Summary of iOS Today 749: Daily Utility Apps Episode

In episode 749 of iOS Today, hosts Micah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard delve into the realm of daily utility apps that can enhance the everyday experience of Apple device users. The conversation not only highlights essential applications but also provides practical insights and user experiences to help listeners optimize their workflow and device usage.

1. Document Scanning and Management

Simple Scan by Agile Tortoise

Rosemary introduces Simple Scan, an app developed by Agile Tortoise, as her preferred tool for digitizing physical documents. She praises its versatility and user-friendly interface, enabling users to convert paper manuals or instructions into digital formats effortlessly.

Rosemary Orchard [03:03]: "Simple Scan allows you to say, hey, what am I scanning to start with? So do you want to make PDF, do you want to turn it into images or do you just want to get the text off of the thing?"

Yoink

To complement the scanning process, Yoink serves as a temporary storage solution for files users need to access quickly without cluttering their device.

Rosemary Orchard [07:45]: "Yoink is a great place to put files when you're going, okay, like, I need this, but I need it for like five minutes or I need it until I use it again."

2. Printer Management and Troubleshooting

Canon Print App

Rosemary discusses the challenges of using printers with iOS devices and recommends using manufacturer-specific apps like Canon Print for enhanced functionality. These apps allow users to access advanced printer settings, perform maintenance tasks, and troubleshoot connectivity issues more effectively than the default AirPrint feature.

Rosemary Orchard [09:26]: "The Canon app allows you to do things like actually scanning and you can specify your color modes and so on... It's very useful for troubleshooting things."

AirPrint Limitations

Micah echoes the frustrations associated with AirPrint, noting its occasional inconsistencies and the hidden functionalities that can complicate the printing process for average users.

Micah Sargent [13:15]: "I've found it to be the experience that even if your AirPrint situation works out and it gets in touch with the printer, sometimes it takes a minute for the printer to load what it is able to do."

3. PDF Handling and Customization

PDF Expert

Rosemary highlights PDF Expert as a crucial tool for managing PDFs on iOS devices. The app offers advanced features such as scaling print documents, which is often missing in standard print dialogs, thereby providing users with greater control over their printed materials.

Rosemary Orchard [12:10]: "PDF Expert, the free version, you don't need to sign in with an account, you can skip all that... there's a scaling option. This is one of those things that you don't need 90% of the time, but when you need it, trying to find it can be frustrating."

Scaling Print Documents

By utilizing PDF Expert, users can adjust the size of their documents before printing, ensuring that content fits appropriately on the page and enhancing the overall print quality.

Rosemary Orchard [12:50]: "You can scale it down. So I'm just going to scale it onto a 50% size and then that would be obviously half the size in the middle of my piece of paper."

4. Calculation and Conversion Tools

PCALC

Rosemary introduces PCALC, a calculator and conversion app that goes beyond basic arithmetic, allowing users to perform complex conversions essential for various tasks, from design measurements to financial calculations.

Rosemary Orchard [16:10]: "PCALC has things like functions that you can save in it to repeat again and again... it's got conversions for angles, area, bytes... even electric vehicle efficiency."

Solver

Micah emphasizes the power of Solver, part of the Setapp suite, as an advanced tool for back-of-the-envelope calculations and detailed annotations, making it indispensable for users who frequently engage in complex computations.

Micah Sargent [21:57]: "Solver sort of thinks, I think, how the mind thinks and operates in that space, which makes it so much more than just a calculator. It's one of those tools that I recommend everybody at least try."

5. Note-Taking and Workflow Optimization

Drafts

Rosemary extols Drafts as her go-to application for note-taking and quick text manipulations. She showcases its functionality through widget integration, allowing seamless capture and organization of information from various sources, including web links and copied text.

Rosemary Orchard [23:07]: "Drafts is honestly one of those applications I find myself using... I use my iPad with Stage Manager and a magic keyboard... it's just really cool."

Custom Actions and Extensions

The app's customizable actions enable users to streamline their workflows, such as cleaning up lengthy URLs or tagging notes for better organization, making Drafts a versatile tool for both casual and power users.

Rosemary Orchard [24:30]: "I created a custom action in Drafts to clean up those links... it's a really great place for just working on text, just cleaning things up a bit."

6. News Segment: Upcoming iPadOS Overhaul

iPadOS Enhancements

In the news segment, Micah discusses reports from Mark Gurman of Bloomberg about significant upcoming updates to iPadOS. The overhaul aims to enhance productivity, multitasking, and app window management, bringing the experience closer to macOS.

Micah Sargent [26:00]: "Apple is set to do quite the overhaul on its various operating systems... Apple is going to make iPadOS even more like macOS than it currently is."

Community Feedback and Concerns

Rosemary shares insights from the community, highlighting concerns that the updates may cater more to tech reviewers and power users rather than the broader consumer base, potentially making the iPad more complex for everyday tasks.

Rosemary Orchard [29:42]: "There are too many different ways to use an iPad and it's not obvious to the user... the iPad is in this awkward in-between category."

7. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

As the episode wraps up, Micah and Rosemary reflect on the discussed apps, emphasizing their practicality and the significant role they play in optimizing daily tasks on Apple devices. They encourage listeners to explore these utilities to enhance their device usage and productivity.

Micah Sargent [26:55]: "It's get again. This is another just go get it, try it out. I think you'll be impressed and surprised."

Notable Takeaways

• Simple Scan and Yoink offer efficient ways to digitize and manage documents without physical clutter.
• Canon Print and HP app provide advanced printer management capabilities beyond AirPrint.
• PDF Expert enhances print customization, allowing for precise document scaling.
• PCALC and Solver serve as powerful tools for complex calculations and conversions.
• Drafts facilitates seamless note-taking and workflow optimization with its versatile features.
• Upcoming iPadOS updates aim to bridge the gap between iPad and Mac functionalities, though they may introduce complexity for some users.

This episode of iOS Today serves as a comprehensive guide for Apple users seeking to enhance their daily device interactions through carefully selected utility apps, backed by expert insights and practical demonstrations.