Posts in "Picks"

2022 June Gear + Tool Evolution

An update to the tools I use:

macOS

  • Task Manager - GoodTask + Reminders - I might be moving over to Omnifocus and Reminders. It is dependent on what is best for my workflow.
  • Text Editor - Nova - Also using BBEDIT…torn between these two!
  • Terminal App - Terminal - I have been using iTerm and continue to return to Terminal.app as it is on all the macOS devices I use.
  • Automation App - Hazel
  • Online Backup Service - Backblaze
  • Backup Application - Carbon Copy Cloner

iOS

  • Reddit App - Apollo
  • Podcast App - Castro - Starting to use Overcast.fm more due to the fact that I don't see as much support / forward momentum with the Castro app.
  • Camera App - Halide
  • Scanning App - Scan Thing
  • Document Scanning App - Notes
  • Game - Magic Arena - Too many games to list right now! I have cut down on my gaming time to focus on creating more content.

iOS and macOS

  • Twitter App - Tweetbot - Also started using Twitterriffic…trying to figure out which one I like using more…with Elon Musk's purchase (whenever that happens) I am bit worried about the 3rd party support for the platform.
  • Password Manager - 1Password
  • Package Tracking App - Parcel - Since the developer of Deliveries stated they will not be fully supporting their application anymore (not their fault…the changes that all the shipping companies put the devs through makes it difficult to maintain), I need to find a replacement application. For now, Parcel is this application…it might meet the same fate as Deliveries later down the road.
  • Calendar App - Fantastical
  • Recipe Manager - Mela
  • RSS Reader - Reeder
  • Read Later Application - Reeder
  • Email Application - Mail.app
  • Quick Note App - Tot and Drafts

Hardware

MISC

My 2021 Gear

To start the new year with actually writing an article, I wanted to share with you the tools (both software, hardware, and some miscellaneous items) that I have personally been using to get stuff done (amongst other things): https://www.jeromekoehler.com/my-gear/.

I'll continue to add my reasoning behind my choices and update the list as my preferences continue to change.

A few of these links are Amazon affiliate links as I plan to write more reviews + provide my feedback and those help offset the costs of the items and the hosting!

May 2019 Pick - Anker USB-C Hub

Products Mentioned in this article:

TD;LR Summary: A great, affordable USB-C hub, that has most of what you need minus power passthrough and a built-in media card reader.

With the all of the different USB-C hubs I have purchased over the past, I have begun to rely mostly on two different companies for my gear: OWC and Anker. In this weekly pick, I will give some feedback on the Anker USB-C Hub that I purchased due to my Satechi hub becoming hot enough to cook on (I might be exaggerating a bit)!

The Anker USB-C hub has three USB 3.0 Ports, 4K HDMI output, and an ethernet port! The only thing that this hub does not have is the power pass-through, more than likely leading to a much cooler running temperature. I have hooked up everything ranging from a media card reader to a 4K dell monitor to the hub and it has handled everything like a charm. I have also used Anker hub to hook my iPad Pro (the newer models rock a USB-C port) to troubleshoot an EdgeRouter on-site when I didn’t have my MacBook Pro with me.

App Pick - WordPress Mobile App

As more and more users flock to content management systems like WordPress (I personally utilize this CMS for my art business’s storefront), more and more business professionals need to update their blogs on the go. You might have an important event that needs to be publicized as soon as possible or you want to take advantage of some down time to update the information on your site. At first, the Wordpress mobile application wasn’t that great due to a lack of features and stability so I only used it for. It has come a long way, though, and now I don’t know how I was updating my blog without the application. The universal WordPress mobile application runs great on both your iPad and iPhone and allows you to manage multiple sites’ comments and blog posts, check on a site’s statistics via JetPack, and easily access the admin module if required to make changes that are not available in the application itself. For users of 1Password, the WordPress mobile application integrates 1Password for easy vault access. Best of all, this application is free download making it a great bargain. Happy posting!

Pick for October 6, 2014

Pick for October 6, 2014

iWerkz Bluetooth Keyboard(Jerome)

I have been searching for a great, portable bluetooth keyboard for a while now and ended up purchasing the iWerkz Bluetooth Keyboard due to its portability, price, and ability to connect wirelessly to my iPad. The keyboard folds in half and fits into a small case that doubles as a stand for either an iPad or iPhone as needed. Due to its minuscule size, it doesn’t take up as much space as my Logitech K760, with its photovoltaic panel, in my bag. The iWerkz keyboard charges via a microUSB cable that is included with the device. All in all, I love this keyboard and it has made my iPad and iPhone even more powerful when I need to type fast!

Pick for September 29, 2014

Deliveries by Junecloud

I have a need to track a lot of deliveries that are incoming and outbound and needed an applicatio to consolidate tracking information for all of the different services that are utilized by my business and by the likes of Amazon, Apple, etc. My go-to app to keep track of all the deliveries is the aptly named Deliveries by Junecloud. I am able to enter my tracking numbers and it automatically detects the service via the number I entered. There is also a widget available for free where you use Junecloud’s free sync service to sync the information between devices.

All in all, Deliveries is a well designed app that does one thing very well: track my deliveries!