Default Apps 2023
I used to have a lot more apps in rotation, but more and more, I just want things to be simple...
(Inspired by Chris Coyier, who was inspired by Matt C, who was inspired by this post from rknight.me … phew, okay, I think we got it. Now for the apps… I keep it pretty damn simple)
📨 Mail Client: Mail (on both iOS and macOS)
📮 Mail Server: iCloud and Google?
📝 Notes: Apple Notes
✅ To-Do: Apple Reminders
📷 Photo Shooting: iPhone 15 Pro Max
🎨 Photo Editing: iOS Photos app, and occasionally Photomator
📆 Calendar: Fantastical (pro subscription) with both iCloud and Google calendars
📁 Cloud File Storage: iCloud Drive
📖 RSS: Reeder
🙍🏻♂️ Contacts: macOS Contacts
🌐 Browser: Safari on both iOS and Mac
💬 Chat: Messages, Webex (work), Discord
🔖 Bookmarks: Safari bookmarks
📑 Read It Later: GoodLinks… but I never read it later 😅
📜 Word Processing: Apple Notes and Grammarly Editor
📈 Spreadsheets: Numbers
📊 Presentations: Figma
🛒 Shopping Lists: Reminders
🍴 Meal Planning: Ugmonk Analog Weekly Cards and Mela
💰 Budgeting and Personal Finance: Copilot and Numbers
📰 News: Apple News, RSS
🎵 Music: Apple Music
🎤 Podcasts: None, sometimes The Bald and The Beautiful on YouTube.
🔐 Password Management: 1Password
🧑💻 Code Editor: VS Code
✈️ VPN: Work has a VPN, but my devices don’t.
I like to use a few extra apps, but I wouldn't say they're my default. Tripsy and Flightly are great when traveling. Swipewipe has started to climb up as something fun to check daily. Threads has landed as my chosen Social Media.
I used to have a lot more apps in rotation, but more and more, I just want things to be simple, and right now, the Apple ecosystem of apps works for me. Do you have any neat apps you like to use all the time?