> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.storyspooler.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # App Defaults (2025) - URL: https://www.storyspooler.com/app-defaults-2025/ - Published: 2025-08-28T21:17:07.000Z - Updated: 2025-08-28T21:38:07.000Z - Description: What apps have I been using this year? - Author: Spooler RSS updates from Robb Knight's [App Defaults post list](https://defaults.rknight.me/?ref=storyspooler.com) are always a fun read. Below is my contribution to the group focusing on Mac OS and a bias towards Google services thanks to a Google One subscription. - **📨 Mail Client:** [**Gmail PWA**](https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/9658361?hl=en-GB&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&ref=storyspooler.com) I tried other clients like [Mimestream](https://mimestream.com/?ref=storyspooler.com), [Superhuman](https://superhuman.com/?ref=storyspooler.com) or even Apple Mail but Gmail's PWA works well enough. I can reference it from Shortcuts or Aerospace to enable automation scripts, extend its keyboard shortcuts and even play with extensions like [Inboxy](https://www.inboxymail.com/?ref=storyspooler.com). - **📮 Mail Server: Gmail / Google Workspace** No need to look into other services as of now. - **📝 Notes: Analog:** [**Hobonichi Weeks**](https://www.1101.com/store/techo/en/2026/all%5Fabout/weeks/?ref=storyspooler.com) **/ Digital:** [**Obsidian**](https://www.obsidian.md/?ref=storyspooler.com) I use a mix of analog and digital note taking. Most of my free form thinking happens on my notebook but Obsidian helps me to put together notes I can use with GenAI tools for different purposes. - **✅ To-Do: Analog:** [**Hobonichi Weeks**](https://www.1101.com/store/techo/en/2026/all%5Fabout/weeks/?ref=storyspooler.com) **/ Digital: Inbox** I use a combination of the [bullet journal method](https://bulletjournal.com/blogs/faq?srsltid=AfmBOopX83wWM76Mnc5wSuuztu19z2ysVSCU-us5Jbspl9lY%5FpAOuNyh&ref=storyspooler.com) and a ritual similar to that of [Ugmonk's Analog system](https://ugmonk.com/en-gb/pages/analog?srsltid=AfmBOoo55GSW9URcJ%5FuXi4kSSTrczzlrScchPg6k95L41ykIEXVLEymB&ref=storyspooler.com) for my To-Do's. The Weeks is great for that: portable, fountain pen friendly and easy to track things with its pages formatting. For digital lists I tried the whole gamut: Things 3, Todoist, Obsidian plugins, etc. but I realised that since I follow a very strict Inbox Zero method tracking my tasks through my email inbox works well and even more after adding mail filters and using methods like the [*qq trick*](https://www.kungfugrippe.com/post/453204090/q-trick?ref=storyspooler.com) to quickly classify them. - **📷 Photo Shooting:** [**Pixel Camera App**](https://store.google.com/intl/en%5Fuk/ideas/pixel-camera-features/?ref=storyspooler.com) The default app provides enough control over exposure details, file formats and helps to quickly jump into Google Photos for quick edits. - **🟦 Photo Management: Google Photos** Works across devices, provides a really good search functionality and the AI-powered edit functionality is something I use all the time. - **📆 Calendar: Google Calendar (PWA)** I used [Fantastical](https://flexibits.com/fantastical?ref=storyspooler.com) for a bit, but I couldn't justify the price of a subscription to manage my calendar. - **📁 Cloud File Storage: Google Drive** I've been looking into a home NAS but until that happens I'm OK with Drive and its TBs of space. - **📖 RSS:** [**Feedly**](https://feedly.com/?ref=storyspooler.com) Many, many years later I still mourn the loss of Google Reader (RIP). Feedly works OK across devices and even though I read my feeds daily I don't need any advanced feature from the alternatives. - **🙍🏻‍♂️ Contacts: Phone** - **🌐 Browser: Chrome for now.** I was really enjoying [Arc](https://arc.net/?ref=storyspooler.com) but after The Browser Company announced they were [discontinuing its development](https://browsercompany.substack.com/p/letter-to-arc-members-2025) I stopped using it. I've been trying [Zen](https://zen-browser.app/?ref=storyspooler.com) and other options but nothing that I'd call my default just yet. - **💬 Chat:** [**WhatsApp**](https://www.whatsapp.com/?ref=storyspooler.com) The default on every single community I'm part of. - **🔖 Bookmarks: Nothing.** - **📑 Read It Later:** [](https://www.pushtokindle.com/help/getting-started-android-app.html?ref=storyspooler.com)[**Instapaper**](https://www.instapaper.com/?ref=storyspooler.com) I was using [Pocket](https://getpocket.com/home?ref=storyspooler.com) (RIP x2) so I'm defaulting to Instapaper for now. I used to pay for [Push To Kindle](https://www.pushtokindle.com/help/getting-started-android-app.html?ref=storyspooler.com) because their conversion was much better than other options but eventually got tired of juggling articles as books on my Kindle.[](https://www.pushtokindle.com/help/getting-started-android-app.html?ref=storyspooler.com)[ ](https://www.pushtokindle.com/help/getting-started-android-app.html?ref=storyspooler.com) - **📜 Word Processing:** [**iA Writer**](https://ia.net/writer?ref=storyspooler.com) Sublime writing experience. - **📈 Spreadsheets: Google Sheets** Accessible and free. - **📊 Presentations:** [**iA Presenter**](https://ia.net/presenter?ref=storyspooler.com) **/ Google Slides** There are other options like [Marp](https://marp.app/?ref=storyspooler.com) to create slides with Markdown but they are not even close to the level of polish iA Presenter has. The focus on [writing the story first](https://ia.net/topics/presentation-tips?ref=storyspooler.com) and letting the app do all the formatting for you is really attractive and fun. Having said that, it doesn't always work, either because of the company tech stack, the need to collaborate with others or simply because we need to use a specific Slides template. - **🛒 Shopping Lists: Google Keep if I need one.** - **🍴 Meal Planning:** [**Mealie**](https://mealie.io/?ref=storyspooler.com) Great self-hosting app to save web recipes and plan meals. - **💰 Budgeting and Personal Finance:** [**Actual Budget**](https://actualbudget.org/?ref=storyspooler.com) Another great self-hosting app. It is a great (and free!) alternative to [YNAB](https://www.ynab.com/?ref=storyspooler.com) if you follow their tips and methods. - **📰 News: None** - **🎵 Music: Spotify** Get a family plan! - **🎤 Podcasts: Spotify +** [**AntennaPod**](https://antennapod.org/?ref=storyspooler.com) Spotify for the ease of use and availability. AntennaPod for the additional power features and the great interface to play local files. - **🔐 Password Management:** [**Proton Pass**](https://proton.me/pass?ref=storyspooler.com) It's easy to setup, works well and works everywhere. - **🪟 Tiling Window Manager:** [**Aerospace**](https://github.com/nikitabobko/AeroSpace?ref=storyspooler.com) I find it more robust than [Amethyst](https://github.com/ianyh/Amethyst?ref=storyspooler.com), doesn't ask you to touch SIP like [Yabai](https://github.com/koekeishiya/yabai?ref=storyspooler.com) and its text based config is great. The i3 inspiration also helps me a lot to have a consistent config with my Linux box running [Sway](https://swaywm.org/?ref=storyspooler.com). - **🧑🏻‍💻 Code Editor:** [**Neovim**](https://neovim.io/?ref=storyspooler.com) I *do* use Neovim, btw. - **💻 Terminal:** [**Kitty**](https://sw.kovidgoyal.net/kitty/?ref=storyspooler.com) I really like [Ghostty](https://ghostty.org/?ref=storyspooler.com) but it has [issues with tiling WM](https://ghostty.org/docs/help/macos-tiling-wms?ref=storyspooler.com). Since I want to keep my setup consistent across machines I decided to use Kitty everywhere for the time being.