This week was a good one for learning about new apps:
- Zen browser puts an Arc skin over a Firefox core. It has already become my default browser. (ᔥBen Werdmuller)
- Macrowave enables AV streaming to anyone. I do plan on using it to stream but for now I am just marveling at the WinAmp esthetics. (ᔥGus Mueller)
- Inksightful digitizes paper notes. I am on the waitlist for the beta. (ᔥThe Iconfactory)
On the topic of apps, here are some fairly new ones (i.e. I have been using them for less than 5 years) that are passing the test of time, with honors:
- Tot, which is still my default for digital note-taking on the both the Mac and on iOS
- Flighty, which is invaluable for those flying in the US. Alas, it is not as useful, I have been finding out this summer, for travel in Europe. Those Europeans are not very good at updating their systems.
- The Cardhop/Fantastical combo, without which I could not imagine juggling between four different contact lists and a half-dozen calendars.
- MarsEdit, which I missed out on listing initially even as I was using it to write this very post. It is that essential that I consider it a part of the OS at this point.
And the apps that make me stick to the Mac even though I entertain from time to time the possibility of switching over to Linux:
- MailMate (since 2013)
- DEVONthink (since 2015)
- OmniFocus (since 2016)
- Tinderbox (since 2017)
- Audio Hijack and Sound Source (since 2020)
As much as I like the Mac hardware and the sleek aluminum esthetics, it is the software listed above that keeps me in the ecosystem. None of it is made by Apple.