No, I’m not a techno-solutionist. And yes, tools aren’t a guarantee of mastery. Yet, I became a little obsessed with my choice of apps last week because I got myself a new iPhone, and I’m tinkering quite a lot with AI these days.
Basically, I follow two rules: First, if the built-in tools of my Mac or iPhone are good enough, I use them as the default. Second, supporting independent software developers is one of the best ways to make a difference with your money.
The following list not only presents apps that have proven their worth to me but also highlights the cultural attitude underlying them. Of course, I’m not affiliated with any of the developers mentioned below.
Undistracted writing
Simple always wins.
Tot
When I installed Tot a few years ago, I didn't think I'd use this tiny utility as often as I do. Tot contains nothing but seven scratchpads ("dots") for capturing and syncing notes. It’s digital scratch paper for quickly jotting down, pasting, editing, or formatting text. To quote the famous ad: it’s simply amazing, and amazingly simple.
iA Writer
Every text I publish on unregistered.world is created on iA Writer. It’s an app developed by folks who are deeply thoughtful about the craft of writing and who actually write themselves. Although, over the years, they have not resisted the temptation to add new features, the core has always remained untouched: a blank, eye-friendly gray plain text document on which nothing distracts from writing. Beautiful typography. Focus.
Uninterrupted information
Better business models exist than cross-subsidizing the product through data extraction and advertising.
StopTheMadness Pro
Whenever I inadvertently glance at someone's home screen on the subway, I'm surprised at how full of junk most of them are: interruptions, silly pop-ups, aggressive calls to action. Besides ad blockers, the browser extension StopTheMadness Pro helps eliminate many annoyances, including privacy violations and dark patterns—a one-stop shop for sweeping shit.
Overcast
Even though I'm unhappy with some details of the latest update, Overcast remains my favorite podcast app. Features like "smart resume," a slight rewind after a pause, and the ability to enjoy my daily dose of podcasts completely ad-free make using it a delight.
A suite of high-quality tools
For well-being, one’s information diet is just as important as one’s nutritional intake.
Kagi
Better search results that can be specialized as needed; major AI models in a pleasantly uncluttered interface; first-class translations with meaningful wording suggestions: Kagi offers a suite of quality-focused, time-saving tools for finding and working with information. Since it’s user-supported, the service is tracking- and ad-free. After some initial hesitation about forking over the price of a hardcover book every month, the Kagi toolbox now seems like an information age essential to me, something I value as much in my daily life as organic food.