBooks: Federico’s review plus a collection of the team’s 9 iOS 13 preview stories
- 8 gorgeous 5K desktop and iOS-optimized wallpapers
- Advanced shortcuts coming in MacStories Weekly
- 2 episodes of our Club-exclusive podcast MacStories Unplugged
- ‘Making of’ stories in MacStories Weekly from Federico and Brian King
- access to past extras along with our entire archive of well over 200 issues of MacStories Weekly and the Monthly Log
Links and Show Notes
- iOS and iPadOS 13: The MacStories Review
- iOS and iPadOS 13 Review Extras: eBooks, Wallpapers, Shortcuts, Podcasts, and Making Of
- Club MacStories
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The Apps of Apple's Fall Event
16 september 2019 |
38 min
This week, Federico and John dive into the new and updated apps announced at Apple’s fall keynote including Compass, Camera, and the upcoming Apple Arcade game subscription service.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode – High performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit.
- Setapp, from Macpaw – More than 100 powerful apps for your Mac.
- Direct Mail – Create and send great looking email newsletters with Direct Mail, an easy-to-use email marketing app designed exclusively for the Mac.
Links and Show Notes
Show Notes
- MacStories 2019 Fall Event Coverage
- iPhone 11 and 11 Pro: The MacStories Overview
- Apple Watch Series 5: The MacStories Overview
- FiLMiC Pro
- Game On: A Decade of iOS Gaming
- Apple Unveils Apple Arcade Game Subscription Details
- Apple Highlights Arcade Titles in New Video
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Organizing iOS 13’s New Share Sheet
9 september 2019 |
50 min
This week, Federico and John introduce the fourth anniversary of Club MacStories and then discuss the changes coming to iOS and iPadOS 13’s share sheet and how it has begun to change how they use it.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Genius Scan – A scanner in your pocket. Visit geniusscan.com/appstories for a chance to win one of 10 copies of Genius Scan+, which will be selected randomly.
- Backblaze – Unlimited cloud backup for Macs and PCs for just $6/month.
- Monday.com – Start your 14-day free trial by going to monday.com/appstories
Links and Show Notes
- Club MacStories’ 4th Anniversary
- AppStories, Episode 76 – Our Favorite Share Sheet Extensions
- Apple’s iOS 13 Preview Page
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Returning to Apple Mail
2 september 2019 |
40 min
This week, Federico and John discuss why they’ve both returned to Apple Mail after years of looking for a better email solution.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Monday.com – Start your 14-day free trial by going to monday.com/appstories
- Pingdom – Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code APPSTORIES to get 30% off.
Links and Show Notes
- Adapt #7: iPadOS 13 Reflections and an Apple Mail Deep Dive
- Apps Mentioned:
- The MacStories iOS 13 Preview Series
- Beyond the Tablet Extras: eBook, Special Episode of AppStories, and Making Of Essays
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Sidecar
26 augusti 2019 |
31 min
This week, Federico and John cover Apple’s new second-screen feature coming to macOS Catalina and iOS 13 in the fall and what it means for both platforms.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Monday.com – Start your 14-day free trial by going to monday.com/appstories
- Genius Scan – A scanner in your pocket. Visit geniusscan.com/appstories for a chance to win one of 10 copies of Genius Scan+, which will be selected randomly.
Links and Show Notes
- Sidecar in iPadOS 13 and macOS Catalina: Working Seamlessly Between an iPad and Mac
- The MacStories iOS 13 Preview Series
- Beyond the Tablet Extras: eBook, Special Episode of AppStories, and Making Of Essays
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Apple Maps in iOS 13 with Ryan Christoffel
19 augusti 2019 |
41 min
This week, John is joined by his MacStories colleague Ryan Christoffel to talk about the big changes coming to Apple Maps this fall with iOS 13.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Monday.com – Start your 14-day free trial by going to monday.com/appstories
- Pocket Lists – The friendliest to-do list app for families
Links and Show Notes
- Apple Maps in iOS 13: Sights Set on Google
- The Iconography of Apple Maps
- Apple is Rebooting Its Maps App with Rebuilt Map Data
- iOS 13: The MacStories Overview
- MacStories’ iOS 13 preview coverage
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CarPlay in iOS 13 and Vignette with Casey Liss
12 augusti 2019 |
50 min
This week, John is joined by Casey Liss to dig into the big changes coming to CarPlay in iOS 13 and the story behind Vignette, Casey’s app for assigning profile pictures to contacts.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode: High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit.
- Club MacStories – Exclusive access to extra MacStories content, delivered every week for just $5/month or $50/year.
Links and Show Notes
- Casey Liss
- Luna Display
- CarPlay in iOS 13: A Big Leap Forward
- Announcing Vignette
- Vignette: Easily Update Your Contact Photos Without Sacrificing Privacy
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Is Competing with Apple’s iOS Apps Getting Tougher?
5 augusti 2019 |
30 min
This week, Federico and John consider the state of Apple’s built-in apps and whether it’s getting harder for third-party developers to compete with them.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Textastic - The code editor for your iPad and iPhone.
- Pingdom – Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code APPSTORIES to get 30% off.
Links and Show Notes
- Erasing Complexity: The Comfort of Apple’s Ecosystem
- Apps that Compete with Apple’s apps
- Apple Dominates App Store Search Results, Thwarting Competitors
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Pick 2: Flighty and Pushover
29 juli 2019 |
32 min
This week, Federico and John talk about pro app subscriptions in the context of the recently-released flight tracker, Flighty, and the new home automation possibilities available when combining new features of iOS 13 with an app/service like Pushover.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode – High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit.
Links and Show Notes
Follow us on Twitter
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How Travel Affects The Apps and Gear We Use
22 juli 2019 |
35 min
This week, Federico provides an update on the progress he’s made on his iOS 13 review, and then he and John dig into how travel affects the apps and gear they use.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Atoms – The world’s first shoe to come in quarter sizes.
- Moo – Custom business printing and design. Save 25%.
Links and Show Notes
- Flighty (coming July 23rd)
- Google Trips
- Lyft
- Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB Cardioid Dynamic USB/XLR Microphone
- MacStories Unplugged Episode 7 - Everything Is Research (a Club MacStories exclusive podcast).
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Changes to Photos Coming in iOS 13 and Catalina
15 juli 2019 |
45 min
This week, Federico and John take a close look at the upcoming changes to the Photos app on iOS and the Mac.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Secure Shellfish – Connect your servers and your apps.
- Remote for Mac – Remote Control for Mac.
- Linode: High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit.
Links and Show Notes
Follow us on Twitter
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You Downloaded What?
8 juli 2019 |
34 min
This week, Federico and John look at the strange assortment of apps they’ve downloaded recently.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Pingdom: Start monitoring your websites and servers today. Use offer code APPSTORIES to get 30% off.
- Astropad Studio: Turn your iPad into a professional graphics tablet. Get started today with a 30-day free trial.
Links and Show Notes
- The rules of ‘You Downloaded What?’:
- No betas or pre-release apps
- Only apps dowloaded in the past 45 days are allowed
- Mac apps downloaded directly from developers’ websites and the Mac App Store are allowed
- tvOS and watchOS apps are allowed
- Electron apps are not allowed
- Catalyst apps are allowed
- John’s apps:
- Federico’s apps:
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Reminders in iOS 13
1 juli 2019 |
31 min
This week, Federico and John continue their series of episodes on the new and updated apps coming from Apple in the fall with Reminders.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Direct Mail – Create and send great-looking email newsletters with Direct Mail, an easy-to-use email marketing app designed exclusively for the Mac.
- Astropad Studio – Turn your iPad into a professional graphics tablet. Get started today with a 30-day free trial.
Links and Show Notes
- iOS 13: The MacStories Overview
- Hands-On with iPadOS and iOS 13: Changes Big and Small
Federico’s Reminders Setup:
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Catalyst to the Rescue
24 juni 2019 |
40 min
This week, Federico and John dig into the role of Catalyst in Apple’s Mac and iPad strategy expanding on Catalyst Can Rescue the Mac and Grow the iPad, a story John wrote on MacStories.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Astropad Studio – Turn your iPad into a professional graphics tablet. Get started today with a 30-day free trial.
- Pocket Lists – The world’s friendliest to-do list app.
Links and Show Notes
- Catalyst Can Rescue the Mac and Grow the iPad
- Project Catalyst Enables Bringing iPad Apps to the Mac
- Apps Mentioned
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Notes in iOS 13 and macOS Catalina
17 juni 2019 |
36 min
This week, Federico and John start a series of episodes on the new and updated apps coming to iOS and macOS Catalina in the fall starting with Notes.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Astropad Studio – Turn your iPad into a professional graphics tablet. Get started today with a 30-day free trial.
- Direct Mail – Create and send great-looking email newsletters with Direct Mail, an easy-to-use email marketing app designed exclusively for the Mac.
Links and Show Notes
- iOS 13: The MacStories Overview
- iPadOS: The MacStories Overview
- macOS Catalina: The MacStories Overview
- Federico’s Notes Table of Contents Shortcut:
- Accessing a note’s unique URL:
- Create a table of contents from note links:
- The final result:
- Accessing a note’s unique URL:
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WWDC 2019 App-tacular
11 juni 2019 |
38 min
This week, Federico and John are joined by MacStories colleague Alex Guyot in San Jose where they talk about the upcoming Notes, Reminders, Apple Watch, and Shortcuts updates coming in the fall.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Luna Display - The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code STORIES at checkout for 10% off.
- Perfect Tempo - Any song, Any tempo.
Links and Show Notes
- MacStories’ WWDC 2019 Coverage
- iOS 13: The MacStories Overview
- iPadOS: The MacStories Overview
- watchOS 6: The MacStories Overview
- macOS Catalina: The MacStories Overview
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Craig Federighi: The AppStories Interview
6 juni 2019 |
48 min
This week, Federico and John are in San Jose attending WWDC where Federico sat down with Craig Federighi, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering to talk about Apple’s new developer tools like Catalyst and SwiftUI, as well as iPadOS.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Things – Where your ideas take shape – one step at a time. Try the delightful, award-winning app on Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Watch.
- Linode – High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit.
Links and Show Notes
- Craig Federighi, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering
- Topics
More from MacStories
- MacStories’ WWDC 2019 coverage
- You can read our work on MacStories.net:
- For more interviews by Federico and John, check out their new seasonal podcast, Dialog:
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Timery for Toggl Plus a Dialog Sneak Peek
27 maj 2019 |
39 min
This week, Federico and John talk about one of their favorite new iOS apps: Timery, a client app for Toggl’s time tracking service. They also preview Dialog, a new seasonal podcast from MacStories featuring weekly, in-depth conversations with special guests about the impact of technology on creativity, society, and culture, which debuts on May 28th.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Luna Display - The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code STORIES at checkout for 10% off.
- Direct Mail - Create and send great looking email newsletters with Direct Mail, an easy-to-use email marketing app designed exclusively for the Mac.
Links and Show Notes
- Timery for Toggl
- Timery for Toggl: The MacStories Review
- Dialog: Creativity Meets Technology
- Subscribe:
- Dialog on Twitter
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Behind the Scenes of Federico's iPad Story
21 maj 2019 |
59 min
This week, Federico and John discuss the process of creating Federico’s story, Beyond the Tablet: Seven Years of iPad as My Main Computer and some of the topics from the story; later, they are joined by Brian King who worked with Federico on the introductory animation and 3D-rendered images throughout the story.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Luna Display: The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code STORIES at checkout for 10% off.
- Linode: High performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit.
Links and Show Notes
- Beyond the Tablet: Seven Years of iPad as My Main Computer
- A week of podcasting with only an iPad Pro
- Learn more about Club MacStories here.
- iA Writer
- Working Copy
Content Blocks in iA Writer (left) - Cinema 4D
- Brian King on Twitter
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iOS 13 App Rumors and Wishes
13 maj 2019 |
34 min
This week, Federico and John share their thoughts on the latest iOS 13 app rumors reported by Mark Gurman and 9to5Mac and other features and updates they’d like to see Apple implement this year.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Luna Display - The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code STORIES at checkout for 10% off.
- Moo - Custom business printing and design. Use promo code PRINT15 for 15% off.
Links and Show Notes
- Doug’s AppleScripts for iTunes
- Alternatives to iTunes
- Apple’s Latest Game
- The Latest iOS 13 App Rumors
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Revisiting the Breakup of iTunes
6 maj 2019 |
30 min
This week, Federico and John revisit their discussion of the breakup of iTunes from Episode 21 in light of the latest Marzipan rumors.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Hype Professional – Design beautiful HTML5 interactive pieces and animations.
- Linode - High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit.
Links and Show Notes
- AppStories Episode 21 - Breaking Up iTunes is Hard to Do
- Next major macOS version will include standalone Music, Podcasts, and TV apps, Books app gets major redesign
- Samsung T5 1TB SSD
- Plexamp
- VLC
- Prism
- MacStories Unplugged
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Pick 2: Moment and MindNode
29 april 2019 |
35 min
This week, Federico and John take a deep dive into two apps they’ve been using a lot lately, Moment Pro Camera and the recently-released MindNode 6.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Hype Professional – Design beautiful HTML5 interactive pieces and animations.
- Direct Mail – Create and send great-looking email newsletters with Direct Mail, an easy-to-use email marketing app designed exclusively for the Mac.
Links and Show Notes
- Time is running out to order MacStories 10th Anniversary Merchandise!
- Available at macstoriesmerch.com:
- T-shirts (on sale late in the day on April 29th)
- Enamel Pin (available for a few extra days this week)
- Available at macstoriesmerch.com:
- Moment Pro Camera
- MindNode
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Our New Mac mini Setups
22 april 2019 |
39 min
This week, Federico and John talk about their new Mac minis, the very different ways they use them, and the apps they rely on the most.
This episode is sponsored by:
- KiwiCo: Hands-on learning and experienced based play. Get your first crate free.
- Moo: Custom business printing and design. Use promo code PRINT15 for 15% off.
Links and Show Notes
- MacStories 10th Anniversary Merchandise
- Available for just one more week at macstoriesmerch.com:
- iPad Diaries: Using a Mac from iOS, Part 1 – Finder Folders, Siri Shortcuts, and App Windows with Keyboard Maestro
- Mobile Video Production Spotlighted at the 2019 NAB Show
- iPad Apps with external display support
- MindNode (coming soon)
- LumaFusion
- Other Mac apps Discussed
- John
- 1Password
- Federico
- John
Interview: Ten Years of MacStories with Federico Viticci
15 april 2019 |
91 min
This week, to mark MacStories’ 10th anniversary, John interviews Federico about how MacStories got started, what led to the MacStories that readers know today, and what’s in store for the site and other MacStories properties in the future.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Agenda - An elegant new take on notes.
- Linode - High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit.
Links and Show Notes
- Federico’s First Post on MacStories: Stainless & Cruz, two new Mac browsers
- Federico’s Personal Stories
- Apps Mentioned
- MacStories 10th Anniversary Merchandise
- macstoriesmerch.com
- Available for a limited time:
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Instagram
The Apps of Apple’s March 25 Services Event
8 april 2019 |
37 min
This week, Federico and John take a close look at the apps and services announced by Apple at its March 25th services event at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino including the TV app, News, Apple Arcade, and Apple Card.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Luna Display: The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code APPSTORIES at checkout for 10% off.
- ExpressVPN: High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get 3 months free with a 1-year package.
Links and Show Notes
- TV App
- News App
- Apple Arcade
- Apple Card
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Instagram
Pro iPad Apps and Where iOS Holds Them Back
1 april 2019 |
34 min
This week, Federico and John cover pro iOS audio, photography, video, and art apps that stretch the platform and discuss where the OS is holding them back.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode: High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit.
- KiwiCo: Hands-on learning and experience-based play. Get your first crate free.
Links and Show Notes
- Audio Editing and Music Creation
- Photography
- Video
- Art
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Instagram
iOS Wish List Part 2 - HomeKit and Shortcuts
25 mars 2019 |
32 min
This week, Federico and John continue their discussion of iOS 13 wishes, this time focussing on HomeKit and Shortcuts.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Luna Display - The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code APPSTORIES at checkout for 10% off.
- MindNode - It starts with your thought.
Links and Show Notes
- HomeKit
- It’s Time for a Complete Home App Makeover
- Home by Matthias Hochgatterer
- HomeDash
- Shotcuts
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Instagram
Reading Apps
18 mars 2019 |
32 min
This week, Federico and John discuss their favorite reading apps including Apple Books, Kindle, Comixology, Shonen Jump and Apple News.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Hoban Cards - Thoughtfully designed letterpress-printed business cards & stationery for creative individuals and small businesses. Use the code MacStories for $10 off your first order.
- Setapp, from Macpaw - More than 100 powerful apps for your Mac.
Links and Show Notes
- The MacStories Shortcuts Archive
- What Federico’s been reading
- Apple Books: A Love Letter to Readers
- Kindle
- Comixology
- Shonen Jump
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Instagram
Utility Grab Bag, Part 2
11 mars 2019 |
29 min
This week, Federico and John dive back into their collections of iOS and Mac utilities and discuss four more favorites.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Daylite - Win more business and get more done.
- ExpressVPN - High-speed, secure & anonymous VPN service. Get 3 months free with a 1-year package.
Links and Show Notes
- Retrobatch
- Grape for GitHub
- Gladys (iOS/Mac)
- Sofa
iOS 13 Wish List Part 1: Files and the iPad Home Screen
4 mars 2019 |
30 min
This week, Federico and John discuss their iOS 13 wishes for the Files app and iPad home screen.
This episode is sponsored by:
- DEVONthink – Information management reinvented: Save, organize, and recall all your documents whenever you need them. Use the link above or the code promo-appstories-2019-01 at checkout for an exclusive 10% discount.
- Linode – High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit.
Links and Show Notes
- Files app and iPad Home Screen
Follow us on Twitter
App Trends
25 februari 2019 |
35 min
This week, Federico and John discuss some of the trends they expect will drive app development on iOS and the Mac this year and into the future.
This episode is sponsored by:
-
MacStadium – Private clouds and dedicated Macs for developers and teams doing iOS/Mac app development. Start a Mac mini subscription and get two months for the price of one with the code APPSTORIES.
-
Luna Display – The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code APPSTORIES at checkout for 10% off.
Links and Show Notes
- Rich Notifications
- Services and Subscriptions
- Keyboard Control for iPad Apps
- App Convergence
- Augmented Reality
Follow us on Twitter
Pick 2: Everyday Workflows
18 februari 2019 |
31 min
This week, Federico and John each pick an aspect of their MacStories work and break down the apps, workflows, and processes they use to accomplish it.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Yoink - Simplify and improve drag and drop on your Mac, iPad and iPhone, and speed up your daily workflow. Eternal Storms is giving away 10 copies each of Yoink for the Mac and iOS on a first-come, first-serve basis. For a chance to win, click here for the Mac version and here for the iOS version.
- Linode – High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit.
Links and Show Notes
Show Notes
- John’s Sponsorship Workflow
- Federico’s Writing Workflow
Follow us on Twitter
Mixed iOS/Mac Automation
11 februari 2019 |
42 min
This week, Federico and John dive into Federico’s experiments in mixed iOS and Mac automation for controlling his Mac mini, iTunes, and podcasting setup.
This episode is sponsored by:
- RAW Power - Make your best shots better. If you miss Aperture, check out RAW Power for Mac and iOS. Enter to win a free copy of RAW Power for iOS or the Mac here.
- ExpressVPN - High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get 3 months free with a 1-year package.
Links and Show Notes
- iPad Diaries: Using a Mac from iOS, Part 1 – Finder Folders, Siri Shortcuts, and App Windows with Keyboard Maestro
- FileBrowser
- File Explorer Pro
- iPad Diaries: Transmit Replacements and FTP Clients
- Keyboard Maestro
- BetterTouchTool
- Luna Display
Follow us on Twitter
Utility App Grab Bag
4 februari 2019 |
35 min
This week, Federico and John dive into their collections of iOS and Mac utilities and discuss some favorites.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode - High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit.
- Paste - Cloud clipboard time machine for Mac and iOS.
Links and Show Notes
- Follow-Up
- AirBuddy by Guilherme Rambo (Mac)
- Jayson by Simon Stovring (iOS)
- Text Case by Chris Hannah (iOS)
- Yonks by Stefan Grund (iOS)
Follow us on Twitter
Alternatives to Apple’s App Short List
28 januari 2019 |
37 min
This week, Federico and John consider Apple’s latest iPad ads and provide suggestions of other third-party apps the company could use to show off its hardware.
This episode is sponsored by:
This episode of AppStories is sponsored by:
- Clean My Mac X: The all-in-one package to awesomize your Mac.
Links and Show Notes
- A New Way to Take Notes
- A New Way to Go Paperless
- Shoebox Receipts Tracker
- Scanbot
- Scanner Pro
- Genius Scan
- Microsoft Word
- Paper
- Linea Sketch
- Tayasui Sketches
- Autodesk Sketchbook
- Affinity Designer
- Filmed and Edited on an iPad Pro
- A New Way to Host Your Own Podcast
- A New Way to Create a Presentation
- A New Way to Design Your Space
Follow us on Twitter
Interview: Directing Animated Feature Films Using an iPad Pro with Yarrow Cheney
21 januari 2019 |
44 min
This week, Federico and John interview Yarrow Cheney, whose animated feature film credits include directing The Grinch and The Secret Life of Pets and production design for the Despicable Me movies and The Lorax, about the role the iPad plays in his filmmaking process.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Toggl – Hassle-free time tracking, wherever you are.
- Linode – High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit.
Links and Show Notes
-
Some of the films Yarrow Cheney has worked on:
-
Yarrow Cheney online:
-
Apps discussed:
Follow us on Twitter
Interview: iOS Game Design with Edwin Smith of Feral Interactive
14 januari 2019 |
37 min
This week, we interview Edwin Smith of Feral Interactive, the developer and publisher of Mac and iOS games about the design challenges of bringing complex desktop games to the iPad and iPhone.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Agenda – An elegant new take on notes.
- ExpressVPN – High-Speed, Secure & Anonymous VPN Service. Get 3 months free with a 1-year package.
Links and Show Notes
- Feral Interactive
- Rome: Total War
- Tropico
Follow us on Twitter
2019 Themes from Our Must-Have iOS and Mac Apps
7 januari 2019 |
38 min
This week, Federico and John discuss the themes that run throughout their 2018 iOS and Mac must-have apps and what they mean for 2019.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Techmeme Ride Home – Search in your favorite podcast app for ‘ride home’ and subscribe to the Techmeme Ride Home podcast.
- Linode – High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit with promo code ‘appstories2018’
Links and Show Notes
- My Must-Have iOS Apps, 2018 Edition
- My Must-Have Mac Apps, 2018 Edition
- iOS Apps with Files Integration
- iOS Programming Apps
- iOS Apps that Use Reminders
- iOS Apps That Integrate with the Mac
- Mac Apps
Follow us on Twitter
Introducing the 2018 MacStories Selects
17 december 2018 |
38 min
This week, Federico and John unveil the MacStories team’s 2018 MacStories Selects for Best New App, Best New Game, and Best App Update.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Outcast – The best standalone podcast player for Apple Watch.
- Luna Display – The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code APPSTORIES at checkout for 10% off.
Links and Show Notes
-
Introducing MacStories Selects: The Best New Apps, App Updates, and iOS Games of 2018
-
Best New App
- Agenda (iOS/Mac)
- Runners-Up
-
Best New Game
-
Best App Update
Follow us on Twitter
Apps for Planning Projects Big and Small
10 december 2018 |
40 min
This week, Federico and John explore the apps they use for planning everything from the upcoming year to the week ahead.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Affinity – super-fast, powerful, professional apps for modern creative people.
- Luna Display – The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code APPSTORIES at checkout for 10% off.
Links and Show Notes
Show Notes
Follow us on Instagram
Taking iOS Photography Further with RAW Camera Apps and Editors
3 december 2018 |
36 min
This week, Federico and John take on iOS photography by discussing some of their favorite RAW camera apps and photo editors.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode: High performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit with promo code ‘appstories2018’
- Luna Display: The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code APPSTORIES at checkout for 10% off.
Links and Show Notes
- Halide
- Halide Review: Instantly Better Photography
- Halide 1.7 Brings New Depth Photography and ARKit Features, Darkroom Integration
- Halide Introduces Smart RAW for iPhone XS, Joining a Host of Other Improvements
- Obscura
- Obscura 2 Review: An Approachable Manual Camera App with Tasteful Filters
- Darkroom
- Lightroom CC
- Federico on Instagram
- John on Instagram
iOS and Apps in the Car
26 november 2018 |
37 min
This week, Federico and John take iOS for a car ride covering CarPlay, Do Not Disturb, in-car dongles, and automation.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Luna Display: The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code APPSTORIES at checkout for 10% off.
- eero: Never think about WiFi again. Get $100 off the ‘Eero base unit and 2 beacons package’, and a year of eero Plus.
Links and Show Notes
- Mazda announces promised CarPlay retrofit option for some existing cars
- Six Months with CarPlay
- Overcast
- Waze Adds CarPlay Support
- Google Maps Adds CarPlay Support
- Mpow Car Bluetooth Adapter
- iBeacon C3 Mini USB Bluetooth LE 4.0 Programmable Beacon
Follow us on Twitter
Returning to the iPad Pro
19 november 2018 |
39 min
This week, Federico and John talk about the extra RAM in the 1TB iPad Pro, external display confusion, and John’s return to the iPad Pro after a summer of using the 9.7-inch iPad.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Luna Display - The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code APPSTORIES at checkout for 10% off.
- Linode - High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit with promo code ‘appstories2018’
Links and Show Notes
- Connected #218: My Thumb Is Now Useless
- iPad Diaries: My First 48 Hours with the New 12.9″ iPad Pro
- Apps Mentioned:
Follow us on Twitter
Pick 2: Grocery and HomeRun
12 november 2018 |
30 min
This week, Federico and John go in-depth on two apps they’ve been using a lot recently: Grocery, a grocery shopping list app, and HomeRun, an Apple Watch app for triggering HomeKit scenes.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Luna Display - The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code APPSTORIES at checkout for 10% off.
- Vectornator - Graphic design for the iPad and iPhone reimagined! Visit vectornator.io to learn more.
Links and Show Notes
Expanding Apple’s Reminders with Third-Party Apps Grocery Mpow Car Bluetooth Adapter HomeRun
Follow us on Twitter
Apps and the New iPad Pro
5 november 2018 |
38 min
This week, Federico and John talk about the new iPad Pros announced at the event held by Apple in Brooklyn, New York, the apps announced onstage and that Federico tried in the hands-on area, Apple’s dubious comparison of the iPad GPU to the Xbox One S, and the first-party apps they expected but didn’t see.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode - High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit with promo code ‘appstories2018’
- Luna Display - The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code APPSTORIES at checkout for 10% off.
Links and Show Notes
iOS Personalization and Customization
29 oktober 2018 |
36 min
This week, Federico and John talk about some of the ways they personalize and tweak their iOS setups, including wallpapers, widgets, control center, share sheet, app icons, and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Luna Display - The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code APPSTORIES at checkout for 10% off.
- Mack Weldon - Smart underwear for smart guys. Get 20% off your first order with the code APPS.
Links and Show Notes
- Wallpapers
- John
- Home screen: Cortex True Black Neon
- Lock screen: Apple Covent Garden Store reopening graphic
- Federico
- AR7
- Home screen: Gradient Special Edition
- Lock screen: Aura RedBlue
- John
- Widgets
- Control Center
- Share Sheet
- Folders
- Custom app icons
- John
- CARROT Weather
- Drafts
- Streaks
- Blink
- Federico
- CARROT Weather
- Apollo
- Working Copy
- Shortcuts icons
- John
- App themes
- Moving between the US and Italian App Store
Follow us on Twitter
Frequently-Used Shortcuts, Part 2
22 oktober 2018 |
32 min
This week, Federico and John go over more of their favorite shortcuts, focusing on web API-based shortcuts and creating menus to organize and launch shortcuts.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Luna Display - The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code APPSTORIES at checkout for 10% off.
- Freshbooks - Online invoicing made easy.
Links and Show Notes
- Visit macstories.net/shortcuts for the shortcuts listed below
- Electricity Prices (John)
- Extensions Shortcuts (Federico)
- Create Webpage Reminder
- Link Post
- MD from Safari Selection
- ZIP and Share
- Twitter Apps
- Netatmo Weather (John)
- Weather Report (Federico)
- Requires Shortcuts 2.1 beta
- Watch TV, Turn TV Off, and Movie Time (John)
- Shortcut to backup Shortcuts (Federico)
- GoodTask Views (Federico)
- Morning Routine (John)
- Federico’s iOS 12 review covering his Morning Routine shortcut
- File Downloader (Federico)
Follow us on Twitter
Frequently-Used Shortcuts, Part 1
15 oktober 2018 |
35 min
This week, Federico and John discuss some of their most frequently-used shortcuts for work and their personal lives.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Luna Display - The only hardware solution that turns your iPad into a wireless display for your Mac. Use promo code APPSTORIES at checkout for 10% off.
- CleanMyMac X - Your Mac. As good as new.
Links and Show Notes
- Follow Up
- Frequently-Used Shortcuts
- Be sure to listen to the full episode for early access to the pre-launch MacStories shortcut archive that includes some of the shortcuts we discuss in this episode along with many others.
Follow us on Twitter
Our Apple Watch Faces, Complications, and Docks
8 oktober 2018 |
38 min
This week, Federico and John talk about how they’ve set up their new Series 4 Apple Watches including the complications they use, new apps they are trying, and what’s in their Watch docks.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode - High performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit with promo code ‘appstories2018’
- Freshbooks: Online invoicing made easy.
Links and Show Notes
- Infograph
- John
- Weather
- Better Day
- Workout
- Activity
- Digital Time
- Contact Favorite
- Pedometer++
- Drafts
- Federico
- World Clock - New York
- CARROT Weather
- Fantastical
- Digital Time
- Apple Music
- Contact Favorite
- GoodTask
- John
- Infograph Modular
- Siri
- John
- Federico
- Docks
- John
- Heart Rate
- Activity
- Workout
- Now Playing
- Music
- Alarms
- Timers
- Messages
- Drafts
- Home
- Federico
- Activity
- Now Playing
- Overcast
- CARROT Weather
- Reminders
- HomeRun (beta)
- Heart Rate
- GoodTask
- John
- Other Watch Apps
- Federico
- John
Follow us on Twitter
Mac and iOS App Convergence
1 oktober 2018 |
33 min
This week, Federico and John consider what the new Marzipan apps in Mojave may mean for the future of apps on all of Apple’s hardware platforms.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode - High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit with promo code ‘appstories2018’
- Downie - Easily download videos from thousands of different sites.
Links and Show Notes
Follow us on Twitter
Our Favorite Apps with iOS 12 Features (Part 2)
24 september 2018 |
31 min
This week, Federico and John discuss more of their favorite iOS and watchOS app debuts and updates highlighting iOS 12 and watchOS 5 features.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Freshbooks - Online invoicing made easy.
- eero - Never think about WiFi again. Use code APPSTORIES for free overnight shipping.
Links and Show Notes
iOS 12 and watchOS 5 Apps
- Text Case
- Streaks
- Keep It
- Pedometer++
- Drafts
- Halide
- A Roundup of Apps Updated for iOS 12 and watchOS 5
- Club MacStories
Follow us on Twitter
Our Favorite Apps with iOS 12 Features (Part 1)
17 september 2018 |
32 min
This week, Federico and John dig into some of their favorite iOS app debuts and updates highlighting iOS 12 features.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Warby Parker - Quality eyewear at a fraction of the usual price. Order your FREE Home Try-On kit today
- Linode - High-performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit with promo code ‘appstories2018’
Links and Show Notes
Show Notes
- Follow-Up
- iOS 12 Apps
- CARROT Weather
- Overcast
- Ulysses
- GoodTask
- Daily Dictionary - Coming soon to the App Store.
- Scriptable
Follow us on Twitter
Exploring Twitter Apps
10 september 2018 |
37 min
This week, Federico and John explore Twitter clients, other specialized Twitter apps, and how they use them.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Freshbooks - Online invoicing made easy.
- Timing - Stop worrying about time and focus on doing your best work instead.
Links and Show Notes
- Follow-Up
- Twitter Clients
- Other Twitter Apps
Follow us on Twitter
Expanding Apple’s Reminders with Third-Party Apps
3 september 2018 |
32 min
This week, Federico and John take a look at apps that integrate with Apple’s iOS Reminders app, which besides being a default app, is also a system framework.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Casper - The Internet’s favourite mattress. Get $50 off select mattresses with the code ‘APPSTORIES’.
- Linode: High performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit with promo code ‘appstories2018’.
Links and Show Notes
- Apps Discussed
- GoodTask 3
- Federico’s GoodTask shortcuts are available to Club MacStories members in Issue 141 of Club MacStories Weekly.
- Reminder
- Fantastical
- Due
- Eventail
- Drafts
- GoodTask 3
Follow us on Twitter
Our Favorite Share Sheet Extensions
27 augusti 2018 |
34 min
Federico returns from vacation to discuss the share sheet extensions that he and John use on their iOS devices.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Freshbooks - Online invoicing made easy.
- Simple Contacts - Contact lens prescriptions from home. Use offer code APPSTORIES for $20 off your first order of contact lenses.
Links and Show Notes
- Apps Discussed
Follow us on Twitter
I Set Up a Fake Child
20 augusti 2018 |
45 min
John is joined by Merlin Mann to discuss managing family tech use and the upcoming iOS 12 Screen Time family features.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Freshbooks: Online invoicing made easy.
- Linode: High performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit with promo code ‘appstories2018’
Links and Show Notes
Follow us on Twitter
Fixing John’s Mixed Up, Messed Up, Broken Home Screen
13 augusti 2018 |
36 min
John is joined by Alex Cox in an attempt to fix his messy iPhone screens.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Freshbooks: Online invoicing made easy.
- Linode: High performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit with promo code ‘appstories2018’
Links and Show Notes
- John’s iPhone screens:
- Alex’s iPhone screens:
- Apps Mentioned
- Alex Cox
Follow us on Twitter
Show Me Your Mac Menu Bar Apps
6 augusti 2018 |
35 min
John is joined by Stephen Hackett to compare and discuss their Mac menu bar apps.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Freshbooks - Online invoicing made easy.
- Working Copy - Git powers for iOS.
Links and Show Notes
- Menu Bar Apps Discussed:
- iStat Menu
- Blink for macOS (not yet available)
- Fantastical
- Alfred
- CARROT Weather
- Rocket
- 1Password
- Tweetbot
- Copied
- Dropbox
- Hazel
- iMazing
- ToothFairy
- Quitter
- High Sierra Media Key Enabler
- Stephen Hackett
Follow us on Twitter
What Makes an App a Pro App?
30 juli 2018 |
35 min
Federico and John consider the elements that make an app a pro app.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode – High performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit with promo code ‘appstories2018’
- Daylite – The Mac CRM that makes your business run smoother.
Links and Show Notes
- PDF App follow-up
- Examples of Pro Apps
- DEVONthink (Mac/iOS)
- iThoughts (Mac/iOS)
- Drafts 5
- Workflow
- Affinity Photo (Mac/iOS)
- Affinity Designer (Mac/iOS)
- OpenTerm
- MindNode
- iCab Mobile
- GoodTask (Mac/iOS)
- 2Do (Mac/iOS)
- Airmail (Mac/iOS)
- Keep It (Mac/iOS)
- OmniFocus (Mac/iOS) and other Omni apps
- Editorial
- 1Writer
- Fiery Feeds
- BBEdit
- Scrivener (Mac/iOS)
- Ulysses (Mac/iOS)
Follow us on Twitter
PDF Apps
23 juli 2018 |
33 min
Federico and John discuss the world of apps for viewing, organizing, marking up, editing, and creating PDFs.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Mack Weldon - Smart underwear for smart guys.
- Get 20% off your first order with the code APPSTORIES.
- ETA - Your personal travel assistant.
- On sale this week for just $1.99.
Links and Show Notes
Follow us on Twitter
Apps for Managing Big Projects
16 juli 2018 |
41 min
Federico and John discuss the apps they use to manage large projects like the MacStories and AppStories coverage of the App Store’s 10th anniversary and Apple’s fall OS releases.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Casper - The Internet’s favourite mattress. Get $50 off select mattresses with the code ‘APPSTORIES’.
- iTubeDownloader - Download YouTube videos, channels, or entire playlists. Get 10% off until July 25th with the code: APPSTORIES18
Links and Show Notes
- Apps discussed:
- DEVONthink
- DEVONagent
- DEVONthink To Go
- Keep It (Mac/iOS)
- Taskpaper
- Trello (Mac/iOS)
- Slack (Mac/iOS)
- Google Docs
- Spark (Mac/iOS)
- Dropbox
Follow us on Twitter
An Interview with Ryan Cash and Harry Nesbitt of Team Alto
15 juli 2018 |
41 min
Federico and John are joined by Team Alto members Ryan Cash and Harry Nesbitt.
This episode is sponsored by:
- OmniFocus 3 - Accomplish More Every Day
Links and Show Notes
- Alto’s Adventure
- Alto’s Odyssey
- Alto’s Adventure influences:
- Snowman
- Ryan Cash on Twitter
- Harry Nesbitt on Twitter
Follow us on Twitter
Interviews with Michael Flarup and Marc Edwards
14 juli 2018 |
57 min
Federico and John interview Michael Flarup and Marc Edwards about iOS app design.
This episode is sponsored by:
- OmniFocus 3 - Accomplish More Every Day
Links and Show Notes
- Michael Flarup
- Outside: Even If It’s Raining, It’s Beautiful.
- Northplay
- Michael’s icon work discussed on the episode:
- The App Icon Book
- Apply Pixels
- Michael’s Website
- Michael on Dribbble
- Michael on Twitter
- Marc Edwards
Follow us on Twitter
An Interview with Zach Gage
13 juli 2018 |
46 min
Federico and John are joined by independent game developer Zach Gage the creator of hit games like Ridiculous Fishing, SpellTower, Really Bad Chess, Typeshift, Flipflop Solitaire, and Pocket Run Pool to discuss the App Store’s effect on gaming.
This episode is sponsored by:
- OmniFocus 3 - Accomplish More Every Day
Links and Show Notes
Show Notes
- Synth Pond
- Unify
- Sentences on Conceptual Art, Sol LeWitt
- Pocket Run Pool
- Sage Solitaire
- Flipflop Solitaire
- Bit Pilot
- Halcyon
- Getting Over It
- App Store Interview with Zach Gage
Follow us on Twitter
Interviews with Becky Hansmeyer and Heidi Helen Pilypas
12 juli 2018 |
45 min
Federico and John interview Becky Hansmeyer, the creator of Snapthread and Heidi Helen Pilypas, the designer of Stamp Pack and the upcoming Capsicum.
This episode is sponsored by:
- OmniFocus 3 - Accomplish More Every Day
Links and Show Notes
- Becky Hansmeyer
- Heidi Helen Pilypas
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An Interview with Marco Arment and David Smith
11 juli 2018 |
63 min
Federico and John interview Marco Arment, the creator or Instapaper and Overcast and David Smith who has many apps including health and fitness apps such as Pedometer++, Workouts++, Activity++, and Sleep++ about building sustainable businesses over the past decade of the App Store.
This episode is sponsored by:
- OmniFocus 3 - Accomplish More Every Day
Links and Show Notes
- Marco Arment
- David Smith
- Under the Radar, Marco and David’s podcast on Relay FM about independent app development
Follow us on Twitter
An Interview with Craig Hockenberry and James Thomson
10 juli 2018 |
57 min
Federico and John interview Craig Hockenberry of The Iconfactory and James Thomson, the creator of PCalc and DragThing, about the earliest days of the App Store.
This episode is sponsored by:
- OmniFocus 3 - Accomplish More Every Day
Links and Show Notes
- James Thomson
- Craig Hockenberry
Follow us on Twitter
App Store Storytime
9 juli 2018 |
31 min
It’s storytime on AppStories. Federico and John tell some of their favorite personal stories about apps and the App Store.
This episode is sponsored by:
This episode of AppStories is sponsored by:
- OmniFocus 3 - Accomplish More Every Day
- Learn more at Inside Omnifocus
Links and Show Notes
- John
- Federico
Follow us on Twitter
Demystifying SiriKit
2 juli 2018 |
34 min
Federico and John clear up confusion about SiriKit and discuss the apps that support it.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Linode - High performance SSD Linux servers for all of your infrastructure needs. Get a $20 credit with promo code ‘appstories2018’
Links and Show Notes
- Airmail
- TwIM
- Skype
- Things
- Todoist
- OmniFocus
- Streaks
- SnipNotes
- DEVONthink
- PayPal
- Square Cash
- Venmo
- Lyft
- Uber
- Visual Codes
- TheFork
- Workouts++
- Slopes
- Zones
- Nike+ Run Club
Follow us on Twitter
Attention Revisited: iOS 12 Notifications, Do Not Disturb, and Screen Time
25 juni 2018 |
34 min
Federico and John take a close look at the tools coming in iOS 12 to help monitor and control time spent on iOS devices and compare those to what they wished for in Episode 56.
This episode is sponsored by:
- 1Password - Go ahead. Forget your passwords.
1Password remembers them all for you.
- Get three-months free with AppStories today.
- MindNode - Visual brainstorming for iOS and Mac.
Links and Show Notes
The Apps of WWDC 2018
18 juni 2018 |
39 min
Federico and John discuss the new and updated apps announced at WWDC 2018.
This episode is sponsored by:
- 1Password - Go ahead. Forget your passwords.
1Password remembers them all for you.
- Get three-months free with AppStories today.
- DEVONthink – Document management reinvented for Mac and iOS.
- Get 10% off DEVONthink Personal, Pro, or Pro Office for the Mac with the coupon code APPSTORIES.
Links and Show Notes
- iOS
- macOS
- watchOS
- CarPlay and Challenges
Follow us on Twitter
Our iPhone X Home Screens
11 juni 2018 |
36 min
Federico and John discuss the apps on their current iPhone X Home screens.
This episode is sponsored by:
- DEVONthink – Document management reinvented for Mac and iOS.
- Soulver for iOS and Mac – It helps you work things out.
Links and Show Notes
-
John’s Home Screen:
-
John’s Wallpaper:
-
John’s Apps:
-
Federico’s Home Screen:
-
Federico’s Apps:
Follow us on Twitter
Imagining What iOS Could Do for Mac Apps
4 juni 2018 |
26 min
Federico and John look at what Apple could do to use iOS and its large developer community to revitalize the Mac app ecosystem.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Transmit 5, the gold standard of Mac file transfer apps from Panic.
- Use this link to purchase Transmit and receive 20% off automatically at checkout through June 11, 2018.
Links and Show Notes
- Past AppStories Episodes
- MacStories Articles:
- Other Related Articles:
Follow us on Twitter
Pick 2: Spark 2 and 1Password 7 for Mac
28 maj 2018 |
37 min
Federico and John go in-depth on two recently-updated apps. In this installment of Pick 2, Federico covers Spark 2, which has added app integrations into the iOS version and team collaboration to the iOS and Mac versions while John covers 1Password 7 for the Mac, a significant redesign that expands the functionality and flexibility of features like Watchtower and Vaults.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Lambda School - A revolutionary new school that invests in you. Take the free two-week iOS development course.
- Inoreader - The place to discover, organize, and monitor the web.
Links and Show Notes
Controlling The Time Spent on Your iPhone
21 maj 2018 |
32 min
Federico and John talk about managing time spent on smartphones, including what manufacturers like Apple and Google are doing to address the issue, what users can do, and how they deal with being on their iPhones too much.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Techmeme Ride Home – Search for Techmeme Ride Home on your podcast app now.
- AutoWake - the world’s first haptic smart alarm for your Apple Watch.
- The first 11 people to tweet at @AutoWakeApp with the code word ‘Espresso’ will receive a free promo code.
Links and Show Notes
- Time Well Spent
- Google’s Digital Wellbeing initiative: Everything you need to know
- Apps cannot use Push Notifications to send promotions, unless you’re Apple or anyone else
Follow us on Twitter
iOS System Apps Wish List
14 maj 2018 |
31 min
Federico and John discuss their wishes for Apple’s iOS system apps.
This episode is sponsored by:
- iMazing - Manage your iPhone. Your way.
- Try iMazing for free and use this link before June 1st for 30% off if you decide to buy.
Links and Show Notes
Other Apps Mentioned During the Episode
- Bear
- OmniFocus
- Todoist
- Things
- Airmail
- Workflow
- TaskPaper
- Snapchat
- Clips
- iCab
- Dolphin
- Puffin
- FireFox
- Instapaper
Follow us on Twitter
Pick 2: GoodNotes and Working Copy
7 maj 2018 |
28 min
Federico and John pick two apps they use regularly to discuss. In this installment of Pick 2, John covers GoodNotes and how he uses it for planning and editing, and Federico explains how he and the MacStories team use Working Copy to collaborate on articles.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Daylite - Win more business and get more done with Daylite, the Mac CRM for small businesses that want to grow.
- Sign up for a 30-day free trial today, and mention AppStories when you subscribe for 10% off your first month’s subscription.
Links and Show Notes
Apps Discussed and Related MacStories Articles
Follow us on Twitter
In Search of Apple TV Apps
30 april 2018 |
31 min
Federico and John cover how they use the Apple TV and highlight a handful of notable Apple TV apps.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Newton - Email. Supercharged.
- Enter to win one of 10 1-year Newton subscriptions here.
- Pushover - Simple push notifications.
- Sign up for a 7-day free trial now.
Links and Show Notes
Apple TV Apps and Hardware Discussed
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Do-Everything vs. Single-Purpose Apps
23 april 2018 |
38 min
Federico and John consider the pros and cons of do-everything and single-purpose apps.
This episode is sponsored by:
Links and Show Notes
Apps Discussed
- ReadCube
- Zotero
- DEVONagent
- Pinboard
- Keep It
- Evernote
- DEVONthink To Go
- DEVONthink Pro Office
- Switzerland Considers the Lobster
- Drafts 5
- Ulysses
- Logic
- iZotope RX
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TMI: Saving Content for Later
16 april 2018 |
32 min
Federico and John conclude their series on information overload with a discussion of how they save content for consumption later.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Metapho: Take control of your photo’s metadata.
- For one week only, get Metapho’s premium features for 50% off.
Links and Show Notes
Apps for Saving Content for Later:
Follow us on Twitter
TMI: Managing the Information Firehose
9 april 2018 |
31 min
In part one of a two-part topic, Federico and John explore the apps they use to manage information overload and interruptions.
This episode is sponsored by:
- DaisyDisk: What’s taking up your disk space?
- Use the coupon code APPSTORIES25 or this link for 25% off DaisyDisk.
Links and Show Notes
Managing Information Overload and Interruptions
Email and Messaging
RSS
Follow us on Twitter
Pick 2: Bear and DEVONthink
2 april 2018 |
39 min
Federico and John take a deeper look at two favorite apps. In this installment: Bear and DEVONthink.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Inko: Collaborative drawing. Unleashed creativity.
- Trailer
- Website
- Download Inko today.
Links and Show Notes
Bear
- Website
- iOS app
- Mac app
- Bear is coming to the web
- Why I’m Considering Bear as a Notes App Replacement
- iPad Diaries: Working with Drag and Drop – Bear and Gladys
- Bear 1.4 Brings Tag and Note Autocomplete, True Black Theme for iPhone X, and More
DEVONthink
- Website
- DEVONthink To Go for iOS
- DEVONthink Personal for the Mac
- DEVONthink Pro and Pro Office for the Mac
- iPad Diaries: DEVONthink’s New Advanced Automation
- iPad Diaries: Advanced File Management and Research with DEVONthink
Follow us on Twitter
Interview: Accessibility with Filmmaker James Rath
26 mars 2018 |
34 min
Federico and John interview filmmaker and YouTuber James Rath, who is legally blind, about accessibility on Apple’s platforms.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Lookmark: A smart wishlist for apps and iTunes content.
- Get a second month of Lookmark Plus for free when you sign up using this link.
Links and Show Notes
An Interview with James Rath
-
A Selection of James’ Videos:
-
Hardware and Apps James Uses:
-
Pikachu
-
Follow James Rath’s work:
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Apple App Acquisitions
19 mars 2018 |
35 min
Federico and John look at the apps Apple has acquired over the years and where they are now.
This episode is sponsored by:
- FlightLogger: real-time flight tracking on iOS for worry-free travels.
Links and Show Notes
Apple App Acquisitions
- Filemaker
- SoundJam MP
- The True Story of Audion
- Emagic
- CoverFlow
- HopStop
- Siri
- Chomp
- Cue (aka Greplin)
- TestFlight
- SnappyCam
- Beats Music
- Swell
- Workflow
- Beddit
- Shazam
- Texture
- Connected #184 - Federico and Myke Hurley discuss Apple’s Texture acquisition
- Apple’s evolving PR boilerplate
Follow us on Twitter
App Culture: Health, Fitness, and Quantified Self Apps
12 mars 2018 |
36 min
Federico and John look back at where health, fitness, and quantified self apps have been, where they’re going, and how hardware and software advancements are changing the way we track and gain insights about our health and fitness.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Yoink: Simplify and improve drag and drop on your Mac, iPad, and iPhone to speed up your daily workflow.
- Download Yoink for Mac (reduced to $4.99 for one week only)
- Download Yoink for iOS
Links and Show Notes
Early Health and Fitness Apps
Medical Study Apps and ResearchKit
- Heart Study
- Apple Launches Heart Study App in the US in Partnership with Stanford Medicine
- Cardiogram
- Researchers Look to Smartwatches to Prevent Strokes
- Atrial fibrillation and optical heart rate sensors
Third-Party Health and Fitness Apps
- Workouts++
- Workouts++ Review
- Workouts++ Adds Podcast Playback, Mapping, New Workout Types, Siri and More
- Helium Run
- SmartGym
- Gymatic
- AutoSleep
- AutoSleep 5 Adds Automatic Apple Watch Sleep Tracking and Much More
- Fitbit Coach (formerly FitStar)
- Aaptiv
- Gyroscope
- Exist
- Our AppStories interview with Dermot Daly on developing health apps
Making Sense of Collected Data
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An Interview with Harry Nesbitt and Ryan Cash About Alto's Odyssey
5 mars 2018 |
37 min
Federico and John interview two members of Team Alto, Harry Nesbitt and Ryan Cash, about Alto’s Adventure, the challenges they faced in following it up with Alto’s Odyssey, the creative process of making games, and the mobile game industry.
This episode is sponsored by:
Links and Show Notes
Alto Games
Upcoming Projects from Snowman
Other Games Mentioned
- Circles
- Florence
- Two Dots
- Gorogoa
- Threes
- Flip Flop Solitaire
- Flower
- Fez
- Thumper
- Where’s My Water?
- What Remains of Edith Finch
Follow us on Twitter
App Culture: Mindfulness and Meditation Apps
26 februari 2018 |
31 min
Federico and John talk about the trends and app culture surrounding mindfulness and meditation apps.
This episode is sponsored by:
This episode of AppStories is sponsored by:
- Prizmo Go 2.0 - Instant Text Capture
Links and Show Notes
Apps Discussed
Follow us on Twitter
How We Use RSS
19 februari 2018 |
31 min
Federico and John follow up their RSS app and service episode with a closer look at how each of them uses RSS for work and pleasure reading.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Elmedia Player - a free multi-format HD video player for the Mac
- Use this link for 30% off on Elmedia Player Pro
Links and Show Notes
Inoreader
- Inoreader How-To Articles
Other Services and Apps
Follow us on Twitter
RSS Services and Apps
12 februari 2018 |
39 min
The RSS sync service and reader app landscape makes it difficult to find the perfect combination of features for the way you read the news. Federico and John sift through the many options and highlight what they look for in modern iOS and Mac RSS clients.
This episode is sponsored by:
Links and Show Notes
Follow Up
RSS Services
RSS Clients – iOS
RSS Clients – Mac
Follow us on Twitter
iOS 11’s Effect on Our iOS Habits
5 februari 2018 |
38 min
Nearly five months into iOS 11, Federico and John take a look at how iOS 11 has changed not only the way they work, but also how it has impacted their use of lifestyle, health and fitness, media consumption, and other types of apps.
This episode is sponsored by:
- WALTR 2 - A Magic Drop Area to Convert & Push Media into Any iPhone, iPad or iPod
- Use the coupon code APPSTORIES for 30% off
Links and Show Notes
Apps and Other Links
- YouTube
- YouTube TV
- Hulu Live
- ChromeCast Ultra
- Workouts++
- Slack
- Tweetbot
- Amazon
- Deliveries
- Bring!
- Bear
- Ulysses
- Trello
- Google Docs
- A Computer for Everything
- N26
- Workflow
- Reeder
- Spark
- Overcast
- Castro
- Pocket Casts
- Opener
- Patented Bluetooth waist measurement belt
- Ikea Tape Measure
Follow us on Twitter
How Apps Fit Into Our TV and Movie Watching
29 januari 2018 |
36 min
Federico and John discuss their TV and movie watching habits, hardware, and how they use apps as part of the process.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Backblaze: Unlimited, cloud backup for Macs and PCs for just $5/month
- Sign up for a 15-day free trial today.
Links and Show Notes
Hardware
Federico’s Setup
- LG Electronics OLED55B7A 55-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart OLED TV (2017 Model)
- HAUPPAUGE WinTV-DualHD Dual USB 2.0 HD TV Tuner for Windows PC
- NVIDIA Shield Pro
- Synology DiskStation 2-Bay Network Attached Storage DS214play
- Google Chromecast Ultra
- Apple TV 4K
- Beoplay E8 Bluetooth Earbuds
John’s Setup
- Sony BRAVIA KDL46NX810 46-Inch 1080p 240 Hz 3D-Ready LED HDTV, Black (2010 Model)
- SiliconDust HDHomeRun EXTEND FREE Broadcast HDTV (2-Tuner)
- Mohu - Leaf Supreme Indoor Amplified HDTV Antenna
- Apple TV 4th Gen
Apps
- Couchy
- Television Time
- Trakt.tv
- Justwatch.com
- Netflix
- Hulu
- Plex
- Amazon Prime Video
- nPlayer Plus
- Infuse Pro
- Letterboxd
- DS file
- DS get
- Airtable
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The Mac App Store’s Problems
22 januari 2018 |
35 min
The Mac App Store has fallen behind the iOS App Store. Federico and John discuss the Store’s problems and consider how Apple might address them.
This episode is sponsored by:
- A Better Finder Rename 10
- Use the coupon code APPSTORIES at checkout for 30% off.
Links and Show Notes
Background
- Mac exploit lets you change App Store preferences with any password
- Mac App Store: Year Two
- Five Years of Mac App Store
Design Issues
- The Mac App Store in 2014 (via Unauthoritative Pronouncements):
- the Mac App Store in 2018:
Bugs
- What to Do When the Mac App Store App Just Spins and Spins
- No One Minding the Mac App Store
- Michael Tsai on Twitter
Developer Issues
Follow us on Twitter
An Interview with James Thomson, Creator of PCalc and DragThing
15 januari 2018 |
33 min
Federico and John interview James Thomson about the origins of PCalc and DragThing, life as an indie developer, selling apps on the App Store and Mac App Store, and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Spark – The future of email.
Links and Show Notes
Apps
James Thomson
Follow us on Twitter
Our Ideal Email Client
8 januari 2018 |
42 min
Federico and John discuss the features that their ideal iOS and Mac email clients would have and what they are using now.
This episode is sponsored by:
- The Streaks New Years Resolution Bundle: Get in shape in 2018, both physically and mentally.
- Streaks: The to-do list that helps you form good habits.
- Streaks Workout: Work out in your lounge room with no equipment.
Links and Show Notes
- Sparrow for iPhone Review
- Google Acquires Sparrow
- Lookmark
- Airmail (iOS/Mac)
- Spark (iOS / Mac)
- Outlook
- Unibox (iOS / Mac)
- Boxer
- Newton (iOS / Mac)
- Edison Mail
- Yahoo Mail
- Inky
- Canary Mail
- SaneBox
- Gmail
- Inbox
- Dispatch
- Polymail (iOS / Mac)
- Mailbutler
Follow us on Twitter
The Impact of App Pre-Orders on Developers and Their Customers
18 december 2017 |
34 min
Federico and John discuss app pre-orders, a new feature introduced by Apple that has interesting implications for developers and their customers.
This episode is sponsored by:
Links and Show Notes
- Apple Opens App Pre-Orders to All Developers
- Offering Your Apps for Preorder
- iTunes Connect’s Resources and Help documentation
- iTunes Connect Pre-Order FAQ
- 5 Games to Pre-Order Now
Follow us on Twitter
An Interview with Christian Selig, Creator of Reddit Client Apollo
11 december 2017 |
29 min
Federico and John interview Christian Selig, the creator of the popular iOS Reddit client Apollo about the development and design of the app, incorporating Redditors’ feedback, the complexities inherent in building a Reddit app, and working in Swift.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Jamf Now – Manage and protect your Apple devices in minutes. Create your free account today.
- Dejal Time Out — You deserve a break. Try Time Out for Mac for free.
Links and Show Notes
-
Apollo
-
Christian Selig
Follow us on Twitter
Pick 2: Pixelmator Pro and Things 3
4 december 2017 |
38 min
Federico and John pick two apps they’ve been experimenting with recently and discuss how it’s going so far. In this installment of Pick 2, John covers macOS image editor Pixelmator Pro, which was released last week, and Federico explains how he’s integrated Things 3 for iOS into recent projects.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Setapp - An app for every job, already on your Mac.
Links and Show Notes
Pixelmator Pro for macOS
- Pixelmator Pro First Impressions: A Beautiful Modern Interface with Advanced Image Editing Tools
- Website
- Mac App Store
Things 3 for iOS
- Things 3: Beauty and Delight in a Task Manager
- Website
- Things 3 for the iPhone
- Things 3 for the iPad
Follow us on Twitter
What’s on Our Apple Watches
27 november 2017 |
30 min
Federico and John talk about the Apple Watch apps they use and how their use of the Watch has changed as the product has evolved.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Spark – The Future of Email
Links and Show Notes
Our Apple Watches
- More on the cost of some LTE service plans for the Series 3 Apple Watch
- Accidental Tech Podcast, Episode 243: Knew About the Dollar Signs
How We Use the Apple Watch
Follow us on Twitter
Apps and Good Intentions
20 november 2017 |
33 min
Federico and John consider why some apps sit unused in ‘folders of good intentions’ on their iOS and macOS devices.
This episode is sponsored by:
- iMazing – Manage your iPhone your way with iMazing.
Links and Show Notes
Good Intentions Apps
- PaintCode
- Sketch
- Lifesum
- WaterMinder
- Gyroscope
- Coursera
- edX
- Duolingo
- Marvin
- Kindle
- Headspace
- Inoreader
- Reeder
- Halide
Follow us on Twitter
What Makes an App Sticky?
13 november 2017 |
38 min
Federico and John look at apps that have been designed for the iPhone X and consider what makes certain apps ‘sticky.’
This episode is sponsored by:
- iStat Menus – Providing Mac users with a wealth of information in a compact, cleanly-designed interface.
- Use the coupon code ‘APPSTORIES’ for 30% off iStat Menus 6 or an iStat Menus Family Pack.
- Jamf Now – Manage and protect your Apple devices in minutes.
- Create your free account today at jamf.com/appstories.
Links and Show Notes
Designed for the iPhone X
The Apps
- Halide
- Apollo
- Annotable
- Lire RSS reader
- Weather Atlas
- AR MeasureKit
- Glasses by Warby Parker
- Workflow
- Reeder
What Makes an App Sticky?
-
Investment in Setup and Customization
-
Exclusive or Best-in-Class Features
-
Sharing and Collaboration Features
-
Sunk Costs – Subscription-based apps and services
-
Going Where Your Friends and Family Are
Follow us on Twitter
The Apps and Workflows We Use to Cover Apple Earnings Calls
6 november 2017 |
35 min
Federico and John explain the apps and workflows they use to cover Apple earnings calls and then cover updates to Newsify on iOS and Twitterrific for macOS.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Balance - A wallet for all the worlds currencies and tokens.
Links and Show Notes
Follow Up
Apple Earnings Call Apps
App Updates
Follow us on Twitter
Geeky macOS Apps
30 oktober 2017 |
30 min
Federico and John dig into their favorite geeky macOS apps that they use for work and play.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Learn Ulysses - Easy video tutorials for the best writing and ideas app.
Links and Show Notes
Our Favorite Geeky macOS Apps
- Alfred
- Better Touch Tool
- Bartender
- Tyke
- Statusfy
- Boom
- ShotBox (misidentified as Shotty in episode)
- Moom
- Fluid
- Copied
- Audio Apps
- Beamer
- Softorino YouTube Converter 2
Follow us on Twitter
Interview: Automation and Apps with Greg Pierce of Agile Tortoise
23 oktober 2017 |
34 min
John interviews Greg Pierce of Agile Tortoise about the origins of x-callback-url, iOS automation, Drafts, and Greg’s other apps.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Balance - A wallet for all the worlds currencies and tokens.
- Live Home 3D - intuitive and feature-rich home design software for Mac.
Links and Show Notes
Background
Apps
- Terminology (iOS)
- Drafts (iOS)
- Interact (iOS)
- Interact Scratchpad (macOS)
- Weather Atlas (iOS)
Follow us on Twitter
Music Services and Apps
16 oktober 2017 |
28 min
Federico and John love music, so this week, they compare the apps and services they use to listen to, discover, and share music.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Balance - A wallet for all the worlds currencies and tokens.
- Mutable - Specializing in iOS development from idea to App Store.
Links and Show Notes
Hardware
- AirPods
- Sennheiser Momentum 2.0
- JBL Charge 3 Speaker
- Lepai Amplifier, plus Pyle 4-inch speakers
- Amazon Echo
Services
Discovery
Sharing
Playback
Follow us on Twitter
Tips for Travelers
9 oktober 2017 |
32 min
With Federico’s trip to the United States for the Release Notes conference just around the corner, he and John talk about the travel apps they use, from planning a trip, to getting around an unfamiliar city.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Bear - A beautiful app for crafting notes and prose.
- 1Blocker – Make Safari browsing fast, safe, and productive.
Links and Show Notes
Finding Flights
- Federico
- John
Digital Backups of Travel Documents
- Apple Notes
- 1Password
Itineraries and Notes
- Apple Notes
Capturing Trip Details
Translation
Flight Tracking
Saving Memories
- Day One
- Swarm
- Fact: John is mayor of iSuppli in Trastevere
- Moves
- Gyroscope
- Google Photos
- Lonely Planet Trips
Getting Around
Currency Converters
Follow us on Twitter
iOS 11 Drag and Drop Apps
2 oktober 2017 |
39 min
Federico and John talk about iOS 11’s drag and drop feature, examples of some of their favorite apps that implement it, and the apps they’d like to see add it next.
This episode is sponsored by:
Links and Show Notes
Background
Apps Mentioned
- PDF Viewer
- 1Writer
- Fantastical
- Timepage
- Castro
- Things
- OmniFocus
- Todoist
- Google Docs
- Ulysses
- Inoreader
- Overcast
- Podcasts
- Trello
- Pixelmator
- Workflow
Follow us on Twitter
Our Favorite iOS 11 Apps, Part 1
25 september 2017 |
34 min
Federico and John give an update on the iOS 11 review and anniversary activities at MacStories and Club MacStories then talk about some of their favorite new apps and updates that show off the new capabilities of iOS 11.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Balance - A wallet for all the worlds currencies and tokens.
- Readdle – Redefining productivity.
- Use this link on a Mac and the promo code FOR-APP-STORIES on iOS for 25% off on PDF Expert
Links and Show Notes
MacStories and Club MacStories Update
A Sampling of Our Favorite iOS 11 Apps and Updates
- Working Copy
- Castro
- Castro drag and drop video
- SMS Shield
- Todoist
- OmniFocus
- Kaleidoscope
- iWork Suite
- Visual Codes
Follow us on Twitter
The Apps Behind Federico’s iOS 11 Review
19 september 2017 |
45 min
Federico and John lift the curtain on some of the special events at MacStories and Club MacStories surrounding the release of iOS 11, discuss the removal of the App Store from iTunes on macOS, and dive into the apps Federico used to plan, research, write, and produce his iOS 11 review.
This episode is sponsored by:
Links and Show Notes
Club MacStories Anniversary Month
Apple Removes the App Store From iTunes
- Breaking Up iTunes Is Hard to Do
- iTunes Removes the App Store and More to Focus on Music, Movies, TV Shows, Podcasts, and Audiobooks
- iTunes / Safari interaction when an App Store link is clicked on a Mac
iOS 11: The MacStories Review
- iOS 11: The MacStories Review
- iOS 11 Review Extras: Audiobook, eBook, Making Of, and More
- The iOS 11 review audiobook is available for $9.99.
- Club MacStories members can get a 60% discount on the audiobook. Instructions to use the exclusive Club promo code are available in the member Downloads area.
- MacBook Pro Product Page
Apps Used by Federico in His iOS 11 Review
Apps Mentioned in Federico’s Review
- Yoink for iPad (coming soon)
- DEVONthink To Go
- Castro
- TeamViewer QuickSupport
- Hold (coming soon)
- Lookup
- Just Press Record
Follow us on Twitter
Apps with a Human Touch
11 september 2017 |
44 min
Federico and John discuss what’s left now that Federico is finished writing the text of his iOS 11 review, preview some of the upcoming coverage on MacStories and the upcoming second anniversary of Club MacStories, and consider the importance of little human touches that make apps by indie developers a delight to use.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Omni - Celebrating 25 years of human-centered productivity!
- Twist - Our mission is to make team communication calmer, more organized, and more productive.
Links and Show Notes
Show Notes
- Interview: Running an App Development Studio with Dermot Daly
- Castro
- Overcast
- A Conversation With Loren Brichter
- Letterpress
- Interview: Hidden Folks with Adriaan de Jongh
- Hidden Folks
- Interview: The Making of the CARROT Apps with Brian Mueller
- CARROT Weather
- Artificial Superintelligence
- PCalc
- Sneak peek at PCalc’s new alternative icon
- I Need NOS!
Follow us on Twitter
Breaking Up iTunes Is Hard to Do
4 september 2017 |
37 min
Federico and John consider ways to break up iTunes into multiple apps that are designed to accommodate how media consumption has changed, but also account for legacy devices and uses.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Screens - Connect to your desktop from anywhere in the world.
- Use coupon code APPSTORIES at checkout for 25% off Screens for macOS.
- Mutable - Specializing in iOS development from idea to App Store.
Links and Show Notes
The History of iTunes
- The True Story of Audion
- SoundJam MP
- The True Story of SoundJam
- From SoundJam to 25 Billion Songs Sold: An iTunes Timeline on Its Tenth Anniversary
- The History of iTunes and Its Versions
Recent iTunes Changes
Follow us on Twitter
Ulysses’ Switch to Subscriptions and Apple’s to 64-Bit Apps
28 augusti 2017 |
37 min
Federico and John revisit subscription pricing models in the wake of Ulysses’ switch to subscriptions and discuss what Apple’s transition from 32-bit to 64-bit apps means for the App Store and consumers.
This episode is sponsored by:
- CleanMyMac - Clean, optimize, and maintain your Mac.
- Sky Tripping - Relax to stunning aerial films.
Links and Show Notes
Ulysses and Subscriptions
- AppStories, Episode 5 - App Subscriptions
- Ulysses Announces Move to Subscription Pricing
- Ulysses Switches to Subscription
- Why we’re switching Ulysses to subscription
- Ulysses (App Store Link)
The Switch to 64-Bit Apps
- What the End of 32-Bit Support in iOS Really Means
- Classic Games That Recently Made the 64-Bit Switch:
- Google Earth
Follow us on Twitter
Interview: Running an App Development Studio with Dermot Daly
21 augusti 2017 |
30 min
Federico and John interview Dermot Daly, founder of Tapadoo, a Dublin-based app development studio, about how he got started in mobile development, the Tapadoo origin story, what it’s like to develop apps in the regulated medical field, the challenges of working for clients and that iOS developers face today, and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Harry’s - A great shave at a fair price.
- iTubeDownloader - Download YouTube videos, channels, or playlists with a few clicks.
Links and Show Notes
An Interview with Dermot Daly
- Dermot on Twitter
- Ull
- Tapadoo
- Tapadoo Medical Apps
- Tapadoo Recent Work
- Running an App Development Agency
- “They Asked for a Ballpark Figure. You’ll Never Guess What They Got!”
- Sanitise Your App Idea
- Castro by Supertop
Follow us on Twitter
Shelf and Clipboard Apps on macOS and iOS
14 augusti 2017 |
28 min
Federico and John look at shelf and clipboard apps on macOS and iOS, consider how third-party shelf apps are likely to work under iOS 11, and discuss the advantages of Apple adding a shelf feature to iOS.
This episode is sponsored by:
- MindNode - Delightful Mind Mapping.
Links and Show Notes
Shelf and Clipboard Apps on macOS
- Yoink
- Dropzone
- Copied
- Pastebot
- Alfred
Clipboard Apps on iOS
- Copied and Workflow
How to Join Club MacStories
Follow us on Twitter
Our iPad Home Screens
7 augusti 2017 |
40 min
Federico and John talk about the way their iPad Home screens reflect their use of the device and how that has changed since they’ve been running the iOS 11 beta.
This episode is sponsored by:
- MindNode - Delightful Mind Mapping.
Links and Show Notes
A Row-by-Row Tour of John and Federico’s iPad Home Screens
John’s Home Screen
- Timepage
- Photos
- App Store
- TestFlight
- GoodNotes
- Music
- Inoreader
- Reading folder
- Dropbox
- DEVONthink To Go
- Working Copy
- Trello
- Blink
- iA Writer
- Google Docs
- Numbers
- Twitterrific
- Productivity folder
- The Dock
Federico’s Home Screen
- App Store
- Music
- Podcasts
- YouTube
- Calendar
- Inoreader
- Apple News
- CARROT Weather
- Maps
- Home
- Launcher
- Terminology
- Trello
- Numbers
- iOS 11 (Top secret betas)
- Dock
- Safari
- Files
- DEVONthink To Go
- OmniFocus
- Notes
- Photos
- Messages
- Slack
- Folder
- Working Copy
- Ulysses
- iThoughts
- Mystery App
- Tweetbot
How to Join Club MacStories
Become a Relay FM Member to Support Connected
Follow us on Twitter
Evolving the iMessage App Store
31 juli 2017 |
28 min
Federico and John discuss the current shortcomings of the iMessage App Store and what Apple is changing in iOS 11 to address some of its problems.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Timing - Stop worrying about time and focus on doing your best work instead.
- Redox - a modern API for accessing and sharing data across healthcare organizations.
Links and Show Notes
Introduction
- John’s new bestie, Dwayne (‘the Rock’) Johnson, was all set to replace Federico this week, but contract negotiations broke down, so he backed out at the last minute.
- The Rock instructs John to get ready to groove.
Messages and the iMessage App Store
- Is the iMessage App Store Dying or Already Dead?
- David Barnard on Rando Emoji’s Sales
- MacStories Guide: Design and Launch Your Own iMessage Sticker Pack on the App Store
- Apple Cracks Down on iMessage Stickers
- State of the Stickers 2017
- Apple Promotes Sticker Packs with New Video
- More Than Stickers: Exploring iMessage App Utilities
- Connected, Episode 147: I Wish We Could Be Friends in Real Life
- iMessage Apps and Stickers, Part 1 (WWDC 2016)
- iMessage Apps and Stickers, Part 2 (WWDC 2016)
- Introducing Business Chat (WWDC 2017)
Favorite iMessage Apps and Sticker Packs
-
John:
-
Federico:
- Apple Music
- 3D Emojis
- Giphy
- StickerBook
- Pusheen
Follow us on Twitter
iOS 11’s Files App
24 juli 2017 |
37 min
Federico and John dive into the new Files app that’s coming to iOS 11 in the fall and discuss the history of file management on iOS, the shift in approach taken by the Files app, and how it works.
This episode is sponsored by:
Links and Show Notes
Ulysses Follow-up
iOS 11’s Files App
- Canvas #2: Document Providers
- The Document Browser
- File Provider Extensions
- Building Great Document-based Apps in iOS 11
- File Provider Enhancements
Follow us on Twitter
Pick 2: Ulysses and FullContact
17 juli 2017 |
34 min
Federico and John pick two apps and discuss how and why they use them for their work. For the first installment of Pick 2, Federico covers Ulysses and how he’s used it over the past year and for the iOS 11 review he is currently writing and John explains how he uses FullContact to keep in touch with developers and sponsors of MacStories and AppStories.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Audible - Audible books inspire and entertain anywhere, anytime.
- Hello Weather - The exceptionally useful, no-nonsense weather app.
Links and Show Notes
Ulysses
- Website
- Mac App Store
- Review: Ulysses 2.5 for iPad and, now, iPhone
- Nitti Typeface
- Installing fonts on the iOS 11 beta with FondFont
- AnyFont
- Extracting fonts and other files from package files on macOS with Pacifist
- San Francisco font
- Workflow’s New File and Ulysses Actions
- More Ulysses workflows are available on Club MacStories
- Other text editors Federico and John have used:
FullContact
- Cobook
- Apple Posts ‘Best of 2012 Lists’
- FullContact website
- FullContact for iOS
- FullContact for macOS
- FullContact Subscriptions
- FullContact Zapier recipes
Follow us on Twitter
Interview: Rehearsal Pro with David H. Lawrence XVII
10 juli 2017 |
34 min
Federico and John speak to actor David H. Lawrence XVII about his app Rehearsal Pro, which helps actors rehearse for parts, how understanding his audience has helped the app find a large following among professional actors, and how some of its more famous users have become its best marketing.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Trails - Your outdoor GPS tracker and logbook for iPhone and Apple Watch.
- Set up a free Trails account and email Trails support with the subject ‘AppStories’ for a free month of Trails Pro service.
- Big Keys - Finally, an iOS keyboard and emoji you can see.
- On sale for $0.99 for one week only.
Links and Show Notes
Background
- David H. Lawrence XVII
- Rehearsal Pro
- Other Apps Mentioned
Follow us on Twitter
The State of Non-Native Apps
3 juli 2017 |
38 min
Ten years after Scott Forstall suggested web apps as a ‘sweet solution’ for would-be iPhone developers, Federico and John look at the state of non-native apps, the trade-offs inherent to them, and discuss examples of non-native apps they like, and a few they don’t.
This episode is sponsored by:
- FlightLogger - Elegantly-designed, real-time flight tracking for worry-free travels.
- Deliveries - Simple package tracking that syncs everywhere.
- Sign up here by Thursday, July 6, 2017 at 9 pm New York time for a chance to win one of 10 free copies of Deliveries for iOS.
Links and Show Notes
Introduction
- If you’re an iOS developer working on an app that includes iOS 11 features, we would love to try it and give you feedback as Federico and the MacStories team prepare to cover iOS 11 this fall. You can contact Federico at [email protected], John at [email protected], or any of the other MacStories team members about your app.
Background
- Scott Forstall’s ‘Sweet Solution’ for developing for the iPhone (WWDC Keynote, 2007)
Apps Discussed
- Slack
- Atom
- GitHub Desktop
- Todoist (iOS)
- Todoist (macOS)
- Toggl (iOS)
- Toggl (macOS)
- Fluid
- Alexa
- Google Docs
- Gmail
- Inbox
- Product Hunt
- Nuzzel
- Record Bird
- Mailplane
- Kiwi
- Moo.do (iOS)
- Moo.do (macOS)
- Trello
Follow us on Twitter
iOS 11’s Impact on Third-Party Apps
26 juni 2017 |
37 min
Federico and John consider the effect on third-party apps of PDFKit, the system Markup extension, changes to Notes, and password AutoFill for apps.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Zapier - Connect your apps and automate your workflows.
- Clear - Tasks, Reminders & To-Do Lists
- What to be part of the Clear 2 beta in August? Sign up here.
Links and Show Notes
Introduction
PDFKit is Coming to iOS
- Introducing PDFKit on iOS (WWDC Session 241)
- PSPDFKit
- PDF Viewer (App)
- PDF Expert (App)
- More macOS Preview PDF Trouble
- PDF Problems Continue in 10.12.4, but Primarily Affect Developers
The New Markup Extension and Screenshots
- iOS 11 Preview
- Annotable (App)
- Annotable Is the Most Versatile Image Annotation Tool for iOS Yet
- Annotable 2.0 Adds Deep Customization Features
- A Screenshot Is Worth a Thousand Words
Scanning and Handwriting in Notes
Password AutoFill for Apps
Follow us on Twitter
iOS 11’s All-New App Store
19 juni 2017 |
39 min
Apple announced a redesigned App Store for iOS 11 at WWDC. Federico and John take a look at the upcoming changes, the challenges Apple will face producing original content about apps, and consider what it will mean for users and developers.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Zapier - Connect your apps and automate your workflows.
- WaterMinder - Track your daily water intake.
Links and Show Notes
- The 10.5” iPad Pro: Future Proof (MacStories)
- The All-New App Store (Apple Developer Site)
- Discovery on the All-New App Store (Apple Developer Site)
- Making the Most of Your Product Page on the All-New App Store (Apple Developer Site)
- The iOS 11 App Store Redesign Story (Manton.org)
- Information Density and the New App Store Design (Joecieplinski.com)
Follow us on Twitter
Competing with iOS System Apps
12 juni 2017 |
31 min
John and Federico consider the pros and cons of competing with, and what it takes to succeed against, Apple’s free, built-in system apps and highlight some of their favorite alternatives.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Zapier - Connect your apps and automate your workflows.
- Linea by The Iconfactory - Sketch. Simply.
Links and Show Notes
Notes Competitors
Reminders Competitors
Calculator Competitors
Music and Podcasts Competitors
Weather Competitors
Mail Competitors
Follow us on Twitter
Interview: Hidden Folks with Adriaan de Jongh
5 juni 2017 |
31 min
Federico and John interview Adriaan de Jongh, the co-creator of the hit iOS and PC game Hidden Folks about the creation and design of the game, its unique sound design, gaming on mobile, and an exclusive look at what’s next for Hidden Folks.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Zapier - Connect your apps and automate your workflows.
- The Best Photo App - Choose your best photos.
Links and Show Notes
Apps
Creators
More on Hidden Folks
- Hidden Folks Trailer
- For Hidden Folks Designer Adriaan de Jongh, Games Are About People (Paste)
- Building thousands of tiny interactions into Hidden Folks (Gamasutra)
- Behind the Game: Hidden Folks
- Upcoming Factory Area (Twitter)
Follow us on Twitter
Tip Jars with Benefits
29 maj 2017 |
32 min
Federico and John cover more app pricing models including tip jars, patronage, fan clubs, bundles, and in-app merchandise sales.
This episode is sponsored by:
- SketchParty TV - The fun drawing-and-guessing party game for Apple TV.
- HealthView - A new way to view your health data.
Links and Show Notes
Previously on AppStories:
Tip Jars, Patronage, and Donations with Perks
- Pedometer++ (App)
- Overcast (App)
- Overcast 2.0 Streaming, Chapters, New Patronage Model, and an Interview With Marco Arment (MacStories)
- Overcast trying ads, dark theme now free (Marco.org)
- Overcast 3: Design walkthrough (Marco.org)
- Castro (App)
- Castro for iPhone Goes Free, Adopts Patronage Model (MacStories)
- Drafts (App)
- Drafts 4.7.0 (Agile Tortoise Blog)
- Twitterrific (App)
- Twitterrific 5.14.4 Adds Ollie’s Tip Jar & More (The Iconfactory Blog)
- PCalc (App)
- Paper (App)
- Hello Weather (App)
App Bundles
- App Bundle Documentation
- OmniFocus (App)
- OmniFocus Bundle
- Providing the best possible App Store experience (The Omni Blog)
- OmniFocus Bundle Video
- OmniFocus Bundle Support Page
In-App Merchandise
- Custom Storefronts — Building Commerce Anywhere (Shopify Blog)
- With its Unity Buy SDK, Shopify now lets mobile games sell real goods (TechCrunch)
- Unity Buy SDK from Shopify Will Let You Buy Merch in Games Like ‘Alto’s Adventure’ (TouchArcade)
- Alto’s Adventure (App)
Follow us on Twitter
Interview: The Making of the CARROT Apps with Brian Mueller
22 maj 2017 |
28 min
Federico and John interview Brian Mueller, the creator of the CARROT series of apps, about how he got started, the origins of CARROT, a corgi with a top hat and monocle, and his new CARROT game, Artificial Superintelligence.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Setapp - An app for every job, already on you Mac.
- SaneBox - Clean Up Your Inbox Today (and Keep It That Way Forever)
Links and Show Notes
Background
- The CARROT Family of Apps
- Apple Interview with Brian Mueller
- Apple features CARROT Weather
- Game Day: A.S.I.
- Brian Mueller on Twitter
Brian Mueller’s CARROT Apps
- Artificial Superintelligence
- CARROT Weather
- CARROT Fit
- CARROT Alarm
- CARROT To-Do
- CARROT Hunger
- CARROT Sticker Pack
Follow us on Twitter
App Subscriptions
15 maj 2017 |
35 min
How app subscriptions work, the pros and cons for consumers and developers, and examples of apps using creative subscription models.
This episode is sponsored by:
This episode of AppStories is sponsored by:
- Drafts - Where text starts.
- MailButler - Your personal assistant for Apple Mail.
Links and Show Notes
Background
- Choosing a Business Model
- Apple announces subscriptions for all apps
- Subscriptions – Developer Documentation
- App Bundles - Developer Documentation
- In-App Purchases - Developer Documentation
- Apple Announces In-App Purchases For Free iPhone Applications
- Top App Publishers of Q1 2017: 10 Largest Accounted for 67% of All Revenue
- Managing Subscriptions - iOS
- Managing Subscriptions – Mac
On the limitations of subscriptions and the argument against them, including some examples of low-cost subscriptions for premium features:
- App Review Guideline 3.1.2(a)
- Apple Interview with Brian Mueller, maker of CARROT Weather
- More on CARROT Weather’s Business Model
- CARROT Weather
- 1Password
- Weather Underground
- Stamp Pack
- Fiery Feeds
- Parcel
- Phil Schiller on App Store Upgrade Pricing
Some iOS apps that are using auto-renewable subscriptions in creative ways:
- Bear
- App in the Air
- Outlinely
- Remotely
- Zombies, Run
- AstroPad Studio
- Manifest: Time Tracker
- RadarScope
Other well-known companies that have also switched to auto-renewable subscriptions on the App Store:
Follow us on Twitter
Interview: App Discovery and the iTunes Affiliate Program with AfterPad's Kevin MacLeod
8 maj 2017 |
32 min
Federico and John talk about the iTunes Affiliate Program and its importance for app discovery and independent curation with Kevin MacLeod of AfterPad. The episode was recorded before Apple’s clarification of changes to the program.
This episode is sponsored by:
- SQLPro Studio - A simple, powerful database manager for macOS. Download a 7-day free trial and use promo code APPSTORIES at checkout for 20% off.
- CardioBot - use heart rate data captured by your Apple Watch to improve your health.
Links and Show Notes
iTunes Affiliate Program
- Apple’s official iTunes Affiliate Program webpage and Getting Started guide
- iTunes Affiliate Linking
- Apple Cuts Affiliate Commissions on Apps and In-App Purchases
- A Comprehensive Guide to the iTunes Affiliate Program
- Apple is NOT lowering app affiliate commissions
- May 5: Apple clarifies changes to the iTunes Affiliate Program
AfterPad
- AfterPad
- Apple’s MFi program
- AfterPad’s gallery of MFi controllers and MFi-enabled games
- AfterPad’s Apple TV Catalog
- The Next Generation Gamevice is Now Available
- Kevin MacLeod on Twitter
Follow us on Twitter
Interview: App Camp for Girls with Jean MacDonald and Grey Osten
1 maj 2017 |
29 min
Federico and John interview Jean MacDonald and Grey Osten, the co-founders of App Camp for Girls – an organization that helps middle-school age girls get started with app development.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Working Copy - a powerful Git client for iOS.
- Narwhal - fast, gesture-based Reddit browsing.
Links and Show Notes
- Jean MacDonald and Grey Osten
- App Camp for Girls
- App Camp for Girls is Coming to Chicago
- Contribute to App Camp for Girls
- App Camp Quiz Compendium 2016
- Volunteer to Help App Camp for Girls
- Sponsor App Camp for Girls
- Follow App Camp for Girls on Twitter
Follow us on Twitter
Setting Up a New iOS Device
24 april 2017 |
31 min
Federico and John discuss setting up a new iOS device, whether they do a clean install with new iOS releases, the first apps they install, and tips and tricks to make the process easier.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Streaks - The to-do list that helps you form good habits.
- Where To? - Find the best places around you – wherever you are.
Links and Show Notes
Apps
- Dropbox
- 1Password
- Slack
- Airmail
- Trello
- Tweetbot
- Ulysses
- Working Copy
- Workflow
- Todoist
- Moves
- Gyroscope
- Deliveries
Article Links
- AgileBits Launches 1Password for Families
- Doing the two-step: Switching to Apple’s two-factor authentication
- Apple Details Two-Factor Authentication in iOS 9 and El Capitan
- iOS 8 Family Sharing Explained: Share Purchases Between Family Members & Much More
- Dropbox, Twitter iOS Apps Gain Option to Clear Cache
- Health Importer Makes It Easy to Move Health Data Between iPhones
Follow us on Twitter
Welcome to AppStories
20 april 2017 |
31 min
Federico and John introduce AppStories, talk about apps that made a difference in their lives, and highlight apps that have caught their attention recently.
This episode is sponsored by:
Links and Show Notes
In the first segment of this week’s episode, Federico and John remember four iOS apps that had an impact on their lives and changed their perspective on the App Store. Some of these apps predate MacStories and pioneered several conventions of modern app design.
Federico and Twitterrific
- Twitterrific by The Iconfactory
- Macworld Video: iPhone Twitter apps
- First look: Twitterrific 2 for iPhone
- Twitterrific’s Tough Love
- Redesigning Twitterrific
John and Instapaper
- Instapaper by Marco Arment (original creator)
- Instapaper: Now available offline
- Review: Instapaper for iPhone
- Tilt Scrolling in Instapaper Pro
- Pocket (App Store link)
Federico and Editorial
- Editorial by Ole Zorn
- Automating iOS: How Pythonista Changed My Workflow
- MacStories Pythonista Articles
- Reinventing iOS Automation: Editorial Review
- MacStories Editorial Articles
John and Tweetie
- Tweetie by Loren Brichter
- A Conversation With Loren Brichter
- An Interview with Tweetie Developer Loren Brichter
- Loren Brichter Talks About Pull-To-Refresh Patent and Design Process
- Lesson 19, iPhone Application Programming (Stanford, Spring 2009)
New apps we’ve been trying
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En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.