I do not get any money for this article. I only recommend programs that I use myself and find helpful. The prices as well as the availability of the programs can change at any time and without my influence.
TextSniper
TextSniper has saved me so many hours of work in my studies that the price of the program has more than paid for itself. The app is able to copy text on the screen to the clipboard.
There are numerous moments in everyday life when TextSniper makes life easier:
- Copying an important piece of information from a PowerPoint slide during a lecture
- Copying a link from an image or scan a QR code without a smartphon
- Copying text from an image or animation
- Quickly copying text without formatting from a PDF file
- In Zoom conferences, use it to brag about how fast you can “type” something 😁
TextSniper recognizes eight languages, including English, German, French and Spanish, as well as QR and barcodes.
To use the program, press the icon in the menu bar or use a keyboard shortcut. Then a selection tool appears, with which you select the area whose text you want to copy to the clipboard. In a fraction of a second the text or link is copied!
Download
Unfortunately, the program is only available for macOS and cannot be used on Windows computers. On the other hand, Macs with Apple's silicon chip (M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max) are natively supported.
- TextSniper on the Mac App Store: $11.99 for unlimited Macs (You have to use the same Apple-ID on all devices.)
- TextSniper on the developer Website: $7.99 for one Mac or $9.99 for three Macs
- TextSniper is available on Setapp
Vinegar
Vinegar is a Safari extension that replaces the YouTube video player with the default HTML5 video player. The app works both on the YouTube website and on any other website where a YouTube video is embedded.
This has a few advantages:
- Ads before and during a video are completely removed.
- YouTube can no longer track personal video viewing behavior (number of views, pausing, skipping, rewinding).
- YouTube can no longer pause video playback when you switch to another tab.
- There is an audio mode that loads only the audio of a video and in which playback does not stop even when Safari is running in the background. Also, this mode consumes less data volume on the go.
Download (Mac, iPad, iPhone)
The extension is available for the Safari browser, which is preinstalled on all Macs, iPads and iPhones. Macs with Apple Silicon chip (M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max) are natively supported. With one purchase, you can use the app on all devices. The team behind the app consists of only one person, so you support an independent developer with your purchase.
- Vinegar on the App Store: $1.99 for unlimited Macs, iPads or iPhones (You have to use the same Apple-ID on all devices.)
Reeder 5
Reeder 5 is not only an RSS reader that lets you subscribe to RSS feeds. It also has an integrated “read later” function. Both lists can be synchronized via iCloud. In addition, Reeder 5 supports third-party providers like Instapaper or Pocket.
Together with the free service “Kill the Newsletter!”, Reeder 5 also lets you manage and read email newsletters. You first create an e-mail address with “Kill the Newsletter!”, subscribe to the desired newsletter with this and open the automatically generated link with Reeder 5. All e-mails sent to the address now show up in Reeder 5 without you having to do anything else.
This way, personal email addresses remain SPAM- and newsletter-free, while all articles are collected in one app. It also allows you to create different email addresses for different newsletters.
Download (Mac, iPad, iPhone)
Reeder 5 is available for Macs, iPads and iPhones. Macs with Apple Silicon chip (M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max) are natively supported. Unfortunately, you have to buy the app for Mac and iPad/ iPhone separately. If you want to use the app on all devices, the total cost is $14.98.
- Reeder 5 on the Mac App Store: $9.99 for unlimited Macs (You have to use the same Apple-ID on all devices.)
- Reeder 5 on the App Store: $4.99 for unlimited iPads and iPhones (You have to use the same Apple-ID on all devices.)
Scanner Pro
The Scanner Pro app makes it quick and easy to digitalize documents with your phone. The upgrade to Scanner Pro Plus is worth it and users who bought the app before the subscription model was introduced do not have to pay an annual fee.
Scanner Pro automatically detects page margins, detects text in the document, and you can choose to organize your scans in the app or share them via cloud service, email, or as an image file. These operations can also be automated as “workflows.”
It's also possible to send faxes via the app. If you still need that and are willing to pay the price charged by the app depending on the document, you'll find it here.
I find the automatic correction options, which can be used to remove coffee marks or fingers on the document, impressive.
Download (iPad, iPhone)
The app is available for Apple's mobile devices. Unfortunately, the app has introduced a subscription model, so new customers will have to pay for advanced features. Existing customers get the full current feature set with no additional payments.
Included for free in the basic version are unlimited document scanning, cloud syncing via iCloud, and document sharing with watermarks.
Upgrading to Scanner Pro Plus removes these watermarks and enables automatic text recognition in 26 languages, text search in scans, password protection of both the app and exported PDF documents, and automatic upload to the cloud (Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, Evernote and others).
- Scanner Pro on the App Store: Free, but $19.99/year for Scanner Pro Plus
I hope these three apps make your life easier just like they do mine. In this article, you'll learn more about maintaining your digital toolbox.
What other programs do you use that you couldn't live without? I appreciate recommendations and suggestions!