MacStories Team

3376 posts on MacStories since July 2011

Articles by the MacStories team. Founded by Federico Viticci in April 2009, MacStories attracts millions of readers every month thanks to in-depth, personal, and informed coverage that offers a balanced mix of Apple news, app reviews, and opinion.

Textastic Code Editor [Sponsor]

Textastic is the most comprehensive and versatile text and code editor for iPad and iPhone.

This begins with support for syntax highlighting of more than 80 programming and markup languages: Textastic covers a wide range, including HTML, JavaScript, CSS, C, C++, Swift, Objective-C, Rust, Go, Java, PHP, Python, Ruby, Perl, Lua, Markdown, LaTeX, YAML, JSON, and more. If your preferred language isn’t on the extensive list, you have the flexibility to add your own syntax definitions and themes, compatible with Sublime Text and TextMate.

With clients for SFTP, FTP, WebDAV, Dropbox, and Google Drive, however, Textastic goes well beyond the capabilities of a traditional text editor. The integrated SSH terminal further extends its functionality. With support for tabs, you can have multiple files and SSH terminals open simultaneously, even opening them in multiple windows side by side on iPad.

Whether crafting web pages, performing code reviews, or editing server configuration files, Textastic proves to be the ideal tool for your mobile workflow.

Customizable keyboard shortcuts, extensive configuration options, support for Git repositories using the Git client Working Copy, and powerful find and replace turn this app into the most powerful code editor you’ll find on iPad.

The long list of features also includes support for iCloud Drive, the Files app, drag and drop, trackpad and mouse, printing, Split View, multiwindowing, and a whole lot more.

In moments of uncertainty, the in-depth manual, with detailed descriptions and nearly 150 screenshots, is your comprehensive guide.

With the recent update to version 10, the user interface received a refreshing makeover, boasting new icons and a modern look across all areas of the app. Notably, Swift syntax highlighting has seen substantial improvements, and file uploads have been simplified.

Limited-Time Offer: Get Textastic at a 20% discount on the App Store ($7.99 instead of $9.99 in the US). This special pricing lasts only until January 28, 2024, giving you the perfect window to enhance your coding toolkit.

Our thanks to Textastic for sponsoring MacStories this week.


Sigmund’s Top Apple TV Picks

Sigmund Judge: To celebrate this week’s MacStories debut of Magic Rays of Light, I was asked to share a few of my favourite Apple TV picks for my fellow Apple TV aficionados, and here they are. Swan Song My Apple Original film pick is Benjamin Cleary’s Swan Song. Starring Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Glenn Close,...


Club Perks

Marcos Tanaka has been kind enough to provide us with codes to all of his apps for this week’s special media-themed issue of MacStories Weekly. MusicHarbor First off, we have 10 codes for MusicHarbor, the app that makes it dead simple to keep on top of the latest music releases, events, videos, and more. Please...


Up Next on MacStories’ Podcasts

Next week on AppStories, Federico and John delve into what’s still unknown about Apple Vision Pro and share some of the apps they’re looking forward to trying. Next week on Magic Rays of Light, Sigmund and Devon discuss Apple Vision Pro preorders, BAFTA and Oscar nominations for Apple Originals, and the premiere of Masters...


A Shortcut for Journaling Your TV and Movie Watch History

Devon Dundee: It’s been over a month since Apple released the Journal app and gave developers access to the Journaling Suggestions API, but I still get excited every time I open up Everlog to see what suggestions the system has for me. Whether it be a podcast or album I listened to, a place I...


Previously, On MacStories

Stories Federico’s Evolving Setup Apple Releases a Guided Tour of Vision Pro and Shares a Making Of Video Every Apple Vision Pro Accessory Option A Survey of Popular Apps Currently Compatible With Apple Vision Pro BenQ ScreenBar Halo: Lighting Your Entire Desk Setup How I Modded My iPad Pro with a Screen Protector, iPhone Holder,...


In This Issue

Federico on how he’s using Widgetsmith’s new music widgets, Sigmund shares a collection of favorite Apple TV media, Devon explains his shortcut for journaling his TV and movie watch history, Jonathan is using Shortcuts to discover new music, John sees spatial computing as the natural evolution of his desk setup, media app giveaways from Marcos...


Whisper Memos: Turn Your Ramblings into Paragraphed Articles, Sent Right to Your Email Inbox [Sponsor]

Ideas are precious but fleeting. One moment, inspiration strikes, but if you don’t capture that lightning in a bottle, it’s gone before you know it. With Whisper Memos, you can harness the power of artificial intelligence to turn your ideas into orderly memos.

Whisper Memos combines the convenience of quick capture with the power of GPT-4. You can save a voice memo using your iPhone’s Action Button, the app’s Lock Screen widget, Whisper Memos’ Apple Watch app, Shortcuts, and more. Then, Whisper Memos uses AI to turn your recordings into orderly, paragraphed memos delivered directly to your email inbox a few seconds later.

The results are incredible. One moment, you’re recording audio on your iPhone or Apple Watch, and the next, you’ve got an email message easily identifiable by its custom subject line that has been carefully transcribed and organized into neat paragraphs.

Whisper Memos works on Wi-Fi, over a cellular connection, and offline, so it’s always available. The app also supports a long list of languages, and it integrates with Zapier, which allows you to connect Whisper Memos to other productivity apps like Notion, Trello, or your task manager. There’s even a privacy mode for ensuring no trace is left behind after your voice memos have been processed.

So, check out Whisper Memos today. You’ll be amazed at how fast, accurate, and reliable it is at preserving your precious thoughts.

Our thanks to Whisper Memos for sponsoring MacStories this week.


Up Next on AppStories

Next week on AppStories, Federico and John are joined by two very special guests to share an announcement and discuss their favorite media tracking apps....