A few weeks ago I linked to a TextExpander tutorial Mike Schmitz (Twitter) did over at Asian Efficiency. Since then, Mike and I have been corresponding via email and I’ve determined he’s a swell guy. So Mike, show us your home screen.

What are some of favorite apps?

OmniFocus – my digital brain.

I tried just about every task management app out there before settling on OmniFocus, and now it would take a lot to get me out of it because I am seriously invested. OmniFocus 2 for iPhone is so great for quick capturing, and I love the ability to add things via Siri.

Dispatch – my email client of choice

(and I’ve tried almost all of them). 

I really like the TextExpander support and the ability to send emails to OmniFocus, kind of like an iOS version of the Clip-o-Tron (I like this better than the mail drop, but I know that works too). It would be hard for me to go back to an email app that didn’t have that integration with my task management system now.

Drafts

I got hooked on Drafts after hearing about it on Mac Power Users. It took awhile for me to get into it, but now I can’t imagine not having it on my phone. Unless I’m adding tasks via Siri to OmniFocus, I tend to use this as my central inbox and then process from here and incorporating via some custom export actions (i.e. sending to nvALT via Dropbox sync). I use it to record things I want to remember from podcasts and audiobooks, lunch orders, phone numbers, etc. It took awhile to train myself to use it this way, but it really is an integral part of my workflow now.

1Password

This app really needs no introduction. I use this more than Safari because I need passwords for a lot of the websites I frequent, and 1Password makes the login process so easy. I really wish I could make this my default browser. Alas, maybe in iOS 9…

Scanbot

I love Scanbot! I used to use Scan+ for scanning receipts for my paperless workflow, but Scanbot is just much easier for me to use. I also like the auto-upload to Evernote feature (which is where I store everything). The fact that Scanbot didn’t have OCR until recently wasn’t a big deal to me because Evernote does an amazing job OCRing whatever I upload.

Overcast

Like task managers, I’ve also tried just about every podcast app and I really like Overcast because of the Smart Speed feature. Basically it analyzes the podcast track and eliminates the silences, effectively shortening the podcast file without varying the playback speed. Pretty crazy stuff, but it works well. Because I tend to listen to podcasts only on my iPhone, the fact that there’s no Mac or iPad app doesn’t really bother me.

Launch Center Pro

This took me a while to get into also, but this is seriously a phenomenal application. It’s so much more than just a quick launcher. You can actually use URL schemes to do specific actions, and even x-callback URLs to link actions together and bring you back to your original app. As an example of what you can do with Launch Center Pro, check out this personal reflection action I created (it launches a series of questions via LCP and then pastes the answers into a Markdown table in a DayOne entry). This is just the tip of the iceberg though, and if you’re interested there’s a great guide for getting started with Launch Center Pro over at MacStories.

Mextures

A friend of mine tipped me off to this app when it was in beta. It’s basically a photo editing app that allows you to add textures, light leaks, etc. to your photos. You can do some really cool stuff with this app as you add different layers of effects. Think of it kind of like Instagram filters, but actually good.

iReal Pro

iReal Pro is kind of like the old “Band-in-a-Box” app. You can select a progression (or create your own), set a tempo, choose your lead and rhythm instruments, and start jamming! Because it uses the Nashville numbering system, you can actually even change the key on the fly. This is a phenomenal practice tool, and you can even use it with Audiobus to record via something like AmpKit.

Capo

This is a great little app that just got a refresh. Basically you load up your iTunes track, and Capo will analyze it for you and return information on the song like tempo, key, etc. and even determine what chords are used throughout the song. It’s not perfect, but surprisingly accurate and allows you to change pitch/tempo of songs which makes them much easier to learn (i.e. slowing down a guitar solo so you can play along with it).

Hum

I write songs on occasion, and Hum is a tool I started using to capture inspiration instead of voice memos because of the ability to include lyrics, key information, etc.

Logos

One of the many hats I wear is Bible College teacher, and the Logos application is invaluable for the type of in-depth study I need to do. Using this app, I can actually prep for a class completely on my iOS device. I also use this app for my own personal daily Bible reading.

Which app is your guilty pleasure?

There are a couple of iOS games that I would call guilty pleasures just because I tend to spend too time in them. The first one is a game you recommended awhile back called Hoplite. It’s incredibly fun and insanely frustrating at the same time, as one wrong move in the later levels and you’re done. I also really enjoy Threes, and the iOS version of Carcassonne is amazing. It’s expensive, but if you like the board game it’s worth every penny.

What is the app you are still missing?

I can’t think of an app I’m missing, but having 1Password and TextExpander touch on my iPhone and not being able to use them system-wide still just feels wrong. I’m really excited to see what happens with extensions in iOS 8, as a TextExpander keyboard would be really cool and I’ve seen some awesome stuff coming from AgileBits incorporating the TouchID sensor, so fingers crossed.

Also, I have a tendency to follow things that are shiny, so I’m sure I’ll find an app soon that will fill a need I didn’t even know I had.

How many times a day do you use your iPhone/iPad?

I listen to podcasts (via Overcast) and audiobooks (via Audible) whenever I’m traveling in the car, out for a run or at the gym. I also use the iPhone as my primary digital camera, and do my journaling in Day On
e. So while I use my iPhone quite a bit, I have developed boundaries for myself (i.e. no fiddling when I’m home and the kids are up), and I definitely try to respect those and limit my use when at home.

What is your favorite feature of the iPhone/iPad?

The camera on the 5S is by far my favorite feature. It’s amazing, and as they say “the best camera is the one you always have with you”. I’m not really a great photographer, but I love capturing the funny stuff my kids do and the 5S is great for that. My kids also really get a kick out of the slow-mo video option – lots of fun has been had with that.

If you were in charge at Apple, what would you add or change?

I would fix Apple Maps (I still can’t trust it in my area) and now that Apple owns Beats I’d make Beats Music part of the annual iTunes Match fee, even if the price goes up considerably. Adding a streaming music service to the mix really would allow me to centralize iTunes as my media hub, and Beats Music is already pretty solid. I would also figure out an Apple-like solution for photo management, as right now photo management can really be a pain (although looks like they are well on their way in iOS 8 and Yosemite).

What’s your wallpaper and why?

I usually leave the stock wallpaper, but my lock screen I change all the time with different family pictures I take with my 5S. This is my current favorite. It’s great because every time I pull out my phone I’m reminded of what’s really important to me, and it’s not the Twitter update I was going to post or the email from the office. I don’t want my kids to remember me as the guy who was always playing with his phone.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I really think we’re on the verge of something huge with iOS. I’m really excited to see what developers do with app extensions in iOS 8, and I think we’re going to get some really innovative connections that will revolutionize the way we use our iOS devices. It’s already amazing to think of what you can do with an iPhone, but I think we’re about to see it go to a whole new level. It’s an exciting time to be an Apple Fanboi.

Also, thanks for having me! Love Mac Power Users, love the Field Guides – keep up the great work!

Thanks Mike.