This week on the Club MacStories Discord, members were looking at the tiny details in the new OS betas, dreaming of possible iPad mini upgrades, and getting excited about the forthcoming emoji Tapback feature. Among the other highlights, Automation wizard Jack Welborn had an excellent breakdown of the current issues and quirks plaguing Stage Manager...
Default Folder X is a Powerful macOS Tool to Power Your Files and Folders Workflow
Despite Apple’s increased focus on making parts of macOS harder to access for apps, it seems like the platform is undergoing a renaissance regarding utility apps that can modify or add to the macOS user experience. From Bartender 5, which Niléane reviewed earlier this week, to apps like Raycast and Dropover, there are many ways...
A Portable HomeKit Camera Plus a Grab Bag of Tips
With the exception of the newly released Video Doorbell G4 from Aqara, all HomeKit Secure Video-supported cameras need to be plugged into a mains power supply. Usually, this is fine, but I recently ran into this restriction while trying to use a spare camera in a temporary location. But with a simple hack, I managed...
Getting Elon’s Attention, Password Managers, and New Wearables
This week on the Club MacStories Discord, members continued to test different uses for the new Action button, discuss the latest iPhone ‘gates’, play with added features in the new OS betas, and got in deep on some complex scripting and Shortcuts automations. Among the highlights, jwhitley had a great use for a photography Focus...
Using My iPhone as a ‘TV Sidekick’ to Improve My Viewing Experience
Anyone who knows me or interacted with me in the #movies-and-tv channel on the MacStories Discord will know I’m very passionate about my TV and movie watching. I’m the sort of person who fine-tunes the TV settings to optimize for the way the filmmaker intended (so long, motion smoothing!), lowers the lights when watching a...
Apple Continues to Redefine What a Photo Is
Much of the talk leading up to this week’s ‘Wonderlust’ Apple Event focused on the physical upgrades to the iPhone Pro line, including a titanium frame, USB-C, an Action button, and a periscope lens (later dubbed Tetraprism). However, since the event, much of the discourse has shifted to the changes in iPhone camera software, marking...
Creating a Multi-Purpose Lock Screen Launcher with Shortcuts
Among the many Lock Screen widgets that launched alongside iOS 16 last year, one was conspicuous in its absence: Shortcuts. Although there are third-party developers who have created clever Lock Screen widgets that can open your iPhone, switch to the Shortcuts app, and launch your shortcut, the friction created made the experience impractical. Luckily, iOS...
Hacking an iPhone Stand to Create a Hideaway Mount for FaceTime on Apple TV
One of the biggest surprise announcements for tvOS during this year’s WWDC Keynote (other than, some might argue, the fact that the platform was mentioned at all) was the new ability to conduct FaceTime calls on the Apple TV by using Continuity Camera from your iPhone. As someone who makes regular calls to family with...
Quanta: A Delightfully Simple yet Powerful Way to Listen to Vinyl Using AirPlay
The way we listen to our favorite music has changed dramatically over the last few decades, and even more so in recent years. However, one format has remained constant throughout: the vinyl record. Born in the late 19th century and dominant in the early 20th, vinyl has survived the compact cassette, compact disc, MP3 download,...