Most USEFUL Mac Apps I Actually Use
TLDRThis video showcases a collection of essential Mac apps that the creator finds incredibly useful. It covers a range of categories from productivity to maintenance. Apps like Beeper, Alfred, Pure Paste, Language Tool, and 1Password are highlighted for their unique functionalities. The video also mentions utilities such as Rectangle for window management, Flux for reducing blue light, and Setapp for accessing a wide array of applications. Productivity is enhanced with tools like Petro, Ena, Tech Sniper, and Pend. The creator also discusses the importance of a good task manager and calendar, recommending Todoist and Fantastical. For creative work, Eagle, Photoshop, Sip, and Final Cut Pro are praised. The video concludes with travel apps like Trip Mode, Tripsy, and Fighty, providing insights into managing data usage and organizing travel plans.
Takeaways
- ๐ฑ **Beeper** consolidates messaging services like WhatsApp, iMessage, Slack, and Twitter into one location with cross-device syncing.
- ๐ **Alfred** is a powerful tool that enhances Spotlight, offering quick file access, clipboard history, and extensive customization through workflows.
- ๐ **Pure Paste** is a utility that removes formatting from copied text and allows pasting with source formatting when needed.
- ๐ **LanguageTool** is a grammar and spell checker supporting over 30 languages, which is a versatile choice for multilingual users.
- ๐ **1Password** is a reliable password manager that securely stores a wide range of personal information with cross-platform compatibility and Alfred integration.
- ๐ฅ๏ธ **Rectangle** is a window management tool that allows for keyboard customization and efficient window positioning.
- ๐ **Flux** helps reduce blue light emission as the day progresses, which can assist with sleep quality for night owls.
- ๐ **Setapp** is a subscription service providing access to over 200 premium Mac apps for a monthly fee.
- ๐ **Petro** offers a command palette for various apps, making it easier to access and execute commands within applications.
- ๐ต **Ena** is a versatile media player that can handle a wide range of file types and is more user-friendly than Apple's QuickTime.
- ๐ **TechSniper** enables users to copy text from images or videos by highlighting the text, which is then copied to the clipboard.
Q & A
What is the main feature of the Beeper app?
-Beeper consolidates all your texts from various services like WhatsApp, iMessage, Slack, and Twitter into one centralized location, with an iOS app for syncing across all devices.
How does Alfred app enhance the functionality of Spotlight?
-Alfred is like Spotlight on steroids, offering faster search capabilities and hundreds of additional features such as clipboard history, direct search of websites like Amazon, YouTube, and Twitter, and integration with 1Password.
What does Pure Paste do to improve the copy-paste experience?
-Pure Paste clears formatting automatically when you copy and paste, and allows you to paste with source formatting by pressing the option key before pasting.
Why is LanguageTool preferred over Grammarly by the speaker?
-The speaker prefers LanguageTool because it supports over 30 languages, which is beneficial for someone who speaks multiple languages and is actively learning new ones.
What is the speaker's choice for a password manager and why?
-The speaker chooses 1Password for its reliability, cross-platform compatibility, and the ability to store a wide range of personal information beyond just passwords.
How does Rectangle app improve window management on Mac OS?
-Rectangle allows for customization of keyboard shortcuts and the shifting of windows to various positions, offering a more efficient window management experience than the default Mac OS functionality.
What is the Setapp service and how does it work?
-Setapp is a subscription service that gives users access to over 200 paid Mac apps for a monthly fee, functioning similarly to Netflix but for Mac applications.
What is the main advantage of using the Petro app?
-Petro provides a command palette for apps that don't have one built-in, allowing users to access and search through various actions and settings more efficiently.
Why is Ena the speaker's preferred media player?
-Ena is preferred for its ability to play a wide range of file types, high customization, and a native feel that surpasses Apple's own QuickTime in terms of compatibility and design.
How does Tech Sniper help with copying text from images or videos?
-Tech Sniper allows users to highlight text within an image or video and copy it to the clipboard without manually typing it down, offering a more efficient solution than native methods.
What is the purpose of the Downy app and how is it used?
-Downy is used for downloading videos from various websites. Users simply copy and paste the video link into Downy and specify the desired quality for downloading.
Outlines
๐ฑ Favorite Apps and Productivity Tools
The speaker discusses their favorite apps categorized into different sections. They mention Beeper, an app that consolidates texts from various services like WhatsApp and Twitter. They also talk about Alfred, a powerful tool that enhances Spotlight's capabilities, and Pure Paste, which clears formatting when copying and pasting. Language Tool is highlighted as a grammar and spell checker, and One Password is recommended as a robust password manager. Rectangle, an app for window management, and Flux, for reducing blue light, are also covered. The Setapp subscription service is mentioned for accessing a wide range of apps, and the utility of the command palette in Petro is explained. Ena, a versatile media player, and Tech Sniper, for copying text from images, are also discussed.
๐ Battery Indicators and Video Downloaders
The speaker talks about an app that displays battery levels for AirPods and other devices connected to a Mac. They also mention Downy, an app for downloading videos from various websites. They discuss their experience with apps designed to remind users to take breaks and move, but they find them cumbersome. Instead, they use Pend, an app that silently tracks sitting time. Monitor Control is mentioned for adjusting the brightness of external displays, and Hue Menu is an app for controlling Hue lights from the menu bar. The speaker also highlights isenso, a text expander tool, and Todoist and Fantastical as their preferred task manager and calendar apps, respectively. Arc, a browser, and Drop Zone, a versatile menu bar app, are also discussed.
๐ป Mac Ecosystem and Personal Knowledge Management
The speaker expresses satisfaction with the improved email capabilities of the built-in Mac Stock app. They mention using Proton Mail for various email accounts and the benefits of using Obsidian and Readwise for personal knowledge management. Obsidian is highlighted for its organizational capabilities, and Readwise is praised for its features that enhance the reading experience. The speaker also talks about the benefits of using the latest version of Final Cut Pro, especially on Macs with Apple's silicon chips, and the advantages it has over similar Windows-based editing software.
๐ Travel Apps and Data Management
The speaker discusses TripMode, an app that monitors data usage on a Mac's hotspot. They also mention Tripsy, a travel planner for collaborative trip organization, and Fighty, an app for tracking flights and receiving updates on delays and baggage claims. The speaker expresses that while these travel apps are useful, they may not be worth the cost for everyone. They also encourage viewers to share any great apps they might have missed.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กBeeper
๐กAlfred
๐กPure Paste
๐กLanguage Tool
๐ก1Password
๐กRectangle
๐กFlux
๐กSetapp
๐กPetro
๐กEna
๐กTechSniper
Highlights
Beeper consolidates texts from various services like WhatsApp, iMessage, Slack, and Twitter into one location.
Alfred is a powerful tool that enhances Spotlight functionality and offers hundreds of additional features.
Pure Paste clears formatting from copied text and allows for pasting with source formatting when desired.
LanguageTool is a grammar and spell checker that supports over 30 languages, making it versatile for multilingual users.
1Password is a robust password manager that securely stores a wide range of personal data.
Rectangle is a window management tool that offers customization and efficiency for managing Mac OS windows.
Flux helps reduce blue light on screens, making it easier to fall asleep for those who work late into the night.
Setapp provides access to over 200 paid apps with a monthly subscription, offering a wide range of software.
Petro brings the command palette feature to apps that don't have it, centralizing actions for quick access.
Ena is a highly customizable media player that can handle a variety of file types more effectively than QuickTime.
TechSniper allows users to copy text from images or videos by highlighting, streamlining the process.
Downy is a tool for downloading videos from various websites with ease, offering different quality options.
Pend is an app that monitors sitting time and subtly reminds users to take breaks, promoting better health habits.
Monitor Control allows users to adjust the brightness of external displays without physically reaching them.
Hue Menu simplifies the control of Philips Hue lights from the Mac's menu bar, eliminating the need for a phone.
Isense is a text expander tool that can replace specific words with more complex text or code snippets.
Todoist is a reliable task manager with excellent natural language processing and a feature-rich free version.
Fantastical is a subscription-based calendar app with advanced natural language processing and integration with Alfred.
Arc is a highly customizable and feature-rich browser that has seen improvements and is now available to everyone.
Drop Zone is a versatile menu bar app that allows for file management and quick actions, such as email creation and image uploading.
CleanShot X is a comprehensive screen capture tool with annotation and video recording capabilities, though it requires a subscription for ongoing feature access.
Eagle is a local digital asset organizer that allows for efficient collection and management of images and videos.
Sip is a color picker tool with a history feature that helps in maintaining consistent color palettes for creative work.
Final Cut Pro is a video editing software that has significantly improved with Apple's silicon chips, offering high performance.
TripMode is an app that monitors data usage of each app when using a Mac as a hotspot, preventing data overuse.
Tripsy is a travel planner that allows collaboration and consolidation of trip details in one place.
Fliggy is a flight tracking app that syncs with the calendar and provides updates on delays and baggage claim information.