App Defaults and Home Screen Update – January 2025

I wrote a bit more in-depth about it in my original post here – but here’s my update at the beginning of 2025! A bunch of these are paid apps I probably wouldn’t prioritise if I didn’t already subscribe to Setapp 🖇️ – so keep that in mind.

Headers with * have some changes.

Mac dock

I use an automatic shortcut, activated with Shortery, to switch between the dock being “hidden at the bottom” (on the laptop screen) and “shown to the left” (on my 27" monitor).

Here’s what it looks like by default:

iPhone home (and lock) screens

My home screens, and backgrounds, change with my Focus modes – but I wouldn’t say I’m great at maintaining these modes. I’ll often use different variants of the same background, for instance from Wallaroo. Some of my modes have traces of this – but I’ll also mix it up, like I have now, with things like photos of my wife.

I always use just one home screen – so I always have one swipe to the Today View and the App Library.

Today View and App Library

No mode

Do Not Disturb

Work

Chill

Sleep (lock screen not relevant)

Driving (home screen not relevant)

Systems and productivity

📓 Notes, tasks, and writing*

Most of this happens in a folder of Markdown files, which I access both through Paper, NotePlan, and Ulysses. At the same time, I just love using Bike (and always think in outlines), so I use that a bit as well. But it’s a big con that I can only access those files on the Mac for now…

I’ve been dabbling with Godspeed 🖇️ for tasks – and I can recommend it, even though I just don’t need a separate task manager.

I’m also using Obsidian for my band, and Notes.app for stuff I share with my wife. And I use Tot as a sticky note and when I need to keep some text floating on top on my Mac.

📖 Journaling*

I’ve switched from Everlog to Diarly because the latter is included in Setapp. But I still don’t journal a lot, and I’d say they’re about equally good.

🛒 Shopping list

My wife and I are using Bring.

📅 Calendar

Still using, and liking, BusyCal.

🌦️ Weather app

The free (because it’s run, and paid for, by the Norwegian state 👌🏻) weather service and app Yr is great, and a true hidden gem (for people outside of Norway).

📮 Mail server

Fastmail 🖇️ still works great!

📨 Mail client

Mail.app is still aggressively fine.

💬 Chat app

I don’t love the people behind it, and I don’t use the more “social media”-like features of it at all. But as a simple chat/call app for friends and family, nothing beats Telegram. And the fact that it’s cross-platform is great, as my social circle is that as well.

🌐 Browser

Even though it’s an Alpha product, I’ve used Zen as my main browser for the last couple of months. And I really like it, and the fact that I can use (and enjoy) a Gecko browser.

I currently use Quiche Browser on iOS, and Safari on iPadOS.

🔎 Search Engine

Kagi is still one of my favourite tech products. Luckily, I don’t know what people are talking about when they’re discussing how web search has become bad…

🔖 Bookmarks

Anybox is my box for anything.

🔐 Password management

I strongly believe that it’s a good idea to store your passwords (etc.) in a third-party manager. And I like 1Password – especially as it works great to use with my family.

📶 RSS backend

I still use Feedbin – but I’m looking at the possibility of hosting in on my new Mac Mini!

📰 RSS reader

Lire is still my favourite here. 👌🏻

📁 Cloud File Storage

I try not to use services from the absolute largest companies if I can help it. So that’s one reason why I’m mostly using Dropbox – and I quite like it as well. But I’m fearing that Apple is forcing me to pay for more iCloud storage as well…

🌅 Photo storage and management

I just use Photos.app.

📷 Camera app

I think I would’ve liked something like Obscura or Halide if I had a better mobile camera. But as I’m still rocking my iPhone 13 Mini, Camera.app works OK.

⏲️ Time tracking

Timemator works perfectly for my use.

Tools and utilities

🤖 Automation and settings

The trifecta of Keyboard Maestro, BetterTouchTool, and Karabiner-Elements makes every other Mac seem broken. PopClip, Hazel, and SoundSource also contributes.

🔩 Text Editor*

I mostly use Nova – but occasionally (including now) I try to run Zed as my main. Nova is more feature-rich, (arguably) prettier, and noob-friendly.¹ But Zed is faster and more minimal!

📟 Terminal*

There’s a similar story here: I’ve mostly used Warp 🖇️ recently – and I love how noob-friendly it is! Especially how it handles text like a normal frickin program! (Instead of doing it in the special terminal-way.) But I’m currently trying Ghostty, which is more sleek and less bloated.

📦 Package manager

I just love installing (and uninstalling) apps with HomeBrew. So I always use that if I can.

🧮 Calculator

On the Mac, I’m using the launcher or Soulver. And on the iPhone, I can’t recommend the weirdly named SC-323PU enough! Take it from a maths teacher: It’s the best – even for simple calculations.

🖼️ Screenshots (and screen recordings)

Cleanshot is just so good. 👌🏻

🚀 Launcher (and more)

I still use, and love, Raycast 🖇️ – both as my launcher, and general LLM interface. It’s really fast, and I love how I can set hotkeys to everything. For instance, I have hotkeys to open numerous apps, different AI commands, running shortcuts, and searching Anybox.

I’ve bought a license for the (even more) indie alternative Monarch – to support the development. The dev is working on the ability to Bring Your Own Key (AI) and support for (Raycast) extensions – and I’ll be interested to see if it can replace Raycast at some point.

🪟 Window management

I mostly use Raycast, combined with Apple’s default actions. (Here’s a post on how I set up the hotkeys, and here’s a post on how I manage windows.)

I also use Lasso when I need something more specific.

📋 Clipboard manager

Paste is terrific.

📄 PDF tool

Nitro PDF is a perfect example of a nice “better default” I would never pay for, but am glad I have access to through Setapp.

🗜️ Zip tool

Archiver is another little Setapp gem.

🍸 Menu bar organiser

I’m interested in the development of something like Ice – but I’m currently happy with Bartender. Especially how it can change dynamically (both when things change, like battery status, and depending on whether I’m using an external screen.)

🗑️ Uninstaller

PearCleaner is great when HomeBrew can’t be used.

🌍 VPN

I don’t use this a lot – but ClearVPN (through Setapp) works well enough.

🖌️ Design tools

Still liking the Affinity suite!

Entertainment

⚽ Football scores

If you follow football, no matter the league, I highly recommend (the Norwegian app) FotMob.

🎬 Media player and server*

Another enjoyable “Setapp default” is Elmedia Player, which I use for local music and video files.

A new addition is me running a Jellyfin server on my Mac Mini, and watching stuff there through the great Infuse player.

🎤 Podcast player

Overcast got (temporarily) worse just after the recent rewrite – but now we’re into the phase where it’s better than it was before, and where the developer is (and thus we are as well) reaping the rewards of going through with it.

🐘 Mastodon client

Mastodon is my social media of choice, and there are so many great apps for it out there! But my favourite, is Mona.

👥 Reddit client

It’s not as good as Apollo was (RIP) – but Narwhal 2 is pretty good.

🎵 Music

I’m still on Tidal, after being on Spotify for a decade. Still don’t like it as much – but it’s OK.

That’s it!

My absolute favourite parts about Apple’s platforms isn’t stuff they do – but all the great software available for it. (Even though I know some of the things I’ve mentioned are cross-platform!) It’s almost like, sometimes, the work of others gives them more business – and not just the other way around…