Uses
Last Updated: January 18, 2024
A listing of hardware, software, and other tools I use in my work and creative endeavors on a day-to-day basis. See other people’s uses
Hardware
- MacBook Pro 2021, 16 inch, Apple M1 chip, 16GB memory, 500 GB SSD – named “Surfboard Deux”
- Dell U2415 monitor
- Apple keyboard (2009)
- Magic Mouse (battery-powered)
- Airpods (gift for LGND)
- Samsung Galaxy A23 refurbished phone, 64GB, black
- FNTCASE for Samsung Galaxy A23 5G Case (Navy Blue)
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A running Android 11
On my desk
- Mainstays LED Architect’s Lamp (Black)
- KU Jayhawk YouTheFan NCAA Logo Series Desk Pad
- Yeti Rambler 20 ounce Tumbler with MagSlider lid – special order with LGND logo
Writing/sketchnotes
- Black and Red Notebook, Spiral, 8-1/4″ x 5-3/8″
- Zebra F-301 Black Ballpoint Pen, Fine Point
- Strathmore 500 Series Visual Mixed Media Journal, 5.5″x8″ Vellum, Wire Bound for sketchnoting
- Pentel EnerGel Deluxe RTX Retractable Liquid Gel Pen, 0.7mm, Black Ink
- Amazon Basics Classic Notebook, Line Ruled, 240 Pages, Black, Hardcover, 5 x 8.25-Inch for journaling
Software
- Workstation: Shift – This app allows me to have multiple Gmail accounts open as well as Slack, Asana, and Everhour. I use to use two different browsers for email and then had multiple browser windows open for all the work apps I needed. Shift gives me a nice interface where I can combine all of these into one place.
- Email Server: Google
- Notes: Evernote (personal) and Notion (work). I am too invested in Evernote to switch to Notion and there were things I could not do in Notion that I like in Evernote.
- Calendar: Google Calendar
- Time tracking: Toggl Track
- Code editor: VS Code
- Browser: Firefox (desktop), Chrome (mobile)
- CMS: WordPress
- Git: GitHub Desktop
- Access Design Mockups: Figma
- Code Snippets Library: SnippetsLab
- Photo editor: Affinity Photo and Photoshop (I am using Photoshop less and less these days)
- Chat: Slack and Discord
- Meetings/Video calls: Zoom and Huddles in Slack
- Password management: Bitwarden
- Music: Spotify
- Local Web development: Local
- Inspiration library: Eagle
- FTP Client: Transmit
- SVG creation/editor: Affinity Designer
- RSS: feedly
- Read it later/bookmarks: Pocket
- Image optimization: Squoosh
- SVG optimization: SVGOMG
- Social: Mastodon, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (less and less these days)
- Track book reading: Goodreads
- Contacts: Google Contacts
- Word processing: Google Docs
- Screenshots and Videos: CleanShot X
- Accessibility testing: Lighthouse and axe DevTools browser extension
- Backup: Time Machine and SmartBackup. I finally started using Time Machine this year. I am not sure why it took me so long to get on board. It would have been incredibly helpful two years ago when my computer crashed. It would have made life much easier to be able to restore from Time Machine on my new computer.
Tablet software
- Kindle – I read my ebooks on this app almost every day.
- feedly
- Hoopla
- Goodreads
- Spotify
- Netflix
- Disney+
- Movies Everywhere
- Amazon Music
- Amazon Shopping
- YouTube
- Mastodon
- ReadEra
- The Athletic
- Slack
- Readwise
Phone software
- Mastodon
- Slack
- Bitwarden
- Calendar
- Contacts
- Maps
- Photos (Google)
- Spotify
- Authenticator
- McDonald’s
Vehicles
- 2006 Toyota Sienna
- 2001 Toyota Camry