This week’s home screen features Hay Oborn (Twitter)(Google+). Hay hails from Bournemouth, United Kingdom and routinely helps out with the Mac Power User show notes. So Hay, show us your home screen.
What are some of YOUR favorite apps?
Oh I have so many
Overcast – Is definitely up there as one of my favourite apps as I listen to podcast more than I listen to music, obviously this includes MPU – I think I have tried and tested most podcast apps including the Apple Default one and Overcast in my opinion is the best podcatcher.
Twitter – This is another app I have used many of, but I still always go back to the regular twitter application as it has everything I need – Sometimes I do jump over to Tweetbot too for a change of scenery.
Evernote – I can’t live without this app, I work as an IT Technician in a local secondary school and have to attend many meetings (Too many in my opinion) I send the meeting attendees the agenda and also the Meeting minutes afterwards and it’s just so simple to use, with the iOS 8 widgets Evernote is a must have – I also work off an iPad at times and this app just runs seamlessly.
TextExpander – I use 100’s and 100’s of snippets, literally if I have to write/type something more than once I will make a snippet for it, I use it regularly for email signatures etc. – By the way Smile Software – I LOVE the iOS 8 TextExpander Keyboard (Awesome Job)
1Password – I was a late starter with 1Password and after listening to MPU for YEARS I decided I needed to give it a bash, it takes a while to setup with changing passwords etc. – but once setup it’s another must have app – I can’t believe I hadn’t tried it before (I even use it on my MacBook Pro)
Which app is your guilty pleasure?
It has to be the iOS App Store as no matter where I am or what i’m doing I can always find something in there to help me problem solve, or keep me entertained when needed.
How many times a day do you use your iPhone/iPad?
I listen to podcasts on my way to work every morning (20–30minute Drive) I use my iPhone constantly for reading and replying to emails when working around campus, I’m always listening to podcasts if I stay in one place long enough. My iPad is mainly used in meetings because if I use my phone for taking notes people think i’m not listening. I would much prefer using my iPad as my main work horse at work, but we run a Microsoft based network now and I work daily on a Windows PC – My iPad/iPhone/Mac still have a part to play.
What Today View widgets are you using and why?
I have been a slow starter when it comes to widgets – but I do use the Evernote widget which has just made things 10 times faster for me. I also use the Dropbox widget, which is helpful with sharing files and accessing them on the go.
Any Favorite iOS 8 Extensions
I love the 1Password extension, need I say anymore?
What is your favorite feature of the iPhone/iPad?
I have just jumped from the iPhone 5 to the iPhone 6 and Touch ID is a feature I absolutely love, using my thumb print to purchase apps from the store is just genius, also the iPhone 6 screen is just stunning. The camera is also superb and I will be taking advantage on the slowmo and timelapse features on various occasions.
If you were in charge at Apple, what would you add or change?
Now that Apple own Beats – I was disappointed not to see some sort of Beats headphones with the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, I’d like to see that in the future. I would also like them to bring to the table more customisation features to iOS – i.e. Change layout of icons, Custom themes – With iOS 8 I think Apple have started to realise this and the integration of third party keyboards was great. (Love TextExpander’s and SwiftKey Keyboards)
What’s your wallpaper and why?
I like random wallpaper, anything that looks groovy – I’ve had this wallpaper since having the iPhone 6 and have only just realised it is DG Skate Shoes on their side – at first I thought it was some kind of animals face.
Thanks Hay.