Mastodon: @jonathanreed@techhub.socialEmail: jonathan@macstories.net
Jonathan is a graphic designer at DesignStudio. As well as being a long-time Apple user he is a huge film and television aficionado and is very interested in the intersection between the two mediums and technology. He lives in London with his wife and daughter and is writing his bio in the third person.
Highlights of the latest Club MacStories+ happenings.
It was a quieter week on the Discord, but members still had lots of thoughts on the launch of Raycast for iOS. (Link)
Member aitorbv also had a helpful suggestion for how to keep your contacts synced between iCloud and Outlook 365. (Link)
Noteworthy new app releases and updates, handpicked by the MacStories team.
Prolific app developer Sindre Sorhus is back with a simple app to create and edit color palettes in an open-source, JSON-based file format called Simple Color Palette. This app speaks directly to my heart. Not only can you use it to create and edit color palettes, but you can also open Adobe’s proprietary ASE-formatted color palettes. This opens up the format to many people who don’t use Adobe products but are sent design resources containing ASE files. The app itself is easy to use (par for the course for Sindre’s apps), it syncs across iPhone, iPad, and Mac via iCloud, and best of all, it’s free.
Lately is a new utility designed to get you back on schedule if you’re the type of person who’s always late for stuff. The app relies on live countdowns in the Dynamic Island/Live Activities to show exactly when you need to leave, sends you notifications, and even has an Apple Watch companion app so you can’t miss those alerts. With a Lately Premium subscription, you can unlock recurring timers for routines you’re having trouble sticking with. I know a couple of people in my life I can send this to.
Exploring topics beyond our day-to-day coverage.
Information leaked this week about updates Apple will potentially introduce to the Apple Watch SE 3, rumored to be released alongside the Series 11 and Ultra 3 models in the fall. The leaked display sizes seem to indicate that the Apple Watch SE will take on the size – if not the form – of the Series 9.
The thoughts that first sprang to my mind were, “Boring,” and then, “Why?” For years, the Apple Watch SE has been the model that achieves a cheaper price point by scrimping on some banner features from the main Series line. Features like the Always On screen, blood oxygen sensor, and temperature sensor are left out. Add to that a slower chip, and the general vibe is that the SE is a repackaged Apple Watch from a few years ago. The next version seems to be following that same track.
Highlights of the latest Club MacStories+ happenings.
Among the highlights on the Club MacStories+ Discord:
In response to Federico’s most recent Automation Academy lesson, Olivier shared their technique for recording and transcribing every conversation with their business co-founder. (Link)
Get help and suggestions for your iOS shortcuts and productivity apps.
Today, I reviewed the screenshot-framing app Framous on MacStories. It’s one of my favorite apps of the year so far, and I already use it a lot (including for this very column!). Framous is a Mac-only app, though, which means there have been occasions when I’ve wanted to create nicely framed iPhone screenshots with backgrounds like the one you see above, but I only have my iPhone handy.
Federico already has an excellent shortcut called Apple Frames for adding device frames around screenshots. There is also an API for passing information into the shortcut and feeding the resulting images into another shortcut. With those tools in hand, I went to work constructing a shortcut that not only creates framed iPhone screenshots with backgrounds, but also adds a custom shadow I was previously using in Photoshop. Here’s how it works.
Highlights of the latest Club MacStories+ happenings.
Among the highlights on the Club MacStories+ Discord:
What’s on your mind? (Link)
Tips and tricks to master your apps and be more productive.
It’s been a few weeks since I dove headlong into the Obsidian pool. I’ve been playing with a few plugins and generally prodding around the app. Yet, without a real reason to spend time in it, I’ve found myself bouncing off Obsidian quickly.
The ultimate goal has always been to use the app in my writing workflow for MacStories, particularly for my watchOS review. Federico and John use Obsidian extensively for their OS reviews, and the knowledge-based possibilities for research and note-taking seem intriguing and, more importantly, helpful.
Great apps, accessories, gear, and media recommended by the MacStories team.
It’s fair to say that there are countless photo editing apps available for the iPhone. From the gimmicky to the truly pro-level, it’s hard to keep up. Nevertheless, now and again, one will jump out at me, often due to its unique design. Almost like a magpie, I’m a sucker for shiny new things that look pretty, and like a predictable graphic designer, anything that’s minimalist and black will particularly grab my attention.
So it’s no surprise that the new app AgBr from Nuevo.Tokyo recently caught my eye. Thankfully, it’s not all style over substance; instead, the app is a unique take on analogue photography replication featuring a slick UI.
Highlights of the latest Club MacStories+ happenings.
Among the highlights on the Club MacStories+ Discord:
Niléane had a solution for Federico’s recent request on AppStories to have different menu bar layouts for different displays. (Link)
More stories for Club members.
I turned 43 on Monday. Yes, I know, I don’t look a day over 21, but it’s true. I try to exercise as much as possible and consider myself pretty healthy. Despite that, just like my purchase of the Nintendo Switch 2, injuries and strains are inevitable. As I get older, the best thing for me to do is work to minimize them and focus on recovery on the (thankfully rare) occasions they happen.
Last week, I did a strength workout at my friend’s new gym. Afterward, I started feeling some pain in my neck and shoulders. Despite rest and mobility exercises, the pain had increased by the next morning. I knew of some stretches I could try, but I wanted more of a routine – something structured that would hold my hand while I was doing them, so to speak.
