Apple announced a brand new M6 chip, their first with 2nm process, plus upgraded Mac Studio. Does David regret his recent MacBook Pro purchase? Then we launch into listener feedback, Stephen's second new app, Raycast v2, 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.
• 1Password: Never forget a password again.

Links and Show Notes:

Sign up for the MPU email newsletter and join the MPU forums. You can watch the podcast over on YouTube.

Credits

The Mac Power Users
Stephen Robles
David Sparks

The Editor
Jim Metzendorf

The Fixer
Kerry Provanzano

More Power Users: Ad-free episodes with regular bonus segments

Submit Feedback

David's Robot Assistant Field Guide

Stephen's Shortcuts Community

Stash App: Fast Add to Clipboard

The Case for a Personal Apple Developer Tier - MacSparky

Polishing Cloth - Apple

Apple introduces M6 and M5 Ultra

Bunch

Moom · Many Tricks

Analog Kits – Ugmonk

Capture

Kan Do: Task App

Wispr Flow

Paperman

SofaBaton X2 Universal Remote

Eve Weather

3D - Analogue

Home Assistant

Readwise Reader

Eve Motion

Werner Jainek of Cultured Code on nearly 20 years of Things: implementing Siri AI, building a custom sync engine, and staying independent and unfunded since 2007.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

• Notion: Try the powerful, easy-to-use Notion AI today.
• Scribe: AI-powered workflow documentation. Get your first month free.
• Backblaze: Unlimited, easy data protection. Try it for free today and get 20% off with code mpu20
• 1Password: Never forget a password again.

Guest Starring:

Werner Jainek

Links and Show Notes:

Credits

The Mac Power Users
Stephen Robles
David Sparks

The Editor
Jim Metzendorf

The Fixer
Kerry Provanzano

More Power Users: Ad-free episodes with regular bonus segments

Submit Feedback

Things

Cultured Code

MindNode

OmniGraffle

Ulysses

Little Snitch

Monument Valley 3

Getting Things Done, David Allen

iGTD and Bartek Bargiel (Cultured Code's 2009 announcement)

Quicksilver

Creativity, Inc., Ed Catmull with Amy Wallace

MPU 862: Alfred vs Spotlight vs Raycast

TickTick

The Witness

Alto's Odyssey

Threes

Zooom/2 (discontinued; MacStories review as the archival reference)

Tailscale

Screens

Kan Do, Stephen Robles

App Intents documentation

Bill Atkinson

HyperCard

Christopher Lawley's Website

We put Spotlight, Raycast, and Alfred head-to-head to find the best launcher on Mac!

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

• Ecamm: Powerful live streaming platform for Mac.
• Backblaze: Unlimited, easy data protection. Try it for free today and get 20% off with code mpu20
• 1Password: Never forget a password again.

Links and Show Notes:

Take the MPU Survey

Sign up for the MPU email newsletter and join the MPU forums. You can watch the podcast over on YouTube.

Credits

The Mac Power Users
Stephen Robles
David Sparks

The Editor
Jim Metzendorf

The Fixer
Kerry Provanzano

More Power Users: Ad-free episodes with regular bonus segments

Submit Feedback

Sparky's Alfred Field Guide

Use promo code: MPUALFRED

Alfred - Productivity App for macOS

Stephen's Full Raycast Setup

YouTube Video

Raycast - Your shortcut to everything

Pastebot 3 for Mac

Projects | ThoughtAsylum

Alfred Workflow Screen

Gnome — Quickly Share GIFs on Your Mac

TextExpander: #1 Text Replacement & Keyboard Shortcut App

Drafts | Where Text Starts

Moom · Many Tricks

What's New in Raycast for Mac v2 | Raycast Manual

A Technical Deep Dive Into the New Raycast - Raycast Blog

LaunchBar 6

In search of the perfect kanban-style project management app, Stephen couldn't find what he was looking for. So, he built his own! We discuss the current landscape of tasks apps, where Kan Do differs, and how it was built.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

• NetSuite: The leading integrated cloud business software suite. Try NetSuite Next for free.
• Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code MPU.
• 1Password: Never forget a password again.

Links and Show Notes:

Take the MPU Survey

Sign up for the MPU email newsletter and join the MPU forums. You can watch the podcast over on YouTube.

Credits

The Mac Power Users
Stephen Robles
David Sparks

The Editor
Jim Metzendorf

The Fixer
Kerry Provanzano

More Power Users: Ad-free episodes with regular bonus segments

Submit Feedback

Kan Do App

Available on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and  Vision Pro

Stephen's Video on Kan Do

YoLink Smart Water Leak Protection System Kit

EcoNet Controls Bulldog Matter WiFi Valve Robot Kit with 3 Leak Sensors

Analog Daily Focus Kit (Walnut) – Ugmonk

Field Notes | Lucky

Kan Do App Screenshot

Reminders Columns Screenshot

Move Reminders to Column Shortcut

Requires the app "Actions" to run. Once run, go to a Shortcut, add any action, tap it, and then tap paste to show this hidden action.

Actions App for Shortcuts

Merlin Mann returns to Mac Power Users 16 years after being our very first guest to break down the AI system he's built — Codex, "triangulation," 31 cross-indexed data sources, and the infamous "Friday Incident."

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

• Ecamm: Powerful live streaming platform for Mac.
• Backblaze: Unlimited, easy data protection. Try it for free today and get 20% off with code mpu20
• 1Password: Never forget a password again.

Guest Starring:

Merlin Mann

Links and Show Notes:

Sign up for the MPU email newsletter and join the MPU forums. You can watch the podcast over on YouTube.

Credits

The Mac Power Users
Stephen Robles
David Sparks

The Editor
Jim Metzendorf

The Fixer
Kerry Provanzano

More Power Users: Ad-free episodes with regular bonus segments

Submit Feedback

Mac Power Users #23: Workflows with Merlin Mann

Merlin on Movies on the Side

Pastebot 3 is Out

Merlin's Triangulation Example

Merlin's AI Language Usage Document

Infuse - Video Player for Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, Mac & Vision

Relax with Coax

Typora — simple yet powerful Markdown reader

wisdom/wisdom.md at master · merlinmann/wisdom

This Conversation Will Change How You Think About Trauma — The Ezra Klein Show

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

The Other Side of Sadness: What the New Science of Bereavement Tells Us About Life After Loss

When Breath Becomes Air

No Death, No Fear: Comforting Wisdom for Life

David and Stephen turn the show on themselves: bags, chargers, MagSafe batteries, and fitness trackers. No tangential gadget is left behind.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

• Ecamm: Powerful live streaming platform for Mac.
• Decagon: The AI concierge for every customer. Get a personalized demo.
• Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code MPU.

Links and Show Notes:

Credits

The Mac Power Users
Stephen Robles
David Sparks

The Editor
Jim Metzendorf

The Fixer
Kerry Provanzano

More Power Users: Ad-free episodes with regular bonus segments

Submit Feedback

MPU on YouTube

Tech Folio Laptop Backpack | USA Made | WaterField Designs

Shinjuku Laptop Messenger Bag | USA Made | WaterField Designs

Anker USB-C Hub Adapter (7-in-1)

MOFT Dynamic Folio Case for iPad Pro 11-inch

Anker USB-C Hub with Ethernet (8-in-1)

Chipolo CARD

Tracking Card Pro - Stellar Orange

MOFT MagSafe Wallet Stand

ESR Geo MagSafe Wallet

Elevation Lab AirTag 10-Year Battery Compact

Satechi FindAll Smart Glasses Case

Anker Nano Charging Station

ARK Uno Solid Wood MagSafe Stand

Belkin MagSafe Charger 3-in-1 Charging Station

KU XIU Qi2.2 Magnetic Wireless Charger

Statik MagStack Pro USB-C Cable

Anker 140W 4-Port GaN MacBook Charger

Anker MagGo 3-in-1 MagSafe Charging Station

$3,000 Kaleidescape Movie Box - YouTube

UniFi Travel Router

Jackery Solar Generator 300

Jackery SolarSaga 100W Solar Panel

Trackables – Health Tracker App

Outlet Shelf Wall Holder

Denon AVR-S970H AV Receiver

elago R5 Locator Case

X2 Sofabaton Universal Remote

Strato E Movie Player

Lamicall MagSafe Tripod Stand

Nillkin MagSafe Wall Mount Shower Phone Holder

cobcobb Magnetic AirPods Strap

UGREEN Magnetic Wireless USB-C to HDMI Adapter

Here's the problem with Meta Glasses - YouTube

Plaud.ai

Spigen MagSafe Wallet Pouch Organizer

TRMNL | ePaper dashboard to stay focused

The Task Knife | Grovemade

Leatherman ARC Multi-tool

SnapFresh Cordless Electric Scissors

Freewrite Signature Edition

reMarkable Paper Tablet

Why I'm (sort of) not worried about AI - YouTube

Analogue 3D

Roller Pro Carry-On | Peak Design

Tech Pouch | Peak Design

Teacher of teachers Ian Byrd returns to share how he's created thousands of videos using an unlikely stack: Keynote for visuals, Descript for editing, and iPad Pro for using AI remotely.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

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

Guest Starring:

Ian Byrd

Links and Show Notes:

Sign up for the MPU email newsletter and join the MPU forums. You can watch the podcast over on YouTube.

Credits

The Mac Power Users
Stephen Robles
David Sparks

The Editor
Jim Metzendorf

The Fixer
Kerry Provanzano

More Power Users: Ad-free episodes with regular bonus segments

Submit Feedback

Ian Byrd's Website

Wistia

The E-Myth Revisited

Tailscale

Remotion

Eve Dimmer Switch

Linode

Switchbot Bot Rechargeable

Lutron Caseta Smart Fan Speed Control Switch

SwitchBot Hub 2

Trickster

Alfred

Blink Shell

Ghostty

8BitDo Micro Bluetooth Gamepad

Hollyland Lark M2S Wireless Microphone

Monologue

BetterTouchTool

Manta Sleep Mask Sound

A stacked feedback mailbag: Siri AI's per-device indexing, a Gmail-to-Siri trick, iOS 27's Extend and Reframe photo tools, subscription fatigue, Wispr Flow dictation, and an automated email robot that resolves Circle support tickets on its own.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

• NetSuite: The leading integrated cloud business software suite. Try NetSuite Next for free.
• Decagon: The AI concierge for every customer. Get a personalized demo.
• Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code MPU.

Links and Show Notes:

Credits

The Mac Power Users
Stephen Robles
David Sparks

The Editor
Jim Metzendorf

The Fixer
Kerry Provanzano

More Power Users: Ad-free episodes with regular bonus segments

Submit Feedback

Apple Intelligence Home Features Require 2TB iCloud+ Plan in iOS 27 - MacRumors

Maps to Uber Shortcut

David and Daisy Photo - Original

David and Daisy Photo - Extended

Meta Glasses Photo

Upcoming Movies to Reminders Shortcut

Multi Stop Directions from Events Shortcut

Plan Multi Stop Route Shortcut

Find Dominant Color Shortcut

Life Progress Wallpaper with Charty

Alfred Remote for iOS - Command Centre for Your Mac

Doctor Drafts

Flighty Pricing (2026)

Lightsaber Wall

This is what happens when a nerd gets a few nickels in his pocket.

MetaGrid Pro, iPad Control Surface for Mac and Windows Apps

Wispr Flow | Effortless Voice Dictation

Charty 2.0 – Create charts from Shortcuts

You’re not ready for these iPhone Shortcuts - YouTube

Introducing Circle Eclipse

Black Meta Fury AI Glasses - Brown Gradient Lenses | Meta Store | Meta

CalDigit TS5 Plus Thunderbolt 5 Dock

Schlage Sense Pro™ Smart Deadbolt

Aqara Smart Lock U400

choclift

Raycast

Keyboard Maestro

Monarch Money

Alfred

Pixelmator Pro

Drafts

Superwhisper

Day One

The Movie Database (TMDB)

Uber

Four Thousand Weeks

CalDigit Element Hub

Maestral

Sparky's Lightsaber Holder

Dropbox

LM Studio

Claude / Claude Cowork

ChatGPT

Google Gemini

Perplexity

Dithering

MacStories

MPU Talk forums

relay.fm/mpu

MPU 856 — Siri AI and the Beta Features

Sara Dietschy

Merlin Mann

David bought his MacBook Pro at the perfect time, then we discuss Siri AI, iOS 27 beta, and the cultural reception of AI.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

• 1Password: Never forget a password again.

Links and Show Notes:

Sign up for the MPU email newsletter and join the MPU forums. You can watch the podcast over on YouTube.

Credits

The Mac Power Users
Stephen Robles
David Sparks

The Editor
Jim Metzendorf

The Fixer
Kerry Provanzano

More Power Users: Ad-free episodes with regular bonus segments

Submit Feedback

Safari Describe Extensions macOS 27 - YouTube

Federico Viticci breaks down iOS 27's Shortcuts updates: Describe a Shortcut, Else If, new automation triggers, and built-in data storage. Plus his coder era, Shortcuts Playground 2.0, and training a local model to build shortcuts.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

• Workbrew: Deliver the software your team needs securely and at scale.
• Daylite: The only made-for-mac CRM solution. Start your free trial today.
• Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code MPU.

Guest Starring:

Federico Viticci

Links and Show Notes:

Credits

The Mac Power Users
Stephen Robles
David Sparks

The Editor
Jim Metzendorf

The Fixer
Kerry Provanzano

More Power Users: Ad-free episodes with regular bonus segments

Submit Feedback

WWDC 2026: Between Seasons - MacStories

Shortcuts Playground — Describe it. Build it. Run it.

Federico Viticci on Mastodon

Monologue | Effortless voice dictation so you can work 3x faster

Mole for Mac — Free All-in-One Cleaner & Monitor | MacTools

CleanShot X for Mac

Raycast - Your shortcut to everything

Termius - Modern SSH Client

‎Denim - Playlist Cover Maker App - App Store

Shortcuts Playground (Viticci/MacStories)

MacStories "Introducing Shortcuts Playground"

Data Jar (Simon B. Støvring)

Apple Frames (MacStories shortcut)

Alfred

CleanMyMac

LM Studio

DEVONthink

Notion

Todoist

Things (Cultured Code)

OmniFocus (Omni Group)

Obsidian

iA Writer

Lettera (Shiny Frog / Bear team)

Bear

PushCut

Plex

Tailscale

Screens (Edovia)

Downie (Charlie Monroe)

Transloader (Eternal Storms)

Hazel (Noodlesoft)

Carbon Copy Cloner (Bombich)

Backblaze

Codex (OpenAI)

Claude Code

Apple MLX

Lesser-known Mac apps that deserve way more attention: from AI typing assistants, to hacky Stream Decks, note-taking apps, helpful utilities, and beautiful desktop enhancements.

This episode of Mac Power Users is sponsored by:

• Workbrew: Deliver the software your team needs securely and at scale.
• Decagon: The AI concierge for every customer. Get a personalized demo.
• Ecamm: Powerful live streaming platform for Mac.
• 1Password: Never forget a password again.

Links and Show Notes:

All App Links

Sign up for the MPU email newsletter and join the MPU forums. You can watch the podcast over on YouTube.

Credits

The Mac Power Users
Stephen Robles
David Sparks

The Editor
Jim Metzendorf

The Fixer
Kerry Provanzano

More Power Users: Ad-free episodes with regular bonus segments

Submit Feedback

Cotypist

Choclift

Wispr Flow

Sequel

Callsheet

Chapterize

Forecast

Bauhaus Clock

Contextly

Quick Notes

NotePlan

Bike

Marked

Permute

Dropzone

Menu Drop

Bartender

Amethyst

TextSniper

Inset

TextSoap

Indigo

Framous

Shareshot

Parachute

Readwise Reader

Readwise

Timery

Timing

RemCTL

Craft

Dictate Time Zones Shortcut