Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
This week, Federico and John share some of their favorite utility apps, including Amphetamine, Text Lens, Gifski, Folder Peek, Mic Drop, Keka, and Marked.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Rogue Amoeba – makers of incredibly useful audio tools for your Mac. Use the code MS2504 through the end of April to get 20% off Rogue Amoeba's apps. macaudio.com/macstories
Links and Show Notes:
Follow Up:
- BarCuts issues fixed https://actions.work/barcuts/
- Zen Browser https://zen-browser.app
- Tab Groups Extension chromewebstore.google.com/detail/tab-groups-extension/nplimhmoanghlebhdiboeellhgmgommi?hl=en
- MarkDownload apps.apple.com/us/app/markdownload/id1554029832?mt=12
- Reader readwise.io/read
Our Favorite Utilities:
John:
- Amphetamine apps.apple.com/us/app/amphetamine/id937984704?mt=12
- Gifski apps.apple.com/us/app/gifski/id1351639930?mt=12
- Mic Drop getmicdrop.com
- Also mentioned: Week Number sindresorhus.com/week-number
Federico:
- Text Lens sindresorhus.com/text-lens
- Also mentioned: Text Sniper https://textsniper.app/ and CleanShot X cleanshot.com
- Folder Peek sindresorhus.com/folder-peek
- Keka keka.io/en
Joint Pick:
- Marked 2 marked2app.com
- Marked 2 and Obsidian brettterpstra.com/2024/05/16/marked-2-and-obsidian
- The new, improved StyleStealer for Marked 2 brettterpstra.com/2018/10/18/the-new-improved-stylestealer-for-marked-2
Menu Bar Tangent:
- Bartender macbartender.com
- Ice https://icemenubar.app
Visit AppStories.net to learn more about the extended, high bitrate audio version of AppStories that is delivered early each week and subscribe. http://appstories.plus
Check out our Desk Setups macstories.net/setups
Follow us on Mastodon:
- AppStories mastodon.macstories.net/@appstories
- Federico Viticci mastodon.macstories.net/@viticci
- John Voorhees mastodon.macstories.net/@johnvoorhees
Follow us on Bluesky:
- AppStories https://bsky.app/profile/appstories.macstories.net
- MacStories https://bsky.app/profile/macstories.net
- Federico Viticci https://bsky.app/profile/viticci.macstories.net
- John Voorhees https://bsky.app/profile/johnvoorhees.macstories.net
Affiliate Linking Policy macstories.net/privacy-policy
Timestamps:
00:00 The Return of the Utility Grab Bag
00:47 A BarCuts Update
01:58 A Classic Ticci Pivot
02:01 A Zen Browser Request
09:05 Amphetamine
10:52 Sponsor: Rogue Amoeba
12:46 Text Lens
15:16 Week Number
15:56 A Menu Bar Tangent
17:44 Gifski
19:51 Folder Peek
21:25 Mic Drop
23:51 Keka
25:40 Marked
This week, Federico and John share some of their favorite utility apps, including Amphetamine, Text Lens, Gifski, Folder Peek, Mic Drop, Keka, and Marked.
This episode is sponsored by:
- Rogue Amoeba – makers of incredibly useful audio tools for your Mac. Use the code MS2504 through the end of April to get 20% off Rogue Amoeba's apps. macaudio.com/macstories
Links and Show Notes:
Follow Up:
- BarCuts issues fixed https://actions.work/barcuts/
- Zen Browser https://zen-browser.app
- Tab Groups Extension chromewebstore.google.com/detail/tab-groups-extension/nplimhmoanghlebhdiboeellhgmgommi?hl=en
- MarkDownload apps.apple.com/us/app/markdownload/id1554029832?mt=12
- Reader readwise.io/read
Our Favorite Utilities:
John:
- Amphetamine apps.apple.com/us/app/amphetamine/id937984704?mt=12
- Gifski apps.apple.com/us/app/gifski/id1351639930?mt=12
- Mic Drop getmicdrop.com
- Also mentioned: Week Number sindresorhus.com/week-number
Federico:
- Text Lens sindresorhus.com/text-lens
- Also mentioned: Text Sniper https://textsniper.app/ and CleanShot X cleanshot.com
- Folder Peek sindresorhus.com/folder-peek
- Keka keka.io/en
Joint Pick:
- Marked 2 marked2app.com
- Marked 2 and Obsidian brettterpstra.com/2024/05/16/marked-2-and-obsidian
- The new, improved StyleStealer for Marked 2 brettterpstra.com/2018/10/18/the-new-improved-stylestealer-for-marked-2
Menu Bar Tangent:
- Bartender macbartender.com
- Ice https://icemenubar.app
Visit AppStories.net to learn more about the extended, high bitrate audio version of AppStories that is delivered early each week and subscribe. http://appstories.plus
Check out our Desk Setups macstories.net/setups
Follow us on Mastodon:
- AppStories mastodon.macstories.net/@appstories
- Federico Viticci mastodon.macstories.net/@viticci
- John Voorhees mastodon.macstories.net/@johnvoorhees
Follow us on Bluesky:
- AppStories https://bsky.app/profile/appstories.macstories.net
- MacStories https://bsky.app/profile/macstories.net
- Federico Viticci https://bsky.app/profile/viticci.macstories.net
- John Voorhees https://bsky.app/profile/johnvoorhees.macstories.net
Affiliate Linking Policy macstories.net/privacy-policy
Timestamps:
00:00 The Return of the Utility Grab Bag
00:47 A BarCuts Update
01:58 A Classic Ticci Pivot
02:01 A Zen Browser Request
09:05 Amphetamine
10:52 Sponsor: Rogue Amoeba
12:46 Text Lens
15:16 Week Number
15:56 A Menu Bar Tangent
17:44 Gifski
19:51 Folder Peek
21:25 Mic Drop
23:51 Keka
25:40 Marked
