AppStories

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 TV Forecast GameTrack Genius Scan Adobe Fresco CARROT Weather Craft Taio Scan Thing GoodTask Follow us on Twitter AppStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Follow us on Instagram AppStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees

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 Substack Twitter Super Follows and Revue RSS Feedbin Inoreader Email Clients Using The Feed in Hey Email folders and rules Mailbrew Substack Reader Follow us on Twitter AppStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Follow us on Instagram AppStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees

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 Follow us on Twitter AppStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Follow us on Instagram AppStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees

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 Follow us on Twitter AppStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Follow us on Instagram AppStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees

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 Federico’s new RSS widget app, Headlines John experiments with Timepage MusicBot Features We’d Like the Mac to Steal from the iPad Closed lid music playback and other Music features Upgrade 338 – Loved by Podcasters the World Over Mobile data iCloud Time Machine Hot-swapping external drives Automation TestFlight MagSafe Touch input Follow us on Twitter AppStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Follow us on Instagram AppStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees

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 The M1 Mac mini and MacBook Air: A Giant Leap Forward for All Mac Users MusicBot Accessories MagSafe Federico Pitaka Magnetic Slim Case Apple Silicon Case - Product Red iPhone Leather Wallet with MagSafe Belkin Car Vent Mount PRO with MagSafe MagSafe Duo 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 Federico Magic Keyboard AirPods Max Sony WF-1000XM3 Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones FiiO Q5s DAC Reference Silver Lightning to Chord Hugo Mojo Audioquest Dragonfly Interconnect Cable By Lavricables V3 John Smart Keyboard Folio Magic Keyboard AirPods Max AirPods Pro HomePod and HomePod mini Battery Packs and Hubs Federico HyperJuice 130W USB-C Battery Pack John Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD Twelve South StayGo USB-C Hub OWC Thunderbolt Dock Failed Accessory Experiments Federico: HomePod mini John: Lamicall Gooseneck Tablet Holder Follow us on Twitter AppStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Follow us on Instagram AppStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees

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 Descript Descript: Making podcast editing more like text editing Everything but the Text Editor Craft Tot Drafts DEVONthink Keep It MindNode LookUp Terminology Grammarly Pixelmator Pro Taio Follow us on Twitter AppStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Follow us on Instagram AppStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees

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: AppStories, Episode 52 – Do-Everything vs. Single-Purpose Apps 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 Instapaper 3.0.2 for iPhone and iPad now available Mr. Reader Mr. Reader 3.0 Updated for iOS 7 with Background Downloads, Reading List Support Other apps discussed Drafts GoodTask Craft Taio Follow us on Twitter AppStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Follow us on Instagram AppStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees

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 Insignia Garage Door Opener Level Touch lock Logitech Circle View Doorbell Logitech Circle View 2 cameras Various Hue lightbulbs 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 Logitech Circle View 2 cameras Hue lightbulbs Amazon Echo Amazon Echo Spot Follow us on Twitter AppStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Follow us on Instagram AppStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees

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 Keyboard Maestro Remote, Keyboard, and Mouse Follow Up HEY email Unite 4 Calendar Apps FirstSeed Calendar Dato Dato Review: Calendar Events and Time Zones From Your Mac’s Menu Bar CalZones World Clock Time Widget Team Communications Slack Microsoft Teams Discord Federico’s Surprise Follow us on Twitter AppStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Follow us on Instagram AppStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees