501: iOS 13 and the Shortcuts Field Guide
iOS 13 is here, and is full of new features. This week, David and Stephen talk about some of their favorites, after talking through the changes Apple has made to Shortcuts.
Sep 22, 2019•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 501
Mac Power Users
Learn about getting the most from your Apple technology with focused topics and workflow guests. Creating Mac Power Users since 2009, one conversation at a time. Hosted by David Sparks and Stephen Hackett.
Episodes
500: David in the Hot Seat
Stephen marks the 500th episode of Mac Power Users by interviewing David about his career, technology and choice of light saber color.
Sep 15, 2019•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 500
499: Backups and Updates
Backing up our Macs, iPhones and iPads is easier than ever, but many people don't bother making sure their data is safe and sound. This week, David and Stephen talk through some basic backup strategies before offering some advice when considering upgrading to new versions of macOS and iOS.
Sep 08, 2019•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 499
498: Back to School with Jake Wilson
Stephen and David chat with Jake Wilson, an elementary school principal — and a student himself — about using technology in and beyond the classroom, ranging from smart boards and shortcuts to Google Docs and waffles.
Sep 01, 2019•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 498
497: Spotlight, Alfred & LaunchBar
macOS' Spotlight feature has made serious strides in recent years, but many power users still turn to Alfred and LaunchBar for app launching, file searching and executing workflows. This week, David and Stephen compare these tools and talk about their favorite features of each.
Aug 25, 2019•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 497
496: Keyboard Hacking with Brett Terpstra
Brett Terpstra joins in the Mac Power Users this week to talk about his keyboard hacks, planning workflows, some of Brett's favorite apps, and the looming arrival of Brett's new app, nvUltra.
Aug 18, 2019•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 496
495: Manning the Battle Bridge with Artist Thom Zahler
Comic book artist Thom Zahler uses his Macs and iPads to create some incredible artwork and manage his indie business. This week Thom shares his apps and workflows.
Aug 11, 2019•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 495
494: Our Home Offices
This week, David and Stephen talk about their home offices: how they are setup, what equipment and furnishings are used and — of course — what nerdy toys are around. Then, a discussion about the pros and cons of working from home.
Aug 04, 2019•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 494
493: My Life is an Edge Case, with TJ Luoma
Pastor and Apple nerd TJ Luoma returns to the show to catch David and Stephen up on his journey with Apple's notebooks and the iPad, before sharing some of the apps that he uses every day to make his work more efficient, and his explorations in Internet filtering and content blocking.
Jul 28, 2019•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 493
492: All of the Ks
In this feedback episode, David and Stephen talk about a borrowed MacBook Pro that Catalina tried melting into his desk, Voice Control and Dictation in iOS 13 and answer a few listener questions about iOS file storage and justifying a Mac to a boss who doesn't get it.
Jul 21, 2019•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 492
491: Working Hard in the Gaming Industry, with Simone de Rochefort
Simone de Rochefort is a video producer and podcaster at Polygon, and co-hosts Rocket on Relay FM. She walks Stephen and David through the process of creating videos at Polygon, from the writing process, to capturing game footage, editing and more.
Jul 14, 2019•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 491
490: Surfin' with Safari
Safari isn't the most popular browser on the planet, but its focus on speed, security and privacy set it apart from the competition. This week, David and Stephen get into the pros and cons of the application, and some of its unique features.
Jul 07, 2019•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 490
489: Gear as a Motivator, with Tyler Stalman
Tyler Stalman is a photographer, videographer, YouTuber and small business owner alongside his wife Ania Boniecka. Oh, and he loves gear... maybe too much, as he confesses to Stephen and David.
Jun 30, 2019•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 489
488: How We Communicate
Our digital devices make communicating with others easier than ever, but with that flexibility comes complexity. David and Stephen talk about what solutions they use for certain types of communication, then talk about Notifications and Do Not Disturb, which can help curb incoming messages when things get too hectic.
Jun 23, 2019•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 488
487: Josh Centers: Beta Spelunker
Josh Centers is the managing editor at TidBITS, which has been covering the world of Apple for nearly 30 years and is a writer for the "Taking Control" series of books. He sits down with David and Stephen to talk about his writing, the tools he uses and why running Apple betas can be a real adventure.
Jun 16, 2019•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 487
486: Essential iOS Apps
Stephen and David scroll through their iPhones and iPads to collect some of their most-used iOS apps, across a wide range of categories.
Jun 09, 2019•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 486
485: WWDC and Interview with the Mac Pro Product Manager
Stephen and David have boots on the ground in San Jose for WWDC 2019. In this episode, they interview Doug Brooks, the Apple Product Manager for the new Mac Pro. Afterward, David and Stephen share initial thoughts on updates to macOS and the brand new iPadOS. David has some tough questions for Stephen about his future and the new Mac Pro, and they get to share the good news about the brand new "Sparky Button." Finally, our hosts give you the lowdown on their WWDC experiences.
Jun 04, 2019•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 485
484: Unlocking Keyboard Maestro
From trigger to actions, variables to debugging, David and Stephen go through the powerhouse that is Keyboard Maestro and discuss David's new Field Guide on the subject.
May 26, 2019•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 484
483: Being a Compulsive Maker, with Tiff Arment
Artist and podcaster Tiff Arment joins David and Stephen to talk about her background in photography and analog and digital art, as well as the work that goes into recording and editing podcasts.
May 19, 2019•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 483
482: Color Me Interested
David and Stephen share their confessions about the iPad Pro, then discuss managing client data before doing some wishcasting for WWDC.
May 12, 2019•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 482
481: Finder and Its Alternatives
At the heart of the macOS experience is Finder, which is part file manager, part search tool and a whole lot more. Its smiling blue icon boasts many features, and third-party developers have written tools to make it even more powerful for those users who need more.
May 05, 2019•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 481
480: Catching up with Michael Hyatt
Michael Hyatt joins David and Stephen this week in an interview that ranges from how to get your life together and find a little focus to nerdy Keyboard Maestro scripts.
Apr 28, 2019•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 480
479: 100,000 Subscribers, with Rene Ritchie
Over a year ago, long-time Apple blogger Rene Ritchie launched Vector, a daily YouTube show covering the world of Apple and tech beyond. This week, David and Stephen catch up with Rene, talking about his video workflows, YouTube as a platform and the future of the Mac and iOS.
Apr 21, 2019•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 479
478: Journaling with Day One
Journaling can be an excellent way to collect your thoughts and reflect on the events of the day, and Day One makes it easy to do so with your Mac, iPhone, iPad and beyond.
Apr 14, 2019•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 478
477: Mobile Music and Production with Jakob Haq
Jakob Haq is a musician and YouTuber from Sweden who create, edits and publishes all of his content with his iPhone and iPad.
Apr 07, 2019•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 477
476: Exploring the Mac App Store
Stephen and David talk through the ups and downs of the Mac App Store and share some of the hidden gems they've found there over the years. Then, they recap Apple's recent media event after being interrupted by Mother Nature in the Sparks' yard.
Mar 31, 2019•1 hr 43 min•Ep. 476
475: Something Smells Funny
The guys work their way through some feedback, Stephen has feelings about his Apple Watch and David has switched notes apps ... again.
Mar 24, 2019•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 475
474: Using the iPad as a Laptop
When thinking about making an iPad a notebook replacement, there are a lot of factors to consider. David and Stephen talk through the hardware and software that can make — or break — this experience.
Mar 17, 2019•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 474
473: Shawn Blanc’s Evolved Workflows
Shawn Blanc returns to the show to talk about his move to the iPad Pro and how he manages the growing team behind projects like The Sweet Setup and The Focus Course.
Mar 10, 2019•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 473
472: Live in Chicago with Friends
Live from Chicago, David and Stephen thaw out long enough to talk to a couple of very special guests about the MacBook Air and the friction between analog and digital tools, before answering some listener questions.
Mar 03, 2019•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 472
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