Holiday tech tips for 2017, apps and services we love, and more. »

Stephen Hackett is the co-founder of the Relay FM podcast network, owner of 512 Pixels, and lead editor at The Sweet Setup. »

Here are some of our favorite tips for being prepared to answer tech questions over the holiday season. »

Chris Gonzales is a writer and editor (Tools & Toys, The Spark Journal, and Stellar Edits) from Oklahoma City, but currently lives full-time with his wife and son in an RV. »

Feed Hawk lets you subscribe to a site’s RSS feed from the share sheet of Mobile Safari. »

You can create a personal podcast feed using Dropbox and JustCast. »

As any long-time reader of this site will know, I am a huge fan of the app, Day One. A few years ago we had written a pretty great guide to Day One, and right now we’re wrapping up some HUGE updates to that guide. (More on that in a bit.) As part of our […] »

NetNewsWire 5 debuts as one of the simplest and speediest RSS readers available for the Mac and has a classic, recognizably-Mac design that fits right at home in all versions of macOS. »

The iPhone 8 Plus is too tried, too tested, and too trusted to be written off as last year’s technology. »

Use a text editor to discover the feed address of an iTunes-only podcast. »

iOS 11 is here, and we have several tips to help you get acquainted with the exciting new features now available. »

Regardless of your level of RSS usage, we have an app recommendation for you. »

When writing for the web, Byword and Ulysses make it easy to copy or export your text as HTML for publishing. »

The best app for annotating images in iOS, a reader's Mac and iOS setup, a tip on optimizing storage in macOS Sierra, and more. »

The best markup app for iOS, a Tools & Toys editor's setup, a tip on creating PDFs with macOS, and more. »

The best iOS app for annotating images, a reader's Mac and iOS setup, some tips on getting the most out of Scanbot, and more. »

The best iOS Music app replacement, a reader's Mac, iOS, and watchOS setup, a tip on using Google Docs, and more. »

There are many apps that grace the Mac and iOS App Stores that simply don’t get enough attention or admiration. Sometimes an app is so good at what it does, it becomes the default app for the task and is rarely questioned. Sometimes a new app debuts in a given category and, while it shows […] »

Using Zapier, you can automatically send starred Slack messages to your Todoist inbox. »

The iPhone X review, a new "Mail to Things" feature, a tip on sharing workouts from Apple Watch, and more. »

Flexibits, the makers of our favorite calendar app, Fantastical, launched Cardhop today, a brand new app designed to manage and interact with your contacts in a whole new way. »

The new Files app in iOS 11 makes it easy to move and manipulate files and folders across all compatible directory services. »

Setting up a shared photo album through iCloud is a great way to share photos and stay connected, and we show you to set one up. »

Digitizing and organizing your receipts using Scanbot and macOS make it easier to prepare your taxes so you have more time for more important things. »

Inbox Addiction is an urge to continuously check our news feeds, social feeds, and message inboxes despite undesirable and even negative consequences or a desire to stop. »

The new screenshot editor tool in iOS 11 has a few new tricks, and we show you how to use them. »

The newest update to Pushpin, our pick for best Pinboard client, received a slew of awesome updates, such as keyboard shortcuts and custom feeds. »

A quick review of the Twelve South Curve laptop stand and how the stand matches up with the ever-popular Rain Design mStand. »

Apps and services for the holidays, using Day One as a commonplace book, a tip on disabling Activity app notifications, and more. »

iOS 11 introduced augmented reality support, and we've spent some time trying out the most popular ones. »

Carbon Copy Cloner 5 works with macOS High Sierra, and it's incredibly easy to set up a scheduled backup process for your Mac. »

Using Hazel, you can automatically copy your new photos from your computer to an offsite storage service like Amazon S3 every day. »

Creating a slideshow for family and friends is a piece of cake with the Photos app. »

Saving email messages as PDFs is a convenient way to create copies of messages that you want to keep. »

Day One makes logging important conversations, milestones, and special moments incredibly easy by allowing you to automatically create journal entries by connecting various services via IFTTT. »

Edwin Leong is a Senior Compliance Analyst with the British Columbia Securities Commission in Vancouver, and also a photographer. »

David Koonce is an attorney who runs Traffic Counsel, LLC. »

How to use Day One as a central commonplace book for all your ideas, things to read, quotes, thoughts, and highlights from your favorite eBooks. »

A replay of this week's Productivity and Focus Workshop, Stephen Hackett's Mac and iOS setup interview, a tip on using CARROT Weather, and more. »

Transmit is a powerful, reliable, and easy to use FTP client that is well worth purchasing if you work with file servers on a regular basis. »

Day One released a new encryption option, which provides greater security for your journals. »

Sometimes it can be handy to see where a picture was taken by looking at the location metadata, but there are many other times you might not the entire internet to know where you took a particular photo. »

The iPhone X review, apps and services for the holidays, a look at the Setapp subscription service, and more. »

Rather than subscribe to your apps one at a time, Setapp is designed to allow you to pay one subscription price that gives you access to many different apps. Like Netflix, Apple Music, or Spotify, but for Mac apps. »

Holiday tech tips, apps, and services, an update to MindNode, and more. »

A roundup of iOS 11 augmented reality apps, an iPad setup interview, a few iPhone X tips, and more »

Siri is the way of the future, and Chris has some tips to expand your workflows with voice automation. »

The operating system is what sets Apple products apart from others. macOS (aka OS X) is what drew me to make the switch from the world of Windows, with its sleek look and brushed metal. It was not only better looking, but the form and function were both far better than what I was used to. »

Thord D. Hedengren is a writer of fiction and technical literature, an entrepreneur, and CEO of a digital agency. »

Aaron Bielert is the founder and Network President of Sparkk TV — an original WebSeries TV network. »

Craig Camp is the general manager at Troon Vineyard in Southern Oregon, and also publishes The Wine Camp Blog. »

Since I frequently highlight passages in Instapaper, I wanted a way to automatically add those highlights directly into a folder within Ulysses for easier searching, tagging, and referencing. Good news… this is extremely easy to set up. »

Kris Rojas is a Media Producer for a company headquartered in Virginia, and is also a Star Wars enthusiast, horror film aficionado, freelance cinematographer, and an online student enrolled in the Digital Cinematography program at Full Sail University. »

Bethany Stephens is a marketer and writer who lives in Arkansas with her family, and also writes a few of her own websites in her spare time. »

The best secure messaging app for iPhone, a reader's Mac and iOS setup, a workflow and tip on adding tasks to Todoist, and more. »

Wojtek Pietrusiewicz is a publisher, writer, photographer, and human based out of Poland where he runs iMagazine with his friends. »

Mail and Airmail both offer methods of copying individual message URLs so you can easily create references in action items, notes, and more. »

Jose Joaquin Torcida Fernandez is a commercial technician and freelance graphic and web designer in Alcala de Henares, where he lives with his wife. »

Rob Bettis is an independent digital marketer based in Chattanooga, TN where he offers PPC management services to e-commerce and lead generation businesses all over the country, as well as white-labeled ad management to agencies. »

Our pick for the best RSS reader for iPhone and iPad was updated last week, bringing with it new RSS client support, improved iPhone X features, and new Safari Reader options. »

A review of the Twelve South Curve, apps for new Macs and iOS devices, the concluding post on using Day One as a commonplace book, and more. »

With MiniCast, you can transfer podcast episodes to your Apple Watch for listening when you're away from your iPhone. »

With iOS 11 and watchOS 4, you can easily allow Health.app to share data with other third-party exercise trackers. »

You can use folder in your iCloud Photo Library to make it easy to organize, find, and enjoy your photos. »

The best mind mapping app for Mac and iOS received a major update this week with the launch of MindNode 5. »

iCloud Drive may not be as robust as Dropbox, but it's still incredibly useful for sharing files. »

Making zip archives in iOS is easy with the help of Zipped. »

If you'd like to hide certain items from your iBooks library, you can easily manage that from the Mac app. »

The Iconfactory relaunched their popular Twitterrific client for macOS this week. »

Andrew Canion is a business advisor based in Australia, and is also a director and treasurer for a not-for-profit organization. »

A round-up of the Apple Special Event announcements, a workflow on using Pinboard to ensure you never lose a good article, and more. »

Behind the scenes of Learn Ulysses, a reader's Mac and iOS setup, a workflow on automating photo backups, a tip about one-time passwords, and more »

Learn Ulysses launches in a week. Here are some fun and nerdy details about the work we’re doing behind the scenes to get things ready for you… »

Controlling lights and other appliances in your home can be controlled as groups with Scenes using Apple's HomeKit. »

Twitter.app for iOS allows you to use Safari Reader Mode when viewing websites in the app. »

By stringing together a couple apps and the ever-powerful IFTTT, filing paperwork is easier then ever. »

The more you use Ulysses, the better it gets. Here are my seven favorite Ulysses superpowers. »

Graham Hind works for EP Books, a Christian book publisher based in the UK. »

A review of the new 10.5-inch iPad, an updated review of the best PDF app for iPad, a reader's setup, and more. »

The best pomodoro app for Mac and iOS, our favorite Mail.app plugins for macOS, a reader's Mac and iPhone setup, a tip on using Responsive Design Mode in Safari, and more. »

The best pomodoro app for Mac and iOS, a reader's Mac, iOS, and Watch setup, a workflow post on using Markdown and HTML with Byword and Ulysses, and more. »

Gordon McLean is a business analyst by day, and a writer, blogger, and novelist by night. »

Jowanza Joseph is a software engineer at OneClickRetail in Salt Lake City, and also writes his own site about technology, photography, and other cool internet content. »

Stephen Biggerstaff is a freelance iOS developer based out of Glasgow, Scotland. »

Steve Cholette is a full-time fire fighter and paramedic near Detroit, Michigan. »

Rishi Mohan works at BigBinary as a UI Engineer, founded ZINX, and is also a photographer. »

Colin Gold is a Hospitality Consultant who specializes in helping traditional industries improve their customer experience. »

The best WordPress client for macOS, a workflow on digitizing receipts, a reader's Mac and iPhone setup, a tip on using Do Not Disturb, and more. »

Alfred has a clipboard manager that makes copy and paste operations a cinch. »

A review of the best flashcard app, a reader's Mac and iPhone setup, a tip on using Runkeeper to track your shoe usage, and more. »

Matt McManus is a Senior Software Engineer at Yapp where he works with Ember.js and Rails, and he is also the co-founder of OwnersUp. »

Minimal Reader is a lightweight and minimal RSS feed reading web service that you'll want to use everyday. »

App categories seem to go through rainy seasons and dry seasons — an entire category will go years without any major update, any major splash, or any major new competitor, then suddenly the entire category is uplifted from its roots and the cobwebs get shaken out. It’s quite the phenomenon to observe. »

After two full months with the new email service, I’ve found myself settling into new email habits I never expected to form. Some of these habits are great (like checking The Feed only once or twice a week) while others are still forming, evolving, and restarting (such as how to handle emails I want to read, don’t want to miss, yet don’t need to keep for later or reply later). HEY’s consistent updates since debut have been met with much acclaim in my book. »

The latest version of Day One includes an Instgram importer feature that automates the process of adding your Instagram posts to Day One. »

Josh Ginter is the Editor-in-Chief here at The Sweet Setup and also works as an accountant at a small accounting firm and is constantly working away at completing his CPA designation in the evenings. »

With support for password-protected feeds, 24-hour delete logic, and Smart Resume, our favorite podcast client keeps getting better. »

How to use physical books alongside Day One as a central commonplace book for all your ideas, quotes, thoughts, and highlights from your favorite eBooks. »

Apps for new iOS devices, setting up new Macs, protecting your family from inappropriate content, and more. »

Last week, Red Sweater Software updated widely-loved MarsEdit to version 4.0. »

Overcast was updated to version 4.0 last week, bringing support for the iPhone X, some UI tweaks, drag and drop support, and some new advanced settings that enable users to fine-tune how Overcast operates. »

Tomorrow (Tuesday) at 9:00 am EST, the Focus Course will be available. Here are all the details about the course, pricing, and more. »

An update to the best app for making bootable backups, a tip on using iCloud Drive, some great resources on focus, and more. »

Halide, one of the best RAW manual camera apps for iPhone, was updated this week with a whole host of new features. »

You can quickly open and edit notes from Control Center in iOS 11, and you can also change which note is launched. »

This year I have been experimenting with a completely different work schedule. And it has given me roughly 10x more time off than I used to take while simultaneously getting more accomplished at work. »

Jonathan Buys is a Christian, husband, father, verteran, writer, and developer working as a DevOps engineer with a small company that works with Amazon Web Services. »

More quick tips for using iOS 11 and watchOS 4, some tips using macOS High Sierra, and more »

This week we published 11 tips for using iOS 11, a reader's Mac and iOS setup interview, and several additional tips on using iOS 11 and watchOS 4. »

Here are the things we published this week and last, as well as some great link material. You can also stay up-to-date by following us on Twitter and RSS. Also, we have a weekly email newsletter that sums up all the new and cool things published to the site. If you like to stay up-to-date […] »

You can quickly resize images using Preview in macOS. »

The Learn Ulysses course is here, some frequently asked questions on the Learn Ulysses course, a tip on creating note links in Bear, and more. »

It's easy to create links to individual notes in Bear so you can easily link to them from Bear or other apps. »

A few reasons why we love Transmit for FTP transfers, a reader's Mac and iOS setup, a tip about HomeKit, and more »

Clay Russell is a Director of Operations for a popular restaurant chain in Texas, and also runs the TEKSide Network of websites and podcasts that center on technology. »

Our weekly link roundup to the things we published this week, as well as some other great and interesting material. »

With Bartender, you can easily choose to hide items from your menu bar if they aren't important or useful. »

A new series on apps we love, featuring TextExpander, a reader's Mac setup, a tip on saving Instapaper highlights to Ulysses, and more. »

A new series on apps we love, featuring TextExpander, a reader's Mac setup, a tip on using 1Password Travel Mode, and more. »

Ease of input and powerful search are two important factors in a good notes / research app. While many apps excel at one or the other, few excel at both. »

A review of the new 10.5-inch iPad Pro, a reader's Mac and iPhone setup, a workflow on using Photos.app to create slideshows, and more. »

MarsEdit is a powerful blog editing tool, and you can control how many posts are downloaded to the app. »

Francesco D'Alessio is a freelance marketer currently working with technology startups out of Plymouth, UK. »

The best pomodoro app for Mac and iOS, a reader's Mac, iOS, and Watch setup, a tip on reviewing your passwords in 1Password, and more. »

Dan Leech is a systems designer for a healthcare research company based in Bath, UK where he performs research and creates new software and processes that make delivery of medicines to patients safer, more efficient, and more affordable. »

With Narwhal for iOS, you can easily filter out subreddits and other topics that you don't want to see in the app. »

The best pomodoro app for Mac and iOS, a reader's setup, a tip on using Google Wifi, and more. »

The best pomodoro app for Mac and iOS, a workflow for removing GPS data from photos, a reader's Mac and iOS setup, a tip on using the Twitter app, and more. »

The best secure messaging app for iPhone, a readers Mac, iOS, and Watch setup, a tip on using YouVersion, some app updates, and more. »

The best secure messaging app for iPhone, a reader's Mac, iPhone, and Watch setup, some advice from Mike Vardy on working smarter, a tip on disabling sync between your Mac Desktop and Documents folders, and more. »

If the new macOS Sierra feature to sync your Desktop and Documents folders isn't for you, turning it off is an easy process. »

The best secure messaging app for iPhone, a reader's Mac and iOS setup, a workflow post on creating PDFs from iOS, a tip on using Dropbox offline, and more. »

The best Watch app for tracking your sleep, a reader's Mac and iOS setup, a tip on reporting numbers in Nomorobo, and more. »

The best Apple Watch app for tracking your sleep, a reader's Mac, iPhone, and Watch setup, a workflow post on automating Day One using IFTTT, a tip on customizing your AirPods, and more. »

The best Apple Watch app for tracking your sleep, a reader's iOS and Watch setup, a tip on changing iOS app icons, and more. »

Thibaud De Clerck lives in Belgium, manages communications at his family company, and also writes for his own blog and a tech news site. »

Siri can create detailed reminders for certain locations, an exact time, and specific lists in the Reminders app. »

The best app for blocking telemarketers, robo-callers, and spam calls, a reader's Mac and iPhone setup, a tip on adding tasks to Todoist, and more. »

Matthew Guay is a content marketer at Zapier, works from Bangkok, Thailand, and also writes his own tech blog. »

The best app for blocking telemarketers, robo-callers, and spam calls, a reader's Mac and iPhone setup, a tip on using Todoist, and more. »

Our favorite location-logging app for iPhone, a reader's Mac, iOS, and Watch setup, a tip about using Apple Pay, and more. »

The best location-logging app for iPhone, a reader's Mac and iOS setup, a tip on using Reminders, an update to Overcast, and more. »

With Apple Reminders, it's easy to share a list with someone else using iCloud. »

Tiffany White is a student at the University of Pittsburgh where she studies Computer Science by day and works as a freelance developer by night. »

The best WordPress client for macOS, a reader's Mac, iOS, and Watch setup, a tip on using Alfred as a clipboard manager, and more. »

Daniel Marcinkowski is a Junior Social Media Specialist at DaftCode in Poland, and also blogs and creates YouTube videos for his own site. »

The best simple list-making app for iOS and Mac, a reader's Mac and iOS setup, a tip on using stickers, and more. »

Nick Foster is an Electrical Engineering student at Kennesaw State University, and also writes a technology blog, works in the STEM tutoring center, plays guitar, and volunteers. »

A new pick for the best simple to-do list app for iOS and macOS, a tip on restoring files to iCloud Drive, a reader's Mac and iOS setup, and more. »

You can easily restores files to iCloud Drive that you deleted previously. »

Mark Jordan is an IT Engineer who runs an IT firm in Manchester, UK. »

The best flashcard study app, a reader's Mac and iOS setup, a tip on removing old 1Password backups, and more. »

How to stop the “just checks” and keep your bias toward action. »

Matter is a Read-It-Later service that integrates really well into Obsidian. So if you like to collect your newsletters, RSS feeds, and even Twitter threads into Matter, you can sync your digital highlights and notes into Obsidian using the official Matter Obsidian plugin. »

Reeder 4 doesn’t rewrite the playbook that made it one of the premier RSS apps for every Apple platform, but it introduces a few niceties, like smoother and more friendly animations, a refreshed and more consistent code base across iOS and macOS, a new native Read Later feature, and Bionic Reading support. »

I’ve gone all in with Apple Photos. And I’m going to tell you why... »

There are millions of apps to try out on any given day, and this week we're trying out Books, Shortcuts, and Wealthsimple. »

Each of the 3 new hallmark features — Screen Time, Notifications, Do Not Disturb — have multiple things you can do with them. Let’s go through each one to see what is going to be possible, and why it’s so awesome. »

This week, we published a review of the best stand-alone fitness app for Apple Watch, a reader's setup, and more. »

You can use the HealthFit app to export your workout data from your Apple Watch into iCloud Drive. »

Live Photos are great, but you also have the option of changing the key photo if you don't like the default frame that Photos chooses. »

When you’re over toward the left on the “un-focused” side of things, you don't feel in control — it's stressful. You don't feel like there is any breathing room. And you're so frequently responding to the urgent issues of others, that you lack any clear plan forward. »

1Password received an update last week that brings support for iPhone X, Face ID, Quick Copy, and more. »

An update to our Apple Music review, some tips on productivity, the iPhone X, and more. »

In 2009, I went on an unexpected digital detox. My wife and I had booked a cabin for a week and when we arrived, I discovered there was no wifi or cell service… »

This week, we updated the review for the best music streaming service, wrote about Ulysses 12 for iOS, and published some great tips. »

A review of the new iPhone 8 Plus, an update to our Darkroom review, a tip on using app launchers, and more. »

An update to the best cloud photo management solution, some thoughts on modern productivity, a reader's setup, and more. »

Multitasking has been upgraded with iOS 11, and we have a few tips on how to use it with your iPad. »

With Pinboard and a few other tools, you can make sure you never lose something you've read before. »

David Hepworth lives in the UK, and is a YouTube creator who focuses mainly on Apple products. »

We can’t say thank you enough to everyone who has supported our work and helped to spread the word about Learn Ulysses. Here are some answers to a few common questions we’ve been getting over the past few days… »

Our new course launches in 24 hours. Here are all the details of what’s in the course and how much it costs. »

Recently, quite a few folks have asked me how Ulysses and Day One compare and if one could replace the other. I think it will be easiest to answer this question by explaining how and why I use each of these apps. »

Earlier today, the team at Ulysses announced that their writing app is moving to a subscription pricing model. Here are all the details. »

A great universal app for note-taking, a reader's Mac setup, a look at Shawn Blanc's Ulysses setup, and more. »

With HomeKit, you can easily control lights in your home to ensure they turn on and off at specific times every day. »

An update to our review of the best note-taking app for iOS, a reader's Mac and iOS setup, some insight into how writers use Ulysses, and more. »

Backblaze is the best cloud backup service for macOS. I’ve been using it for a number of years, and it’s the best $50 per year that you can spend. When you install Backblaze onto your computer, it runs in the background and you never have to think about it again. It starts by backing up […] »

Dan Johnson is a professional architect working in Alberta, Canada, where he also runs a couple of personal blogs in his spare time. »

With a 1Password.com account, you can quickly utilize Travel Mode to ensure secure information is removed from your devices while abroad. »

Michael Penn is an e-commerce specialist and shipping manager, a technology blog reader, woodworker, and podcast enthusiast. »

With Google Wi-Fi, you can set up groups of devices and manage the times that they have access to the internet. »

Screens 4 for the Mac brings lots of goodies from the iOS version. »

Jordan McMahon is a personal trainer by day, and a freelance writer and photographer in his free time. »

You can easily report spam callers to Nomorobo, as well as unflag non-spam callers. »

AirPods are great wireless earphone options, and they have a few iOS tweaks that you can customize. »

The best Pinboard app for iPhone, a reader's Mac and iOS setup, a workflow for using Perspectives in OmniFocus, and more. »

An update to the Pinboard app review, a reader's Mac and iOS setup, a tip on using Siri and Reminders, and more. »

With Todoist Premium, you can email tasks to specific Todoist projects along with due dates, labels, and priorities. »

Todoist offers a powerful filtering feature that allows you to sort and focus on your tasks. »

Bodo Tasche is a former CTO from Berlin who is currently working on a project to create a crowd-sourced sign language dictionary, and also hosts a podcast called Bits of Berlin. »

1Password automatically keeps plenty of backups for your sensitive data, but you can easily clean them out if drive space is a concern. »

A review of the new 15-inch MacBook Pro, a reader's Mac and iOS setup, a tip on using Activity alerts, and more. »

Use Tweetbot and Twitter to keep track of news instead of an RSS reader. »

Continuing in our series on focus and productivity, here we will dive in to see what’s holding you back from being efficient and intentional with your time, and the obstacles you face when trying to do focused, deep work. »

I can point to a sequence of events that led directly to my current hybrid productivity setup. It started last year when I attended Focus Course Academy. One of the mini-lessons nestled in the middle of the academy was a crash course in time-blocking. In hindsight, time-blocking is so obvious. If you want to ensure you get something done, it needs to be part of your calendar. But actually time-blocking isn’t all that obvious. Do you do the time-blocking in your digital calendar? Do you buy a physical notebook and sketch out each day? »

RSS has been an important part of information workflows for many years, but read-it-later apps (and the RSS services many of them are based on) desperately need some inspiration and innovation. Enter Readwise Reader, an app that attempts to combine your RSS, newsletters, web highlights, and more into a single location. »

In the past year, you’ve probably spent a lot of time you spend in virtual meetings. Even if you aren’t live streaming on Twitch, hosting a YouTube channel, or presenting webinars very often, improving your video can go a long way in making your online communication more effective. And if you already have a nice […] »

Here’s a roundup of our favorite implementations of trackpad and cursor support so far, along with a few we’re hoping see an update sooner rather than later. »

In this Mindfulness Monday post, we deconstruct the concept of a distraction-free phone. »

With the bevy of RSS app updates over the last few months, it was high time we gave our review of the best RSS app for the iPhone and iPad some polish. Over the last few months, we’ve seen some major updates to all the main competitors in this category: Unread has constantly been refined, […] »

Do Not Disturb has been available in iOS since version 6, but there are still ways today that you can customize it to benefit your lifestyle. »

Rose Orchard is a programmer by day where she creates web-based applications, but she is also a writer and podcaster in her free time. »

The new iPad Pro seems to have struck a touchy chord since its debut three weeks ago, and the reason is probably twofold. First, Apple’s marketing campaign comparing it against standard PCs invites unnecessary criticisms and unrelated comparisons. And second, there seems to be a wide range of unrealistic expectations. I really like how Jason […] »

Marty Day is an Integrations Engineer for Partnerize by day, and an on-stage co-host and producer for Super Art Fight, co-host of The Rough House Podcast, and owner of blast-o-rama. »

Kurt Van de Poel is an electromechanical engineering teacher in Amsterdam, where he teaches pupils how to build safe machines, draw electrical schematics, and program PLCs to control machines. »

Bear 1.6 is a major point update for the app as a whole, but there are unique features coming to both iOS and macOS that are worthy of their own mention. »

Today marks the introduction of Day One V3 for iPhone and iPad. As expected, Day One continues to evolve and expand its feature set, enabling you to capture more of those treasured moments. »

Catch up on what we published this week, including a new app review, a new time management course, a look at Shortcuts, and more. »

Shortcuts is now available in the iOS beta program, and we take our first look at what this new automation app offers in this early stage. »

Nathan Snelgrove is a freelance designer and front-end developer, a recovering pro photographer, and a hobbyist guitarist. »

This week, we're trying lire, a Microsoft Surface Ergonomic keyboard with Karabiner for key mapping, and Obscura. »

Combining the power of Zapier with Things opens up limitless input possibilities for automating new tasks in Things. »

Josh Ginter describes his workflows and uses for Day One, and how that sometimes means that Bear steps in to fill certain gaps. »

Catch up on the things we published throughout the week, including an exciting review of Apple's smart speaker. »

The best app for running Windows on a Mac, some tips on using your calendar for task management, a reader’s Mac and iOS setup, and more »

Clean up your inbox today, and keep it that way forever. »

Justin Hamilton is a first-year student at the University of Delaware where he studies computer engineering, writes music, and also takes pictures. »

Alto's Odyssey is a sequel to Alto's Adventure, one of our favorite iOS games ever. Odyssey brings new locales, new gameplay features, new sights, and new sounds to Alto's world. »

Anna Crotty lives in San Diego and works on databases for member-supported news organizations. »

There's a lot of unsavory content available on the internet, and there are some easy and readily-available ways to ensure your family is protected while using iOS devices. »

While the Activity app on Apple Watch can be a huge motivator, it can also be annoying with constant alerts. Notifications are easy to disable on certain days, though. »

Powerful email marketing made easy with world-class support and education. »

How and why to keep a commonplace book and with which tools to do the job. »

Joan Erwin is the Senior Vice President of Expansion Operations for CleanSlate Centers where she spearheads the expansion of patient care services. »

If there is one thing I have learned about focus and time management over the years, it is that how we spend our time and energy is an ever moving target. »

With the absence of a Home button on iPhone X, some of the common workflows have changed. »

In partnership with our sister site, we just opened up registration for The Focus Course, our flagship training on productivity and time management. »

Continuing in our partnership with our sister site, The Focus Course, here is the third and final video in a short series we've been doing on the topic of focus and productivity. »

In partnership with our sister site, The Focus Course, we are kicking off a short video series on the topic of focus and productivity. »

Carbon Copy Cloner is easy to use and well designed, making the app great for all users alike. »

Nowadays, VPN services are in great demand among users that prefer to protect their privacy and hide online activities from a prying eye. VPNs are essential for securing sensitive information while unsuspicious users are connected to public Wi-Fi networks. »

We have a brand-new tool that is our first collaboration between our two sister sites: The Focus Course and The Sweet Setup. It's called The Focus Quiz, and it's a personal productivity assessment. »

Ulysses for iOS received its biggest updates last week with the launch of Ulysses 12. »

Let's discuss five of the most common pitfalls that will limit your results and cause immense friction and roadblocks to your workflows and systems. »

Clean up your inbox today, and keep it that way forever. »

Help students succeed in a tech-centric world. »

CARROT Weather features a customizable interface so you can prioritize weather information that is important to you. »

With watchOS 4, you can prevent audio apps from automatically opening on your Apple Watch when using the audio app on your iPhone. »

With watchOS 4, you can now add multiple albums and playlists to your Apple Watch so you can listen to music without your iPhone. »

macOS High Sierra has a lot more to offer than it may seem on the surface. »

​Popular email extension Mailbutler is going Gmail! »

With the new Siri watch face, you can customize what information is included. »

Apple introduced a new app view in watchOS 4, and switching to it is easy. »

​Jamf Now - Easily manage and protect your Apple devices at work. Get started! »

Clean up your inbox today, and keep it that way forever. »

Our brand-new course, Learn Ulysses, is now available. It sells for just $29. But right now to celebrate the launch week, you can get it for $23. Find Out More… Or click here to buy it now. Here’s what a few folks are saying: “This is so good! There is tons of useful information in […] »

Tracking your time and productivity so you don't have to. »

One app for managing both your calendar and your tasks. »

This guide will show you how to manage your memories, your work, and your life — all using Evernote. »

Simon Severino is the founder of strategy sprints, who also loves problems, productivity, his family, and triathlons. »

There are two ways to overcome writer’s procrastination, and one of them is knowing what to write next. Jeff Goins writing system helps with that. »

Clean up your inbox today, and keep it that way forever. »

Brian Hendrix is a U.S. Air Force veteran who now works as a Senior Technical Engineer for the largest not-for-profit healthcare system in the U.S. »

Ever wondered how much time you've saved through TextExpander? Well, TextExpander provides an easy way to review your statistics. »

macOS' built-in Mail application has a system that allows third-party developers to write plugins for the application, giving it new features. »

Share your personal moments, make calls, start live video, send pictures and files with one secure app encrypted end-to-end. »

Jacob Terry is a graduate student studying for his master's degree in civil engineering at the University of Waterloo, where he works in the transport economics research group. »

The official Twitter app for iOS caches media on your device, but you can quickly reclaim that storage space by periodically clearing the cache. »

With YouVersion's reading plans, you can easily catch up if you fall behind in your reading progress. »

The update brings an all-new look to the suite of GTD applications. »

Possibly the most beautiful project and task manager app. For Mac & Windows. »

Here in the future, sending a fax isn't as easy as it once was. Scanbot is here to help. »

To keep yourself fully secure and anonymous on your MacBook, it's wise to use a VPN service that hides your IP address. »

Detect & remove Mac malware. Clean up internet clutter. Try MacScan 3 for free! »

With a recent update in the Dropbox iOS app, you can now save entire folders offline if you have a Pro or Business account. »

With TheBestVPN.com comparison site, you'll learn which VPN providers are the best for your device. »

​​Backup Your DVDs with No.1 Fast DVD Ripper »

Teams work better with Daylite. Start your 30 day trial today! »

In iOS 10.3, you can easily change the app home screen icon if the app takes advantage of this new feature. »

You can download your entire Spotify library to your iOS device by enabling one option. »

This free tool will play "bad cop" with your clients when you need something from them. »

Clean up your inbox in minutes! »

Teams work better with Daylite. Start your 30 day trial today! »

FocusList is a productivity app based around daily planning & Pomodoro technique. »

You can easily select default addresses, cards, emails, and more in the Apple Pay settings on iOS. »

​MailButler for Apple Mail saves you time to focus on the most important tasks. »

TimberTax.co provides web-based tax services for freelancers and consultants. »

One of the new features of iOS 10 is Emergency Bypass. I am a big huge fan of Do Not Disturb on iOS, and Emergency Bypass makes it that much better. I first heard about this feature from Katie Floyd, and it’s something I immediately activated for a few people. In the Do Not Disturb […] »

Want to win more business & get more done? Try Daylite free for 30 days. »

The future of Mac apps is here. »

When you receive a great sticker in Messages, you can quickly find out which app it came from. »

The new version of our favorite calendar packs goodies for all iOS 10 users. »

Tired of using Trello in your browser? Get Paws for Trello for Mac and Windows. »

Want to win more business & get more done? Try Daylite free for 30 days. »

With Runkeeper, you can easily keep track of your shoes and know when it's time to replace a pair. »

No need to endure Outlook any longer - Hiri is beautiful, simple mail client for mac. Syncs all of your Outlook emails, calendar items, tasks and contacts. »

Want to win more business & get more done? Try Daylite free for 30 days. »

An online summit featuring candid and powerful video conversations with some of the world's best creative entrepreneurs. »

Josh Ginter is a Deals Editor and Reviews Editor for Tools & Toys, freelance photographer, a podcaster and writer for his site, and is currently working toward his accounting designation. »

With Yahoo Sports, you can control game alerts at a granular level to fine-tune notifications for different teams. »

Loren Stephens is a Senior Account Executive for a commercial equipment finance company in Orange County, California »

The best calendar app for Mac, a Mac and iPhone setup, a quick tip on podcasts, and more. »

Sebastian Green runs a small division of an IT Support company in Manchester (UK) that mainly focuses on web-based systems. »

Here is a running list of our personal favorite apps on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The are the apps we, The Sweet Setup staff, use day in and day out for work and play. »

When it comes to backups, software is only part of the equation. There are many good tools on the market, but having a dependable hard drive on the receiving end as important, too. Purchasing the “best” hard drive is all about what you need out of it. So we have two suggestions: Our favorite external […] »

When I say the word “inbox,” what comes to your mind? For most people, it’s email, right? Email is the first thing that comes to mind when we think of checking our inbox. But the truth is that we all have multiple inboxes. An inbox is just anything that collects incoming bits of information that […] »

According to recent statistics, the average American checks their phone 344 times per day (about once every four minutes). And before you say, “other people may struggle with this, but I've got it under control,” I dare you to go into your Settings and look at your Screen Time stats. The truth is, we all struggle with this stuff. And the deck is kind of stacked against us. »

It was nearly a year ago that I first wrote about Raycast here on The Sweet Setup, and few apps have seemed to gain as much momentum in recent years in the Mac enthusiast crowd than this new app launcher. In fact, I don't think I've seen this many Mac nerds change their app launcher since 2010 when Alfred first hit the scene. »

When I say the word “inbox,” what comes to your mind? For most people, it’s email, right? Email is the thing we think about when we think of checking our inbox. But the truth is that we all have multiple inboxes. An inbox is just anything that collects incoming bits of information that need to […] »

Catch up on what we published this week, including a look at Matt Birchler's top productivity app picks, some tips on using Hazel to organize your Mac, and more. »

A while back, I reviewed the reMarkable e-ink tablet. There's a lot to like about this incredibly thin tablet: it's thin and light, has incredible battery life, and offers a great writing experience for a digital tablet. But the software was lacking, and I found myself consistently bumping up against the limitations of the device in frustrating ways. »

Catch up on what we published this week, including a workflow for automatically adding Kindle book highlights to Obsidian, a look at Timery on the Mac, and more. »

Save links privately, share knowledge with your team »

If you want to customize the look of the home screen on your iOS 14 device here are our top picks for the best home screen widgets. »

I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with email (and Twitter, too, for that matter). I love how they’ve allowed me to connect with folks, build friendships, and make things over the years, but I hate how email (and Twitter) can be such a draw for my attention and a distraction during my day. »

Unfold’s templates verge on being extra-curated, but there are a range of templates that are simple, elegant, and precise, showcasing your photography in an attractive way. »

Catch up on what we published this week, including a look at how Josh Ginter uses Roam Research for his own studies, a new version of Day One, and more. »

Today, our friends at Day One released version 5.0 of their venerable journaling app, which continues to be one of the most important apps on our respective home screens. »

Yesterday, Apple kicked off their annual Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) with an impressive keynote presentation. We put together a convenient summary of everything that was announced. »

In this Mindfulness Monday post, YouTuber Matt Ragland shares about the boundaries he's established to maintain intentionality with his tech, his bullet journaling practice, and why he starts every project using analog tools. »

In this Mindfulness Monday post, we look at how to to maximize our intentional technology use by doing a digital declutter. This post originally appeared on our sister site, The Focus Course. If you want to join in by doing your own digital declutter, check out the 30-Day Digital Declutter Kickoff. I’ve long been a […] »

Creativity is not based on your artistic ability. It has nothing to do with your natural talent. It depends entirely on your perspective, and is vital to embracing an intentional approach to technology. We must all learn to flip the switch from mindless consumption to conscious creation if we want to reach our full potential. »

It’s 6:34 am. The sound of your smartphone alarm startles you awake. (Actually, it’s the sound of the fifth alarm you’ve set because you’ve gotten so used to snoozing them that it now takes several to finally get you out of bed.) You instinctively reach to grab your phone from the nightstand and perform your […] »

iOS 13 appears to have finally solved the difficulty of travel research planning. Maps has been dramatically improved in the iOS 13 and iPadOS public betas and promises next-level features when the new iOS goes live in the fall. »

With the recent update to Day One for macOS, we've updated our review for Day One to keep up with the features and competition. »

Jackson Hayes is a 17-year-old cinematographer, photographer, and sometimes front-end web developer who makes videos about technology on his YouTube channel. »

How to use Halide and Darkroom together to make great photos. »

In our cord-cutting guide, we talk about the miscellaneous gear required to make a smooth transition away from cable or satellite to better alternatives. »

Here's a list of our most anticipated features coming in iOS 12 this fall which were announced on Monday at Apple's WWDC Keynote. »

Catch up on what we published this week, including an updated Day One review, some awesome Day One tips leading up to our updated course, a tip on optimizing macOS, and more. »

Jeff Perry writes the Tablet Habit, co-hosts the Getting Caught Up podcast, and works as an audio engineer. »

Apple's newest flagship phone departs from the form factor of previous models, but also manages to take a giant leap forward in terms of the screen, Face ID, and so much more. »

We hosted our first, live workshop for Sweet Setup readers. There were several hundred who joined us for live the workshop, and it was a blast! »

With iOS 11, you can quickly drag and drop files, links, and other objects between apps. »

Due to news of a dishonest use of customer privacy, we can no longer recommend AccuWeather as the best general weather app for iOS. »

Shana Russell is a Campus Technology Specialist for a private school organization in Houston, and also writes her own blogs and dabbles in app development. »

Rupesh R. Mahalle is a 25-year-old Portfolio Manager and start-up investor who manages capital for investors in the stock market. »

V.H. Belvadi is a postgraduate student of physics studying an extremely rare breed of variable stars, and also makes photographs and directs short films in his free time. »

Gerry Hayes owns Haze Guitars in Dublin, Ireland, where he builds and repairs guitars, writes books on guitar repair and maintenance, and also runs Sketchy Setups. »

Chris Powell is a professional technologist and IT Manager for the College of Business and Economics at Western Washington University, and also spends his time on several freelance endeavors. »

Chenyang Hsu is a law student living in Beijing who is also fascinated with technology, design, UX, and Apple. »

Nadeem Vaidya practices medicine as an ophthalmologist specializing in surgeries of the retina and vitreous, and operates his own practice in Irvine, California. »

Koen Adams works and lives in Belgium as a freelance cartographer and graphic designer, and also runs One Stop Map. »

A reader's Mac and iOS setup, a tip on Dropbox and podcast listening, and more. »

Chris Brakebill is a web and mobile developer who is currently working on an app called Outshape, and also sends the Three Things Weekly newsletter. »

Dr. Terry Portis is a college director, psychology professor, reader and technology enthusiast. »

Today, there's a significant update to Day One, our favorite journaling and logging app. The update is a new feature called Publish, and it lets you selectively share your Day One entries to the Web. »

David Sparks is the editor, writer, and janitor at MacSparky and also writes for Macworld and co-hosts the Mac Power Users podcast. »

Over the past 6 months, Notion have added several major features to the app and its functionality, and they also launched a Calendar app. In this article, I will be reviewing some of the newer updates that have hit the internet. »

Trying to use a single app for PKM is destined for failure. In this article, I'll explain why and share a simple framework for thinking about personal knowledge management that can help you get more out of the notes and ideas that you put into your PKM system. »

Omnivore is one of the newest, and probably one of the most underrated read-it-later services out there. Many of us know about Pocket, Instapaper, Matter, and Readwise Reader, but Omnivore deserves to be in the conversation as well, as it does quite a few things very well, and even better than the rest in some cases. And it does all this completely for free. »

It’s time we compare Apple Notes and Bear once again. Apple Notes vs. the new and improved Bear has made for some interesting experiments over the last few weeks. Perhaps our findings below will help others dial in their note-taking app choice once more. »

It’s no secret that Notion is one of my favorite tools for managing ideas and notes. It’s also no secret that figuring out your own ideal Notion setup is… kind of a lot. You can spend so much time working ON your Notion workflows, that you end up never creating and working IN Notion. It’s […] »

Catch up on what we published this week, including a look at using Focus Modes to improve your productivity, an in-depth tour of David Sparks' startup and shutdown routines, and more. »

Catch up on what we published this week, including our ultimate guide to using Do Not Disturb on iOS and macOS, some advice on using your time and attention, and more. »

There’s been a battle brewing over the past year or so between Matter and Readwise Reader over which is the better brand-spanking-new read later service. Here at The Sweet Setup, we try to pick the best apps and services in every category we can, but the TSS crew is split on this one, so today Josh and Matt are going to make their case for why they prefer each of these apps. »

Catch up on what we published this week, including the three waves of productivity, tweaking your productivity systems for busy seasons of life, and more. »

Clarity about what matters also gives clarity about what does not. Clarity is vital if you want to do deep work on a regular basis over the long run. »

Catch up on what we published this week, including some tips on boosting your productivity, some interesting links about recent Apple announcements, and more. »

When it comes to productivity and focus, I have a secret weapon — a book that I never see anyone talking about. Now, I know not everyone is a nerd about planning, scheduling, and setting goals, but there is a book by J.D. Meier that's just fantastic. »

Catch up on what we published this week, including a look at some great lock screen widgets for iPhone 14 Pro (Max), must-have productivity apps from our team, and more. »

Catch up on what we published this week, including a look at Josh's must-have apps for productivity, some apps for using ChatGPT on macOS and iOS, and more. »

Today, we’re going to look at a few apps that I find absolutely essential to my work, but we’re not going to dwell too much on the typical apps that everyone mentions, or that you’ve heard us talk about at length on The Sweet Setup already. »

When it comes to a lack of clarity, the solution is to take the time to get clear on what matters so you can stop spending valuable time spinning your wheels. One of the ways to help you get clarity is to understand how information flows into and out of your productivity system. So in this post, we're going talk about crafting your productivity workflow so that you can handle anything life throws at you. »

This post can only start one way, and that's with a confession. This article was originally going to be about how to effectively migrate your tasks and workflows from Things over to Todoist. That all fell apart a few weeks after migrating because Todoist was driving me crazy — and ultimately send me running back to Things. »

Catch up on what we published this week, including a reminder on how to use Hazel to auto-file your documents, a deep look at what makes relational databases so great in Notion, and more. »

Catch up on what we published this week, including an example for starting up and closing out your day with Sunsama, some tips on focus, and more. »

Catch up on what we published this week, including some advice on margin, using sub-tasks in Notion, and more. »

How would you describe your average day? Is it busy and overwhelming? If so, here's why. »

Catch up on what we published this week, including an upcoming webinar on freeing yourself from overwhelm, a roundup of several popular infinite canvas apps, and more. »

Catch up on what we published this week, including a look at Readwise's new RSS tool, simplifying your apps, and more. »

Catch up on what we published this week, including some guidance on reducing the number of apps you use, a look at the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra, and more. »

Here are a few ways our team and colleagues of ours use Loom to save time each day and add some flair to their communication. »

One of the good things about modern operating systems, whether you're on iOS, macOS, Windows, or Android, is that the default browser is actually pretty good in every single case. Most people will be well-served by Safari, Edge, or Chrome, and that's great! If you've been following tech for several decades, you know this is very much not a given (looks intensely at Internet Explorer), so it's nice that we're currently in a pretty good place. »

Just under a year ago, Glass launched on iPhone, offering a genuine photo sharing alternative to Instagram. Glass launched to much fanfare — many folks (including myself) vowed to kick Instagram to the curb in favor of a fresh new start on a new and stylish platform. »

I had heard of the Light Phone before and was intrigued by the idea, but I write so much about iOS apps that I just couldn’t justify making the switch. But recently, my son turned 13 and we needed a way to stay in contact with him so he could reach us in case of […] »

Today's Apple event lived up to its teaser name by showing how Apple is delivering peak performance across their entire product line. Whether it's their more affordable iPhone or their latest desktop machine, speed was a core part of the sales pitch everywhere. »

Version 3.6 introduces Fantastical Scheduling, which is a fantastic implementation of two powerful scheduling tools: Openings and Proposals. »

Catch up on what we published this week, including a look at building habits, a nifty Fantastical feature, some insight into using Notion to track habits, and more. »

The transition from listing out all your tasks to putting them into your calendar has long been an annoyance of mine. Long list of tasks, check. Time blocking habit in a calendar, check. But how do you seamlessly transfer tasks to your calendar without manually inserting each task in its own block? Enter Fantastical. »

It was January 2020. I hit the New Year with ambition. I wanted to read more, write more, and most importantly, exercise more. We had a dusty old exercise bike adopted from a family member in the corner of the basement. It hadn’t been used in years. »

My wish for an M1-powered MacBook Pro came true in October 2021, of course. And then some — not only can these new MacBook Pros drive two external displays, they can drive four displays, all while fast-charging, reading and writing directly to SD cards, and more. These new MacBook Pros are indeed dreams come true and I had to have one. »

Catch up on what we published this week, including a look at some of our favorite, must-have apps for iPhones, iPads, and Macs, sending highlights from Matter to Obsidian, and more. »

Our resident full-time RVer shares how he gets his writing work done while traveling across the US. »

It’s that time of year once again when we like to bring you a few of our top app and gear picks to get you through the holiday season in one piece. This handy list has a little bit of everything, whether you’re looking for some neat gift ideas or you’re simply in need of […] »

Catch up on what we published this month, including a review of the iPhone 13 Pro camera system, a look at how the new iPad mini fits in to Mike's workflow a month in, and more. »

If you're like me, you probably love using keyboard shortcuts to speed things up on your Mac using automation tools, but you probably also have trouble creating keyboard shortcuts that don't conflict with the built-in ones that ship with macOS. This is where the concept of a hyper key comes in. »

This is the first year that my entire photography workflow can be handled by my iPhone on its own, which has been quite empowering. »

Josh Ginter is a CPA located in Morden, Manitoba, Canada, where he also serves as the managing editor for The Sweet Setup. »

The fourth core element of Craft — and one that sets it apart from most other note-taking apps available — is the ability to collaborate with others. »

Our first impressions after 24 hours using the new photo sharing app, Glass. »

It’s been awhile since our pick for the best productivity app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac received a notable update. Over the past year or more, Things 3 has slowly evolved under-the-hood, becoming one of the most stable and reliable apps available on the App Store. But Things 3.14, though a small update in relation […] »

Come watch the live stream as Shawn migrates from Ulysses to Obsidian. »

The all-new master-course for Obsidian users (new and old alike). Finally organize your notes and ideas to make creative output easy. »

With big displays come big widgets in iPadOS 15. Though we had a glimpse of the “larger” widgets with iOS 14’s News widget (sort of), the larger horizontal widgets in iPadOS 15 mostly came out of left field. iPadOS 15 widgets are even larger than the vertical News widget in iOS 14, taking up three columns in the app spring board and displaying content in bold new ways. Apple touted these extra large widgets as being great for media apps like Music, TV, and Photos, where the media inside the app can shine brightly. »

Back in December, I outlined how I studied course material for a major exam using Craft Notes. There were many positives, a couple negatives, and a whole bunch of naivety at that time. Craft Notes is still one of my favorite new apps of the last four or five years, but it didn’t end up sticking as well as I thought when the real studying began. »

Here’s a roundup of a few apps, services, playlists, and products we recommend after a year of COVID working-from-home. »

We all want to get things done. We all wish we could be just a little more productive. Our specific reasons may vary, but we are all motivated to solve a common problem: We never seem to have enough time for the things that are truly important. Today we’re going to look at two very […] »

My name is Bart Kesner and I'm currently responsible for IT transformation efforts for a global engineering/consulting firm in the Kansas City area. This entails partnering with internal and external resources to analyze the delivery and use of products and services to enhance overall effectiveness, and lead teams to resolve any identified issues. Prior to that, I ran the Customer Experience program for a global manufacturing firm. »

When the group at The Sweet Setup suggested we'd be talking about knowledge and idea workflows in the early part of 2021, I couldn't pass up the chance to talk about my analog adventures that live alongside all the apps I use each day. We can't do everything on our iPhones, after all. »

Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) is all the rage. Here's what you need to know to make the most of your PKM and do your best creative work. »

Tiffany White a software engineer from Swatara Township, PA. »

We've updated our review of the best journaling app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. »

2020 was hard enough without having to think about all the usual holiday stresses, but we're here to help! Here is our annual list of great apps and gear to get you through the holiday season in one piece. »

iOS 14 introduced Widgets to the iPhone, which has allowed for some very creative home screens to be created to suit an individual’s preferences and personality. Here’s a look at my current iOS 14 Widgety Home Screen, and the thought process that went into designing it. Remember Why You Came I don’t know about you, […] »

Widgets can be a gateway into a more productive life, without the overhead of building new habits and routines. For me, they have significantly improved my life, and without much work beyond the setup and deciding where on my iPhone they should live. »

Catch up on what we published this week, including a look at the new iPhone 12 Pro, some advice on creating a writing habit, and more. »

The last major update to our review of the best GTD app for Mac, iPhone, and iPad came in 2017, when Things 3 was still quite new and when many of the best GTD apps were in the midst of redesigns and major changes. Here we are, at the end of 2020, and though everything […] »

Catch up on what we published this week, including a perspective on using Things 3 for writing, an upcoming Ulysses webinar, and more. »

For the past few weeks I have been experimenting with a Productivity Dashboard inside of Ulysses. Here's a look at what is good, and what's not good, about this setup. »

Widgets and custom app icons... »

Catch up on what we published this week, including a look at a creative Instagram app for building beautiful stories, a look at using an iPhone under water, and more. »

The big update to our writing course, Learn Ulysses, is now live. »

GoodLinks is a relatively new app in the read-it-later space, developed by the same folks behind 1Writer. We're giving it a try and comparing against the popular apps in this category like Pocket and Instapaper. »

HEY has disrupted nearly every element of my email workflow. HEY has allowed me to experience a new level of email productivity, and it has even created a new sense of zen-like Inbox Zero in my Imbox, without archiving, deleting, or snoozing. »

The updates of iPadOS 14 feel like updates done by people who actually use their iPad, for people who use their iPad. There are a lot of thoughtful and exciting new features and refinements which not only improve the iPad experience right now, but continue to set the stage for future innovation as well. »

Jonathan Pulley is a Senior Consultant for a software company specializing in data analytics, data warehousing, and business intelligence, and he also dabbles in photography and gaming. »

Aside from the unique layout, I *really* fell for the ViBE's physical design. The floating keycap look is my favorite keyboard design so far, while the aluminum tray is both flashy and sturdy. The off-white keys have a retro vibe, while the keycap type face is easy to read and unique from the old-fashioned keyboards I associate with 90s-era computers. In short, the ViBE looks incredible. »

For the past month I have been waking up at 6am to spend the first hour of my day writing without distraction. »

Ulysses, our favorite writing app for iOS and macOS, takes another step forward in version 19 with full support for the new cursor in iPadOS, along with some important cross-platform refinements. »

Here's Blanc Media's work-from-home setups, complete with a list of the main items in each setup. If you're anything like us, you're sure to be curious about a few of the coffee cups gracing these tables. »

One of the sad realities of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak is that social distancing is the new normal. Though it pains us to say it, we all have to face the fact that we're in this for the long haul. An interesting side effect of all this is that workforces around the world are now partaking in a “work from home” experiment of unprecedented scale. Millions of people are suddenly finding themselves trying to carve out the space and time to get their work done outside the office, with no friends or coworkers to chat with in person, all while dealing with the everyday distractions of home and making sure the kids — who are also now stuck at home — are fed, schooled, and generally occupied all day. »

In this Mindfulness Monday post, Executive Editor Mike Schmitz shares his moment of clarity with intentional technology use and how he continues the fight to shift expectations around email. I’m Mike Schmitz, Executive Editor here at The Sweet Setup and co-host of the Focused and Bookworm podcasts. I’ve asked quite a few people to share […] »

Kyle Bauman is the Associate Pastor of Discipleship & Students at Bear Valley Community Church in Colleyville, TX where his main responsibility is teaching and leading ministries for middle school, high school, and college students. »

In this Mindfulness Monday post, we talk about how to use your technology to develop your ideas and turn them into action. »

As the pace of our everyday lives continues to increase, it's only natural to look for an escape. As information and commitments are thrown at us without discretion at breakneck speed, we covet every opportunity to hit "pause" and disconnect. »

Are you thinking of evaluating your task management system for the New Year? Here are a few quick tips for staying productive and focused. »

The Twelve South HiRise Pro and BackPack are great accessories for cleaning up the desk around your iMac and for pushing your iMac to new ergonomic heights. »

Catch up on what we published this week and last, including an update to our favorite habit tracking app review, a look at the latest version of iA Writer, a tip on using Siri, and more. »

In this Mindfulness Monday post, we share some tips on how to set yourself up for NaNoWriMo success. »

Aside from what you are actually going to write, the next question to answer is what tool will you use? »

This is just a slick-as-all-get-out accessory you'll love having on your desk. »

In this Mindfulness Monday post, we take a look at Duolingo and why you might want to use it to apply intentionality to your downtime on your iPhone. »

Catch up on what we published this week, including a mindfulness post on changing your defaults, using new gestures in iPadOS, and more. »

This week, we're looking at a couple of tiling window managers for macOS, how they compare to each other, and a little background on window managers in general. »

Over the next several weeks, we’ll be looking at apps that help facilitate a mindful approach to your technology. »

Flighty is a brand new app designed to take at least some of the stress out of the airport. »

Mike Schmitz is the creator of Faith-Based Productivity, co-hosts the Focused and Bookworm podcasts, and most recently joined The Sweet Setup team as Executive Editor. »

Catch up on what we published this week, including an in-depth look at using a mouse with iPadOS, a reader's Mac and iOS setup, some tips on keeping your Mac desktop clean with Hazel, and more. »

The team behind Day One recently released a new version that allows you to email an entry directly to one of your Day One journals. »

iPads and pointing devices have never coexisted before, so we've taken a close look at how this new input works on the latest public beta of iPadOS. »

Jack Bishop is an Aerospace Software Engineer, iOS Developer, and just finished studying part time for a degree in Software Engineering. »

The iPad is no longer seen as just a bigger piece of glass. Apple is making a commitment to bring consistent, device-specific updates to the iPad. »

Apple always knocks it out of the park with under-the-radar photo features, and it appears that the iOS 13 Photos and Camera apps are no exception. »

As I type this, I’m en route to WWDC 2019. Here’s a look at the bag I’m bringing and the gear inside. »

There are many apps that grace the Mac and iOS App Stores that simply don’t get enough attention or admiration. Sometimes an app is so good at what it does, it becomes the default app for the task and is rarely questioned. Sometimes a new app debuts in a given category and, while it shows […] »

Catch up on what we published this week, including a comparison of GoodNotes and Notability, a tip for adding custom paper types to GoodNotes 5, and more. »

Adding your own paper templates to GoodNotes is an incredibly powerful feature that we love. »

Our new review of the best RSS app for the Mac spans the new Reeder 4 update. »

Dieting and exercise are essential to a happy and productive life, but they can be challenging at times. Luckily, there are tools to help track and encourage your path a healthier self. »

This week we're looking at the Reeder 4 Beta, Drafts for Mac, and MLB at Bat. »

The more you use Ulysses, the better it gets. And because all your documents are plain text, Ulysses is wildly fast at searching and filtering through everything. It does’t get “database bloat.” Here are eight of our favorite superpowers of Ulysses: 1. Keywords Ulysses calls them keywords, but they’re the same thing as tags. You […] »

A detailed look at how Shawn Blanc captures ideas and links and what the process looks like for moving those from the starting line of an idea to the finished product of a published article. »

Alex Tai is a student at Santa Clara University where he studies Computer Engineering and collaborates with others on ideas and new technologies. »

Catch up on what we published this week, including a big update to our review of Ulysses, some great links, and more. »

These days I do just about everything from the iPad. iOS and the iPad have helped me to slow down, simplify, and focus more on the task at hand — especially when that task is writing. »

What appears to be a relatively simple workflow to capture ideas and publish blog posts is actually a super in-depth, super geeky way of using Shortcuts, Ulysses, and Working Copy — one that brings out the power of automation on iOS. »

From a fresh design, to a new toolbar, improvement range management, and new pop out entries, Day One 3.0 for macOS continues to improve on what we love so much about Day One. »

Catch up on what we published this week, including a tip on using Fantastical on your Mac, a review of the Bellroy Work Folio, and more. »

No matter how you use your Apple Watch, there’s always a better third-party app to complete the task at hand. These five Apple Watch apps will really help jump-start your new Apple Watch and get you hooked on the quality and utility of third-party apps. »

Day One hit version 3.4 last week, introducing new Hoefler fonts for the typographically-inclined, new drawing capabilities for the iPad Pro’s new Apple Pencil, new dynamic photo layouts, and improvements to the Apple Watch app. »

This week we're trying Edison Mail, Kodex, and a Shortcut for extracting image URLs. »

This week, we're trying NHL, Pica, and Picsew »

Igor Kulman lives in Prague, Czech Republic and is currently working as the lead iOS developer for a company that builds a secure messaging app for corporate customers. »

Catch up on what we published this week, including our new Day One course, a detailed look at how we use Day One, and more. »

We updated our review for the best journaling app for Mac, iPhone, and iPad, and it's still Day One. Day One first debuted in 2011 and has been the best journaling app ever since. »

When we launched this website in the fall of 2013, we had just a handful of app reviews written: weather, calculator, calendar, and a few others. Of those first reviews, there was one in particular that I wanted to write myself: the pick for best journaling app. The pick was — and still is, of […] »

Sharing your entire photo library with someone is incredibly easy in Google Photos on iOS. »

Things 3 automation for iOS, a reader’s Mac and iPhone setup, a big improvement to MindNode, and more. »

In a significant update to Things 3, Cultured Code has added deep linking features that allow for new levels of automation and workflows for Things on iPhone and iPad. In this guide we will cover all the ways you can use these Things iOS Workflows to your advantage, plus we've got several examples and downloads for you. »

We've updated our review of the best GTD app for Mac, iPhone, and iPad, and Things 3 comes away the winner thanks to its new design and range of humane GTD features. »

If you unboxed a new Mac this year, it's easier than ever to get started on it. »

The Christmas season is a time that many of us unwrap new iPhones, iPads, and iPods. Anytime I get a new device, I always take a look around to see if there are any new apps that can help make my mobile computing life better. »

Today, the folks at Cultured Code released an update to Things that allows you to send emails to your Inbox. »

As is our annual tradition, we like to select a handful of apps and services to help you get through the season with your sanity intact. »

Use 1Password to generate one-time passwords for logins to improve your security. »

Ulysses has become the central spot for where I store all my notes, research, and other tidbits of inspiration. It's also where I toss all my writing ideas, and it’s where I actually do all my writing. Here's what it looks like... »

1Password makes it easy to review your passwords and determine which ones need to be updated. »

Safari allows you to test the responsiveness of your website by showing you how it will display on different sized devices. »

Todoist is a productivity app makes managing your tasks and projects easy. And because it’s web-based, it also allows you to access your to-do list from just about anywhere. »

It shouldn't be surprising that I want to work as efficiently and effectively as possible. Much of that boils down to one thing: working smarter. »

One of the most powerful features a task manager like OmniFocus offers is the ability to filter your tasks and projects to show you only what you want to see at any given moment. »

You can easily mute notifications for individual friends in the Activity app with a simple settings change. »

Aaron Riddle is a professional cartoonist who runs the Buy a Drawing site, where he draws custom cartoons, illustrates, greeting cards, and more. »

Tim Bornholdt is a co-founder of The Jed Mahonis Group, a mobile app development shop based in Minneapolis, MN, and also films and edits C Tolle Run, a weekly show about running and fitness hosted by Olympian athlete, Carrie Tollefson. »

Brian Baggett is a cloud management architect for Sovereign Systems in Norcross, Georgia where he helps companies build hybrid clouds and embrace automation at the enterprise level. »

A review we published last week, a tip on using Narwhal, a reader's setup, and more. »

You can quickly share posts and links from Narwhal with this simple shortcut. »

If your favorite sites aren't listed in Apple News, you can easily add them from the Safari share sheet. »

Kramer Wetzel is a writer and a consulting astrologer, now based in San Antonio with deep roots in the Austin area, where he's been doing readings and writing horoscopes for more than 20 years. »

Our favorite note-taking app for iOS, a setup interview of an Apple Consulting team, a tip on using Fantastical, and more. »

​Magic Number — The most intuitive calculator. Exclusively for Mac. »

Foojee is a team of Apple Consultants operating out of Atlanta and Nashville that helps organizations and schools build rock-solid solutions with their Apple IT. »

Our favorite mail app for OS X, a tip on keeping iTunes from launching from Safari, and more. »

In an incredibly elegant and simple manner, timeshel helps create a monthly rhythm of printing photos — reconnecting us to the special experience of seeing our lives unfold in tangible form. »

David Robert Wright is working toward becoming a pastor, working as a private vocal instructor and performing musician, and also an avid photographer. »

The holidays are here, and we've collected some of our favorite apps to help you through this busy but special time. »

With Day One, there are many ways to view and filter your timeline of entries. We're going to show you how they all work, as well as how you can also mix and match for advanced filtering of your timeline view. »

Our favorite Wikipedia app for iPhone, a reader's iOS setup, a tip about Pinboard, and more. »

A reader's Mac and iOS setup, a tip on using Wunderlist, OS X El Capitan, Tweetbot 4, and more. »

Our favorite time zone calculator app for iPhone, a reader's Mac and iOS setup, a tip about using Wunderlist, and more. »

If you deal with lots of tasks, files, notes, projects and clients, then you need to try Pagico. Pagico is elegant, powerful, easy-to-use and cross-platform. Try for free, and save 20% by the end of September. »

The best flight tracker app for iPhone, a Mac and iOS setup, a tip about Instapaper, and lots more. »

The Smart SYSTM iPhone 6 case is the first in a series of premium solutions that keeps your device and content safe -- offering real protection through good design »

Jeff Sheldon is the founder and designer of Ugmonk, a design brand that sells products like leather goods, prints, hoodies, and other sweet accessories. »

Thomas Mathoi is a freelance project manager, creator of software, father, and husband. »

Rachel Anderson is a Web Producer for a specialty publisher focused on medical journalism, and also writes about technology and culture at Sanspoint.com. »

A reader's iOS setup from Moscow, a tip about your Health.app data, and more. »

The data from Health.app used to be something I didn’t think about too much. Once I got Apple Watch, that all changed. I’m feeding a ton of exercise data into it and also calorie data from MyFitnessPal. This data is backed up to iCloud and synced between devices. If you’re not using iCloud, you can […] »

Chad Landman is a youth minister (pastor), independent designer, and podcaster living in the middle Tennessee area with his wife and two sons. »

Dean Sherwood is a filmmaker and photographer working in the music industry for a UK band called The Vamps. »

Here are the things we published this week, as well as some great link material. You can also stay up-to-date by following us on Twitter and RSS. Also, we have a weekly email newsletter that sums up all the new and cool things published to the site. If you like to stay up-to-date via email, […] »

Let others know you're 'In The Zone' with a custom, wireless, LED 'Busy' sign from Wired In. Whether you work at home with kids, in an open office, or any team environment, Wired In protects important moments of focus from distraction. »

Blake Cloutier is a fourth year Civil Engineering student, a Player Support Representative with Disney Interactive, and also works remotely for an animal supply company. »

Brian Hamilton is a film student living in Boston, MA, works as a videographer for a local business school, and also does freelance writing, photography, and podcasts. »

Daniel is a student who is fascinated with technology and the convenience it adds to our lives, especially the role smartphones play. »

Álvaro Serrano is the author and publisher of Analog Senses, a website about the human side of technology featuring links and articles on design, photography, Apple, and the tech industry in general. »

Jamelle Bouie is a staff writer for Slate magazine, where he covers politics and policy, takes photographs, and sometimes goes on TV. »

Many great app updates are shipping this week. We are collecting a list of the most notable updates and the best new apps for iOS 8. »

Shahaf Levi is a writer and developer on his site, SL Repository, where he builds apps and writes about things he discovers. »

Rdio was updated with new features and a new free version that make it significantly better service for both paying and non-paying subscribers alike. »

A quick tip, interesting setup, a new podcast network, and more. »

The universal genius for photo editing, batch conversion, metadata editing, image browsing and much more »

Oliver Haslam is a part-time writer of words, full-time tinkerer of tech, and father. »

A new podcast app, a quick tip, an awesome setup, and more. »

Overcast is a new iOS podcast app by Marco Arment that gives existing apps a run for their money. »

No one wants a brick wallet weighing down their back. Here are some easy tips from Bellroy to slim down. »

Jago Silver is an illustrator living in Cornwall, UK who has illustrated more than 40 children's books, along with magazines, album covers and logos. »

Joe spends his days repairing Apple products, and writes for his blog and other publications by night. »

Our pick for the best list-making app for iOS and Mac, a quick tip, an awesome link, and more. »

JetPens is a web store that offers unique, high-quality writing instruments and office toys. Spend $25 and get a free Signo 0.38 fine-tip gel ink pen (Shawn's favorite pen). »

A sweet iPhone setup, a quick tip about Find my iPhone, some great articles, and more. »

David is a content strategist and writer who runs the marketing and PR for AgileBits (1Password), and also runs Finer Things in Tech. »

With the 3.0 update to our favourite photo editing app for the iPhone, VSCO Cam is now better than ever. »

Quick links to the articles and reviews we published this week. »

Federico is the writer behind MacStories.net, the co-host of The Prompt podcast, contributing author to The Sweet Setup, and a casual eater of pasta. »

Matthew Panzarino is a Senior Editor at TechCrunch where he writes about a lot of stuff like startups, technology trends, and cool new inventions. But mostly about Apple and Twitter. »

Chris Gonzales lives in Oklahoma City with his wife and son. He's known for his site, Unretrofied, and is a daily contributor to Tools & Toys, a sister site to The Sweet Setup. »

Matt Gemmell is a consultant user experience designer and software engineer, mostly for iOS apps. He's also a speaker and writer. »

Welcome! We're here because we enjoy spending an inordinate amount of time and energy to research, test, and find the very best apps. »