Tools I use
A list of mostly software and hardware, excluding abstract ideas, methods (e.g. Zettelkasten), PKM, and plugins that don't exist without the underlying tool (e.g. Obsidian plugins and Anki add-ons).
(New to old. x = obsolete; b = backup; g = a cursory glance)
Software/apps/websites
MacOS (or any web tool)
- Recall.ai (2025/9)
- Felo Translator (2024/12) b
- Audio Hijack 4 (Rogue Amoeba) (2024/10) b
- Turboscribe (2024/5)
- Beeper (2024/4)
- PDFSam Visual v6.0.1 (2024/2, 2025/2 for "alternative mix," collaging PDF pages that are left-right-page out of order)
- UltraEdit (2024/2, for Replace In Files - fail compared to EmEditor) b
- CapCut 剪映 (2023/12)
- Upnote (2023/12)
- BBEdit (2023/12) b
- Hypothesis - a public-by-default web annotation tool 預設公開的網上標註筆記工具 (2023/11)
- Movavi Video Editor 24 (2) (2023/11)
- Movavi Screen Recorder 24 (2023/11)
- Exporter (app) (2023/6)
- Visual Studio Code (2023/5) g
- Mochi (2023/5) g
- Glasp (2023/4)
- ChatGPT (2023/4)
- Globse (2023/3)
- Microsoft Translator (iOS app) (2023/3)
- Obsidian (2023/2)
- Microsoft Bing (2023/2, the new one with ChatGPT)
- CotEditor (2023/2)
- Interpreter's Help (2023/1)
- Powerpoint (2023/1, really used to create)
- 4K Video Downloader 下載影片的免費神器 (2023/1)
- Canvas (2022/12)
- Word (2022/10, re-discovered its usefulness)
- GoReact (2022/9)
- Eudic 歐路詞典 (2022)
- Descript (2022)
- Keynote (2022/7)
- SleepWatch (2022)
- DaisyDisk (Mac app) - TreeSize equivalent on the Mac
- Otter.ai 英語實時語音轉寫工具 (2021/2) x
- Git (2021, a fruity company)
- Sublime Text (2021) b
- InterpretBank (2020/8)
- AutoSleep app (2020/6)
- Web Captioner -> Maestra
- Zoom (teleconferencing app) (2020)
- Movavi Video Editor Plus 2020
- Movavi Video Editor 4
- Movavi Screen Recorder 11
- Loopback (Rogue Amoeba)
- QuickTime Player
- aTimeLoggerPro
- Record It! (2018, rediscovered its utility in 2023)
- Notability
- Anki (2018)
- Google Translate (iOS app)
- Calibre
- Parallels Desktop
- Abbyy FineReader
- VLC Player
- MT
- DeepL
- Google Translate (also does ASR)
- Beyond Compare
- Chrome
Windows-only tools
- Windows 11 Pro VM (2024-02) - brand-new installation
- Windows 10 VM - to retire because its Intel-based Parallels Desktop image cannot be transferred to the new ARM-based Apple Silicon M3
- Abbyy FineReader
- EmEditor
- Araxis Merge x
- DTSearch
- TreeSize
iOS/iPadOS
Hardware
Computers
- MacBook Pro Max M3
- iPad
- MacBook Pro (Intel)
- Android smartphone (a Samsung)
- iPhone
Audio equipment
Accessories
- iKuai 7-port powered USB 3.0 hub with USB Type C and USB-A adapter (2024/3)
- Wireless 2.4GH USB-A mouse (2023/11)
- USB C 8-in-1 multi-Port Adapter (2023/11)
- Apple Watch Ultra (2023/5)
- Nuphy Air75 (mechanical wireless multi-device keyboard) (2023/5)
- USB 3.0 Type A 4-port mini hub with USB 3.0 Type A plug (2020?)
- Apple Thunderbolt Display (2560 x 1440, 16:9) (2019?)
- Apple Pencil Gen 1 (201?)
- Behringer U-Control UCA222 audio interface (201?)
A description of USB types
More ...
Glad to find like minds who share tools they use:
- Jack - mentions DEVONthink