I’m a big fan of Obsidian, but not for the same reasons many people like it. One of Obsidian’s greatest strengths that I hardly use at all is the way you can connect notes together using Wiki-style links. Perhaps it’s that so much of what I write about has a short shelf life, but I’ve...
App Debuts
FedericoRemodex Remodex, the third-party remote Codex client I recently reviewed, got a major 2.0 release this week. The update ships with a redesigned interface across the sidebar, chats, projects, settings, and composer, along with a new logo and so-called “project-less” quick chats. When I originally covered Remodex, I wondered what would happen to the...
Interesting Links
Spotify is rolling out a bunch of quality-of-life improvements, including playlist folders on mobile, bulk editing for tracks in playlists, background downloads on iOS, and a reshuffle button that lets you remix your queue order with a single tap. (Link)
In the wake of Google I/O, Sean Hollister of The Verge took Gemini’s...
This Week on MacStories Podcasts
This week on MacStories podcasts: AppStories This week, Federico explains how he’s using the recently-released Notion developer platform before he and John share their wishes for macOS 27. On AppStories+, John asks Federico about the technical underpinnings and evolution of the Shortcuts Playground project that he published last week. Listen on: Apple Podcasts Overcast Pocket...
Gadget Grab Bag
I test a lot of gadgets, and sometimes, a backlog of odds and ends forms that calls for a gadget grab bag post. So today, with WWDC on the horizon, it’s time for me to dig into the grab bag and clear the decks by sharing the highlights. Logitech K880 Keyboard and Mouse Set I’m...
Previously, On MacStories
BenQ’s More Affordable 5K Display Offers Mac Users Greater Flexibility with Some Trade-Offs Introducing RemCTL: The Power-User Reminders CLI for macOS and AI Agents...
BenQ’s More Affordable 5K Display Offers Mac Users Greater Flexibility with Some Trade-Offs
Until last fall, I was the happy owner of a first-generation Studio Display. In most respects, it was great. The screen was crisp, the colors vibrant, and it included many quality-of-life features other displays lack. Features like the Studio Display’s built-in USB-C hub, iSight camera, and array of six speakers and three microphones make it more like a Mac accessory than simply a display.
Those were all tangible upsides, but they came with their own set of tradeoffs, which Apple carried over from my original Studio Display to the updated model released earlier this year. That new model adopts Thunderbolt 5 for two of its ports – one upstream and another downstream – and improves the camera and speakers. However, both Studio Display models lack HDMI, DisplayPort, KVM capabilities for easy switching between multiple connected devices, and screen size choices.
That ultimately drove me to purchase an ASUS gaming monitor that I love. It’s OLED and bigger than the Studio Display, with a higher refresh rate, more input options, and built-in KVM. However, it lacks a webcam, microphones, and speakers, which I miss at times. It’s also 4K, whereas the Studio Display is 5K.
On balance, I’m glad I went the route I did, but it’s led me to think a lot about displays and the trade-offs among them. The good news is that there are many more choices for Mac users than ever before, even if you don’t want to sacrifice the Studio Display’s 5K resolution for more flexibility. That’s why when BenQ offered to send me their 27” 5K MA270S display to try, I jumped at the opportunity: unlike my 32” gamer-oriented ASUS display, BenQ’s display is specifically targeted at Mac users.
Let’s take a look at how it stacks up to the Studio Display and other options.
Our macOS 27 Wishes
This week on AppStories, Federico explains how he’s using the recently-released Notion developer platform before he and John share their wishes for macOS 27.
On AppStories+, John asks Federico about the technical underpinnings and evolution of the Shortcuts Playground project that he published last week.
Also available on YouTube here.
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This Week on MacStories Podcasts
This week on MacStories podcasts: AppStories This week, we share our wishes for iOS and iPadOS 27. On AppStories+, we tackle Visual Intelligence and whether there are any use cases that aren’t creepy. Listen on: Apple Podcasts Overcast Pocket Casts Castro Spotify YouTube NPC: Next Portable Console This week, Federico has hands-on first impressions of...