macbreak posts

Distraction reduction for your Mac

by Michael Rose (RSS feed) on Dec 22nd, 2006

Ah, the holidays: a time for reflection, relaxation, and finally getting your GTD feng shui into proper order. Who better to give you some leverage over the incredible source of distractions and detours that is your Mac than Merlin Mann? The 43Folders productivity guru gets focused with Leo Laporte on the most recent edition of MacBreak, covering additional ground after an October episode on desktop de-cluttering.

My favorite attention-enhancing power tool is currently WriteRoom, which has made it much easier for me to take notes in meetings without getting lured away by the siren call of unread emails and projects in progress. What do you use to help clamp down on the tangents and procrastination?

[via Lifehacker/43folders]

Tags: 43folders, gtd, macbreak, productivity, writeroom

Filed under: Software, Cool tools, Productivity, Tips and tricks, Interviews

Get that distraction-free, uncluttered desktop with latest MacBreak

by David Chartier (RSS feed) on Oct 5th, 2006

It seems there are two slowly diverging schools of thought in terms of working on a Mac: to multi-task, or not to. While an independent (though Apple-commissioned) study has been released supporting the increased productivity theory via larger displays and more stuff on-screen at once, not everyone sits in the same camp. Merlin Mann of 43folders is one of those campers who is thinking different, and Russell from our sister-blog DV Guru dropped a note to say the latest episode of MacBreak (iTS link) features Leo and Mr. Mann waxing ecstatic on all things uncluttered and distraction-free. They cover techniques and tweaks for clearing your workspace in the Finder, as well as using 3rd party tools like our TUAW-favorite Quicksilver, Spirited Away (which we've covered) and MenuShade from Nullriver Software (scroll down, it's under their Open Source section).

While I myself am firmly rooted in the 'more on screen = productivity' camp, I am a big fan of enabling users to work the way they need to, and I think this is a nice, quick video (it's only 4:20) to get started with the digital zen art of working clutter-free.

Tags: cultter, desktop, finder, laporte, leo, leo laporte, LeoLaporte, macbreak, menushade, nullriver, productivity, quicksilver, spirited away, SpiritedAway

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Video, Internet, Podcasting, Apple

MacBreak hits stride

by Scott McNulty (RSS feed) on Jun 13th, 2006

We've written about MacBreak before, the Mac video podcast by Leo Laporte and friends, however, they weren't being updated regularly. Well, it looks like the stars have aligned because there has been a flurry of activity over at MacBreak.

This is a good time to check MacBreak out and see what they have to offer.

Tags: leo laporte, LeoLaporte, macbreak

Filed under: Video, Podcasting

MacBreak on video compression with Quicktime

by Scott McNulty (RSS feed) on Apr 14th, 2006

The second episode (iTunes link) of MacBreak has been unleashed to upon an unsuspecting world. This episode covers using Quicktime to compress video. Join Alex Lindsay and Emery Wells (who looks like he might want to harm someone in the screen grab I did) and discover the joys, and the power, of Quicktime Pro.

Tags: compress, macbreak, quicktime, video

Filed under: Audio, iPod Family, Video, iMac, Podcasting, Macbook Pro

New MacBreak podcast from Leo and friends

by David Chartier (RSS feed) on Jan 31st, 2006

Yet another vidcast (and site) from Leo and friends has launched in the iTMS by the name of MacBreak (iTMS link). Its inaugural episode stars Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Amber MacArthur and a new face in the Leo party: Emery Wells. This first episode is roughly 30 minutes of video coverage from the Macworld Expo floor, with the gang running around checking out iPod accessories, the Best in Show software award winners, AJA video cards, new iLife goodness and, of course, the new Intel Macs. I actually thought the Mac section was a bit interesting, as Leo interviews an Apple rep on the new MacBook Pros and tosses a few curve balls, giving the rep a good run for his money.

It's a great first episode, and the vidcast as a whole shows a lot of potential. It's very well produced (thanks to Alex and the Pixel Corps, maybe?), with great special effect transition goodness and a professional flow not found in many other podcasts. Definitely check it and their site out, as I'm sure there is much to come.

Tags: accessories, Expo, iMac, iPod, MacBook Pro, MacbookPro, MacBreak, Macworld, podcast, vidcast

Tip of the Day

To get an instant map to any address, just go to your Address Book and right click on the address field of any one of your contacts and select "Map Of." The address will then be revealed in Google Maps on Safari. You can do the same if a data detector determines there is an address in an e-mail in Mail.

Learn More

TUAW flickr Pool

www.flickr.com

Featured Galleries

TUAW bloggers (30 days)

#	Blogger	Posts	Cmts
1	Steven Sande	46	3
2	Dave Caolo	35	4
3	Mel Martin	32	0
4	Mike Schramm	30	0
5	Josh Carr	18	24
6	Michael Rose	18	26
7	Victor Agreda, Jr.	17	6
8	TJ Luoma	14	25
9	Erica Sadun	14	2
10	Ken Ray	11	2
11	Chris Rawson	11	0
12	Joachim Bean	10	3
13	Aron Trimble	10	5
14	David Winograd	10	5
15	Sang Tang	9	0
16	Megan Lavey	8	9
17	Brett Terpstra	7	5
18	John Burke	6	3
19	Lauren Hirsch	4	0
20	Kent Pribbernow	3	0

More Apple Analysis

AAPL on BloggingStocks The Apple category feed from BloggingStocks.com
AAPL Quote, News & Summary The AAPL financials page from AOL Money and Finance
iPhone analysis from BloggingStocks iPhone tag feed from BloggingStocks
Macintosh news and reviews on Download Squad The Macintosh category feed from Download Squad

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)