One of the more annoying tasks I do every day, over and over, is creating Markdown-formatted links, like this: MacStories. Markdown links are great because they’re much more readable than raw HTML, but adding them as you write a story or assemble a list of articles can be laborious, requiring a lot of copying and...
Instagram Launches an iPad App
Yes, you read that right. Instagram has finally released an iPad version, and you know what, it looks good, too.
Announced on Instagram’s blog today, the new iPad app supports iPadOS 15.1 and later and includes the features you’d expect like Reels and Stories, plus a new “Following” tab that includes sections for posts and Reels from Friends who follow you back, a “Latest” section that’s sorted chronologically, and an “All” section. Instagram’s messaging is supported and the extra screen real estate allows you to view your inbox and threads simultaneously. It even supports keyboards, trackpads, and the Apple Pencil.
I gave up any expectation that Instagram would ever be released on the iPad years ago. I never really understood the notion that it wouldn’t work on a bigger screen, especially since what Instagram does has expanded a lot in recent years. I’m not a big Instagram user, but I’m glad to see it on the iPad finally. Not only does it work full screen, but with windowing coming in iPadOS 26, you’ll be able to enjoy the more iPhone-like look if you prefer too.
I’m not seeing the app on the App Store yet, but it’s rolling out now and should be available to everyone shortly as a free download here.
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Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed for every MacStories fan.
Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
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Small Changes, Big Impacts
Going into my August break, I was feeling a little overwhelmed. My office had gotten disorganized and out of control, and I had some projects on my mind that I’d been putting off for too long. I wanted to come out of the break in a good frame of mind for the busy fall season...
Back From Break: Automation, AI, and IKEA
FedericoThis week, AppStories returns with details on the projects Federico and John worked on during their breaks.
On AppStories+, the importance of breaks and finding ways to unwind.
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AppStories Episode 450 - Back From Break: Automation, AI, and IKEA
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47:48
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This episode is sponsored by:
- Steamclock – We make great apps. Design and development, from demos to details.
- Xsolla – ? Launch a high-performing branded Web Shop in minutes—or build a fully custom storefront without the hassle. Xsolla’s modular solution reduces platform fees, supports 1,000+ global payment methods, and ships with built-in LiveOps and customization tools—so every purchase puts more revenue back in your studio’s pocket.
App Debuts
Yume Yume is a free dream journal app for the iPhone that features quick capture to jot down your dreams before you forget them. The app uses a simple black and white design to invoke calm and uses a fun book-opening animation for your journal. BookFusion BookFusion is an eBook reader and manager for...
Two New Club Plus and Premier Discord Channels
Over our break, I spent some time exploring how I could use Zapier to enhance what we do at MacStories. On the Club side of things, that’s resulted in two new channels: 1. MacStories Articles and Podcasts This is a new forum channel for discussing MacStories articles and podcast episodes. It’s a pretty simple Zapier...
Beating the Heat with SwitchBot Smart Gadgets
Earlier this summer, I bought the SwitchBot Meter Pro bundle, which we recommended on MacStories Deals earlier this week. The Meter Pro is a small display with a kickstand that measures indoor temperature and humidity. The bundle adds an outdoor sensor that I put on my balcony and a Matter-compatible Hub Mini that pulls in...
The Best Labor Day Deals on Amazon Right Now
It’s almost Labor Day in the U.S., and like most holidays, it’s a time to save money on your favorite gadgets. Before we get to that, though, I want to thank everyone who has followed MacStories Deals on Mastodon and Bluesky.
We brought back MacStories Deals after a seven-year hiatus because I wasn’t happy with any of the deal sites or social media accounts I was following myself. The volume of posts was too great, and the quality of the deals was often suspect, but in the end it all came down to a case of French’s Yellow Mustard.
One day while scrolling through Ivory, I came across a deal for a case of 12 bottles of mustard for $9. That’s a pretty great deal, but it’s not what I wanted.
Amazon and Apple’s stores are full of deeply discounted products, but most of them aren’t what I want to see. The websites and social media accounts following those deals aren’t very discriminating, either, because they’re all about getting people to click links at scale.
Our bet with MacStories Deals is that we can succeed in a much different way. Our occasional deal roundups here and the media picks and deals on MacStories Unwind showed us that the deals we share are popular with the MacStories community because we’re picky. You can get a firehose of deals anywhere, but what you get from us – and now from MacStories Deals – is an editorial filter that respects your time by eliminating the noise.
So instead of sharing as many deals as possible, our approach is to share just a handful of deals each day and supplement MacStories Deals with the occasional post on the site when the deal volume warrants it. In an era when AI is flooding the zone with slop and lowering the common denominator for all content, we believe that experience and editorial constraints will serve the MacStories community better.
So thanks again for following MacStories Deals on Mastodon and Bluesky. It’s just one small project of many that are in the works, but I hope you all appreciate the approach and take advantage of a deal here and there while we earn a small commission from your purchases.
Now, on to the Labor Day deals.
M4 MacBook Airs
Students are returning to school, and many will be looking for deals on Mac laptops. Currently, every M4 MacBook Air in both the 13-inch and 15-inch configurations is at an all-time low price on Amazon. The MacBook Air is one of my favorite portable computers of all time, and now is a great time to pick one up.
Access Extra Content and Perks
Founded in 2015, Club MacStories has delivered exclusive content every week for nearly a decade.
What started with weekly and monthly email newsletters has blossomed into a family of memberships designed for every MacStories fan.
Club MacStories: Weekly and monthly newsletters via email and the web that are brimming with apps, tips, automation workflows, longform writing, early access to the MacStories Unwind podcast, periodic giveaways, and more;
Club MacStories+: Everything that Club MacStories offers, plus an active Discord community, advanced search and custom RSS features for exploring the Club’s entire back catalog, bonus columns, and dozens of app discounts;
Club Premier: All of the above and AppStories+, an extended version of our flagship podcast that’s delivered early, ad-free, and in high-bitrate audio.
Relay Launches Its 2025 Fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital→
Today, Relay kicked off its annual fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to help combat childhood cancer. We’d love it if MacStories readers joined us in supporting this cause.
You can make a donation by visiting here.
As Stephen Hackett explains on 512 Pixels:
[St. Jude] is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer, and other life-threatening diseases. If that sounds expensive, it’s because it is, but the bill isn’t passed to the families of patients. At St. Jude, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay.
Relay, which has raised over $4 million for St. Jude over the years, will be raising money through the end of September. Thanks in advance for checking out Relay’s fundraiser for St. Jude and to all who donate.