As 2023 comes to a close, we reflect on some of our favorite apps that made everyday life a little easier this year. While flashy new ai applications and rival social networks grab the headlines, sometimes the most useful innovations go unnoticed. The apps on our best list may not have arrived in 2023, but they became daily staples that made our work easier or gave us small moments of joy. Read on to learn the top apps we turn to again and again when we needed to get things done, connect with people, or just have more fun.
mimestream
Details: A Mac app for Gmail (Mac)
Who chose it: Ivan Mehta
Why it's a favorite: I've used and reviewed many email clients over the years. I still mourn the fact that Google Inbox no longer exists. Mimestream is a simple but excellent Gmail client created by former Apple engineer Neil Jhaveri. The app has a split view to allow me to quickly view the content of the email. Additionally, swipe gestures allow me to archive or delete emails from the Inbox queue quickly.
There are also additional features including support for multiple accounts, an additional menu bar, Gmail aliases, and quick tagging (which I found useful for categorizing emails).
Extra mentions: Audiopen (a web app for transcription), Obscura (an iOS camera app for professional photography)
smallview
Details: Small comics app that supports its creators (iOS, Android, web)
Who chose it: Anna Heim
Why it's a favorite: Let's be honest: If I started using Tinyview, it's because it allows me to read some of my favorite web comics (Itchy Feet, Fowl Language, and They Can Talk) in a convenient, easy-to-navigate format. But over time I learned that this also makes the authors happy, because as one of them pointed out on thanksgivingthey earn “a real living wage,” much more than through Patreon or book sales.
The app is free, but paid users get access to bonus panels and more. In addition to additional content, paying for the app is also a way to support the creators. If you especially liked a comic, you can also share “love” one by one by sending them a “cookie,” a “coffee,” an “art supply,” or a “pizza,” each of which corresponds to a tip level. different. .
macrofactor
Details: Macro Tracking App with Minimal Signals (iOS, Android)
Who chose it: Natasha Lomas
Why it's a favorite: This is actually the first (dedicated) macro tracking app I've used; I found it thanks to a recommendation from climbing gurus. Hooper Beta – So I can't speak to how it compares to the rest of the market. But I appreciate its zen minimalism. If you're looking for a no-nonsense tool that won't bombard you with annoying notifications but will help you better understand the nutritional aspect of what you eat, you can't go wrong with MacroFactor.
Attention, it is not free (there is a short free trial), so you will have to pay a subscription. But honest work deserves an honest wage, as they say. And you can rest assured that your data will not be sold to Mark Zuckerberg. Setup is simple: simply answer a few basic questions about your body composition, training regimen, and set your weight loss goal (if your goal is to lose weight; I was more interested in understanding my macronutrient intake) and the app generates personalized calorie and macro goals for you that adapt, week by week, as you weigh. The food logging interface is also decent, with cute icons that add a Pokémon-esque touch of “gotta catch them all” to nudge you to vary what you're eating. Balanced diets FTW!
MMDC (Meet MyDogChallenge)
Details: Social Dog App for Parents (iOS, Android)
Who chose it: Laura Forristal
Why it's a favorite: As a new mom of puppies, finding other dogs with the same temperament as my rambunctious dachshund can be a challenge. Many dogs in my neighborhood are big, older dogs who don't necessarily want to play with a small, bouncing, short-legged speed machine. MMDC allows me to schedule play dates with other small dogs, find nearby group meetings, and share photos of my pup in his new raincoat (he absolutely hates it).
Image credits: meet my dog
My favorite feature is the availability calendar so everyone can see which days we are free. Although it is new canine respiratory disease has postponed many in-person plans, MMDC is also great for chatting online with other users who I can bond with through our adorable doxies.
libby
Details: Borrow eBooks and audiobooks from the library right on your phone (iOS, Android, Web)
Who chose it: Amanda Silberling
Why it's a favorite: Every time I meet someone new and find out that they love to read, I ask them if they have Libby. Since the start of the pandemic, I've read at least 50 books every year, and I couldn't do it (or afford it, probably) without Libby. The app allows you to connect your library cards (yes, cards, plural; don't ask about my ethical crises over having multiple library cards) and then you can search for books to borrow as e-books or audiobooks. If you borrow an ebook, you can log into your Amazon account and send books directly to your Kindle. It's easy, fun and beautiful, Libby. Bonus Recommendation: Share a Libby account with a friend and judge each other on all the crazy stuff you're both reading.
Image credits: Libby app (Opens in a new window)
PSPlay
Details: A third-party client for PlayStation Remote Play (Android)
Who chose it: Kyle Wiggers
Why it's a favorite: So I'm very I'm late to the party, but my partner and I have just started using the PlayStation 5's Remote Play feature, a real blessing on those days when our bed sounds much more appealing than the couch. Because the PS5 is in the living room and we don't want to move. In anticipation of holiday travel, I've been researching ways to take Remote Play beyond the confines of our apartment's Wi-Fi, and the processes seem a little… complicated, to say the least.
Image credits: PSPlay
PSPlay makes it easy: it's remote use on the go, as advertised. Beyond that, it offers features that Sony's official Remote Play app doesn't, like third-party controller support, picture-in-picture mode, and screenshot mode, making it worth the $5.99 price tag.
