Top 10 BEST Mac Apps For Productivity: M1 & M2
TLDRIn this video, software developer Chris shares his top 10 essential Mac apps that enhance productivity, particularly for those using M1 and M2 MacBooks. The apps range from utility tools like Alfred, which supercharges the Spotlight search, to specialized apps like Hand Mirror for quick video previews before meetings and Rectangle for efficient window management. Chris also recommends apps for decluttering the menu bar with Bartender 4, managing multiple monitors with Monitor Control, and organizing files with Hidden Me. Additionally, he introduces Temp Box for avoiding email spam, Drop Zone 4 for file management, and Cheat Sheet for quick access to keyboard shortcuts. Lastly, App Cleaner is highlighted for thorough app uninstallation. The video provides a comprehensive guide to downloading and setting up each app, aiming to optimize the user experience on a Mac.
Takeaways
- 🔍 **Alfred**: The first app recommended is Alfred, a powerful tool that enhances the Spotlight search functionality, allowing for both internal and external searches, such as on the web or Amazon.
- 🪞 **Hand Mirror**: Useful for remote workers, this app provides a quick way to check your appearance via webcam before joining a Zoom meeting, without the need to open a separate application.
- 📝 **Rectangle**: A multitasking aid that allows for customizable screen splitting using hotkeys, offering more flexibility than the built-in macOS split screen feature.
- 🚫 **Hidden Me**: Ideal for maintaining a clean desktop, this app can temporarily hide all files and folders, which is particularly useful during screen shares.
- 🍹 **Bartender 4**: A menu bar organizer that lets you declutter and arrange your menu bar icons according to your preferences, providing a cleaner and more personalized interface.
- 🎁 **Temp Box**: A solution for avoiding email clutter by generating fake email addresses to use when signing up for services online, thus protecting your personal inbox from marketing emails.
- 📑 **Drop Zone 4**: Enhances productivity by allowing users to drag files into the menu bar for temporary storage and easy sharing, consolidating multiple files into a single shareable file.
- 🗂️ **Cheat Sheet**: Provides quick access to keyboard shortcuts for any open application, saving time by eliminating the need to remember or look up shortcuts.
- 🖥️ **Monitor Control**: Particularly beneficial for users of external monitors, this app simplifies the adjustment of brightness levels across multiple screens from the menu bar.
- 🧹 **App Cleaner**: Helps with thorough application uninstallation by not only removing the app but also scanning and deleting any leftover files to free up space.
- 🎁 **Giveaway**: The speaker is running a giveaway for an Amazon gift card, encouraging engagement by liking the video, subscribing to the channel, and commenting on the preferred app from the list.
Q & A
What is the first app Chris recommends for new Mac users and why is it considered a productivity booster?
-The first app Chris recommends is Alfred. It is considered a productivity booster because it is like a 'spotlight tool on steroids', allowing users to search internally for files, folders, applications, and also externally on the web, including platforms like Amazon and YouTube.
How does Hand Mirror help users prepare for Zoom meetings?
-Hand Mirror allows users to quickly check their appearance through a webcam preview by clicking a mirror icon in the menu bar, which opens in under a second, thus helping them to look presentable before joining a Zoom meeting.
What is the main issue with the built-in split screen view on macOS and how does Rectangle solve it?
-The built-in split screen view on macOS is considered not user-friendly and limited. Rectangle solves this by allowing users to use hotkeys to split the screen not just left to right, but also top to bottom, and into four corners, offering more flexibility and control over screen division.
What is the primary function of the Hidden Me app and how does it benefit users?
-Hidden Me allows users to temporarily hide all files and folders on their desktop with a small menu icon. This is beneficial for users who prefer a clean-looking desktop and want easy access to their files without them being constantly visible.
How does Bartender 4 help in managing the menu bar on a Mac?
-Bartender 4 helps in decluttering and organizing the menu bar by allowing users to rearrange, hide, or show menu bar icons according to their preferences. It also enables the creation of custom menus and provides easy access to hidden icons.
What is the purpose of Temp Box and how does it protect a user's personal inbox?
-Temp Box generates fake email addresses that users can use to sign up for services or download content without revealing their personal email address. This prevents the user's personal inbox from being flooded with marketing emails.
How does Drop Zone 4 enhance a user's productivity in handling files?
-Drop Zone 4 allows users to drag files into the menu bar icon, which acts as a storage container. It enables users to combine multiple files into a single shareable file that can be easily dragged and dropped into messaging apps, Dropbox, or any file transfer service.
What does Cheat Sheet provide to users and how does it expedite workflows?
-Cheat Sheet provides quick access to keyboard shortcuts for any open application. By holding down the command key, users can view and utilize all available shortcuts for the current app, which saves time and effort in navigating through the app.
How does Monitor Control benefit users with external monitors?
-Monitor Control simplifies the process of adjusting the brightness of multiple monitors by allowing users to set the brightness level through a dropdown menu in the menu bar. It also offers control over the volume of the monitors.
What is the main advantage of using App Cleaner to uninstall applications?
-App Cleaner not only removes the application when dragged for uninstallation but also scans the system for any leftover files associated with the app and deletes them, ensuring a more thorough uninstallation process.
How can viewers participate in the Amazon gift card giveaway mentioned by Chris?
-Viewers can participate in the Amazon gift card giveaway by liking the video, subscribing to Chris's channel, and leaving a comment below the video stating their favorite app from the list or the one they think they'll get the most use out of.
What is the common theme among the apps recommended by Chris in the video?
-The common theme among the apps recommended by Chris is that they are designed to enhance productivity and improve the quality of life for Mac users, from streamlining tasks to providing better control over the user interface.
Outlines
🚀 Essential MacBook Apps for Productivity
Chris, a software developer, shares his top 10 essential apps for new MacBook users to enhance productivity and avoid unnecessary storage use. The video is structured to provide a quick overview of each app's utility, reasons for inclusion, and instructions for downloading and setting up. The first app highlighted is Alfred, a powerful search tool that extends beyond the built-in Spotlight. It allows for both internal and external searches. The second app, Hand Mirror, is useful for remote workers, providing a quick webcam preview before video meetings. The third app, Rectangle, is a multitasking tool that improves upon the native macOS split-screen functionality. Lastly, Hidden Me is a tool for minimalists to temporarily hide desktop files and folders, though it is a paid app.
🔧 Customizing Your MacBook Experience
The second paragraph introduces additional apps that offer customization and control over the MacBook user interface. Bartender 4 is a menu bar organizer that allows users to rearrange, hide, or show icons, and create custom menus. Temp Box is a solution for managing email subscriptions by generating fake email addresses to avoid inbox clutter. Drop Zone 4 is a file management app that simplifies the process of combining files into a single shareable package. Cheat Sheet provides quick access to keyboard shortcuts for any open application, saving time. Monitor Control is beneficial for users of external monitors, offering easy brightness adjustment. App Cleaner Pro is a utility that not only uninstalls apps but also removes leftover files. The paragraph also mentions a giveaway for an Amazon gift card to subscribers who engage with the video by liking, subscribing, and commenting on their favorite app from the list.
🛠️ Wrapping Up the Top MacBook Apps
The final paragraph wraps up the list of recommended MacBook applications. It includes productivity-enhancing apps like Alfred and Cheat Sheet, as well as quality of life improvements like Rectangle and Hidden Me. Links to all the apps discussed are provided in the video description for easy access. The video concludes with an encouragement for viewers to like and subscribe for more content.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Alfred
💡Hand Mirror
💡Rectangle
💡Hidden Me
💡Bartender 4
💡Temp Box
💡Drop Zone 4
💡Cheat Sheet
💡Monitor Control
💡App Cleaner
💡Productivity
Highlights
Chris introduces the top 10 productivity apps for new MacBook users, emphasizing their practical use.
Alfred is highlighted as the top productivity tool, replacing the native Spotlight with superior search functionalities.
Hand Mirror is presented as a quick tool to check your appearance before video calls directly from the menu bar.
Rectangle is introduced for better window management on Mac, offering more versatility than the native split screen.
Hidden Me is recommended for clearing desktop clutter instantly, ideal for minimalists or during screen sharing.
Bartender 4 is discussed for its ability to customize and declutter the Mac's menu bar.
TempBox is introduced as a solution for using disposable email addresses to avoid spam from online sign-ups.
Drop Zone 4 is showcased for its drag-and-drop file management features, enhancing file sharing and organization.
Cheat Sheet is described as a handy tool for accessing keyboard shortcuts for any application, boosting workflow efficiency.
Monitor Control is suggested for easily adjusting the brightness and volume of external monitors from the menu bar.
App Cleaner is recommended for thoroughly uninstalling applications and cleaning up associated leftover files.
Chris offers a $100 Amazon gift card giveaway, increasing engagement by inviting viewers to comment on their favorite apps.
The video includes a step-by-step guide on downloading and setting up each featured app.
The apps discussed range from enhancing basic functionalities to advanced customization and productivity tools.
Viewers are encouraged to subscribe and like the video for more content on effective MacBook usage.