Hi friend, One of the best features Apple has added in recent years is Focus Modes. I use them every day across all my devices, and they have become an essential part of how I manage my attention, my work, and even my personal life. At its core, a Focus Mode is a filter between you and the rest of the world. Instead of being bombarded with every notification, email, or message the moment it arrives, Focus Modes let you decide what gets through based on what you're doing. They are powerful and...
12 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Friend, For years now I’ve been writing and talking about the trouble with Siri. This problem became even more acute for Apple with the rise of large language models (LLMs) and the world’s collective realization at just how useful a smart artificial intelligence can be. Last June, it seemed as if Apple finally found religion about making Siri better. At WWDC 2024 they outlined the “Apple Intelligence” strategy that made a lot of sense. While I never expected Apple to build something on par...
19 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Friend, This week, Apple unveiled a bunch of new hardware, including the M4 Mac Studio, M4 MacBook Air, and the latest iPad Air. There’s a lot to discuss: M4 Mac Studio Apple’s new Mac Studio has two primary configurations: one with the M4 Max chip and another with the M3 Ultra chip. The M4 Max variant boasts a 16-core CPU and up to 40 GPU cores, delivering substantial performance enhancements over its predecessors. Notably, this model introduces Apple’s latest-generation graphics...
26 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Friend, I've been spending a lot of time with Claude 3.7 Sonnet lately, and I wanted to share some thoughts on the new "Gen3" AI models. Claude 3.7 is trained with a massive leap in computing power compared to its predecessors. What's Different About These New Models? These new AI models aren't just incrementally better; they represent a significant jump in capabilities. There are two reasons for this: Training Scale: These models use 10x more computing power in training than GPT-4 did....
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Friend, At a recent MacSparky Labs event, a few folks started asking about career change—how to do it, when to think about it, and what it feels like to make a big shift. The questions hit home for me because, as many of you know, I spent thirty years as a lawyer before going full time with MacSparky. And when I made that change, I realized something important: if you ever think you might need a parachute, you'd better start knitting it early. I didn't set out to build a parachute. I...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Friend, Over the past several years, I’ve spent a lot of time reading classic Hellenistic philosophy. I find those thinkers’ willingness to take on the big questions interesting. Because when it comes to thinking about philosophy, I’m practical. I couldn't care less whether or not I’m living in a simulation. I am very interested, however, in finding and sharing happiness. And the Greeks thought about that question a lot. Maybe Aristotle said it best: Happiness is an activity of the soul in...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hi friend, I’ve been wearing Apple Watches since day one, and the 2024 lineup is the most impressive yet. They make great holiday gifts, but here’s the thing: You don’t need to buy the most expensive model to get a great Apple Watch experience. Let’s break this down into plain English and figure out which watch belongs on your wrist. The Three Flavors of Apple Watch Series 10: The Sweet Spot This is the Goldilocks watch — not too much, not too little, but just right for most users. This year...
4 months ago • 3 min read
Hello friend, We recently got an update to the iPad mini (hooray!) The latest version is a solid upgrade, making the iPad mini more capable thanks to additional memory improving its ability to handle the coming Apple’s Intelligence features. But it’s hardly a massive leap forward. I often hear from people asking, “Which iPad size should I get?” The answer, as always: it depends. For me, the starting point for any iPad purchase is the iPad Air with its 10.9” screen. It’s a great all-around...
5 months ago • 2 min read
Hello friend, I’ve mentioned several times on my podcasts that we’re experiencing a renaissance in automation, particularly on the Mac. This shift isn’t driven by a single tool but rather by the interoperability of a collection of tools. AppleScript has been available on the Mac for decades, offering significant automation opportunities if you want to learn it. AppleScript allows users to connect applications and work with the same data to accomplish unified tasks. However, for many, learning...
5 months ago • 1 min read