Instead of unifying my experience across devices (ie, iMac, iPad, iPhone), I’ve decided to take the opposite approach and adopt all the major platforms – Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. In doing so, I’ll remain proficient across the major operating systems and keep up with their respective developments and trends. Here’s a rundown of what’s on my devices.
The Desktop – Zeratul
In comparison to last year, the obvious difference is that I’ve transitioned from MacOS to Windows on my workstation, Zeratul. Why? Better gaming options, better utilization of the hardware I assembled, and to remain adept with the most widely used personal computer operating system. Excluding the programs bundled with Windows 10 Professional, here are some of the apps I use daily:
Atom (web programming)- FileZilla (FTP)
- GIMP (image editing)
- Microsoft Office (office suite)
- Steam and Origin (gaming hubs)
- Chrome (web browser)
- VLC (video playback)
- SyncToy (file synchronization)
- 7-Zip (archive utility)
- Spotify and iTunes (music hubs)
- Plex Media Server (media hub)
- TightVNC (VNC server/client)
The Laptop – Artanis
Things are pretty much the same with my 11″ MacBook Air 2015. It’s currently running Mac OS Sierra 10.12.6 with the following non-Apple applications:
Boom 3D (audio optimizer)- CleanMyMac (optimization utility)
- Coda 2 (programming IDE)
- Flume (Instagram client)
- Google Chrome (web browser)
- Living Earth Desktop (wallpaper)
- Magnet (window utility)
- JPEGmini Pro and ImageOptim (image optimization)
- Microsoft Office (office suite)
- Monolingual (optimization utility)
- Screens (VNC client)
- Transmit (FTP client)
- Tweetbot (Twitter client)
- VLC (video playback)
The Tablet – Apple iPad Pro
The iPad Pro has been a joy for multimedia consumption, and since I purchased the Apple Pencil, the generation of content. I love doodling notes and diagrams to share, and I owe it to the seamless functionality of iOS to make this process as easy as possible. Here are some of the non-iOS apps I use:
GoodNotes (note-taking application)- PDF Expert (PDF reader)
- Spotify (music app)
- WhatsPad (WhatsApp client)
- WordPress (WordPress client)
- Pushbullet (cross-platform synchronization)
- AnyConnect (VPN client)
- VLC (video playback)
- iMovie (video editor)
The Smartphone – Google Pixel
Easily the device I use the most often is my Pixel smartphone. I usually purchase a smartphone yearly, so I’m looking forward to the new Pixel 2 later this year. I’m currently running developer preview 4 of Android O on this device, and absolutely loving it. Here are some of the non-core-Android apps I run:
- BlueMail (combined mail app)
- Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn (social media)
- Google Photos (photo repository)
- Robinhood (stock exchange)
- QuickPic (photo gallery)
- PhotoScan (photo scanner)
- Figure 1 (medical images)
- CamScanner (document scanner)
- VNC Viewer (VNC client)
- Solid Explorer (file explorer)
- SwiftKey (virtual keyboard)
- SolCalendar (calendar)
- MightyText (SMS sync to Chrome)
- PushBullet (cross-platform sync)
What are your favorite applications for your devices?