David officially welcomes Stephen as co-host, exploring his background in music, podcasting, and his Mac setup. Then, rapid-fire questions, putting Stephen on the spot for some Apple hot takes!

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

• Insta360: Introducing the Insta360 Wave and the Link 2 Pro.
• Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code MPU.
• Fundera, powered by NerdWallet: Compare real financing offers from trusted lenders — all in one place. Get VIP treatment using this link.
• 1Password: Never forget a password again.

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Gling - AI Video Editing Software for YouTube

AI tool Stephen uses on every video.

David Metzger - Wikipedia

Website Change Detection Service

Primary Technology

Range Book by David Epstein

PowerBook G4 - Wikipedia

Transloader for Mac

Downie - Video Downloader

‎Transcriptionist App - App Store

‎Vxio App - App Store

Dream Machine SE - Ubiquiti

Ferrite Podcast Editing App

Basic Apple Guy Wallpapers

Keychron Q2 Max

Sony A7IV Camera

Sony a6400 Camera

Sigma 35mm E-Mount Lens

BlackMagic ATEM Mini Pro Switcher

Rodecaster Pro II

Neumann KMS 105 Mic

Earthworks Ethos Mic

Sennheiser MKH-416 Mic

CalDigit Element Hub

OWC Envoy Pro FX SSD

Elgato Stream Deck MK.2

Mac Power Users #737: Scoring a Movie, with David Metzger

David and Stephen celebrate the last seven years of Mac Power Users, reflecting on the topics, episodes, and community that make MPU so special. Then, Stephen Robles joins to accept the baton before his first episode as David's new cohost.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

• 1Password: Never forget a password again.

Guest Starring:

Stephen Robles

Links and Show Notes:

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The One Where I Announce I’m Stepping Back From Mac Power Users - 512 Pixels

A New Chapter for Mac Power Users - MacSparky

Mac Power Users #834: I Am The Tardis - Relay

Brett, David, and Merlin at Macworld 2012

Why I'm No Longer Practicing Law - MacSparky

Mac Power Users #485: WWDC and Interview with the Mac Pro Product Manager - Relay

Mac Power Users #500: David in the Hot Seat - Relay

Stephen Upgrading Macs at MacStock

Apple announces Mac transition to Apple silicon - Apple

Mac Power Users #472: Live in Chicago with Friends - Relay

Mac Power Users #464: Stephen... Who? - Relay

Stephen starts the episode with an announcement, then he and David revisit writing workflows, Keyboard Maestro, notifications, and more. At the end, the guys attempt to answer some questions as quickly as possible... something they aren't great at doing.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

• Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code MPU.
• Ecamm: Powerful live streaming platform for Mac.

Links and Show Notes:

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Mac Power Users #833: Chris Bailey and His Battle-Scarred M1 - Relay

Stephen Robles - YouTube

Obsidian

NotePlan - Tasks, Notes, and Calendar

Mac Power Users #756: Exploring NotePlan with David Roth - Relay

Mac Power Users #828: Revisiting Keyboard Maestro - Relay

Apple event - Wikipedia

Conflict Palette [Keyboard Maestro Wiki]

Keyboard Maestro episode on MPU - Dr. Drang

Fixing TextExpander prefixes - All this

Claude

Google Gemini

ChatGPT

Moltbot (Formerly Clawdbot) Showed Me What the Future of Personal AI Assistants Looks Like - MacStories

Manage your apps with Sign in with Apple - Apple Support

Use 1Password to sign in to sites with supported providers | 1Password Support

Pixelmator Pro - Apple

Michael Tsai - Blog - Bartender Acquired by Applause Group

Bartender 6

Ice - Menu Bar Manager

Ice 0.11.13-dev.2f-unofficial · jordanbaird/Ice

Getting Started with Cowork | Claude Help Center

Things - To-Do List App for Mac & iOS

Trello

Chris Bailey shares his unconventional tech stack: TextEdit for writing, SimpleNote for tasks, and printing research on paper. He also tried using an iPad mini as his phone to create friction with distraction.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

• 1Password: Never forget a password again.
• Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code MPU.

Guest Starring:

Chris Bailey

Links and Show Notes:

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Welcome - Chris Bailey

Intentional Book - Chris Bailey

Focused #247: Getting Intentional, with Chris Bailey - Relay

Chris's "chamferred" MacBook Pro

Fastmail

Sanebox

TextEdit - Wikipedia

Wispr Flow

WhisperType - Mac dictation app

Bear - Markdown Notes

Simplenote

Soulver 3 - Notepad Calculator App for Mac, iPad & iPhone

TripMode - Save data, browse faster

Freedom | Block Websites, Apps, and the Internet

Subtitle: …and Apple Creator Studio

After talking through the new Apple Creator Studio bundle, Stephen shares his notes with David after switching to the Apple Weather app for a month.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

• 1Password: Never forget a password again.
• Ecamm: Powerful live streaming platform for Mac.

Links and Show Notes:

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Productivity Field Guide 2026 (Pro Edition) | MacSparky Field Guides

Productivity Field Guide 2026 (Essentials Edition) | MacSparky Field Guides

Introducing Apple Creator Studio, an inspiring collection of creative apps - Apple

Apple Creator Studio - Apple

Apple Creator Studio Announced - 512 Pixels

BMW drops plan to charge a monthly fee for heated seats | The Verge

‎The Apple Weather App - App Store

Dashboard - 512 Pixels

Apple acquires popular weather app Dark Sky and will shut down the Android version | The Verge

Get Started with WeatherKit - Apple Developer

Daring Fireball: Twitter Clients Are a UI Design Playground

Weather User Guide for Mac - Apple Support

Check the weather on iPhone - Apple Support

Check the weather on Apple Watch - Apple Support

Manage weather notifications on iPhone - Apple Support

Use Weather widgets on iPhone - Apple Support

ForecastAdvisor

CARROT Weather

Mercury Weather

Hello Weather

From fancy pens to blank screens with a blinking cursor, there are more ways to write than ever. This week, the guys discuss several of them, weighing their pros and cons, and share how they get the words out.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

• Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code MPU.

Links and Show Notes:

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David Sparks' Newsletter

DEVONthink

Keep It

GoodLinks

Readwise Reader

OmniOutliner - The Omni Group

MindNode

Mac Power Users #82: Cooking Ideas - Relay

Grok Gleefully Makes Heinous Content, but Does Anyone With the Power to Change It Actually Care? - 512 Pixels

Wispr Flow

Rubber duck debugging - Wikipedia

Tot

Proofreading with the Claude API - Dr. Drang

Grammarly

Tot 2.0: A Thoughtful Extension of an Already Elegant Note-Taking App - MacStories

Drafts | Where Text Starts

Mac Power Users #639: Software Club: Greg Pierce and Drafts - Relay

iOS 26: Import and Export Markdown Files in Apple Notes - MacRumors

Use Quick Notes on iPhone - Apple Support

Daring Fireball: Markdown

iA Writer

Syntax Highlight – iA

iTextEditors by Brett Terpstra

Scrivener

Ulysses

Track changes in Pages on Mac - Apple Support

Bare Bones Software | BBEdit 15

Checking in on Podcast Notes – Six Colors

Obsidian

NotePlan

Contextual Computing with Vision Pro: My Writing Cabin - MacSparky

ProWritingAid

MarsEdit 5

Marked - The Ultimate Markdown Preview and Converter

Change a document’s page setup: pages or pageless - Google Docs

Our phones are constantly vying for our attention. This week, David and Stephen discuss strategies for managing notifications and regaining control.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

• 1Password: Never forget a password again.
• Ecamm: Powerful live streaming platform for Mac.

Links and Show Notes:

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How to turn Do Not Disturb on or off on your iPhone - Apple Support

Set up a Focus on iPhone - Apple Support

Allow or silence notifications for a Focus on iPhone - Apple Support

Turn on or schedule a Focus on iPhone - Apple Support

Change notification settings on iPhone - Apple Support

View and respond to notifications on iPhone - Apple Support

Summarize notifications and reduce interruptions with Apple Intelligence on iPhone - Apple Support

Manage iPhone notifications and Live Activities on Mac - Apple Support

Change notification settings on Apple Watch - Apple Support

Government, Emergency, and Enhanced Safety Alerts on iPhone - Apple Support

Amber alert - Wikipedia

With the year winding down, Stephen and David reflect on what went well in their tech stacks, touching on Apple silicon, the company's default apps, AI tools, home automation, and networking.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

• 1Password: Never forget a password again.
• DEVONthink: Get Organized — Unleash Your Creativity. Get 10% off.
• Ecamm: Powerful live streaming platform for Mac.

Links and Show Notes:

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Give the Gift of Relay

Final call for 20% off an annual membership to MPU!

Four Winners and Losers of Apple's 2025 - 512 Pixels

Apple announces Mac transition to Apple silicon - Apple

Add a user or group on Mac - Apple Support

Safely open apps on your Mac - Apple Support

Apple in China - by Patrick McGee

Apple and Intel Rumored to Partner on Mac Chips Again in a New Way - MacRumors

Four Mac Studios as an AI Cluster - YouTube

The M3 Ultra Mac Studio for Local LLMs - MacStories

OmniFocus - The Omni Group

The Apple Productivity Suite Field Guide - MacSparky

iWork - Apple

MacWhisper

Voice Memos transcription on iPhone - Apple Support

OmniFocus-MCP - GitHub

Automating Project Creation with MCP and OmniFocus - MacSparky Labs on YouTube

Elsewhen

OpenAI Opens Up ChatGPT App Submissions to Developers - MacStories

Apple Music app now available on ChatGPT, here’s how to use it - 9to5Mac

Set up your HomePod, HomePod mini, or Apple TV as a home hub - Apple Support

Aqara Presence Sensor FP2 - Amazon

iRobot files for bankruptcy | The Verge

iRobot’s bankruptcy isn’t the end — it’s a reboot, says CEO Gary Cohen | The Verge

Best Robot Vacuum and Mops & Robot Mops - eufy US

Mac Power Users #802: The Ubiquiti Universe - Relay

David and Stephen talk through their uses of Keyboard Maestro, diving deep into automation, text expansion, and more.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

• Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code MPU.
• DEVONthink: Get Organized — Unleash Your Creativity. Get 10% off.
• 1Password: Never forget a password again.

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This week's episode on YouTube

Keyboard Maestro Field Guide | MacSparky Field Guides

Use code "HEARTKM" for 20% until end of 2025.

Give the Gift of Relay

Keyboard Maestro

Keyboard Maestro Wiki

Keyboard Maestro Discourse

Triggers - Keyboard Maestro Wiki

Actions - Keyboard Maestro Wiki

Clipboards - Keyboard Maestro Wiki

Clipboard History Switcher - Keyboard Maestro Wiki

Tokens - Keyboard Maestro Wiki

Palettes - Keyboard Maestro Wiki

Found Image - Keyboard Maestro Wiki

KMLink | Elgato Marketplace

Moom

Stephen's Clean Money Script

On this feedback episode, the guys revisit the smart home, iPadOS 26, the lack of a big iMac, charging stations, and much more.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

• 1Password: Never forget a password again.
• DEVONthink: Get Organized — Unleash Your Creativity. Get 10% off.
• Ecamm: Powerful live streaming platform for Mac. Get a free month with code mpu.

Links and Show Notes:

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Give the Gift of Relay

Watch this epsisode on YouTube

YoLink Products - Longest Range, By Far!

Microsoft Surface Studio 2

Mountain App - Software - MPU Talk

Keyboard Maestro

Amazon.com: JOXIYECLTL 2032 Rechargeable Battery

Battery Daddy

Use HomePod or HomePod mini as an intercom - Apple Support

Review: Asus ProArt Display 6K - 9to5Mac

Amazon.com: ARK Uno Charging Stand

Bamboo Charging Station for Multiple Devices - Amazon

Anker Prime Charger 200W 6-Port GaN Charging Station - Amazon

OmniFocus - The Omni Group

Mac Power Users #756: Exploring NotePlan with David Roth - Relay

Field Notes

Plotter Notebooks

GoodTask

InstaRemind | Quickly create Apple Reminders

Day One to Journal Importer Shortcut for iOS & macOS 26 : r/appleJournal

Note: I did not have great luck with this Shortcut —Stephen

Aqara Presence Multi-Sensor FP300

Smart Dimmers & Fan Switches | Caséta by Lutron

Eufy Outdoor Security Cameras

Add your car key to Apple Wallet on your iPhone or Apple Watch - Apple Support

‘EV Play’ accessory promises to bring CarPlay and more to Rivian - 9to5Mac

EV Play for Rivian – FAQs – EV PLAY

Subtitle: iPhone, Apple TV, iCloud, Other Services, and the Ecosystem

The guys wrap up their review of Apple's 2025 with a look at the iPhone, Apple TV, iCloud, and Apple's other services. They then zoom out and look at the overall ecosystem.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

• Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code MPU.
• Indeed: Join more than 3.5 million businesses worldwide using Indeed to hire great talent fast.
• DEVONthink: Get Organized — Unleash Your Creativity. Get 10% off.

Links and Show Notes:

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Give the Gift of Relay

All annual plans are 20% off through the end of the year!

Mac Power Users #824: Life After iPadOS 26 - Relay

Mac Power Users #825: 2025 State of the Platforms (Part 1) - Relay

iPhone Heir to the Throne - 512 Pixels

iPhone Air review: Back to the future – Six Colors

Report: iPhone Air 2 is delayed until 2027 so Apple can add a second camera to it - 9to5Mac

iPhone 17 Pro review: Orange you glad you’ve gone Pro? – Six Colors

Mac Power Users #822: iPhone 17 Photography with Tyler Stalman - Relay

Apple responds to iPhone 17 Pro scratch and durability concerns - 9to5Mac

Set up eSIM on iPhone - Apple Support

Use eSIM while traveling internationally with your iPhone - Apple Support

Use the Camera Control on iPhone - Apple Support

Use and customize the Action button on iPhone - Apple Support

What’s new in iOS 26 - Apple Support

‎Widgetsmith - App Store

Here’s everything new for the Phone app in iOS 26 - 9to5Mac

CarPlay's Messages App for iOS 26 is Bad - 512 Pixels

So, Three Things - 512 Pixels

Apple Intelligence - Apple

John Giannandrea to retire from Apple - Apple

Apple's New Siri Will Be Powered By Google Gemini - MacRumors

iOS 26.1 Beta 4 Adds Liquid Glass Transparency Toggle - 512 Pixels

iOS 26.2 Lock Screen Gets Liquid Glass Slider - MacRumors

Apple University - Wikipedia

The iPhone Ultra - 512 Pixels

TV & Home - Apple

Apple TV+ to Apple TV Rebrand Now Official, Here's the New Intro - MacRumors

No Ad Tier for Apple TV 'At This Time,' According to Eddy Cue - MacRumors

The Original Apple TV - Quinn Nelson on YouTube

iCloud+ - Apple

iCloud Plans - Apple

Entertainment - Services - Apple

Apple One - Apple

The future of Apple Fitness+ is 'under review' amid reorganization: report - 9to5Mac

Apple introduces AppleCare One, streamlining coverage into a single plan - Apple

Android Quick Share can now work with iOS’s AirDrop - Google

Home app - Apple