Sanebox

Inbox Zero is a thing of the past. We’re all so inundated with email now that it’s no longer about responding to everything, it’s about responding only to the important things – the messages that truly matter.

And that’s where SaneBox comes in. Think of it as an EMT for your email. As messages flow in, SaneBox does the triage for you — sifting only the important emails in your inbox and directing all the other distracting stuff into your SaneLater folder. So you know what messages to pay attention to now, and what stuff you can get to later on.

It also has nifty features like the SaneBlackHole, where you can drag messages from annoying senders you never want to hear from again, and SaneReminders to ping you if someone hasn’t replied to your email by a certain date.

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HomePod mini update expands charger support

There was an updated to the HomePod mini earlier this month, the 14.3 update.

Apple said the, “update includes general performance and stability improvements.”

Well turns out one “improvement” was the ability to now use an Apple 18W charger as well as some 3rd party ones.

Prior to the update if you attempted to use anything lower than 20W the speaker would simply display an orange light and not function.

To check if your HomePod mini is running the 14.3 software update, open the Home app on an iPhone, tap on the house icon in the top-left corner, tap on Home Settings, and tap on Software Update.

Rumor of AirPods Pro in two sizes

Comes from a Twitter leaker “Mr white” via a post on 9to5Mac

Shows what he reports to be a set of new AirPods pro components with “W2” chips and there are two lengths.

Bloomberg had previously reported that Apple may be looking to make “smaller” AirPods Pros by removing the stems

The challenge being cramming in all the components including the chip, active noise cancelling, mics, etc.

Could be that these components are from early prototypes matching different possible designs

There is also a belief that Apple is working on AirPods 3 as well as AirPods Pro 2, so could be that?

What’s also odd about the leak is his mention of a “W2” chip. AirPods Pro use the H1 and older AirPods use a W1

Mr white, did leak images and predict Apple’s 20W charger, but incorrectly stated it would be included with the iPhone 12.

He showed off a “new” braided USB-C to Lightning cable and that has not surfaced as a real Apple product yet.

We should see an AirPods update in 2021, so these could be legit, but not clear exactly what they are for. I would lean on prototype

iPhone get most Xmas activations

According to new data from Flurry Analytics

They say on Christmas day, the single greatest day for new smartphone activations, that 9 out of the top 10 phone models being activated were iPhones

Overall smartphone activation was down 23% year over year from 2019

On Christmas the iPhone 11 was the most activated device followed by the iPhone XR. Then the iPhone 12 Pro Max, followed by the iPhone 12, iPhone 11 Pro Max, the iPhone SE, then the iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone 8. The LG K30 held the last spot in to top 10

Not too surprising that lower cost older model phones were at the top of the list as the latest flagship phones tend to see a spike at launch

These numbers likely show that consumers were looking to replace older devices or maybe getting devices for their kids.

Still surprising that Apples newest “lower cost” iPhone 12 mini didn’t make this list.

More iPhones also means more Apps sold and according to new Sensor Tower data apps had a boom in 2020

Holiday spending on the Apple and Google Play app stores was up 34.5 percent in 2020 going above $100 billion for the first time ever

Apple’s App store garnered the majority of that spending between the app stores taking 68.4 percent and pulling in $278.6 million over the holidays up 35 percent from last year

Apple continues to explore ‘foldable’

At least that’s the rumor

According to Mac Rumors the site United Daily News is reporting that two prototype foldable iPhones have passed internal tests for durability

They claim the test were done at a Foxconn factory in China on an Apple-designed folding hinge system

That seemingly indicates a “dual-screen” design and not a foldable display. Something we’ve heard Apple is looking at according to other leakers like Jon Prosser.

The design is supposedly rumored to be set up in a way that the panels come together in a way to make them look “almost seamless” when unfolded.

Apple has patented a device with two separate displays that can be brought together to create a single foldable device with a hinge

The second design is said to be a “clamshell” foldable using a flexible OLED display from Samsung

The reports says the test units were basically “shells” with limited internal components so it would seem Apple was looking to mostly test the displays and hinge designs

Apple will likely use the tests and results to make a decision on which folding design they might choose to pursue moving forward.

These phones still seems to be in the early stages of development and are not expected to be in this years line up

If Apple does do a foldable the earliest we might expect to see it would be in 2022 or 2023

iXpand Flash Drive

We’ve never been more ready for a new year and if you’re looking for a fresh start for your device data I have the solution for you… SanDisk

With SanDisk’s iXpand Flash Drive you can clear all the clutter off your phone, and start fresh

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I’ve been using the iXpand to quickly and easily backup my iPhone’s photos and data

The USB-C version has been incredible for using the with the Files app. I can plug in and easily copy files back and forth. Then I can flip it around to the USB-A port and use it on another Mac or PC.

Plus, I love the design. It has a satisfying “click” when you flip it around.

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My Fitness+ review

I had a change to try out a few workouts and we also have another listener review

I did some of the “Absolute Beginner” workouts

Tried Core, Yoga, and Cool Down

Also did a 20 minute “Dance” workout.

It was great that the workouts didn’t require any additional equipment and were mostly done on the floor

The integration with the Apple Watch worked flawlessly for me and it was nice to have the data right there

I loved having it on my big screen and the Apple TV, but it did make following the instructions more challenging

For the first few times it may be better to use a phone or iPad so you can look down at the video to get the technique right.

The workout were good and the instructors engaging. It’s nice that you have a couple options in the different categories in case one instructors personality or style might better fit yours

Right now there is good variety and the hope is they keep adding and changing things up otherwise I could see the workouts getting stale over time.

The music options are also fairly good.

You can search not only by workout, but also by time or music style.

I’m planning to try and stick with it since the gym isn’t really an option right now.

Play review from Charles

The Apps that made me

This is sort of my spin on the Netflix docs “the toys that made us”

These are some of my most used, and loved apps, and why.

The [Setapp](https://setapp.com) collection

[Ulysses](https://ulysses.app) - My main text, writing, markdown app. Years back, following advice from David Sparks, I went 100% Markdown for almost all my written documents and I’ve never looked back.

[Timing](https://timingapp.com/?lang=en)

[Bartender](https://www.macbartender.com)

The Podcast group

GarageBand

[Fission](https://rogueamoeba.com/fission/) and also [AudioHijack](https://rogueamoeba.com/audiohijack/)

[Feeder](https://reinventedsoftware.com/feeder/)

[OmniOutliner Pro](https://www.omnigroup.com/omnioutliner/)

[ReadKit](https://readkitapp.com) - Mac and [NetNewsWire](https://ranchero.com/netnewswire/) - iOS

The Developer group

[Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com)

[Tower](https://www.git-tower.com/mac)

[Navicat](https://www.navicat.com/en/)

[Dash](https://kapeli.com/dash)

[Transmit](https://panic.com/transmit/)

The Daily Drivers

[1Password for Families](https://1password.com)

[Spark](https://sparkmailapp.com)

[Fantasical](https://flexibits.com/fantastical)

TextExpander & PDFpen, yes they are a sponsor, but these are daily apps that I use and depend on.

The Backup Group

[CarbonCopyCloner](https://bombich.com)

[Backblaze](https://www.backblaze.com)

[ChronoSync](https://www.econtechnologies.com/index.html)

[CleanMyMac X](https://macpaw.com/cleanmymac)

Fun and Games

[Apple Arcade](https://www.apple.com/apple-arcade/), Apple Music, Apple Podcasts

[Minecraft](https://www.minecraft.net/en-us) Java Edition

Streaming: Apple TV+, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock

Supporters

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