Exciting Changes in My 2022 Mac App of the Year
Written on
My 2022 Mac App of the Year is an email client, and it’s more thrilling than it sounds. I admit I often get overly enthusiastic about email applications, but my fascination with email stems from its status as one of the oldest digital communication tools, which remains indispensable despite the rise of alternatives like Slack.
I have always been a passionate email user. I’ve never understood those who claim they don’t check their inboxes; for me, significant opportunities for my business often arrive via email. Ignoring my inbox this year would have led to considerable lost revenue.
That's why Spark 3 is my pick for Mac app of the year. While it may not seem particularly daring, it has revolutionized how I manage email. It has alleviated my inbox anxiety, made achieving inbox zero possible, and transformed email organization into an enjoyable task.
It's not without its flaws, but several aspects won me over in 2022.
How Spark 3 Revolutionized My Email Experience
At least for me
Sometimes, a simple change can significantly enhance user experience. For example, archiving emails has been a common practice for years, allowing users to sort emails after addressing them.
Spark 3 replaces the term "archive" with "done" and introduces a checkbox feature to mark emails as completed, whether individually or in bulk. While the end result remains the same—emails go to the archive—this new approach feels much more satisfying and, importantly, addictive.
Additionally, there’s great satisfaction in hitting the ‘Block’ button on new senders who try to sell me services or convince me to spend my money unwisely.
Less Email Anxiety
I’ve always known I wasn’t the best at managing emails. I would leave emails marked as 'unread' to remind myself to revisit them later—a strategy that often failed, leading to a cluttered inbox and ongoing email anxiety.
With Spark 3, those worries have vanished. The addictive 'done' checkbox system keeps my inbox neat, and emails can be organized by sender, priority, and type, allowing for better management of messages yet to be addressed.
Most importantly, I've stopped marking emails as 'unread' because any remaining emails in my inbox will require my attention eventually. It may sound trivial, but remember, I was a poor email user for quite some time.
No Missed Emails (So Far)
In the past, I worried about losing track of important email threads, whether related to sponsorship negotiations or vital bookkeeping discussions. It’s all too easy to lose sight of these conversations in a busy inbox.
However, with my now organized inbox, I only keep active threads or emails I need to revisit shortly. Spark 3 also features a ‘set aside’ function that temporarily holds emails for later review. While this is a nice idea, it often results in emails being forgotten.
Yet, it’s essential to address some shortcomings of Spark 3.
Not Without Its Flaws
Nothing is perfect, and thankfully, the few shortcomings of Spark are not major—they stem from the app being newly developed.
I've experienced frustrating crashes while composing emails; the app sometimes disappears, requiring a manual restart. Thankfully, my drafts have never been lost, but it’s still an annoyance.
Additionally, some features from macOS text formatting are missing. For instance, there’s no integration with the system-wide spelling and grammar autocorrect, and the 'Paste and Match Style' function, which I frequently use, lacks keyboard shortcut functionality, although it's accessible via the Edit menu. Both features were present in Spark 2, and their absence in version 3 is noticeably irritating.
For those who relied on the calendar feature in Spark 2, its absence in version 3 may be disappointing, although I’ve heard it’s in development.
Lastly, while the new senders section of the inbox is enjoyable, it has some bugs. The 'Accept' and 'Block' buttons sometimes fail to execute their functions, leaving unwanted emails in the holding area. This has happened to me multiple times.
There have been numerous updates since Spark 3 was released, so I'm confident the developers are addressing these issues, but these shortcomings deserve mention in an otherwise positive review.
Honorable Mentions
It would be remiss not to acknowledge some runners-up for my unofficial Mac App of the Year Award. Although none is as new and shiny as Spark 3, each has significantly contributed to my business success this year.
Ulysses remains a game-changer for my daily writing and publishing needs. Having previously used Scrivener and dabbled with other apps, nothing compares to Ulysses for distraction-free writing, seamless WordPress integration, and an ideal feature balance.
TickTick deserves special mention as well. I switched from Things 3 to this MKBHD-recommended task manager, and its cross-platform capabilities and robust feature set have thoroughly impressed me.
Finally, Day One has once again become part of my routine. I've journaled for years, and Day One has consistently been my app of choice. Its commitment to its original design ethos makes it a joy to use, which is precisely what I need as a casual journaler.
What’s your Mac app of the year for 2022? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Before You Go
Join my behind-the-scenes mailing list
If you enjoy my writing, it’s just a glimpse of what I offer on Medium. I’m a paying member and highly recommend joining. Click here to join (a portion of your membership fee supports my work!).
Originally published at https://markellisreviews.com on December 15, 2022.