Finished reading Dr. Andy Williams’ WordPress for Beginners 2020. Now it is time to put the many things I have learned into action. But first, I want to revisit the apps I have accumulated across the years and to keep only those which are necessary.
Too many apps. Too many devices upon which I have them. While I was teaching, I often would have my research assistants help me investigate apps that would enhance my teaching and learning capabilities. Since retirement, I use much more pragmatic apps.
Now I am on a decluttering mission. I am especially interested in keeping (cross-platform and cross browser) software that enhances my capabilities for writing, for screen casting, and for facilitating global communication. Perhaps I’ll first focus on the large number of apps I’ve “collected” that deal with writing.
First I shall revisit each application and attempt to answer these questions:
- Why it is on my machine? Was it pre-installed? Perhaps it was very favorably reviewed? Am I keeping it because of nostalgia? Have I forgotten that it is there? Can I easily retrieve it? How often have I used it? Updated it?
- What needs or research interests did it address at the time I installed it? Do these needs or interests still exist? Are these needs likely to continue over the remaining years?
- How well does does the application address these needs compared to other applications that I have since “collected”?
- Does it work with the new Mac operating system?
Here are some applications on one of my machines.
- 1-Password
- Adobe Reader
- Alarm Clock Pro
- Amazon Music
- Anki (flash card program)
- App Store
- Automator
- AVG Cleaner
- Battery Health
- Boingo Wi-Fi Finder
- Book Proofer
- Boom
- Logitech Broadcaster
- Calculator
- Calendar
- Calibre
- CallNote
- Camtasia2 (Mac)
- Chess
- Clarify
- Cloud
- Comic Life 3
- Contacts
- Crazy Talk 7
- Dashboard
- Data Rescue 3
- Day One
- Delicious Library
- Dictionary
- Disk Doctor
- Drive Genius 3
- Drop Box
- DupeGuru PE
- Duplicate Detective
- DVD Player
- EasyBatch Photo
- Evernote
- FaceTime
- FamilyTree Maker 3 Mac
- FireFox
- FlipPlayer2
- FontBook
- Freedom
- Fuze
- G*Power
- Game Center
- Garage Band
- Glui
- Google Chrome
- Google Drive
- Google Earth
- Google Backup
- Hello, Tips, Tricks and Secrets *
- Ibooks
- Ibooks Author
- Image Capture
- IMovie
- Inform
- IPhoto
- ISoft Video Converter
- Itunes
- ITunes Producer
- Jing
- KeyNote
- Kindle
- LaunchPad
- Leaf
- Learn IbooksAuthor
- Learn Mac OS Lion
- Learn Mac OSX Maverick
- Learn Mac
- LibrarianPro
- Logitech
- MacCleanse
- MacFamilyTree 7
- MacJournal
- MacKeeper
- MacOptimizer
- MacPilot
- MacUpdate DeskTop
- MailtabPro for Gmail
- MemoryKeeper
- Messages
- Microsoft Messenger
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Silverlight
- Mint Quickview
- Miro
- Missio Control
- Moose
- Movie Tools
- Notebook
- Notes
- Numbers
- OmniOutliner
- OOVoo
- Opera
- Pages
- PdfPen
- Photobooth
- Picassa
- Pins
- PixelPumper
- Posterino
- Preview
- PulpMotionr3
- Quicken Essentials
- QuickTime Player
- RadioShift
- RapidReader
- ReadLater
- RealPlayer Converter
- Reflector
- Reminders
- Remote DeskTop Connection
- Safari
- Sandbox Cleaner
- Screenflow
- ScreenSteps
- Scrivener
- SecondLife Viewer
- Shape Collage
- Share Bucket
- Showcase
- Skitch
- Skype
- SnapConverter
- SnagIt
- SnapxPro
- Soundboard
- Soundflower
- SplashtopStreamer
- StarQuiz
- Stat
- Stickies
- Tapedeck
- Techtool Pro 7
- TechTool Protogo
- TextEdit
- TextExpander
- Textwrangler
- TimeMachine
- TurboTax
- Tutor for Imovie11
- Tutor for Iphoto11
- Tutor for Lion
- Tutor for OSX Mavericks
- Tweetbot
- TweetDeck
- Universal translator
- Utilities Folder
- Video Guide to Mac Lion
- Voila
- Vox
- Wallpaper
- WashingMachine
- WD Drive utilities
- WePrint Server
- Wimba Diploma 6
- Wiretap Studio
- WorldClock Deluxe
- Zotero
🤯😳😫 it looks like you haven’t pruned your list of apps in a few decades! But good for you for sharing your state and process.
I’d suggest: if you haven’t used an app in over a year, just remove it. You can always reinstall it anyway. Apply the Marie Kondo method: give your respects, acknowledge that the app served a purpose, and delete it! But you do what fits your objectives best.
That screenshot was from one of my older machines. But as usual, you are right, Kind, and most helpful. Thanks for your guidance since we first virtually connected.