Dr. Mac has been obsessed with personal productivity since time immemorial. He says that while Macs have improved immensely over time, some things haven’t changed much including a pair of tips that appeared in his first book, Dr. Macintosh, way back in 1989, as well as his current book, Working Smarter for Mac Users.
5 Less Expensive Wireless Alternatives to AirPods
Last week Dr. Mac said he thought AirPods were too expensive… For those looking for decent-sounding, comfortable wireless headsets to use primarily with a single Apple device—an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac—he says he knows many models that will serve your needs and cost you less than AirPods.
Apple AirPods: Very Nice (Except for the Price)
Dr. Mac’s going to tell you all about Apple’s AirPods wireless headphones today, after a bit of backstory (for context). Spoiler alert: He likes ’em but thinks they are overpriced.
Blasts from the Past: Classic Mac Apps
Dr. Mac says today’s column is a blast from the past dedicated to Mac users who still remember Macintosh System 6, MacPaint, Crystal Quest, and other golden age Mac apps—whether fondly or not. He adds that even shorter-time Mac users will find it interesting and amusing. So you have no excuse not to read it!
An Excellent New iPad at a Reasonable Price
There’s a new iPad in town—a 9.7-inch model with the lowest prices ever for a full-sized iPad—priced from a mere $329 for a 32GB WiFi-only model (vs. $599 for the least expensive 32GB WiFi-only 9.7-inch iPad Pro). Dr. Mac has been testing one for a couple of weeks and is convinced the biggest difference between it and the 9.7-inch iPad Pro is its price—$270 less than the cheapest 9.7-inch iPad Pro, without an Apple Pencil or Smart Keyboard ($99 and $149 respectively).
Notability: My New Favorite Mac App for Taking Notes
Everyone has to take notes at some time in their life. After trying just about every note-taking technology ever invented, Dr. Mac recently discovered an iPad app that’s nearly perfect for his note taking needs.
Ya Gotta Love Free and Useful Stuff for Macs...
This week Dr. Mac looks at a podcast and a macOS Service that are both free and useful. The first is his favorite podcast of all time, a podcast focused on what’s going on under the hoods of your Apple devices. The second is a macOS Service that fixes funky text issues and much more.
6 Cool Tech Things Going On in Germany
Dr. Mac was in Germany last week, where he found six cool tech things, including his first encounters with Microsoft’s HoloLens Augmented Reality (AR) headset and HTC’s Vive Virtual Reality (VR) headset, plus robots galore, a very cool drone, and more.
Reminders and Why Siri Rocks 'Em
.Dr. Mac realized recently that he rarely forgets things and Siri is responsible. Siri never forgets… And since the good doctor is rarely far from his iPhone, iPad, or Mac, he thinks of Siri as his backup memory….
Smart Deadbolt Makes More Sense Than Expected
Dr. Mac was recently invited to review a smart deadbolt. He explained that he’s not a do-it-yourself type of guy, and probably didn’t have the tools or skills to install a deadbolt. He also questioned the need to ever unlock his door using an iPhone instead of a key. A Sense Smart deadbolt kit arrived a few days later; he installed it himself in under an hour.
Easy, Beautiful Websites at a Price You Can Afford
Dr. Mac chose Squarespace to build and host the website for his new book, Working Smarter for Mac Users. He explains why he likes it and what makes it different in episode #217 of Dr. Mac’s Rants & Raves.
Be More Productive: Try a Different Keyboard
Last week Dr. Mac showed you how you could improve your typing skills for free at www.typingtest.com. But that’s only half the story. He also types significantly faster on his third-party keyboard than any keyboard Apple has made in the last decade…
Be More Productive by Typing Faster
“If you’re not typing at least 40 words per minute, you’re wasting time. Possibly the easiest way to get more done in less time is to become a better typist.” Dr. Mac’s been saying it for nearly 30 years. Here’s why…
Setapp: Like Netflix for Mac Apps
Dr. Mac’s been testing Setapp, a new subscription service from MacPaw with access to more than 60 Mac apps for $9.99 a month. It’s an ambitious undertaking by MacPaw, but the good doctor thinks they’ve done a masterful job…
This Wearable Movie Theater Gets Close, But Misses the Mark
Bob LeVitus tries out Royole Moon, “a virtual 3D mobile theater for movies, gaming, and more.” He says it’s close, but misses the mark. Read on for why.
Tempered Tantrum: Screen Protectors for iPhones
iPhone cases may be great for protecting the back and sides of your iPhone, but most of them offer little or no protection for the screen. Bob LeVitus runs us through some tempered glass protectors, and weighs the pros and cons of using cheap one or paying for premium products.