David Sparks's Blog

November was busy month in the MacSparky Labs!

There were four weekly Lab Reports to keep members up-to-date with Apple news, a Deep Dive on Focus Modes, and videos on topics like adding Notes links to Reminders and the 2025 Quarterly Q&A. And much more.

Here’s what took place in the Labs for the month of November 2025:

2025-11-27 – The Lab Report for November 28, 2025 (M,I,P)2025-11-26 – Sparky’s Updated Setup Workflow (Video)(M,I,P)2025-11-21 – 2025 Q4 Q&A (Video) (M,I,P)2025-11-21 – The Lab Report for November 21, 2025 (M,I,P)2025-11-20 – Labs Deep Dive – Myth-Busting Focus Modes (Media Release) (P)2025-11-20 – Fourth Quarter Midpoint (Event) (P)2025-11-20 – Labs Notice 1 – Annual Sale Announcement (M,I,P)2025-11-19 – Labs Momentum Club (I,P)2025-11-19 – Enabling Hypertension Notifications (I,P)2025-11-18 – November Labs Meetup (Media Release) (I,P)2025-11-14 – The Lab Report for November 14, 2025 (M,I,P)2025-11-13 – Deep Dive – Focus Modes (Event) (P)2025-11-12 – “Did I Do?” Task Tracker (Video) (I,P)2025-11-07 – The Lab Report for November 7, 2025 (M,I,P)2025-11-06 – November Labs Meetup (Event) (I,P)2025-11-06 – A Better Way to Add a Notes Links to a Reminder (Video) (M,I,P)2025-11-05 – Jam Session 004 – Mac mini Server (Media Release) (M,I,P)

If you’d like to be a part of the MacSparky Labs, you can get more information and join right here.

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If I have a superpower, it’s probably this: I’m immune to social media.

It’s been years since I’ve used Twitter or any Twitter-like app. I’ve never gotten hooked. Never felt that pull to scroll. Never lost hours to the feed.

Until last month.

I decided to give Instagram a real shot. Just to see what all the fuss was about. I figured maybe I’d been missing something.

The algorithm was terrifyingly good. Within 30 minutes, my feed was perfectly curated: intricate woodworking joinery, bonsai care techniques, people tying complex knots, and yes, cute puppies. It was like Instagram had crawled inside my brain and said, “We got you.”

For about a week, I found myself reaching for my phone in the evening. Just a little scrolling. Nothing serious. But it became part of the routine.

Then something shifted.

All the knots started looking the same. The joinery techniques blurred together. Even the puppies felt repetitive. And I caught myself watching someone else tend to their bonsai trees while mine sat on the bench outside, waiting for attention.

That’s when it clicked. I’d rather be doing these things than watching other people do them.

Maybe it’s because I grew up without this stuff. My brain didn’t get wired for infinite scroll during those critical years. Or maybe I just prefer the smell of sawdust to the glow of a screen.

Whatever the reason, the spell broke. I got back to my actual hobbies.

Here’s what surprised me most: the algorithm got my interests right, but it couldn’t account for the fact that I’m happiest when I’m making things, not consuming content about making things.

Social media companies have spent billions figuring out how to keep us engaged. They’re incredibly good at it. But they can’t replicate the satisfaction of actually doing the work.

If you find yourself scrolling through content about your hobbies more than you’re actually doing them, maybe try this: spend one evening doing the thing instead of watching other people do it. See which one feels better.

I’m betting on the doing.

The post My Social Media Superpower (And Why It Stopped Working) appeared first on MacSparky.

The Field Guide sale continues through Monday.

Everything’s still 20% off with code PIE25.
See All the Field Guides Here

This is my only sale of the year. Next chance won’t be until November 2026.

The sale ends Monday, December 1.

P.S. Field Guides make great gifts. They’re self-paced video courses. Your tech-loving friend or family member can learn on their own schedule. No subscription. They own it forever.

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In this week’s episode: Happy Thanksgiving to all my US listeners and Labs members! I go over a few bit of news and rumors, plus a classic Apple TV video recommendation.
… This is a post for MacSparky Labs Members only. Care to join? If you’re already a member, you can log in here.

The post The Lab Report for November 28, 2025 appeared first on MacSparky.

My workflow for creating setups, where your Mac automatically configures itself for a specific type of work, has changed. In this video I explain why I like setups and how I’m currently engaging them using Moom, Keyboard Maestro, and my Stream Deck.
… This is a post for MacSparky Labs Members only. Care to join? If you’re already a member, you can log in here.

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To my American readers: Tomorrow, as you sit down for Thanksgiving dinner, you might find yourself across from someone with very different political views. Before the tension rises, consider this: there’s a decent chance that some of the most inflammatory political content you’ve both seen this year was created by someone in Bangladesh or Morocco, turning American polarization into a literal side hustle.

So we should stop letting folks halfway around the world profit from making us hate each other. Your uncle who votes differently from you? He’s not the enemy. He’s just on the other wing of the same bird. And last I checked, birds need both wings to fly.

So smile, pass the mashed potatoes, and remember: we’re all in this together.

The post A Brief Note on Polarization and Turkey appeared first on MacSparky.

Ulysses (App store)(Setapp)is one of the true gems for writers in the Apple Ecosystem. I used to use the hell out of this app when I was practicing law, but I don’t find it as useful now. Nevertheless, I kicked the tires on the latest update, and this app remains a great tool for writers.

The new update fully embraces Liquid Glass and adds several quality-of-life improvements. For complex or research-based writing, this is one you’ll want to check out.

The post Ulysses Liquid Glass Update appeared first on MacSparky.

This week’s MacSparky sponsor is Daylite, and they’ve just launched a fantastic new Mail feature.

If you run a small business or manage client relationships, your inbox is probably a mess of priorities. Client emails get buried under newsletters, urgent messages sit next to spam, and you’re constantly switching between your email client and your CRM to figure out context. Daylite’s new Mail feature changes that by bringing your inbox directly into their business management platform where every message connects to the client, project, or opportunity it belongs to.

The Priority Inbox is smart about what actually matters. Instead of just showing you chronological email, it surfaces messages from your Daylite contacts first, then your team, then everything else. Orange icons throughout the interface show you which emails are connected to your business data, so you can instantly see what needs attention. When you open a message, you get the full context right there. Client history, related projects, upcoming tasks all visible without switching apps or hunting through folders.

What really makes this work is how easy Daylite makes it to turn email into action. You can create a task, schedule a follow-up, or link a message to a project without leaving the email. The Detail View sits right alongside your inbox, showing you everything related to that client or project. No more “let me check and get back to you” moments because you can’t remember where things stand.

Daylite’s Mail feature is available now for Mac, iPhone, and iPad, and it’s included with your Daylite subscription. If you’re already using Daylite, there’s a setup guide waiting for you. If you’re new to Daylite, they’re offering a 14-day free trial so you can see how connecting your email to your business data changes the way you work.

Check out Daylite at their website and see if this solves the email chaos problem you didn’t realize you could fix.

The post Daylite’s New Mail Feature Connects Email to Everything That Matters (Sponsor) appeared first on MacSparky.

iPadOS 26 introduced a new windowing system, improved audio recording, and more robust background tasks, making the iPad feel more Mac-like than ever. On this episode of Mac Power Users, Stephen and I discuss a range of workflows that benefit from these changes.

This episode of  Mac Power Users  is sponsored by:

1Password: Never forget a password again.Ecamm: Powerful live streaming platform for Mac. Get one month free.KRCS: Apple Premium Reseller. Get free next-working-day delivery.

The post Mac Power Users 824: Life After iPadOS 26 appeared first on MacSparky.

It’s time again for Sparky’s quarterly Q&A. Thanks to everyone who sent in questions. This one has questions including Apple Products, Productivity & Workflows, Content Creation, Businesses & Career, personal questions, and, of course, what’s currently in MacSparky’s shop.
… This is a post for MacSparky Labs Members only. Care to join? If you’re already a member, you can log in here.

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