

AppStories
Federico Viticci, John Voorhees
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 9, 2023 • 50min
Automation April: A Link Management Workflow and S-GPT
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:
Raindrop
Reeder
Matter
Raycast
Actions for Shortcuts
GoodLinks
Bookmarks in Obsidian
Introducing S-GPT, A Shortcut to Connect OpenAI’s ChatGPT with Native Features of Apple’s Operating Systems
S-GPT 1.0.1
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John Voorhees

Apr 2, 2023 • 37min
Automation April: Shortcuts Check-In
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
Apple Frames 3.1: Extending Screenshot Automation with the New Apple Frames API
Apple Frames 3.1.1 with Support for Passthrough Mode
ShareMenu 2.0, Now with Better macOS Integration and Support for More Input Types
Things 3.17 Overhauls the App’s Shortcuts Actions
More Fun with Things’ New Shortcuts Actions
My Obsidian Setup, Part 5: Appending Text and Webpage Links to Specific Sections of My ‘Dashboard’ Note
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Mar 26, 2023 • 44min
A Classic Pick 2
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
Copilot
MacStories Weekly 357, Home Screen: John
Gentler Streak
Fitness App Gentler Streak Adds Wellness Tracking
Also mentioned:
Tempo
Federico
Instant Notion
TV Forecast
TV Forecast Review: An Elegant Way to Track Your Favorite Shows
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19 snips
Mar 19, 2023 • 51min
Revisiting RSS
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
Requiem for Google Reader, gone but not forgotten
Byline
NetNewsWire
Fever Really is That Hot
An Email Tangent
Ocean
Mimestream
RSS Sync Services
Feedly
Feedbin
Inoreader
RSS Apps Discussed
Reeder
Unread
ReadKit
Readwise Reader
Matter
Fiery Feeds
lire
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John Voorhees

Mar 12, 2023 • 57min
Listener Q&A
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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Mar 5, 2023 • 42min
The Future of Web Browsers
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:
Brave
Firefox
SigmaOS
Arc
Vivaldi
Edge
Chrome
Safari
Federico’s story about Command-K bars
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Feb 26, 2023 • 37min
Apple Watch Ultra and the Watch Apps We Use
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
mClassic
Photofast 4K Gamer Pro
Genki Convert Dock Mini
Apple Watch Ultra and Apps
Apple Watch Ultra
Apps
CARROT Weather
Timery for Toggl
Shortcuts
Broadcasts
Overcast
Pocket Casts
Footpath Route Planner
µBrowser
Spotify
TickTick
Audible
Tempo for Runners
Gentler Streak Workout Tracker
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Feb 19, 2023 • 46min
Artificial Intelligence and Apps (Part 2)
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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8 snips
Feb 12, 2023 • 51min
Artificial Intelligence and Apps (Part 1)
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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Feb 5, 2023 • 46min
Mastodon Web, Mac, and Utility Apps
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
Thoughts On Twitter for iPad: This Changes Everything
Gavin Nelson on Matodon
Mastodon instances mentioned:
indieapps.space
iosdev.space
Web Apps
Elk
Unite
Phanpy
Halcyon
Mastodeck
Mac
Wooly (beta)
Mammoth (beta)
Official Mastodon client
Utilities
Re: Toot
Linky
Buffer
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