App defaults

A bit over a year ago Hemispheric Views launched the default apps thread. Inspired by the wave of posts that followed, and by the time of year that somewhat leads us to make lists and assessments, I decided to compile a list of my default apps.

• ✉️ Mail Client: Proton Mail

  Proton has been my main mailbox for just over a month. So far I’m satisfied, although the accessory services have several shortcomings.

• 📮 Mail Server: Proton Mail

  I’m really liking the Sieve filters.

• 📝 Notes: Logseq

  Outlines were a breakthrough for me, but I wouldn’t mind having better synchronization between desktop and smartphone.

• ✅ To-Do: Nextcloud Tasks on macOS & Tasks.org on Android

  CalDAV is a standard and works well, but a native macOS client wouldn’t be bad.

• 🌅 Photo Gallery: Google Photos

  I’m exploring different alternatives, Ente Photos seems the most promising.

• 📹 Video Editor: DaVinci Resolve

  Nothing to say, it’s the best and it’s free!

• 📆 Calendar: Proton Calendar

  This is one of the services where Proton could do better. It lacks todo support and doesn’t work offline. I like the integration with mail, but honestly I’m thinking of going back to using CalDAV.

• 👤 Contacts: Nexcloud Contacts

  Honestly, there’s not much to say about this point.

• 📝 Journaling: jrnl

  I wish I could insert new notes from the phone, but the advantages of having simple text files are incomparable.

• 📰 RSS Server: Miniflux

  It does everything it needs to do.

• 🗞️ RSS Client: NetNewsWire on macOS & FeedMe on Android

  Here too, they work well so I have nothing to add.

• 🌐 Browser: Arc on macOS & Cromite on Android

  Arc works the same way my brain does. It helped me get organized.

• 🔖 Bookmarks: Linkding

  Simple and easy to integrate.

• 📑 Read it later: Pocket

  Honestly I use Pocket only because it syncs with my Kobo.

• 💰 Budgeting & Personal Finance: hledger & paisa

  I like the flexibility of hledger, but I like paisa’s reports even more.

• 🎶 Music: Spotify

  I have a family account, it’s cheap, has a nice logo and they are European.

• 🎤 Podcasts: AntennaPod

  Honestly this year I didn’t listen to many podcasts, but when I did, it was with AntennaPod.

• 🔐 Password Management: Proton Pass

  Before I used Bitwarden, but I believe Proton’s solution is slightly better, especially on smartphone.

• 🔢 2FA: Ente Auth

  Well-made app, and cloud synchronization makes me feel more secure.

• 🏃‍♂️ Fitness Tracker: Fitbit & Strava

  I’m doing well with Fitbit, but for running I prefer Strava.

• ☁️ Cloud Storage: Proton Drive & Rclone

  Drive is another of Proton’s services that leaves something to be desired. In the end I prefer to use Rclone and save everything in B2, Hetzner Storage Box and Scaleway Object Storage¹.

• 🗄️ Backup: Restic & Kopia

  I use them in parallel because with backups it’s better to be sure.