iOS Today 733: Starting 2025 With Good App-its
Release Date: January 2, 2025
Hosts: Micah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard
In the bustling onset of 2025, Micah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard of iOS Today delve into the realm of productivity and habit formation through a curated selection of apps designed to kickstart the new year with positive routines. This episode, titled "Starting 2025 With Good App-its," offers listeners insightful analyses and practical recommendations for integrating technology into daily habits.
Setting the Stage for New Habits
Micah opens the discussion by highlighting the common New Year’s resolution of establishing new habits. He emphasizes the role of apps in both encouraging and tracking these habits, ensuring listeners have the tools necessary for success.
"It's often the time where people are trying to start fresh, kick off things with a clean slate or an upgraded slate... [apps] can help you do that and some will encourage you along the way."
— Micah Sargent [01:27]
1. Routine Habit Goal by Rosemary Orchard
Routine Habit Goal stands out as Rosemary's primary recommendation. This app isn't just a checklist; it's grounded in habit psychology and utilizes the Fogg Behavior Model, which posits that habits form when motivation and ability meet.
Rosemary explains how the app connects habits to specific situations, making them more intuitive and harder to forget. For instance, associating your cat receiving a treat with your medication routine ensures consistency through playful behavioral triggers.
"It's based on actual studies in habit psychology and it's using the Fogg Behavior Model... connecting habits to situations is always a good idea."
— Rosemary Orchard [02:23]
Features:
- Psychologically Backed: Utilizes scientific principles to foster habit formation.
- Routine Setup: Allows users to input their daily schedules, energy levels, and existing habits to generate personalized routines.
- Customization: Offers journaling options and the ability to add custom to-dos.
- Pricing: Free to download with in-app purchase options—$0.60 one-time, approximately $2.30/year, or $3/month.
Rosemary appreciates the app's comprehensive overview and its ability to adapt to users' lifestyles seamlessly.
"What I really like about this app is... it's backed in psychology and they've actually gone, hey, what are you already doing? And then can we add on to that."
— Rosemary Orchard [05:00]
2. Habit Tracker Habit Kit by Rosemary Orchard
As a complement to Routine Habit Goal, Rosemary introduces Habit Tracker Habit Kit, an alternative focused on simplicity and aesthetic appeal. This app allows users to add and categorize their habits with ease, providing flexibility in setting frequency goals—daily, weekly, monthly, or custom intervals.
"It's very simple but pretty. It is free to download and use for a limited number of habits... your unlimited number of habits."
— Rosemary Orchard [07:59]
Features:
- User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive design with customizable color choices and category grouping.
- Flexible Goals: Set how often you want to perform each habit.
- Views: Offers multiple viewing options, including monthly grids and checklist views.
- Pricing: Free tier available, with premium options at $30 one-time, $11.99/year (on sale), or $2/month for additional features like import/export and advanced statistics.
Rosemary lauds the app for its balance of functionality and visual appeal, making habit tracking both enjoyable and effective.
3. Journal by Micah and Rosemary
Transitioning to self-reflection, Micah introduces Apple's built-in Journal app. This tool aids users in capturing daily moments, practicing gratitude, and archiving memories effortlessly.
"Apple rather recently introduced a built-in tool to help you journal and to know, keep track of what's going on in your life and kind of practice gratitude."
— Micah Sargent [11:19]
Rosemary highlights the app’s seamless integration with iCloud, ensuring data privacy and accessibility across Apple devices. Features like automatic journaling suggestions based on location and activities, Face ID or Touch ID lock, and the ability to attach photos make it a robust tool for daily journaling.
"One of the things I do really love about the journal app is it shows where you've been, who you've been with and all of those things and then suggest that you might want to jot down some thoughts about that."
— Rosemary Orchard [12:50]
Features:
- Automated Entries: Suggests journaling prompts based on user activity.
- Security: Protects entries with biometric locks.
- Customizable: Allows formatting and easy editing of entries.
- iCloud Integration: Ensures entries are encrypted and accessible across devices.
4. Pass for Wallet by Rosemary Orchard
Addressing the clutter of physical wallets, Rosemary recommends Pass for Wallet, an app designed to digitize store cards, coupons, tickets, and more. This app offers a streamlined solution to reduce the bulk and disorganization of traditional wallets.
"Pass for Wallet is entirely free. Free. That's it."
— Rosemary Orchard [15:31]
Features:
- Versatile Pass Management: Create and store various passes, including loyalty cards, boarding passes, and contact information.
- Expiration Tracking: Set expiration dates for passes and receive reminders.
- Customization: Choose colors, add notes, and categorize passes for easy access.
- Pricing: Free with no in-app purchases or subscriptions.
Rosemary emphasizes the app’s utility in decluttering physical wallets and simplifying the process of managing multiple passes.
"It's a really great time of year, especially if anybody gets a gift card or anything to help your family and friends... and trim all these things down and go digital where we can."
— Rosemary Orchard [18:17]
5. HomePass for HomeKit by Rosemary Orchard and Micah Sargent
Navigating the complexities of HomeKit device management, Rosemary introduces HomePass for HomeKit. This app serves as a centralized repository for HomeKit codes, preventing the frustration of lost or misplaced pairing codes.
"Home Pass for HomeKit is a free to download and then there is an in-app subscription to get all of the features."
— Rosemary Orchard [20:05]
Features:
- Device Management: Store and organize HomeKit pairing codes for easy access.
- Multi-Device Support: Available across all Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch.
- Categorization: Group devices by home, bridge, and accessory for streamlined management.
- Additional Tools: Offers complementary apps like Home Log, Home Run, Home Scan, and Home Cam for expanded functionality.
- Pricing: Free with optional subscription for advanced features.
Micah shares his personal experience with HomePass, praising its user-friendly interface and efficiency in managing multiple HomeKit devices.
"HomePass is a delightful, easy-to-use app that is so smart about the way that it works and so it's fantastic."
— Micah Sargent [23:11]
Shortcuts Corner: Reminding to Take Your iPhone
In the Shortcuts Corner, the hosts address a listener’s dilemma: frequently forgetting an iPhone left in the car. Rosemary provides a creative solution using the Shortcuts app to set up a reminder that triggers when CarPlay disconnects.
"I'm going to create a reminder that says don't forget your phone!"
— Rosemary Orchard [24:55]
Solution Overview:
- Automation Trigger: Set CarPlay disconnection as the trigger.
- Create Reminder: Generate a reminder titled "Don't forget your phone!"
- Conditional Logic: If the reminder is marked as completed, reset it to prevent duplicate notifications.
- Synchronization: Ensures the reminder appears on the Apple Watch when exiting the car.
Micah lauds the ingenuity of the solution, highlighting how it leverages existing Apple ecosystem features to solve a common problem.
"That is so stinking clever. Rosemary. Brava. Bravissimo."
— Micah Sargent [28:28]
Conclusion
As the episode wraps up, Micah and Rosemary reinforce the importance of leveraging technology to build and maintain good habits. They encourage listeners to explore the discussed apps and integrate them into their daily routines to make 2025 a year of productivity and positive change.
"This is the kind of answer you get here on this iOS Today show. If you have shortcuts, corner requests, you can email Rosemary."
— Micah Sargent [28:35]
For those seeking to enhance their iOS experience and adopt new habits, this episode serves as a comprehensive guide to the best apps available at the start of 2025.