Mac Power Users

This week, David and Stephen grab their lassos and gather up some of the best Safari extensions out on the free and open range of the App Store.

To celebrate 700 episodes of the show, David and Stephen talk through how they work, including how MPU gets made each week, how they approach their blogs, other podcasts, videos and more.

This week, everyone's favorite nerdy pastor TJ Luoma rejoins the show to update David and Stephen on his tech, how he's learned to take time away from work and some of his new favorite apps and services.

Malin Sundberg is one of the developers behind the apps Mercury Weather and Orbit. This week, she joins Stephen and David to discuss her background and work, as well as her hands-on time with the Apple Vision Pro at WWDC.

On this feedback episode, David and Stephen keep unpacking WWDC, talk about their time with the new betas and work through some listener feedback.

Subscriptions aren't just the future of software anymore, but they are how many developers are running their businesses today. David and Stephen open up their App Store accounts to discuss what they're paying for and why.

Recorded live at Apple Park, Stephen and David talk about some of the big announcements from WWDC23.

Chance Miller is the editor-in-chief of 9to5Mac. This week, he joins David and Stephen to discuss his work covering Apple and what the group wants to see at WWDC23.

Mark Bramhill's name will be familiar to many, as he produced "Welcome to Macintosh." This week, he chats with David and Stephen about his podcasting career, using a Mac mini as a home server, the power of Descript and what it was like to create an emoji.

With WWDC just a couple of weeks away, Stephen and David take a look at Apple's various platforms and take stock of where things are in the spring of 2023.

David Rosenthal is a world-renown keyboardist, musical director, synthesizer programmer and composer. At the heart of his work is the Mac, and this week he talks with Stephen and David about his background, career, gear and more.

BetterTouchTool developer Andreas Hegenberg does his first-ever podcast interview about how he wanted to learn to make iPhone apps and stumbled into making one of our favorite Mac utilities, how the app has grown over the years and making a go of it in the software business.

On this feedback episode, Stephen and David revisit their revisit of Contacts, talk about the differences between Obsidian and Craft, answer questions about version control and get philosophical about modern Apple.

Adam Tow is a long-time Apple user whose passions include development, photography and the Newton. This week, he talks with Stephen and David about his various projects and the tools he uses to make them a reality.

Contacts and calendars are a constant for almost everyone. This week, the guys revisit their setups, discuss alternatives to Apple's first-party apps and more.

Much of our content consumption is now digital, from books and newspapers to shows and movies. Stephen and David talk through the services they enjoy and the apps they use when it's time to put their feet up.

Between news apps, delivery services, task managers, emails and communication tools, our devices receive an untold number of notifications daily. This week, David and Stephen talk about how to push back against the wave of interruptions that threaten our focus and work.

It's that time again: Stephen and David round up some Mac apps for their "20 Under $20" saloon!

Ian Byrd returns to the Mac Power Users to share the story of how he transitioned his business from in-person speaking engagements to on-demand video. Topics include online business management tools, video production, automation, and Ian's one-person company retreats.

On this feedback episode, the guys sort through some follow-up before sharing their origin stories and reacting to a surprise or two.

In the 12 years since its debut, iCloud has grown from a relatively simple service to one that is the glue holding the Apple ecosystem together. This week, Stephen and David talk about the various components of iCloud, how they work, and what to do when they don't.

Developer and podcaster Marco Arment joins the show to talk about his desktop-laptop setup, the current state of development on Apple's platforms and what the company may do in 2023.

Stephen and David take each other on a tour of their Mac setups, stopping at the Dock, menu bar and startup items.

Relay FM's VP of Sales drops by the show to talk about her Apple gear, keeping multiple projects going at once and why she has built much of her workflow around Airtable.

In this episode of the Software Club, David and Stephen talk about Fantastical and how it compares to Apple's default Calendar application. Michael Simmons then joins them to discuss Fantastical's history and the changes he's seen in the Apple software ecosystem over the years.

Kaitlin Salzke is an accountant, student and programmer who has built a library of OmniFocus automations. This week she joins David and Stephen to talk about using Javascript for automation, working on a PC during the week and pushing the boundaries of what macOS can do.

Gone are the days of using tapes, CDs and iPods in cars. Apple has taken center stage in most new cars sold as the iPhone replaced all of those older media sources in the car. This week, David and Stephen pack up and go on a tour of CarPlay.

Shawn Blanc left his job back in 2011 to become a full-time writer. Twelve years later, he's the mastermind behind sites like The Focus Course and The Sweet Setup and more. Stephen and David ask him about that journey and how he's grown his operation from a solo venture to a team running multiple projects.

It's not every day that Apple releases a new productivity app, but with iOS 16.2 and macOS Ventura 13.1, the company launched Freeform, an infinite canvas app for sketching, organizing and sharing information. David and Stephen have been using it extensively and break it all down this week.

Stephen and David reflect on the apps and services they've relied on for the past year, and one of them makes a rash vow about new Macs.

On this feedback episode, Stephen and David reflect on the first year of the MacSparky Labs, discuss the recent Eufy camera news and answer a bunch of listener questions.

Francesco D'Alessio joins the show to discuss his work as a productivity YouTuber and writer, as well as the role of AI in software.

Charlie Chapman is the developer behind Dark Noise and the host of the Launched podcast. This week, he talks with David and Stephen about his experience as an iOS developer and what it's like when Apple adds OS features that compete with something you've built.

OmniFocus expert Tim Stringer drops by the show to catch David and Stephen up on his businesses, his use of multiple Macs and how OmniFocus 4 is shaping up while in beta.

Apple's Notes and Reminders apps have come a long way since their introductions years ago. This week, Stephen and David look at their history, discuss their current iterations and make some requests for the future.

Believe it or not, it is time for the annual MPU Holiday Gift Guide once again!

On this feedback episode, the guys revisit backup tools, talk about keyboard shortcuts and discuss a bunch of listener emails.

Apple has shipped significant updates to its operating systems, so this week, David and Stephen explore the features each brings to the table, getting deep into macOS Ventura and iPadOS 16.1.

With Matter on the horizon, there has never been a better time to get into home automation. On this episode, Stephen and David talk about how their HomeKit setups have evolved over time and what they hope Apple and others can add to the smart home in the future.

Apple Maps has matured from its rocky start back a decade ago into a robust alternative to Google Maps. This week, David and Stephen go on a roadtrip through the service's history, features and more.

With David settling in at his new studio, the guys take some time to talk about their desk setups, what's in their bags and what they carry with them daily.

David and Stephen share some of the treats they've found as apps are getting updated for iOS 16. Then, they talk through their first impressions of the Apple Watch Ultra.

Alex Cox drops by the show to update Stephen and David on their new indie life, including Apple silicon hardware, collaboration tools and the new iPhone 14 Pro.

In this feedback episode, David and Stephen revisit iOS 16 and the M2 MacBook Air, then dive into some listener questions and talk about the state of voice dictation.

Apple has announced its slate of iPhones and Apple Watches for the year and has major software releases right around the corner. This week, David and Stephen discuss the company's announcements and review iOS 16.

Automation wizard Stephen Millard joins David and Stephen to discuss Shortcuts, Alfred workflows and a whole host of other automation tools across Apple's platforms.

Julia Alexander drops by to discuss the world of streaming services, and how Apple stands apart from its competitors in the space. Also discussed: the sad lack of modern orange notebooks, the importance of the Apple Watch and some of Julia's go-to apps.

File storage is both more accessible and more complicated than ever. This week, David and Stephen address storage mediums, syncing services, backup strategies and a lot more.

Chris Christensen is a web developer, writer and traveler with roots in 90s Apple. This week, he joins David and Stephen to discuss his work, navigating the world and a lot more.

Apple refers to the iPad as a magical pane of glass that becomes whatever you need of it. This week, David and Stephen discuss some apps and accessories that help the iPad reach that potential.