Search results for "setups"

Our MacStories Setups: Updates Covering Video Production, Gaming, and More→

The second half of 2024 saw a lot of change to my setup and Federico’s. We launched the MacStories YouTube channel, expanded our family of podcasts, and spent time chasing the ultimate portable gaming setup for NPC: Next Portable Console. The result was that our setups have evolved rapidly. So, today, we thought we’d catch folks up on what’s changed.

Our Setups page has all the details, but you’ll notice a couple of trends from the changes we’ve made recently. As Federico recounted in iPad Pro for Everything: How I Rethought My Entire Workflow Around the New 11” iPad Pro, the linchpin to ditching his Mac altogether was recording audio and video to SD cards. He already had a solution for audio in place, but video required additional hardware, including the Sony ZV-E10 II camera.

Federico's White OLED Steam Deck and Lenovo Legion y700 tablet.

Federico’s White OLED Steam Deck and Lenovo Legion y700 tablet.

Federico’s gaming setup has evolved, too. The Sony PS5 Pro replaced the original PS5, and he swapped the limited edition white Steam Deck in for the standard OLED version. He also revealed on NPC: Next Portable Console this week that he’s using a Lenovo y700 2024 gaming tablet imported from China to emulate Nintendo DS and 3DS games, which will be available worldwide later this year as the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3. Other upgrades to existing hardware Federico uses include a move from the iPhone 16 Plus to the iPhone 16 Pro Max and an upgrade of the XREAL Airs to the XREAL One glasses.

My portable video recording setup

My portable video recording setup

As for myself, CES and its bag size limitations pushed me to rethink my portable video and audio recording setups. For recording when I’m away from home I added several items to my kit that I detailed in What’s in My CES Bag?, including:

On the gaming side of things I added a white TrimUI Brick and GameCube-inspired Retroid Pocket 5.

2024 was a big year for setup updates for both of us. We already have new hardware incoming for testing, so keep an eye on the Setups page. I expect we’ll update it several times in 2025 too.

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Using Apple Journal to Track Home Screen Setups→

I love this idea by Lee Peterson: using Apple’s Journal app (which got some terrific updates in iOS 18) to track your Home Screen updates over time.

Every so often, I see screenshots from people on Threads or Mastodon showing their Home Screens from over a decade ago. I routinely delete screenshots from my Photos library, and it bums me out that I never kept a consistent, personal archive of my ever-changing Home Screens over the years. Lee’s technique, which combines Journal with the excellent Shareshot app, is a great idea that I’m going to steal. Here’s my current Home Screen on iOS 18:

My iOS 18 Home Screen.

My iOS 18 Home Screen.

As you can see, I’m trying large icons in dark mode and there are some new entries in my list of must-have apps. The Home Screen is similar, but a bit more complex, on iPadOS, where I’m still fine-tuning everything to my needs.

I plan to write about my Home Screens and Control Center setup in next week’s issue of MacStories Weekly. In the meantime, I’m going to follow Lee’s approach and begin archiving screenshots in Journal.

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A MacStories Setups Update→

Last November, we created the MacStories Setups page. It’s a collection of the gear, apps, and services that Federico and I use for work and play. We knew when we created the page that it would change regularly, and it has. Today, we’re introducing our third update in four months, which collects changes related to Federico’s MacPad setup and some smaller adjustments that we’ve both made recently.

The MacPad additions to Federico’s setup include:

However, Federico isn’t living a MacPad-only lifestyle. He uses the Vision Pro daily and has added it along with the following accessories to his setup:

Other additions include:

Our app lineups change constantly, too, and most recently, Federico has added:

As for me, since my big desk setup upgrade, I’ve made a handful of changes to my desk and gaming setups, along with other adjustments.

The Logitech Casa Pop Up Desk.

The Logitech Casa Pop Up Desk.

With summer around the corner, I’ve been refining my portable setup. The Logitech Casa Pop Up Desk that I reviewed recently is perfect for an afternoon at a coffee shop or sitting out on my balcony. I’ve enjoyed the Boox Tab Ultra so much that I added a Boox Palma for ultra-portable e-ink reading on-the-go.

The articles I save to read on the Palma and elsewhere are currently split between GoodLinks and Readwise Reader. I’ve also swapped out NaturalReader for Speechify for text-to-speech workflows, but I’m not completely satisfied with any read-aloud solution I’ve tried yet.

I’m also slowly refining my gaming setup. The ASUS ZenWiFi Pro Wi-Fi 6E mesh router system is a big step up from the Linksys Atlas routers I was using before in terms of both coverage and speed. I’m still floored by the bandwidth I get with my iPhone 15 Pro Max and Ayn Odin 2 Pro. I also picked up a Miyoo Mini+ retro gaming handheld because I’m traveling soon and wanted an ultra-portable handheld to take with me. Also, to track what I’m playing, I’ve been using GameTrack, which I recently reviewed.

Both of us have added a handful of other apps and gear, too, so be sure to browse through the Setups page to find the complete listing of our current setups.

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Introducing the New MacStories Setups Page

Federico's setup (left) and John's (right).

Federico’s setup (left) and John’s (right).

Setup optimization is a never-ending journey at MacStories. We’re always looking for the fastest, most efficient, and often, most portable way to do everything in our lives. The result is constant change. Hardware and apps are swapped in and out of our systems and workflows frequently.

We write or talk about our setups in a bunch of different places, which we realize can make it hard to keep up with the most current version of what we’re using. That’s why we’ve dedicated macstories.net/setups/ to our setups. That way, the next time you wonder, what was that pair of headphones Federico mentioned on AppStories or that giant battery pack John wrote about for Club MacStories, you’ll have a place where you can quickly find the answer. You’ll find a link to the new Setups page in the navigation bar at the top of the MacStories homepage, too.

Our new Setups page is what Apple might call ‘a living document.’ We’ll update it periodically throughout the year with changes we make with links to everything that’s still being sold somewhere.

Speaking of links, many of the ones you’ll find on the Setups page are affiliate links. If you buy something using those links, MacStories, Inc. will receive a small commission. You can learn more about how MacStories uses affiliate links in our privacy policy.

Also, if you have any questions about the gear and apps listed on the Setups page, feel free to reach out on Mastodon using @viticci or @johnvoorhees, or ping us on Discord.

Our Setups

Our desk setups. Federico (left) and John (right).

Our desk setups. Federico (left) and John (right).

It’s no secret that, here at MacStories, we like to experiment with different hardware and apps in the constant pursuit of more portable setups, more customizable apps, or more powerful workflows. And we recognize that, for readers, it can sometimes be…tricky to keep up with the “latest” state of our setups.

With this Setups page, our goal is to provide readers with a summary of our hardware and software setups. The list will be updated on a regular basis over time.

For more questions, feel free to reach out on Mastodon @viticci or @johnvoorhees, or ping us on Discord.

Changelog

January 16, 2025
Federico
John
October 14, 2024
John
October 8, 2024
Federico
July 16, 2024
Federico
John

Note: You can read more about these changes to John’s setup on MacStories.

April 17, 2024
Federico

Note: Details about the Lenovo Legion Go can be found in this episode of MacStories Unwind.

April 2, 2024
Federico
  • Added EUCARLOS carrying case for Vision Pro
  • Added KIWI lens protector
  • Added SoloTop
  • Added Infinity One Air Cover forehead mount
  • Added 3D-printed stand
    • March 22, 2024
    Federico

    Note: Details about the MacPad can be found in this story.

    John

  • Added Logitech Casa Pop Up Desk

  • Added ASUS ZenWiFi Pro Wi-Fi 6E Mesh Routers
  • Added Miyoo Mini+
  • Added Boox Palma
  • Added Samsung T9 2TB SSD
  • Added Shure SE215-CL in-ear monitors
  • Added GameTrack and Sequel
  • Added GoodLinks
  • Added Readwise Reader
  • Added Vision Pro
  • Added Syntech Hard Carrying Case
  • Added KIWI lens protector
  • Replaced NaturalReader with Speechify
  • Added Tower and Kaleidoscope
  • Replaced Paste with PastePal
  • Removed: XREAL Air
    • February 2, 2024
    John

    Note: Details about these changes can be found in this story and this episode of MacStories Unwind.

    January 19, 2024
    Federico

  • Added Z13 Acronym to Videogames section (Unwind episode)

  • Removed Raikiri Pro game controller and replaced with FlyDiGi Vader 3 Pro and GuliKit KingKong 2 Pro
  • Added Hall effect joysticks to ROG Ally section
  • Added Edge Pro MagSafe holder and BoomCan MS from How I Modded My iPad Pro with a Screen Protector, iPhone Holder, and Magnetic Stereo Speakers
  • Removed mentions of velcro and replaced with AllyMate and DeckMate in ROG Ally and Steam Deck sections
  • Apps section: updated entries for media tracker, read later, podcast, weather, and team communication apps
  • Added new Belkin charger

    • Table of Contents

    Federico’s Setup

    My desk.

    My desk.

    Daily Drivers

    Videogames

    My Steam Deck and Android media tablet.

    My Steam Deck and Android media tablet.

    Audio

    My favorite headphones.

    My favorite headphones.

    Batteries and Chargers

    TV Setup

    Other Gear

    Apps

    John’s Setup

    Desktop Setup

    Portable Setup

    My 11" iPad Pro and GL.iNet portable Wi-Fi router make a great pair.

    My 11” iPad Pro and GL.iNet portable Wi-Fi router make a great pair.

    Mac mini Setup

    Mac Server Setup

    Vision Pro

    Cables, Connectors, and Miscellany

    Office Video and Podcast Production

    Video Recording

    Audio Production

    Portable Video and Audio Recording and Production

    My entire video production setup, minus my iPhone and iPad.

    My entire video production setup, minus my iPhone and iPad.

    Videogames

    Consoles

    Handhelds

    Retroid Pocket 5 (top), Anbernic RG35XXSP (bottom left), TrimUI Brick (bottom right).

    Retroid Pocket 5 (top), Anbernic RG35XXSP (bottom left), TrimUI Brick (bottom right).

    Game Backup Hardware

    Controllers

    Mobapad M6 HD Joycons and OLED Switch are a great combo but big compared to my new Switch Lite Hyrule Edition.

    Mobapad M6 HD Joycons and OLED Switch are a great combo but big compared to my new Switch Lite Hyrule Edition.

    TV Setup

    Other Headphones and Speakers

    The Harmon Kardon SoundSticks III, and beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro podcast editing headphones

    The Harmon Kardon SoundSticks III, and beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro podcast editing headphones

    Office, Lighting, and Office Automation

    Batteries, Chargers, Power Strips and Keyboards

    Apps

    Note: MacStories participates in the Amazon Associates and other affiliate programs and may be paid a small commission if you click on a link and purchase a product or service from a third party. For more information on how MacStories uses affiliate links, please read our Privacy Policy.

    Stephen Robles on the Value of the New HomePods Compared to Sonos Soundbar Setups→

    Last week, I wrote about the Sonos Move in MacStories Weekly. I love the Move’s portability and rich, warm sound, which make it perfect for use in multiple places around my house and outside. In fact, I’ve enjoyed the Move so much that I’d begun looking at Sonos soundbar and subwoofer options, anticipating that the original HomePods I use with my living room media setup would eventually need to be retired.

    Then, Apple released the HomePod (2nd Generation), which iterates on the original version. I had hoped that Apple would make a soundbar of its own, so when all we got was a HomePod, I was disappointed. That pushed me further into the Sonos camp, but with my original HomePods going strong, my window shopping has been just that: window shopping.

    However, after watching Stephen Roble’s latest video comparing the new HomePod to its predecessor and the Sonos Beam and Arc soundbars paired with subwoofers, my interest in soundbars has waned. Robles evaluates the HomePods from a bunch of different angles, from music and movies to smart home integration, making a compelling case for a pair of the new HomePods as the best value for someone who wants a multipurpose device.

    When I think about it, that’s exactly my use case. My pair of original HomePods are the only speakers on the main floor of our house. I AirPlay podcasts and music to them, use them to control HomeKit devices, and for watching TV and playing games on my PS5 and Xbox.

    I’m still disappointed Apple didn’t announce more than a new HomePod last month. I’d like to see the company explore new home-centric devices that address use cases beyond speakers. Still, for audio, it’s hard to argue against the HomePod.

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    Warp: A Simple, Keyboard-Driven Mac Utility for Saving Window Setups

    One of the cornerstone features coming to macOS Ventura this fall is Stage Manager, which lets you create sets of multiple apps, decluttering your desktop without a lot of fiddling. In my limited use so far, I’m optimistic about Stage Manager’s future as a way to manage apps, but it’s not for everyone, which is fine because there are so many other ways to manage windows on a Mac.

    There are other utilities available for arranging windows on your desktop and saving those configurations. For window placement, I use Magnet. I love that the app can be driven entirely by keyboard shortcuts but is also always available in my Mac’s menu bar.

    However, for some reason, utilities for saving the window configurations I create with Magnet have never stuck as part of my workflow. With Stage Manager on my mind recently, though, I thought I’d give a new app called Warp a try.

    I like the way Warp previews layouts in its preferences.

    I like the way Warp previews layouts in its preferences.

    Warp is the creation of Mike Choi, who released Juice, a macOS Bluetooth device manager that I covered in 2019. I’ve only been using Warp for a few days, but it has already fit neatly into my Mac workflow because it’s a simple, keyboard-driven utility that scratches the same sort of itch as Magnet.

    Read more

    AppStories, Episode 268 – Automation April: Our Shortcuts Setups→

    This week on AppStories, we introduce Automation April, a month-long community celebration of automation on Apple’s platforms and share our Shortcuts library setups.

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    [Subscribe here.](https://appstories.net/plans)

    Subscribe here.

    On AppStories+, we take listeners on a behind-the-scenes look at the origins of Automation April.

    We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.

    To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.

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    AppStories, Episode 248 – Our iPad mini Home Screen and Focus Setups→

    This week on AppStories, we go into detail on our iPad mini Home Screen setups, including how they differ from other devices and how we use widgets, Focus modes, and Shortcuts to manage the setups.

    [Subscribe here.](https://appstories.net/plans)

    Subscribe here.

    On AppStories+, John brings a little bit of strange American culture along with him to Rome, surprising Federico with a Thanksgiving Dinner Candy Corn taste test.

    We deliver AppStories+ to subscribers with bonus content, ad-free, and at a high bitrate early every week.

    To learn more about the benefits included with an AppStories+ subscription, visit our Plans page, or read the AppStories+ FAQ.

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