MPU 345 - iCloud vs. Dropbox for File Storage

Starting in March I began running experiments with using iCloud vs. Dropbox for cloud-based file storage. This week's episode of Mac Power Users reports in my findings. We're also joined by David Chartier, who recently switched from Dropbox to iCloud. I could tell you which service I ultimately chose but where's the drama in that?

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The Siri Complaint Department

alt Mossberg wrote an article over at Recode, Why does Siri seem so Dumb?. In it Walt points out several failings.

“It seems to me that Apple has wasted its lead with Siri. And now Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, and others are on the march. Apple has made excited announcements each time it added knowledge domains like sports and movies and restaurants to Siri on the iPhone. But it seems like it hasn’t added any major new topic domains in quite a while.
”

— Walt Mossberg

I understand that Apple has fixed several of these issues since the article posted but that’s actually part of the problem. Why does it take an article by a popular journalist to get these things fixed? I feel as if Siri needs more attention. I don’t think the underlying technology is as bad as most people think but it is these little failures that causes everyone to lose faith. Siri is a cloud based service and needs to be upgraded and improved every day. While things are better, the rate of improvement needs to accelerate.

Dragon Professional Individual for Mac, v6 Review

There's no secret that I'm a voice dictation fan. I know a lot of folks that enjoy fancy pens and artisan notebooks but for me words (particularly first draft words) are more something that I want to get out of my system than something to lavish upon. I started using dictation tools about 20 years ago, when they were pretty crappy.

Nowadays, however, our computers are a lot faster than those of 20 years ago and voice dictation software is quite a bit smarter. One of the leaders in this space is (and always has been) Nuance and its Dragon Professional for Mac dictation software.

A Brief History Lesson about Dragon and the Mac

For a long time, the Mac was a wasteland for dictation software. In 2008, a product called "MacSpeech Dictate" showed up and it was workable, so long as you had never used the superior Dragon Dictate on PC. (I used to run a virtual PC on my Mac largely for the purpose of using Dragon Dictate for PC.) Then MacSpeech licensed the Dragon dictation engine and things got better. A year later, Nuance bought MacSpeech Dictate outright and turned it into Dragon Professional for Mac. Since then Dragon Professional for Mac has been the gold standard for dictation on the Mac. The built-in macOS dictation isn't bad but also can't keep up with Dragon Professional for Mac on accuracy or features.

The Skinny on Version 6

Every year or two, Nuance releases an update to Dragon for Mac. Version 6 just landed and I've been using the heck out of it. The short version of this story is that dictation and usability improvements make Dragon Professional for Mac version 6 both a great product to get in on if you want to get serious about dictation and a worthy upgrade for existing users. Here come the details…

Easier On-Ramp

One of the reasons a lot of people don't get very far with dictation is the training process. It takes time to get your microphone set properly and then train the application to understand your voice and speech peculiarities. This new version  does away with much of the previously required training and instead does a better job of learning through your use of the product.

The app is also better at distinguishing your words from background noise. That makes the app more forgiving. I normally dictate using my high quality podcast microphone. However, for the past few weeks, I've been using my Mac's internal microphone to dictate words (including these). There is a small accuracy hit but it's really not that bad. A few years ago, the application was unusable with built-in microphones. Now I think you could pull this off, even in an environment with low background noise.

Dictation Speed and Accuracy

Every version of Dragon Dictate boasts improved accuracy. Nuance reports this update improves accuracy by 15%. So long as I dictate complete sentences and don't try to change course in the middle of a thought, I was already getting very high accuracy with version 5. Indeed, this is the secret to all dictation. If you give the application clear enough enunciation and context, Dragon can be extremely accurate. With a 1,000 word dictation, I normally have 5-10 corrections. Let's call it 99%. With version 6, I'm still getting excellent accuracy. I ran a few tests and I'm getting about the same numbers with version 6.

The difference, however, with version 6 is dictation speed. Put simply, the words are showing up on the screen faster, making dictation easier. I like that.

There are a couple reasons for this. One is that the engine is just faster. Another is some underlying technology improvements with the way Dragon views words on your screen. Up until now, typing and dictating at the same time with Dragon on a Mac was the dictation equivalent of crossing the streams. That's not true with Version 6. Through clever use of Apple's accessibility API, Dragon can now monitor text and edits you make on screen while you dictate. This only works in applications that support the accessibility API but Scrivener, TextEdit, and Pages are among them. New apps are getting added as Nuance verifies their accessibility support.

User Interface

While the underlying engine of Dragon Dictate for Mac has been on par with its PC counterpart for years, the Mac version's user interface has been playing catch up with the much more mature PC version. Nuance made big strides with version 6 with revamped status and correction windows that feel less … well … goofy. They also cleaned up the way the windows display commands and the preferences selection screen. These changes are a welcome face lift but they were also designed to reduce the number of clicks and scrolls required to get things done. 

Transcription

Transcription, the act of extracting text from a pre-recorded voice file, used to be a separate product but got added to Dragon Dictate as a built-in feature a few versions ago. However, it always felt a bit like it was bolted on to Dragon Dictate. The new version fixes this. Transcription is now fully integrated into the application. Moreover, they've removed the need for training. Dragon instead trains its transcription engine with the first 90-seconds of your first transcription file. They've also added a batch transcription tool. I often record several small recordings and transcribing them all at once is a nice improvement.

The Ecosystem

In the last year Nuance has improved the ecosystem around their dictation software. I also use Dragon Anywhere for dictation on iOS. With the latest version of Dragon Dictate for Mac, custom vocabulary words are now shared between Mac and iOS devices. If I add a new word on my iPad and then find myself dictating it on the Mac a few days later, it just works.

I use Dragon Professional for Mac every day. I think a lot of people that gave up on dictation 10 years ago are missing out. If that's you, check out the new Dragon.

Dropbox's Big iOS Update

Dropbox has long been an essential service for iOS power users but you wouldn't know that based on their app. Today that changed with the release of a new version with several substantial new improvements including:

1. PDF Signing

You can now sign a PDF document right inside the Dropbox application. It's not a substitute for a quality PDF application but in a jam, it will get the job done.

2. Messages Support

You can now link a Dropbox file from right inside messages instead of having to go back to the application for a link.

3. Widget Support

There's now a Dropbox widget so you can create, view, and upload files from the widget.

4. Notifications and Lock Screen

Dropbox supports notifications including letting you know when someone saves a new version of a file. This is another feature that will make Dropbox-based collaboration easier.

5. Picture in Picture

I've got a lot of media stored on Dropbox. I've long waited for this feature that lets Dropbox become an iOS media player.

Split Screen?

The feature I want most in iOS Dropbox, split screen, sadly isn't part of the update but Dropbox promises it is coming soon.

Edit in Place?

Another feature I'd like to see Dropbox support is true "edit in place" functionality. Currently, if you want to edit a Pages document or PDF file stored in Dropbox, it gets sent out to the third party application where it makes a copy and then you have all the shenanigans that result from multiple copies of documents. Dropbox does support edit in place with Microsoft Word documents and PDFs (if you'll edit them in Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat) but that is far too limiting. iCloud actually does a better job at this part of the equation than Dropbox. Hopefully more robust edit in place support is on the horizon.

All Podcasts. All the Time.

If you've been missing my dulcet tones, I've got several new podcasts:

The Productivity Podcast with Paul Minors

Paul Minors has a great productivity minded podcast. On it I talked about some of my own personal workflows and my thoughts on "productivity" in general.

MPU 343: Workflows with Serenity Caldwell

iMore writer and artist Serenity Caldwell joins the Mac Power Users to talk about the iPad, Mac, the new iPhone, and artist workflows.

MPU 344: Hello, Computer

The "Live" show has been renamed MPU+. We discuss what to do with Macs that Sierra has left behind, the problem with "free" software, Network vs. Direct Attached storage, listeners share their feedback on Amazon and tips for using Ulysses and Scrivener. We also learn how to print to PDF from Apple Mail and much more.

Sponsor – OmniGraffle →

This week MacSparky is sponsored by OmniGraffle. I recently gave a presentation on, of all things, how to give a presentation. I had a few simple diagrams to illustrate my points. After the talk finished, I had several questions about my graphics. One participant asked me , “How do you find graphics that so perfectly match your points?” When I told her that I make them myself, her eyes glazed over a bit. In truth, they shouldn’t have. Anybody can make great diagrams and graphics with OmniGraffle.

OmniGraffle applies the Omni Group’s obsession for superior software engineering and design to the problem of creating diagrams and graphics. Traditionally, graphic software has been indecipherable to mere mortals without first taking a 10-day course and reading a 300 page user manual. OmniGraffle is not like that. It took me about an hour to get good enough at OmniGraffle to make custom graphics for myself. Those graphics are littered all over my books, trial exhibits, videos, and even this website. If you’ve ever had need to make your own graphics, stop goofing off and get yourself into OmniGraffle.

This is an excellent time to do so. They are getting ready to release version 7 and right now it is in a public test. That means you get an extended trial of the new version. If you’re feeling intimidated, watch a few product videos first, but either way take OmniGraffle for spin today and find out for yourself how empowering it can be to make your own graphics and diagrams.

∞

Zen and the Art of Work

Kourosh Dini, author and publisher of using Creating Flow with OmniFocus (and this guy) has a new project called Zen and the Art of Work. I have to admit that I’m normally resistant to anything that incorporates “Zen” into the name because the word has been twisted so much by commerce over the last 20 years that it’s now practically meaningless. However, in this case, I’d make an exception. I’ve known Kourosh for years and talked to him about how he balances his love for his family, his music, his medical practice (he’s a psychiatrist), and his other projects (like this one). The last time I had lunch with Kourosh, he wasn’t coming apart at the seams (like I often find myself) but instead wanted to sell me on a fiction book he’d read that he thought was just perfect for me. So if Kourosh wants to use the word Zen when teaching us how to work mindfully, he should by all means do so.

Zen and the Art of Work is a series of 16 video modules that helps the viewer develop her own habits gradually and without pressure. The series is productivity-system-agnostic so no matter what “system” or software you want to use, it should work for you. It’s all well-produced and Kourosh is an excellent teacher. It’s also reasonably priced at $35 and comes with a 30-day refund period if it doesn’t work for you.

Home Screens – Jonathan Copeland

I’ve recently been corresponding with Jonathan Copeland (Website)(Twitter). Jonathan is an information science/multimedia student at the University of Pretoria and he’s got some definite opinions on his favorite apps. So Jonathan, show us your home screen.

What are some of your favorite apps?

Music —  It’s very seldom that I’m not listening to something, in fact, as I’m typing this I’ve got Full Moon by Petit Biscuit blasting. I love every bit of the redesign of Apple Music in iOS 10, especially the For You tab and it’s weekly personalised playlists. 

FaceTime —  a lot of my close friends and family live in different parts of South Africa and the world, so being able to actually see them is incredible. It’s a long drive home to my parents, but every now and then we’ll have dinner or tea over FaceTime. It’s the best.

Pocket Casts — I listen to podcasts on the couch, my commute or whilst I’m ironing, and I enjoy using Casts (website)(iTunes) because of it’s colourful design and features, ‘Trim Silence’ and episode filters. 

Habit building apps —  I use Streaks (iTunes)(website) to focus on what’s important by keeping habits. Day One (iTunes)(website) is my daily journal that I’ve been using it for just under four years. I use Calm (iTunes)(website) near the end of the day for peaceful background music and meditations. The Nike+ RunClub (iTunes)(website) app makes running feel much more exciting with in-run commentary, stats and achievements. I’m also enjoying the iOS 10 Bedtime Clock feature and how it’s made me aware of my sleep schedule. 

Which app is your guilty pleasure?

Twitter — I use Twitter (iTunes)(website) to stay abreast of what’s happening in the world, however as awesome as it is it can be a time suck.

What app makes you most productive?

Evernote — I appreciate Evernote (iTunes)(website) more and more with each passing year. It’s the first app I open on my Mac everyday, and the iOS app is great for on-the-go note-taking and access to any of my notes. Evernote’s companion app, Scannable, is wonderful for going paperless and I’ve used it to scan every test and class handout since starting University last year.

Tyme — I discovered this gem during the June holidays and it’s completely changed the way I work. Tyme (iTunes)(website) is a time tracking app that I use to monitor how I’m working on my various University modules and side projects. It’s great because it keeps me accountable and provides data of how long, when and what I’m spending my time on.

What widgets are you using and why?

I absolutely love iOS 10’s widgets. Before and after each class I glance at the Fantastical (iTunes)(website) widget to see what’s next, where it is and how long until my next lecture. Sometimes it’s easy to forget about upcoming due dates, and the OmniFocus (iTunes)(website) widget makes sure that never happens. The quick capture inbox button is something I have already grown quite attached to. The Evernote widget is awesome with it’s buttons for quick capturing of notes and images.

What is the app you are still missing?

What I’m missing is less of an app and more of a feature request in existing ones. I’m a big fan of the new iOS 10 widgets and would love to see Tyme (iTunes)(website) and Streaks (iTunes)(website) implement widgets of their own. Streaks is a habit tracking app, so being able to be reminded of habits and then tick the off through a widget would be incredible. Tyme on macOS has a nifty little Finder widget that lets you know how long you’ve worked in a day. I would be so excited to see something like that implemented in a widget.  

What is your favorite feature of the iPhone/iPad?

iOS. I love how someone doing the basics and someone as immersed in apps as myself can get equal amounts of pleasure and delight from our iPhones; and with every new version of iOS the experience gets even better. 

If you were in charge at Apple, what would you add or change?

I would bring attention back to our professional users’ needs. I feel like the iPad is a missed opportunity: for all that it can do, it’s still not the personal computer replacement that it could be. To earn the title “Pro” I feel that it needs to run Affinity Designer, Logic, Xcode, Final Cut Pro, Sketch and all the other pro creation apps. I would direct resources into developing a unique iPad operating system that can truly replace the personal computer and take advantage of the incredible hardware on offer. It’s obvious that macOS needs to be more of a priority again with more Mac first innovations. Apple’s income largely comes from typical consumers, but their future depends on their pros.

What’s your wallpaper and why?

I like wallpapers that are simple, but that remind me of something important. My current wallpaper is the logo from the front cover of a book I love, ‘Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance’ by Robert M Pirsig. The story revolves around a motorcycle journey across the U.S. by the author and his son. Along the way the author discusses quality, values, life and technology. The book gave me a new perspective and I like to be reminded of that.

Thanks Jonathan.

Hurricane Apps

I've been following the news pretty closely about Hurricane Matthew as it works its way up the Florida coast. In addition to a close friend, there is currently a conference going on in Orlando where some of the smartest Mac lawyers in the country are assembled in one room … in the path of a hurricane. Yikes.

As I write this post, Matthew is just arriving on the Florida coast and I noticed the App Store on top of things with a collection of apps for folks in Matthew's path. It's nice to see Apple on top of this.

Free Agents 6: The Shawshank Redemption with Shahid Kamal Ahmad

Free Agents just released its sixth episode. This one includes an interview with former PlayStation executive PlayStation Shahid Kamal Ahmad, left Sony to become an independent game developer. We discuss why he left and how he schedules his workday in his garden shed, the ShaShed.

This episode is sponsored by:

• Equal Experts: A diverse network of experienced software consultants, specialising in agile delivery

Samsung’s Viv Acquisition

One of Siri’s original founders, Dag Kittlaus, left Apple a few years ago and started a new thing, Viv. I’ve actually been watching this one pretty closely. While Viv is still in development, I’ve always felt it may be something pretty nifty. Maybe it was a reaction to escaping from the Apple yoke but it seemed as if the team behind Viv was set on keeping it platform agnostic.

That’s no longer the case. A few days ago Samsung acquired Viv. Word is that Viv will remain an independent company but will only develop Viv for Samsung phones. (It will be curious to see if they rebrand the name.)

Increasingly, lines are being drawn. Apple has Siri. Google has Google Assistant. And now Samsung will have Viv. It looks like we’re going to have less competition on individual platforms but instead competition between platforms. I don’t think the idea of digital assistants is going away anytime soon. But that’s about all we can be sure of. How this all plays out or even what exactly a digital assistant does in a few years is anyone’s guess right now.

Clockwise 157 →

This week I guested on the Clockwise podcast, where we talked about Google's new stuff, including Google Home; Apple's new Spoken Editions of print articles; and imagining the Next Big Thing.

∞

Yahoo.Gov

It is becoming increasingly clear that last year, the government ordered Yahoo to search its entire user email database and Yahoo’s response was, “no problem”. According to the New York Times, Yahoo was forbidden from disclosing the order and the collection is no longer taking place, but if they’re forbidden from disclosing, how would we really know that? Moreover, if that particular collection has stopped, who is to say that there aren’t other searches ongoing that still have not been disclosed. Is the government co-opting other technology companies to do their snooping for them? Yahoo has responded that Reuter’s original reporting of this was “misleading”, But again how would we really know? All of this is done under the veil of secrecy.

Every time the issue of privacy comes up, I feel like a bit of a dinosaur. I think privacy is a fundamental right and one upon which the United States was founded. It is baffling to me that these big companies, with presumably teams of lawyers, can just roll over so easily when the government asked them to search their entire email database.

If you could pretend for a moment that the Internet and email didn’t exist and discovered that the US Postal Service was opening and scanning every piece of mail that went through on the lookout for some particular piece of correspondence involving a terrorist or a foreign government, you would probably be outraged. I would be. The difference between that hypothetical world and the one we live in is that the Internet and email does exist and it is technically possible to pull something off like a search of all of Yahoo’s email for all of its users. Put simply, they are doing this because they can. Moreover, the government has shown very little restraint in asking for that type of information. This request may have been for an entirely legitimate reason. However, once you open up that door, it is going to be very difficult to close it.

At a minimum, I believe there should have been public disclosure and the courts should have had an opportunity to weigh in before the government was given such sweeping power. I can’t help but feel that Yahoo let the government off way too easy here and if I were a Yahoo email subscriber (I am not) I would be looking for new options … today.

“Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

— Benjamin Franklin

"Hello Computer"

In our recent Mac Power Users episode on macOS Sierra, both Katie and I bemoaned the fact that you can't verbally trigger Siri on the Mac. It seems a no brainer to me as someone with an iMac on my desk sitting there waiting to work 24/7. Several listeners wrote in to explain that you can trigger Siri on the Mac with your voice using the Mac's accessibility features. Lifehacker has an article showing you every step to enable voice-activated Siri on your Mac. Click on the link to set it up but I will tell you that this actually involves making two separate voice commands: "Hello" and "Computer". Having used it now a few days, I find it works best if you leave a slight delay between the two words. Have fun.

Sponsor: PracticePanther Law Practice Management

This week MacSparky is sponsored by PracticePanther, legal practice management software for the modern attorney. Practice Panther includes tools for attorneys to manage contacts, matters, and documents, track tasks, track time and send invoices, and manage expenses. Using PracticePanther, it takes less than one minute to create and email an invoice to a client. You receive an email confirmation when the client makes a payment, and the software even alerts you when a client views the invoice. Practice Panther also lets attorneys interact with clients with a client portal, notification & chat.

PracticePanther also offers email and iCal integration. See everyone’s calendar in one central location. Attorneys can add events in their native calendar and it appears within PracticePanther’s dashboard.

There's a lot more including custom intake forms, document integration with Dropbox and Box. PracticePanther was designed to be powerful, secure, and easy to use and it seamlessly integrates with all of the apps that attorneys are used to like Gmail, Outlook, Office 365, Quickbooks and many others.

Learn more at PracticePanther.com.

Schedule a demo today and get 50% off your first two months.

Initial Impressions of the Apple AirPods

There's a lot of talk lately about the looming release of Apple's Bluetooth AirPods. It looks like demand is really high (or at least sorta high) and I'm not surprised. When the AirPods were first announced, a lot of people were shocked by the $159 price. I wasn’t. I bought a quality pair of Bluetooth headphones last year and they cost $150 (although now they’re only $99). During the past week, I had the opportunity to spend a little time with some Apple AirPods and thought I'd report in my initial impressions.

• The AirPods feel a lot like Apple's existing EarPods. If you like the way those fit in your ear, you'll be fine with AirPods. If you don't like the fit of EarPods, don't bother with AirPods.
• I'm a lot less worried about them falling out of my ears after having tried them out. The hold is pretty good for day-to-day moving around. I think I could use them on a run but but not rock climbing. In hindsight, the only time I've ever had traditional EarPods fall out of my ear is when there is some external pressure from the cord, like catching it on a door handle (which I do often).
• The battery charging dental-floss-sized case is clever and charges fast. You'll have no problem using AirPods all day if you can occasionally drop them in the case for a recharge. There's also a nice little magnetic snap as the AirPods drop into the case. Once they are in place, they are held in magnetically. You are not going to have an issue with the AirPods falling out of the charging case. It takes deliberate force to get them out.
• The AirPods sound adequate. If you’re picky about headphone quality, these are not the headphones for you. That said, I listened to music in them and, in my brief time with them, thought they were as good, if not better than my current Bluetooth headphones. They are also not noise-cancelling. I don't see myself using them on airplanes.
• I really like the single ear mode. It’s an excellent way to handle calls. I'm on the phone a lot with the day job and I really like the idea of AirPods for calls.
• The lack of physical controls is very … well … Apple. It's part of what makes the AirPods so attractive but also can be maddening if you want to change the volume or skip a track without talking out loud to Siri. If you have an Apple Watch, you can get around this without pulling your phone out of your pocket or purse. I think this shortcoming will be the biggest complaint about AirPods.

The AirPods will release for sale in October.

The Waterfield Bolt Backpack Review

My personal, well-loved Waterfield Bolt

I've recently become a backpack convert. While messenger bags look cool, distributing the weight of my gear to both shoulders feels a lot better at the end of the day. Waterfield is expanding its backpack line and they recently sent me their new Waterfield Bolt backpack to check out. The Bolt measures 12.5 x 16 x 5 inches. It has two zippers across the top. One gets quick access to the laptop compartment and the other gets access to the rest of the cargo. Like other Waterfield bags, the laptop compartment is its own padded sleeve that your laptop can slide into. It's big enough to hold a MacBook Pro or a large iPad Pro. There is a second sleeve sewn on top that can hold a 9.7 inch iPad. I have, on occasion carried two iPads in my Bolt because that's just how I roll.

The main interior is a large cargo compartment. The Bolt has quite a bit more storage than in my Waterfield Staad laptop bag. Another feature common with Waterfield bags is the gold fabric lined interior. I didn't realize how much I appreciated this until recently I was looking for something in my daughter's non-Waterfield backpack. Most backpacks have dark fabric on the inside which makes it even harder to find things when you're digging around. The gold fabric brightens things up and makes finding my gear easier.

Also on the interior are two pockets with the Velcro fasteners to hold miscellaneous items like chargers, business cards, pens and pencils. As an iPad nerd, I can report these pockets are deep enough to hold an Apple Pencil but also shallow enough that the top of the pencil pokes up and is easily retrieved.

The bag is made out of waxed canvas with the leather on the bottom to add some additional support. There's also an integrated leather handle at the top of the bag.

On the front of the bag is two additional pockets with leather tabs and magnetic closures. The pockets are pretty big and I've been keeping one loaded out with personal items, like aspirin and Kleenex, and the other is for tech supplies, like my charging battery, a few cables, and a flashlight (because everybody needs a flashlight). I like having quick access to these items without having to open up the backpack itself. Behind the two compartments is a hidden zipped pocket. There are also pouches on either side perfect for holding a water bottle.

The back of the backpack has a mesh cushion to provide ventilation on a hot day. One of the nice little touches is that this mesh cushion is only sewed on the sides of the bag. There's a gap between the cushion and the rest the bag so you can slide it over a rolling suitcase handle on trips. The straps are also padded and fit well. When wearing this backpack, I cinch the straps down so the bag rides high on my back. I find that, over the long haul, this is more comfortable.

The real story with the Waterfield products is their design and construction. These bags are made to last. I've been buying the Waterfield bags for years. I just recently gave away a Waterfield bag I bought six years ago to and it was in such good shape that my friend mistook it for new. Waterfield gets the details right with quality fabrics, heavy stitching, waterproof zippers, rain guard flaps and all the other small things that give the bag longevity.

As seen in pictures, the bag is also quite attractive. They have various configurations ranging from urban to Indiana Jones. I always lean towards the bags that look like I'm about to head out on expedition.

I've been using this bag for over a month. In between a cross country trip, day hikes, and trips to Disneyland, I'm guessing I've got about 100 miles of walking with this bag on my back and I can report it still feels and looks great.

I now have two Waterfield backpacks. The Staad, which I reviewed a few months ago, is a bit smaller and most appropriate for day trips. If you carry a lot of gear or are looking to use a backpack for travel, you should probably step up to the Bolt. The additional cargo space, combined with the ability to attach it to a rolling suitcase and the large external pockets, make the Waterfield Bolt a perfect travel companion. I took a trip this month and the Waterfield Bolt was great.

I used to make fun of my wife for buying too many purses but given my fetish for high quality bags and backpacks, I really just need to shut up. If you're looking for a backpack for trips or carry a lot of gear, the Waterfield Bolt is for you.

App Camp For Girls Fundraiser

This week I'm in Indianapolis speaking at the Release Notes conference. App Camp For Girls is here and doing a fundraiser. They're looking to buy a set of iPad Pros to teach the girls with iPad Pro and Swift Playgrounds. My wife helped run the App Camp For Girls in Orange County this year and I've seen first hand how inspiring and life-changing App Camp for Girls is for its campers/developers. If you'd like some good karma, why not contribute?

MPU 342 – macOS Sierra

This week's Mac Power Users episode is all about macOS Sierra and the new features available the latest mac operating system. We also cover watch OS 3 and how we're using the Apple Watch.

Sponsor: SaneBox and SaneFwd

This week MacSparky is sponsored by SaneBox, the email service that can start saving your bacon today. Recently SaneBox announced the SaneFwd service. The latest new feature at SaneBox is SaneFwd. It's an easy way to automate email forwarding to your favorite third-party apps and team members.

With SaneFwd, you can:

• Automatically turning emails into tasks with Any.do and Todoist

• Automatically saving emails and attachments to your Evernote

• Automatically forwarding receipts to Expensify

• Automatically forwarding trip itineraries to Kayak

• Automatically forwarding certain emails to certain friends or colleagues

As an example, let’s say you have a newsletter that you want to automatically save to Evernote. With SaneFwd, you can train SaneBox to keep on the lookout for future newsletters and automatically forward them to your Evernote account. 

The list is growing and SaneBox is working with service providers to make this feature even better. SaneFwd is just one more example of how SaneBox can help manage your email so you can get on with your life. I use SaneBox to sort and defer email. I also use it to check back on people that don't timely reply. Using SaneBox to power through email almost feels like cheating. Why not sign up for a trial and use this link to get a nice discount off your subscription and let them know you heard about it here.