Special Events
The Road to Macstock takes us to Dave Hamilton, who previews his Macstock session, “From Curiosity to Capability,” which will focus on practical AI workflows anyone can use. Dave discusses how generative AI has changed coding, project management, proposals, productivity, and procrastination for him. The session will encourage experimentation as a way to get involved as AI tools rapidly evolve.
On the Road to Macstock, Jill McKinley previews her third year’s presentation, focused on making Apple devices support daily habits through Focus modes, shortcuts, customized screens, and intentional setup. She explains how iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch can work together to reduce distractions, surface useful tools, and help users shape technology around real life instead of default settings.
On The Road to MacStock, Chris Cooke returns as a speaker to discuss her upcoming presentation on inspiring others to read and how accessibility, reading technologies, and inclusive design all matter. Drawing from her experience teaching adults with vision loss, she explains how Apple’s accessibility features, Braille support, audiobooks, OCR, and customizable interfaces help people with visual, auditory, and learning challenges.
In this Road to Macstock we caught up with Kirschen Seah, a Macstock regular, who will focus on making the most of CarPlay as an essential iPhone companion in modern vehicles. The session will highlight setup, customization, and everyday use, from navigation and media to hands-free compliance. It will also explore wireless versus wired connections, cross-vehicle consistency, and third-party solutions for older cars, emphasizing how drivers can unlock far more value from a feature many overlook.
Brett Terpstra previews his Macstock Conference and Expo session focused on Markdown, explaining how it simplifies writing, publishing, and archiving content. He highlights its portability, ease of use, and growing relevance with AI tools. His presentation will covers Markdown editor, practical workflows from idea to publication, and new utilities that enhance productivity while reducing reliance on complex word processors.
Special Events
On this stop on The Road to Macstock Conference and Expo we pick up a first time speaker for the event. Chris Cook shares her journey as a blind tech instructor and advocate for accessibility, and previews her talk on empowering blind and low vision Mac users through a range of inclusive software tools. Chris emphasizes how accessible technology benefits everyone and encourages greater awareness and proactive approaches to digital inclusion.
The latest Road to Macstock Conference and Expo digs into AI and a presentation by Marty Jencius that will that focuses on Apple Intelligence and the practical integration of AI in education and productivity workflows. Drawing from his experience as an educator and technologist, Marty discusses how AI tools like ChatGPT can be tailored for better, safer results by feeding them curated, domain-specific content. He emphasizes the shift from one-off prompts to ongoing dialogue with AIs and highlights the importance of adapting teaching models to incorporate these evolving tools.
On The Road to Macstock Conference and Expo, Brittany Smith previews her workshop on simplifying social media posting through automation. She explains practical ways to streamline workflows using tools like Keyboard Maestro, combining personalization with efficiency while reducing distractions and technical fear. The conversation highlights adaptable strategies for customizing content across platforms without requiring coding skills.
The Road to Macstock Conference and Expo takes us to first-time speaker Mike Burke, who discusses his presentation on “digital mise en place”—a method for organizing digital workflows before beginning creative tasks. Inspired by both culinary prep and The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande , Mike outlines how he will share thoughts on structured folder systems and automation tools like Keyboard Maestro to improve productivity and aid future collaboration.
The Road to Macstock Conference & Expo finds its way to Brian Flanagan-Arthurs, who will present “Automate, But Don’t Take Shortcuts,” focusing on accessible, time-saving automation tools built into Apple devices. He will focus on simple automations, routines, and smart device usage that reclaim time and support better learning, productivity, and health—without overwhelming complexity. The session will also explore how automation and AI shape education and the future workplace.
On The Road to Macstock Conference and Expo Brett Terpstra previews his upcoming talk on Mastodon, highlighting its benefits over traditional social media platforms. He provides some thoughts on how to choose the right server, migrate accounts, and even host your own instance for better control. The session aims to guide users through Mastodon’s structure and community, helping them get the most out of the platform while eliminating confusion. Brett also shares why he’s left most other platforms behind in favor of Mastodon and Facebook.
Mike Potter, the organizer of Macstock Conference and Expo, kicks off our annual “Road to Macstock” series with information on this year’s event. Mike outlines this year’s theme, “Share,” as well as new integrating longer interactive workshops throughout the weekend. Additionally, Ecamm is announced as a significant partner, offering a dedicated demo room and a special workshop. Early bird registration (expiring soon!), venue information, and community aspects of the conference are also explored.
As the big event approaches, we wrap up this year’s Road to Macstock Conference and Expo series with one more visit by organizer Mike Potter to get the last minute information on sponsors, last-minute registrations, walk-in policies, and more. See you there!
Our next stop on The Road to Macstock Conference and Expo is with Kelly Guimont who talks about value of the “hallway track” at conferences for fostering meaningful connections among attendees. Then, she previews her presentation on enhancing attention and focus through doodling and note-taking. The conversation touches on the science behind memory retention related to writing versus typing notes, as well as the welcoming nature of Macstock.
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