3 Apps I Use Every Day to Save 2 Hours of Work: • Raycast • Shortcuts • Fantastical See how 👇

In @Raycast, I created an AI chat preset to help with making YouTube chapters, it works pretty good. I feed the SRT file from Final Cut Pro and use this prompt:

I'm convinced the future of AI is at least as big as promised. I also don't think that AI is truly replacing humans in the near term. The technology is truly amazing, but what we will actually do with it and how it will change the world has yet to be determined.

Back to the regular Saturday morning upload this week and it feels so good!

Ever walk into an Apple Store for one thing and get tempted by something much pricier? You might be climbing Apple's "Pricing Ladder." Let's break down this subtle upsell tactic.

What was I thinking? Davinci Resolve?! Who even am I?

YouTube is a marathon, not a sprint. Can you go viral and get monetized quickly? Yes Is that sustainable? I have no idea because I haven't done it. Here is my reality for YouTube:

When I browse Substack these days it just feels like a giant scam. People shouting "Engage with me and I'll follow you!", "Do this to get more subscribers!", "If you are new to Substack engage with this post!" I find it exhausting and hard to find anything worth reading in the notes feature.

I am far more bothered by people using dynamic mics far away from their faces than I am people holding wireless mics in their hands. Both of these things are pointless to be bothered by.

If anyone wants to help fund my Notes app addiction: apps.apple.com/app/apple-s... Craft is giving away 10 lifetime subscriptions, this gets me entered to win!

Nobody's perfect, I'm just a guy trying to be content with 4 different notes apps and resisting not to download a 5th.

Is your complex productivity system actually making you less productive? 🤔 I argue for "Boring Productivity" (think Apple Notes/Reminders) over feature-packed apps in the latest For Perspective podcast. Listen below:

No idea if this actually helps, but it makes me feel good.

"Thanks for the engagement, it really helps my channel!" Is this the best response you can give internet trolls? 😂 My YouTube comments section is once again filled with unhinged people.

I’m convinced if you get the YouTube weekly recap question wrong it negatively impacts your channel.

1/ Notes App Confession: I've tried them all, and I keep crawling back to Apple Notes

I spent an entire weekend building my "perfect" Notion setup only to abandon it days later. The best productivity system? The one you'll actually use. For me: Apple Notes + Reminders. Simple tools. Consistent results.

So Claude can access my Google calendar, Gmail and Drive to help inform prompts now? Ultimately I assume Gemini will do this as well, if it isn’t already and I just don’t know it. Man AI is still moving crazy fast.

1/ My notes app journey spans 6 years and 6 different apps. Here's my honest ranking of each one and what I've learned about productivity tools:

idk gemini 2.5 Deep Research might be the current best!

Alright the motionVFX subscription has been out awhile now. any long term Design/Cine Studio subscribers think it is wort it?

If you are interested in Apple, apps, AI, what goes on behind the scenes and content that I find helpful, check out my free newsletter! It drops every Sunday, with a new issue out now! open.substack.com/pub/billmcl...

When was the last time Apple innovated? Haters will say Apple hasn’t had an original idea since Steve Jobs left, but Tim Cook has turned Apple into a 3 trillion dollar company.

Alright, I downloaded Davinci Resolve 20. No I'm not quitting Final Cut Pro, but I do think Davinci might become my main editor for short form. This full right hand side viewer for vertical actaully makes me want to make and edit some vertical things.

Just dropped Issue #14 of my newsletter! This week I'm diving into the 3 AI strategies I've been using to work smarter: • SEARCH: How I research video topics deeper than Google allows • LEARN: Using AI to process complex data and concepts • CREATE: My system for leveraging AI as a "creative team"

3 Simple ways to leverage AI Here's an easy framework to understand how AI can transform your workflow: • Search deeper • Learn faster • Do more See? Easy 🧵

Ads in Apple News+ have got to go! Quite frankly, it RUINS the experience. Paying for a service that feeds you ads is crazy. I get that the streamers have all started this and we shouldn't stand for it there either.

As much as I love the ZV-E1 and FX30, if I had to pick one camera to do it all, it would be the trusty A7IV!

🎙️ NEW EPISODE: "The Apple Pricing Ladder Is Seriously Effective"  I went to buy a MacBook Air and somehow left with a $2,550 MacBook Pro. Apple's pricing psychology works. Plus my complete studio redesign and the latest in AI evolution. 🧵Thread

📱 This week: I've solved my biggest knowledge management challenge with Readwise Reader - no more losing brilliant insights across books, articles, and videos! Full breakdown in the newsletter. (1/6)

I’m curious if we think OpenAI will lose long term given their strategy on stealing artwork and training models using information protected by copyright. Or does the general public not care?

So when do we think we get dark mode icons on macOS?

Just published this week's tech newsletter! Diving into Apple's pricing ladder (how I ended up with a Macbook Pro instead of Air), my AirPods Max verdict in 2025, and a genius Notes+Reminders workflow I've been testing. Plus is something rotting in Cupertino? open.substack.com/pub/billmcl...

1/8 I just reviewed Apple's $550 AirPods Max, and they're... complicated.

Apple's AirPods Max: Brilliant sound, brutal price tag. After using them for a month now, I've got thoughts on whether these $550 headphones are worth your money, especially with the new USB-C version. Full video in the comments:

USB-C Airpods Max: Brilliant sound, brutal price tag Video dropping tomorrow morning!

The constant pull to try new tools will probably never go away. Last night I looked back at Todoist which I used for many years before settling on Reminders.

I just really don't understand how this type of battery life on such a powerful laptop is physically possible.

Confused about AI? In the latest For Perspective podcast, I share my 3-level approach to understanding artificial intelligence in 2025 - from using ChatGPT & Claude effectively to exploring the scaling hypothesis. Perfect for beginners and tech enthusiasts alike!  youtu.be/_p1O7-15Gnc

When do we think the trend of people selling an online course, that teaches how to make an online course, ends? Surely there is not an infinite market of people who want to learn ripped off content from people who don’t actually know anything.

New episode: Where to start with AI in 2025? I break down 3 levels from basic tools to cutting-edge research. Listen now! youtu.be/_p1O7-15Gnc

The newest addition arrives! My first ever Macbook Pro, with the M4 Pro chip. As much as I tried to make the iPad Pro + Desktop work, sometimes you just need a powerful laptop!

Your 3-Step AI Roadmap + The Apple Way in Crisis? 1/7 I've created a simple 3-level framework to help anyone navigate the AI landscape in 2025, regardless of technical background. Check out my latest newsletter for the full breakdown ↓

Apple Notes + Reminders is my go-to for personal productivity. I run my YouTube channel and business with this simple, free software. I've been adapting a shortcut that @stephenrobles originally shared. I want to add a new Note and Reminder and link them together. This is as close as it gets:

Raycast Pro tip: Map Hyper Key (Ctrl+Opt+Cmd+Shift) to Caps Lock for Mac to easily switch between and launch apps. I use Hyper+S for Safari, Hyper+N for Notes, Hyper+F for Final Cut. One keystroke to switch between apps = hours saved weekly.

Finally ditched Spotlight for Raycast on my Mac. Game changer. Create custom aliases for anything, toggle settings with a keystroke, and search that actually works. My productivity is up 10x. What Mac tools have you discovered lately?

Pour some out for my 1080ti gaming rig that I disconnected tonight. PC squad, I’ll be back at some point in the future once I’ve made it!

Well instead of replacing my desktop I’m adding a laptop again…nano texture M4 Pro inbound!

I just spent 3 days with Auren, an AI app that's completely changed my perspective on what AI can be. Unlike other AI tools, there's no need for complex prompts—I text it exactly like I'd text a friend. Natural. Effortless. Human. A thread:

Is "subscription fatigue" actually real, or do we just fail to recognize which services truly deliver value? After reviewing my 16+ subscriptions this year, here's what I've learned...