12 ESSENTIAL Apps for New Macs – Level UP Your Mac 2023
TLDRAndrew introduces 12 essential apps for new Mac users to enhance their experience in 2023. Starting with Encrypto for secure file storage and sharing, he moves on to Craft, a powerful note-taking app. Dropover simplifies file management, while CleanMyMac X optimizes system performance and storage. X-Snip is a feature-rich screenshot tool, and Figma stands out for design and collaboration. FigJam within Figma aids brainstorming and charting. Bartender declutters the menu bar, Bitwarden offers free password management, and Magnet streamlines window organization. Steam caters to casual gaming, Adobe Lightroom is a go-to for photo editing, and Notion serves as an all-in-one workspace for various tasks. Andrew also invites viewers to share their app recommendations and promises further content on setting up Notion and his home office.
Takeaways
- 🗜️ Encrypto is a must-have app for securely encrypting files with AES 256 encryption, ensuring only those with the right password can access them.
- 📝 Craft is a powerful and visually appealing note-taking and collaboration app, offering a clean interface and a variety of templates for different needs.
- 📁 Dropover simplifies the process of moving files around on a Mac, especially when using a trackpad, by providing a drag-and-drop shelf extension.
- 🧹 CleanMyMac X is a useful app for freeing up hard drive space and maintaining system performance by cleaning up unused system junk and app files.
- 📸 X-Snip is a feature-rich screenshot tool that offers advanced editing options directly on the screen before saving, without slowing down the Mac.
- 🎨 Figma is a versatile design app that's great for both designers and non-designers, with features like FigJam for brainstorming and charting.
- 🍸 Bartender is a menu bar utility that declutters the top bar by only displaying icons and menu items when needed, and offers customizable triggers.
- 🔑 Bitwarden is a recommended free password manager for securely storing and managing digital credentials, going beyond the capabilities of the built-in Keychain.
- 🧲 Magnet is a productivity app that allows for quick window resizing and organization on the Mac desktop using customizable shortcuts.
- 🕹️ Steam is a digital gaming portal that offers a selection of Mac-compatible games for casual and light gaming sessions.
- 🖼️ Adobe Lightroom is a comprehensive photo editing app with cloud syncing capabilities, making it easy to edit, organize, and manage photos across devices.
- 📋 Notion is an all-in-one workspace for note-taking, collaboration, task management, and more, offering a centralized solution for organizing personal and business projects.
Q & A
What is the first app recommended for new Mac users in the video?
-The first app recommended is Encrypto, which is used for securely sending or storing files with AES 256 encryption.
What is the primary function of the Craft app?
-Craft is a note collaboration and note-taking app that offers a more powerful and visually appealing alternative to Apple Notes, with features like tagging options, filing systems, and a variety of templates.
How does the Dropover app help with file management on a Mac?
-Dropover acts as a drag and drop shelf extension that allows users to easily move multiple files around on their Mac, especially with a trackpad, by collecting files in a temporary shelf before moving them to a desired location.
What does CleanMyMac X do and why is it considered a must-have app?
-CleanMyMac X is an app that helps clean up gigabytes of unused system junk and app files on a Mac. It is considered a must-have because it performs a more thorough job of cleaning files compared to the default macOS deletion process.
What is the X-Snip app used for and how does it enhance the default screenshot functionality on a Mac?
-X-Snip is a screenshot app that enhances the default Mac screenshot functionality with additional features like customizable shortcuts, various shapes and resolutions for captures, and the ability to edit screenshots directly on the screen before saving.
How does Figma benefit both designers and non-designers?
-Figma is a powerful all-in-one design app that benefits designers by providing a collaborative platform for design and branding projects. Non-designers can use Figma's FigJam feature for brainstorming and charting, offering a range of templates for flowcharts and other planning tools.
What is the purpose of the Bartender app and how does it help with menu bar management?
-Bartender is an app that helps manage the menu bar by keeping it minimal and displaying menu items and icons only when needed by hovering over the menu bar. It also offers smart triggers that show specific menu items in certain situations, providing a clean and efficient menu bar experience.
Why did the video presenter switch from LastPass to Bitwarden for password management?
-The presenter switched to Bitwarden because LastPass changed their pricing model. Bitwarden provides the necessary password management features for free, which was sufficient for the presenter's needs.
How does the Magnet app improve productivity for Mac desktop users?
-Magnet is a window resizing tool that allows users to quickly snap windows into different places using keyboard shortcuts. This feature helps improve productivity by enabling efficient workflow practices and reducing the time spent on manual window resizing and placement.
What role does Steam play for Mac users who are interested in gaming?
-Steam serves as a digital gaming portal where Mac users can purchase and play a selection of games compatible with macOS. Although the game library is not as extensive as on Windows, it offers a range of decent Mac-compatible games for casual gaming.
How does Adobe Lightroom help with photo editing and management?
-Adobe Lightroom is a powerful photo editing app that provides a wide range of controls for users to tweak their photos. It also offers cloud syncing through Adobe Cloud, allowing photo edits made on one device to be synced across all devices where Lightroom is accessed.
What are the key features of Notion that make it an indispensable tool for the video presenter?
-Notion is an all-in-one app that offers note-taking, collaboration, to-do lists, Kanban boards, and more. The presenter uses it to organize personal and business aspects of their life, appreciating its cloud-based syncing capabilities that keep all devices updated.
Outlines
🗂️ Essential Mac Apps for Enhanced Productivity
Andrew introduces viewers to 12 must-have apps for maximizing the utility of a new Mac. He emphasizes the importance of setting up a Mac for enjoyment and efficiency, and avoids recommending common apps like Google Chrome, Spotify, or Zoom. Instead, he focuses on unique and useful apps, starting with 'Encrypto' for secure file encryption and sharing, followed by 'Craft' for note-taking and collaboration, and 'Dropover' for easy file management. Andrew also mentions 'CleanMyMac X' for system optimization and 'X-snip' for advanced screenshot capabilities.
🎨 Design and Creativity Tools for Mac Users
Andrew discusses 'Figma' as a powerful design tool that has surpassed its competitors, suitable for both designers and non-designers. He also covers 'Bartender' for menu bar organization, 'Bitwarden' as a free password manager, and 'Magnet' for window management. Andrew highlights 'Steam' for casual gaming on Mac and 'Adobe Lightroom' for photo editing, emphasizing its cloud syncing capabilities across devices.
🚀 Productivity and Organization Apps for Mac
Andrew talks about 'Notion' as an all-in-one app for note-taking, collaboration, to-do lists, and more. He shares his personal and business use of Notion and appreciates its cloud synchronization. He also invites viewers to check out his setup and previous videos for more detailed information on using these apps and organizing a workspace.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Encrypto
💡Craft
💡Dropover
💡CleanMyMac X
💡X-Snip
💡Figma
💡Bartender
💡Bitwarden
💡Magnet
💡Steam
💡Adobe Lightroom
💡Notion
Highlights
Encrypto is a must-have app for securely sending or storing files with AES 256 encryption.
Craft is a powerful and visually appealing note-taking and collaboration app, offering a clean interface and a variety of templates.
Dropover simplifies file management on Mac by allowing for easy drag-and-drop operations and creating temporary shareable links.
CleanMyMac X is a utility app that efficiently cleans up system junk and unused files to optimize Mac performance.
X-snip is a feature-rich screenshot tool that offers advanced editing options and doesn't slow down the Mac.
Figma is a comprehensive design platform that facilitates collaboration and brainstorming with its FigJam feature.
Bartender is a menu bar customization tool that declutters the menu bar and provides smart triggers for menu items.
Bitwarden is a free password manager that securely stores and manages digital credentials.
Magnet is a productivity app that allows for quick window resizing and organization on the Mac desktop.
Steam is a digital gaming platform that offers a selection of Mac-compatible games for casual and light gaming.
Adobe Lightroom is a photo editing app that provides a wide range of controls and cloud syncing capabilities.
Notion is an all-in-one organizational tool for note-taking, collaboration, task management, and more.
Andrew emphasizes the importance of using unique and interesting apps to get the most out of a new Mac setup.
The video provides direct links to all featured apps for viewer convenience.
CleanMyMac X is highlighted as a sponsor of the video, showcasing its role in maintaining Mac performance.
X-snip offers a range of new shortcuts and on-screen editing capabilities for enhanced screenshot utility.
Figma's popularity in the design community is attributed to its powerful features and collaborative tools.
Bartender's smart menu bar customization helps in decluttering and provides context-sensitive icons.
Bitwarden stands out as a free password manager that goes beyond basic password storage.
Magnet's window management features are praised for their efficiency and ease of use.
The versatility of Adobe Lightroom CC for photo editing and cloud syncing is highlighted.
Notion's comprehensive features make it indispensable for organizing personal and business tasks.