After trying out the millionth notes/scrapbooking app for the iPad, I realized that I should ditch apps altogether and just use the built-in Files app. It might be severely limited as an actual file browser, but Files has some big advantages over scrapbooking apps. It makes everything available to Spotlight searches, for one, and it doesn’t create duplicates of your files, because you’re always working with the originals.

Another huge advantage is that marking up PDFs with the Apple Pencil is instant. With all other PDF editors I’ve tried, you have to tap to enter a markup mode. In Files, you just start writing on the PDF. And that’s just the beginning.

Let’s see how it all works.

PDFs, we know them, we love them. But we also know they can be tough to edit when you need to make changes in a hurry. Not so if you have the right app–especially, one which won the 2015 App of the Year from the Mac App Store.

If you work on a computer, chances are you work with PDFs. They’re a great format for sharing digital documents of all kinds. But try to edit one, and suddenly PDFs can become a pain in the butt.

PDFs are supposed to be straightforward. Whether it’s a poster or a novel, they make documents big and small look nice, and easy to read and share. But if you want to edit one, you’re going to hit a wall.

Working with PDFs is just part of the digital day-to-day. For digital documents, they’re hard to beat. But when you suddenly need to edit a PDF, either you get the original file and the program that created it or you send it as is.

Feel like giving your Mac a new dose of productivity potential? This roundup of apps should do the trick. Included are apps for downloading HD video from the web, and a powerful pair of video conversion apps. Plus, there’s a tool for mapping and optimizing Wi-Fi coverage, and a tool for making any boring PDF into delightful digital magazines. Even better, you’ll get 20 percent off any of these deals when you use the coupon code ‘SOFTWARE20’ at checkout. Read on for more details:

If you’re reading this, you probably see a lot of PDFs cross your desktop. After all, they’re the format of choice for digital documents. But you might not realize that PDFs can be a lot more flexible and useful, with the right tools.

It’s getting hot out there. But it’s still nowhere near as hot as the new deals coming into the Cult of Mac Store. This week we’ve added an app that’ll change how you work with PDFs, and a set of future-ready Bluetooth earbuds. There’s also a comprehensive set of courses in Apple’s Swift coding language, and an app that turns your phone into a mindfulness tool. Most are discounted by half or more, read on for more details:

Here we go again, sharing our favorites from the week’s deals on gadgets and lessons. This round we’ve got a massive expansion for iOS storage, a powerful PDF flipbook maker, and comprehensive lessons in coding and Microsoft Office.

Take a look: