Mac Power Users
by Relay
Latest episode
874: iPad mini Review, PROLED MacBook Pro, David Got a Duo
874: iPad mini Review, PROLED MacBook Pro, David Got a Duo
About this podcast
Learn about getting the most from your Apple technology with focused topics and workflow guests. Creating Mac Power Users since 2009, one conversation at a time. Hosted by David Sparks and Stephen Robles.
Episodes
The newest 50 of 874 episodes
- 874: iPad mini Review, PROLED MacBook Pro, David Got a Duo · 1 h 20 min · Episode 874We review the new OLED iPad mini, thoughts on the PROLED MacBook Pro, and most importantly, David managed to acquire an iPhone Duo.
- 873: iPhone Duo Review and Touchscreen MacBook Pro · 1 h 19 min · Episode 873David and Stephen unpack Apple’s latest Macs and iPad mini, then compare the iPhone Duo’s everyday benefits and tradeoffs. Stephen buys a Mac mini live as they weigh cameras…
- 872: The Mighty Mac mini · Episode 872Sparky swapped his Mac Studio for an M6 Mac mini, and he breaks down everything a Mac mini can do as an always-on home server: backups, automations, app hosting, Plex, Docker…
- 871: AI Can't Fake Taste with Emmy-Winning Composer Michael Whalen · 1 h 21 min · Episode 871Emmy-winning composer Michael Whalen returns to talk about his Mac Studio, Logic Pro, and the move from making music to directing AI-assisted films. David and Stephen also…
- 870: The Full Sparky · 1 h 22 min · Episode 870David is READY, launcher follow-up, Stephen tries Tailscale, new iOS 27 Shortcuts Actions, David's new gadget, and listener feedback!
- 869: It Was Basically a Wash · 1 h 6 min · Episode 869David and Stephen compare the Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Series 12, discuss David's move to an M6 Mac mini for local AI and server work, and test Siri AI on everyday tasks.
- 868: Tyler Stalman Reviews iPhone 18 Pro Camera · 1 h 17 min · Episode 868Photographer and filmmaker Tyler Stalman joins us to go in-depth on iPhone 18 Pro camera, including the faster main lens, variable aperture, and the new Pro Controls, and why…
- 867: Deep Dive on macOS 27 and Siri AI · 1 h 31 min · Episode 867David and Stephen compare iOS 27 and macOS 27 after a summer of daily use, covering Liquid Glass, Safari extensions, Spotlight, Siri AI, HomeKit, AppleCare One Family, Apple…
- 866: The Ternus Doctrine · 1 h 21 min · Episode 866The torch is passed to John Ternus who beings his first Apple event as CEO, espousing a new doctrine of the "intelligent personal hub." Then we dive into all the hardware…
- 865: Harvard Professor Teddy Svoronos on AI in the Classroom · 1 h 13 min · Episode 865Teddy Svoronos returns to the Mac Power Users. Teddy explains how he uses tech to teach at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and the challenges of teaching in the age of A.I.
- 864: Marked Safe from Buying M5 Ultra · 1 h 15 min · Episode 864Apple announced a brand new M6 chip, their first with 2nm process, plus upgraded Mac Studio. Does David regret his recent MacBook Pro purchase? Then we launch into listener…
- 863: 20 Years of Things with Werner Jainek · 1 h 19 min · Episode 863Werner Jainek of Cultured Code on nearly 20 years of Things: implementing Siri AI, building a custom sync engine, and staying independent and unfunded since 2007.
- 862: Mac Launcher Showdown · 1 h 15 min · Episode 862We put Spotlight, Raycast, and Alfred head-to-head to find the best launcher on Mac!
- 861: Stephen Builds a New Task App · 1 h 12 min · Episode 861In search of the perfect kanban-style project management app, Stephen couldn't find what he was looking for. So, he built his own! We discuss the current landscape of tasks apps…
- 860: The Friday Incident with Merlin Mann · 1 h 30 min · Episode 860Merlin Mann returns to Mac Power Users 16 years after being our very first guest to break down the AI system he's built — Codex, "triangulation," 31 cross-indexed data sources…
- 859: Tangential Gadgets · 1 h 26 min · Episode 859David and Stephen turn the show on themselves: bags, chargers, MagSafe batteries, and fitness trackers. No tangential gadget is left behind.
- 858: Making Educational Videos for 17 Years with Ian Byrd · 1 h 18 min · Episode 858Teacher of teachers Ian Byrd returns to share how he's created thousands of videos using an unlikely stack: Keynote for visuals, Descript for editing, and iPad Pro for using AI…
- 857: Sparmerica · 1 h 36 min · Episode 857A stacked feedback mailbag: Siri AI's per-device indexing, a Gmail-to-Siri trick, iOS 27's Extend and Reframe photo tools, subscription fatigue, Wispr Flow dictation, and an…
- 856: iOS 27 Beta Features and Siri AI · 1 h 1 min · Episode 856David bought his MacBook Pro at the *perfect* time, then we discuss Siri AI, iOS 27 beta, and the cultural reception of AI.
- 855: Federico Viticci Reverse Engineered Shortcuts · 1 h 14 min · Episode 855Federico Viticci breaks down iOS 27's Shortcuts updates: Describe a Shortcut, Else If, new automation triggers, and built-in data storage. Plus his coder era, Shortcuts…
- 854: Obscure (and Excellent) Mac Apps · 1 h 14 min · Episode 854Lesser-known Mac apps that deserve way more attention: from AI typing assistants, to hacky Stream Decks, note-taking apps, helpful utilities, and beautiful desktop enhancements.
- 853: Siri AI and WWDC 2026 · 1 h 14 min · Episode 853Stephen reports live from Apple Park on WWDC 2026: the post-keynote tech talk, Gemini partnership explained, and Siri AI that finally works. Plus shortcuts, photos AI, and more.
- 852: Designed in California and WWDC Wishlist with Myke Hurley · 1 h 8 min · Episode 852Myke Hurley joins us to discuss the launch of Designed in California, a new Apple history podcast with Jason Snell. Then we share our hopes for WWDC, what AI features we may see…
- 851: I Have Contraband · 1 h 16 min · Episode 851David and Stephen answer listener feedback: rebuilding Apple Home with Aqara power-over-Ethernet cameras, smart scales, raw photo editing, connecting AI to email, off-site…
- 850: Overcast Transcripts and 48 Mac minis with Marco Arment · 1 h 45 min · Episode 850Marco Arment joins us to dive deeper on Overcast transcripts, the 48 Mac mini server powering it all, how AI is changing app development, restaurant tech, and more!
- 849: Surviving Your Camera Roll · 1 h 19 min · Episode 849David and Stephen take on the wide, messy world of Apple photo management, from pruning fifty-thousand-photo libraries to backing up iCloud Photos. They cover Shared Library…
- 848: eReaders and Workflows with Jason Snell · 1 h 27 min · Episode 848Jason Snell joins the show to discuss the state of e-readers, why dedicated reading devices still beat the iPad, Kindle vs Kobo, plus libraries, physical books, note-taking…
- 847: Actually Useful AI Tools · 1 h 14 min · Episode 847David and Stephen take stock of where AI is actually useful right now. They cover dictation, browsers, agentic workflows, MCP, and Apple Intelligence, plus the real projects each…
- 846: State of Apple Watch 2026 · 1 h 29 min · Episode 846After brief thoughts on John Ternus becoming Apple's next CEO, we dive into the current state of Apple Watch. We explore our setups, faces, complications, apps, and what we hope…
- 845: Intentional Technology with Patrick Rhone · 1 h 19 min · Episode 845Patrick Rhone returns. The gang discusses Apple Silicon rewriting the Mac upgrade cycle, the Apple Refurb Store, and minimalist phones.
- 844: Building the Ideal Apple Smart Home · 1 h 24 min · Episode 844A comprehensive look at the state of Apple Smart Home in 2026. David and Stephen share their setups, cover the latest standards, new devices of interest, helpful automations, and…
- 843: Bear and Glass Teaches Keyboard Control · 1 h 19 min · Episode 843Brett Terpstra and Christopher Gamblée-Wallendjack introduce Bear & Glass, their human-focused Mac automation consultancy. Brett shares his ultimate keyboard-driven workflow…
- 842: Bribing the Fiber Guy · 1 h 22 min · Episode 842Stephen and David dig into listener feedback on iCloud security, Dropbox alternatives, AI robot assistants, Apple Intelligence Shortcuts, Claude computer control, and more!
- 841: The Robot Assistant Field Guide · 1 h 23 min · Episode 841David walks through the AI robot assistant he built with Claude Cowork, from file management and email to invoicing and podcast production. Plus, why managed AI agents finally…
- 840: Finder is More Powerful Than You Think · 1 h 28 min · Episode 840We break down Finder workflows, Hazel automations, Alfred shortcuts, and the systems that keep us organized on macOS.
- 839: Fifty Years of Apple with David Pogue · 1 h 25 min · Episode 839Author and broadcaster David Pogue joins the Mac Power Users to talk about his new book, 50 Years of Apple, and his tech stack.
- 838: iPhone Setup Showdown · 1 h 25 min · Episode 838We break down our entire iPhone setups including Home Screens, widgets, Focus Modes, Control Center, Action Button, and more! Stephen *may* have inspired David on this one.
- 837: Menu Bar Mayhem · 1 h 35 min · Episode 837David and Stephen go deep on the Mac menu bar, comparing their contrasting philosophies and walk through their favorites. They also explore how macOS 26's multiple Control…
- 836: Welcome, Stephen · 1 h 36 min · Episode 836David officially welcomes Stephen as co-host, exploring his background in music, podcasting, and his Mac setup. Then, rapid-fire questions, putting Stephen on the spot for some…
- 835: Farewell, Stephen · 1 h 5 min · Episode 835David and Stephen celebrate the last seven years of Mac Power Users, reflecting on the topics, episodes, and community that make MPU so special. Then, Stephen Robles joins to…
- 834: I Am The Tardis · 1 h 13 min · Episode 834Stephen starts the episode with an announcement, then he and David revisit writing workflows, Keyboard Maestro, notifications, and more. At the end, the guys attempt to answer…
- 833: Chris Bailey and His Battle-Scarred M1 · 1 h 25 min · Episode 833Chris Bailey shares his unconventional tech stack: TextEdit for writing, SimpleNote for tasks, and printing research on paper. He also tried using an iPad mini as his phone to…
- 832: All About Apple Weather · 1 h 22 min · Episode 832After talking through the new Apple Creator Studio bundle, Stephen shares his notes with David after switching to the Apple Weather app for a month.
- 831: Revisiting Our Writing Workflows · 1 h 18 min · Episode 831From fancy pens to blank screens with a blinking cursor, there are more ways to write than ever. This week, the guys discuss several of them, weighing their pros and cons, and…
- 830: iOS 26: Focus Modes & Notifications · 1 h 26 min · Episode 830Our phones are constantly vying for our attention. This week, David and Stephen discuss strategies for managing notifications and regaining control.
- 829: Tech That Worked in 2025 · 1 h 42 min · Episode 829With the year winding down, Stephen and David reflect on what went well in their tech stacks, touching on Apple silicon, the company's default apps, AI tools, home automation…
- 828: Revisiting Keyboard Maestro · 1 h 28 min · Episode 828David and Stephen talk through their uses of Keyboard Maestro, diving deep into automation, text expansion, and more.
- 827: Every Two Months or So · 1 h 28 min · Episode 827On this feedback episode, the guys revisit the smart home, iPadOS 26, the lack of a big iMac, charging stations, and much more.
- 826: 2025 State of the Platforms (Part 2) · 2 h 24 min · Episode 826The guys wrap up their review of Apple's 2025 with a look at the iPhone, Apple TV, iCloud, and Apple's other services. They then zoom out and look at the overall ecosystem.
- 825: 2025 State of the Platforms (Part 1) · 2 h 8 min · Episode 825This week, Stephen and David start their annual tour of Apple's products, beginning with the Mac, then they consider the Apple Watch, the Vision Pro, and the company's lineup of…
