Insights on NingNarrative

⚒️ Default Apps for 2024

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 09:00:00 +0700

I’ve been wanting to write about my most used apps for so long but didn’t have enough motivation to do so, until I came across this directory of apps people commonly use. Inspired by this, I’ve decided to compile a list of my default apps.

Prioritize Native Apps, then Fantastic Updates for New OS Support in Apps

For over ten years, I have enthusiastically tried thousands of apps. Throughout this time, I have learned that the best apps are the ones that withstand the test of time, receive frequent updates to support new operating system features, and, if necessary, offer excellent options for sharing and exporting.

The most important lesson I've learned from my years is this: the less I have to worry about the longevity of support, the better. And ultimately, which apps would have a longer lifespan than Apple's own apps?

Therefore, this year, I have decided to mostly use native apps instead of trying to find apps with the best features.

Only if Apple's implementation did not meet my standards then would I choose popular apps that closely follow native app guidelines and are most suitable for my use cases. That is why I have chosen a vastly different list of apps this year compared to my previous years, but I'm happy with my current choice.

However, since writing, learning, and note-taking have been my passion, I don’t use Apple Notes and Freeform because it’s difficult to export and share to other apps. Therefore, I couldn’t bring myself to use the native apps, and opted for Drafts and Bear as Apple Notes alternatives, and Muse as a Freeform alternative.

My Default Apps List

📨 Mail Client: Spark (I’ve yet enough time to figure out my workflow for Apple Mail yet)
📮 Mail Server: Gmail, Hotmail, Custom Domain using Porkbun with iCloud server.
✍️ Journaling: Drafts (daily log which would sent to other apps), Stoic.(morning and evening prompts), Day One (memory keeping with photos and videos)
📝 Notes&Writing: Drafts (jotting downs ideas and tasks to fully crafted articles), iA Writer (Long-form writing), Craft (large projects), Obsidian (daily journal, reference notes, but uses iA Writer to access files on mobile devices), Bear (Book Notes because it’s much simpler to use it for attachments)
👩‍💻 Blogging: Using Ulysses or Drafts to publish on my main blog in Micro.blog. Also use Scribbles, Bear Blog, and Ghost hosting with MagicPages for my other blogs.
💡 Brainstorming and Ideation: Muse as my digital whiteboard
✅ To-Do: Apple Reminders (Just ditched Things), Agenda (for projects but considering just using Apple Notes or Craft instead.)
📆 Calendar: Apple Calendar, but still use widgets from BusyCal
📚 Books: Kindle, Libby, Audible
💪 Health and Fitness: Apple Fitness and Apple Health(for logging) and Gentler Streak (health state), just ditched Fitbod (tracking workout progress), Athlytic and Bevel(daily exertion and recovery), Foodnoms(food log)
📷 iPhone Photo Shooting: Apple Camera
🟦 Photo Editing: Photomator, Darkroom
📁 Cloud File Storage: iCloud for active files, OneDrive for archiving
📖 RSS: News Explorer
🌐 Browser: Arc and Safari, but considering trying out Zen Browser next year.
💬 Chat: Line, Facebook Messenger, Instagram
🔖 Bookmarks: Goodlinks (for websites), Play-Save Videos Watch Later (for videos)
📑 Read It Later: Readwise Reader
📰 News: My Family and RSS feeds, but mostly my family, LOL.
🎵 Music: Spotify
💰 Budgeting and Personal Finance: Still figuring out.

⚒️ Default Apps for 2024

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 09:00:00 +0700

Prioritize Native Apps, then Fantastic Updates for New OS Support in Apps

Therefore, this year, I have decided to mostly use native apps instead of trying to find apps with the best features.

My Default Apps List

📨 Mail Client: Spark (I’ve yet enough time to figure out my workflow for Apple Mail yet)
📮 Mail Server: Gmail, Hotmail, Custom Domain using Porkbun with iCloud server.
✍️ Journaling: Drafts, Stoic. (morning and evening prompts), Day One (memory keeping with photos and videos)
📝 Notes&Writing: , (jotting downs ideas and tasks to fully crafted articles), iA Writer (Long-form writing), Craft (large projects), Obsidian (daily journal, reference notes, but uses iA Writer to access files on mobile devices), Bear (Book Notes because it’s much simpler to use it for attachments)
👩‍💻 Blogging: Using Ulysses or Drafts to publish on my main blog in Micro.blog. Also use Scribbles, Bear Blog, and Ghost hosting with MagicPages for my other blogs.
💡 Brainstorming and Ideation: Muse as my digital whiteboard
✅ To-Do: Apple Reminders (Just ditched Things), Agenda (for projects but considering just using Apple Notes or Craft instead.)
📆 Calendar: Apple Calendar, but still use widgets from BusyCal
📚 Books: Kindle, Libby, Audible
💪 Health and Fitness: Apple Fitness and Apple Health(for logging) and Gentler Streak (health state), just ditched Fitbod (tracking workout progress), Athlytic and Bevel (daily exertion and recovery), Foodnoms (food log)
📷 iPhone Photo Shooting: Apple Camera
🟦 Photo Editing: Photomator, Darkroom
📁 Cloud File Storage: iCloud for active files, OneDrive for archiving
📖 RSS: News Explorer
🌐 Browser: Arc and Safari, but considering trying out Zen Browser next year.
💬 Chat: Line, Facebook Messenger, Instagram
🔖 Bookmarks: Goodlinks (for websites), Play-Save Videos Watch Later (for videos)
📑 Read It Later: Readwise Reader
📰 News: My Family and RSS feeds, but mostly my family, LOL.
🎵 Music: Spotify
💰 Budgeting and Personal Finance: Still figuring out.

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⚒️ Default Apps for 2024

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 09:00:00 +0700

Prioritize Native Apps, then Fantastic Updates for New OS Support in Apps

The most important lesson I’ve learned from my years is this: the less I have to worry about the longevity of support, the better. And ultimately, which apps would have a longer lifespan than Apple’s own apps?

Therefore, this year, I have decided to mostly use native apps instead of trying to find apps with the best features.

Only if Apple’s implementation did not meet my standards then would I choose popular apps that closely follow native app guidelines and are most suitable for my use cases. That is why I have chosen a vastly different list of apps this year compared to my previous years, but I’m happy with my current choice.

My Default Apps List

📨 Mail Client: Spark (I’ve yet enough time to figure out my workflow for Apple Mail yet)
📮 Mail Server: Gmail, Hotmail, Custom Domain using Porkbun with iCloud server.
✍️ Journaling: Drafts (daily log which would sent to other apps), Stoic.(morning and evening prompts), Day One (memory keeping with photos and videos)
📝 Notes&Writing: Drafts (jotting downs ideas and tasks to fully crafted articles), iA Writer (Long-form writing), Craft (large projects), Obsidian (daily journal, reference notes, but uses iA Writer to access files on mobile devices), Bear (Book Notes because it’s much simpler to use it for attachments)
👩‍💻 Blogging: Using Ulysses or Drafts to publish on my main blog in Micro.blog. Also use Scribbles, Bear Blog, and Ghost hosting with MagicPages for my other blogs.
💡 Brainstorming and Ideation: Muse as my digital whiteboard
✅ To-Do: Apple Reminders (Just ditched Things), Agenda (for projects but considering just using Apple Notes or Craft instead.)
📆 Calendar: Apple Calendar, but still use widgets from BusyCal
📚 Books: Kindle, Libby, Audible
💪 Health and Fitness: Apple Fitness and Apple Health(for logging) and Gentler Streak (health state), just ditched Fitbod (tracking workout progress), Athlytic and Bevel(daily exertion and recovery), Foodnoms(food log)
📷 iPhone Photo Shooting: Apple Camera
🟦 Photo Editing: Photomator, Darkroom
📁 Cloud File Storage: iCloud for active files, OneDrive for archiving
📖 RSS: News Explorer
🌐 Browser: Arc and Safari, but considering trying out Zen Browser next year.
💬 Chat: Line, Facebook Messenger, Instagram
🔖 Bookmarks: Goodlinks (for websites), Play-Save Videos Watch Later (for videos)
📑 Read It Later: Readwise Reader
📰 News: My Family and RSS feeds, but mostly my family, LOL.
🎵 Music: Spotify
💰 Budgeting and Personal Finance: Still figuring out.

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My new understanding of Zettlekasten

Mon, 08 Aug 2022 22:04:51 +0700

I never quite understood the point of Zettelkasten until I saw this video—Implementing a Digital Zettelkasten using Block References in Roam Research with Beau Haan.

The purpose of Zettelkasten is to allow you to have a clear, informed, and personal conversation, not to organize or summarize what you’ve read. It’s all about developing your own set of wisdom that you can convey in a way that people will believe.

Your fleeting thoughts (fleeting note) are like gas that you need to condense into a liquid (literature note), using the reference source as a container (reference note), so that you can solidify that knowledge (permanent note).

In essence, Zettelkasten involves crystallizing your thought process, being able to trace back how you arrived at your conclusion, and contextualizing it with your other relevant ideas (relevant notes).

Now I understand why and how I should use this system to create my own personal knowledge management system and to assist me in the future in creating and sharing clear, informed, and personal content.

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 20:28:57 +0700

💡Nowadays, I tend to divide everything into two categories. What brings me joy and what helps me grow as a person. Nice moment? Savor it. Bad moment? Take lessons. This is a simpler way of life.

Sun, 24 Jul 2022 08:23:37 +0700

💡After years of working out, I’ve changed my mindset from “Don’t bother, you won’t be able to do it.” to “If I want to do this, how can I incorporate the plan that will work for me?” Change no longer seems impossible when you realize it’s a matter of time and effort. 💪

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 08:00:00 +0700

💡Demand more from yourself. Expect less from others.

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 09:40:11 +0700

⭐️💡Everyday, I turn around, bow, and say ‘thank you’ before leaving my room and starting my morning. Starting the day with gratitude keeps me grounded and makes me appreciate life more.