Default Apps for 2023

🔗 | by Chris McLeod

I came across this collection of “what apps am I using?” posts via Manton, and thought it would be fun take part. If you want to see what others have posted, Robb Knight is compiling a list.

  • 📨 Mail Client: Apple Mail + web
  • 📮 Mail Server: Fastmail
  • 📝 Notes: Obsidian (also trying out LogSeq)
  • ✅ To-Do: Apple Reminders
  • 📷 iPhone Photo Shooting: Apple Camera
  • 🌅 Photo Management: Apple Photos
  • 📆 Calendar: Apple Calendar linked to Google (with plans to switch to Fastmail)
  • 📁 Cloud File Storage: iCloud + OneDrive
  • 📖 RSS: NetNewsWire and Feedbin
  • 🙍🏻‍♂️ Contacts: Apple Contacts
  • 🌐 Browser: Edge
  • 💬 Chat: Work only - Teams; iMessage + WhatsApp, if they count
  • 🔖 Bookmarks: Micro.blog
  • 📑 Read It Later: Micro.blog
  • 📜 Word Processing: Word
  • 📈 Spreadsheets: Excel
  • 📊 Presentations: PowerPoint
  • 🛒 Shopping Lists: none
  • 🍴 Meal Planning: none
  • 💰 Budgeting and Personal Finance: Plum, banking app
  • 📰 News: Artifact, Apple News, RSS
  • 🎵 Music: Apple Music
  • 🎙️ Podcasts: Overcast
  • 🔐 Password Management: 1Password
  • 🤖 Code Editing: VS Code + Visual Studio
  • 📚 Books: Kindle, Audible
  • 🌎 Blogging: Micro.blog, Wordpress, Eleventy

Overall I’m a fan of sticking fairly close to the defaults on the platforms I use (Windows + iOS) simply because it usually leads to having an easier time of things. There are a couple of items on this list that probably won’t be on the list this time next year, but I’m still evaluating what their replacements might be.