In a world where technology is increasingly conspiring to steal our focus and attention, my goal is to teach you how to be more productive with Apple technology. I want to help you achieve what is most important to you and enjoy your life at the same time using technology instead of becoming another one of its victims. Pretty much everything I make points at that North Star. I believe in this message so much that I’ve staked my livelihood on it.
The Inherent Value of the Creative Act
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Hi Friend, I’ve been thinking about the idea of the creative act and how it inspires joy in humans. I recently watched a documentary about a group of jazz musicians who were lamenting how no one is really willing to pay them what they’re worth. Club owners barely compensate these musicians, so why don’t they just take jobs digging ditches or doing something else more stable? I think the answer lies in the joy of creation. As humans, I believe when we are creating, we are being our most natural selves. That act brings with it a high, and for jazz musicians, whose craft is rooted in real-time improvisation, they get to live in that high on a regular basis. It’s almost like the market has figured that out without really naming it. It knows these musicians will take less, because the non-monetary compensation of creating in front of an audience is just that powerful. It’s not just about the money—it’s about the act and the sharing of it. That really resonates with me. I naturally gravitate toward anything that lets me express creative energy—whether that’s making music, building furniture, or what I create as MacSparky. My frustration with the administrative side of MacSparky probably reflects that pull toward the creative parts. I’ve lived this trade-off before. When I used to play jazz for money, I often accepted gigs that didn’t pay much because I just wanted to play. The same logic often shows up in how I price MacSparky products: I don’t optimize for maximum profit. I want to earn enough to be able to keep going, but I also want to get the content “out there”. I want the ideas to spread. I want to share what I’ve made. I’m also aware of how fortunate I am to have structured a life where I get to live in that creative space most of the time. That didn’t happen by accident. I made conscious and unconscious choices to get here. If I had gone full throttle into being a high-powered attorney, sure, I’d be making more money. But would I get the same high? Not likely. This reflection also helps me clarify why I’m so resistant to using artificial intelligence for the actual work of creating. I see AI as an incredibly useful assistant, especially for administrative things, but when it comes to the core act of making something, I want that to come from me. Because that’s the joy. That’s the whole point. This week in Apple NewsM5 is Here! Apple launched several new products featuring the new M5 chip. We got new iPad Pros, a new MacBook Pro, and an updated Vision Pro. Expect even more powerful M5 Apple products early next year. No More Plus Apple removed the “+” from the Apple TV+ streaming service. So now, Apple TV means either a physical device or a streaming service. Umm, okay. Apple and Sports This week Apple locked up American broadcasting rights for F1 for the next five years. In typical Apple fashion, they locked up all the rights. Also, a five-year deal signals that Apple is not getting cold feet about streaming, as some have reported. Your pal, David P.S. Do you want to help me out? Why not recommend this newsletter to a friend? Read this post on macsparky.com Check Out the iPhone Life Newsletter (Sponsor)Remember when iOS 7 changed everything? iOS 26 just did it again. From the all-new Liquid Glass design to redesigned Camera and Photos apps, this update is packed with both visual and practical improvements. If you want to learn the ins and outs of iOS 26, the free iPhone Life Tip of the Day Newsletter is the easiest way to get up to speed. Here’s a taste of what you’ll discover:
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David Sparks (MacSparky)
In a world where technology is increasingly conspiring to steal our focus and attention, my goal is to teach you how to be more productive with Apple technology. I want to help you achieve what is most important to you and enjoy your life at the same time using technology instead of becoming another one of its victims. Pretty much everything I make points at that North Star. I believe in this message so much that I’ve staked my livelihood on it.
Hello Friend, If you've been listening to the Mac Power Users podcast the last few years, you've heard me slowly come around to the fact that Apple's productivity apps — Reminders, Notes, Calendar, and Freeform — are getting pretty good. But getting the most out of those apps takes some work. Most people use about 20% of what Apple's built-in productivity apps can actually do. The other 80%? It's a hidden ecosystem of integrations, automations, and workflows that Apple never advertises. I've...
The No List App Hi Friend, This week I shipped an app. It's called The No List, and while it might seem like a simple idea, I think it addresses one of the most important productivity challenges we face today. Let me back up a bit. For years, I've been interested in the idea of building my own app. Part of it was the challenge—could someone who spends their days writing about technology actually create some? Part of it was scratching a very specific itch that no existing app seemed to...
My First Draft of this Newsleter. Hi Friends, I very much have an analog side. Sometimes I find slowing down and writing things down helps me process thoughts a little better. That doesn't mean the things I write with paper and pencil necessarily stay that way forever, but quite often, it's an excellent first draft. As an analog explorer, I've gone down the rabbit hole over the years of fancy pens, including fountain pens. But several years ago, I found an old box of pencils and decided on a...