Katie Floyd’s sweet iPhone setup
Every week we post a new interview with someone about what software they use on their Mac, iPhone, or iPad. We do these interviews because not only are they fun, but a glimpse into what tools someone uses and how they use those tools can spark our imagination and give us an idea or insight into how we can do things better.
New setup interviews are posted every Monday; follow us on RSS or Twitter to stay up to date.
Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Katie Floyd. I’ve been a Mac user since 1984 when my dad brought home the original 128k Mac, and I never looked back.
Most people on the Internet know me for the weekly podcast, Mac Power Users, that I co-host with my friend, David Sparks. I have a tech-related blog at KatieFloyd.me, I write for ScreenCastsOnline Monthly Magazine, and occasionally contribute for other publications, such as Macworld.
By day I work as a litigator at a small law firm in Central Florida.
What iPhone do you have?
I have a 32 GB iPhone 5 (white). Right now I’m on the every two year upgrade cycle as my cell phone contract allows subsidized upgrades. While I always have some angst when the “S” model phones come out and I’m not upgrade-eligible for the latest and greatest, that usually passes after a few weeks and I find the every-other iPhone method works for me from a cost/feature/benefit standpoint.
Perhaps notable, for the last few years I have used my iPhone without any case. I do buy Invisible Shield film for the front and back to prevent scratches and make the phone a little less slippery, and so far, so good.
What apps do you use the most, and why?
Downcast — I listen to podcasts regularly (in my car, at the gym, around the house) and Downcast is my app of choice. I have a series of AirPlay and Bluetooth speakers setup in my home, though I’m about ready to try a Sonos system. I really wanted Apple’s podcast app to work because it’s the only one that will sync with iTunes, and I like to sync podcasts to an iPod shuffle to use at the gym or when I’m working in the yard. But after switching over to a dedicated app like Downcast, there was just no going back. Every few months I try the Apple Podcast app, but it’s just not there yet.
Mail — Probably the most often used app on my phone is the mail client, so I was happy to see it receive some attention in iOS 7. Keeping my email under control is a constant battle and I try to respond to most of the podcast feedback, so whenever I find myself with a few minutes, I try to clear out and respond to messages. I keep trying third-party email clients (especially those with TextExpander support), but I haven’t found one that will do everything so for now I stick with Mail.app. Maybe I can get The Sweet Setup to do a comprehensive review of email apps and tell me which one I should use.
Editor’s note: We actually published an article about the best iPhone email app for power users after Katie submitted her setup. Read about it here
Fantastical 2 — I juggle a couple different calendars for home, work, and other commitments, and Fantastical allows me to at a glance see my appointments and quickly add events. Though I’ve also been playing with Mynd.
1Password — I don’t know what any of my passwords are, except my 1Password Master Password, so I use 1Password regularly throughout the day to access login information and browse secure sites. Now that they’ve added the browser and ability to easily generate passwords with version 4 of the iOS app, using it is almost as easy as launching Safari.
Siri — While this may not fall under the category of an “app,” I’ve found I’m using Siri more and more — especially for Reminders. I have a couple of lists set up in the Reminders (such as grocery lists, quick lists, etc.), but then I’ve connected OmniFocus to my default Reminder list so it will automatically import events. This has proven to be one of the fastest ways for me to capture items into my OmniFocus workflow. David Sparks made a nice video explaining how that works.
Which app could you not live without?
That’s a tough one and it really depends on what I’m doing. As I’m writing this, things are particularly hectic as I’m juggling several different personal and professional projects and trying to get out of town for a week, so OmniFocus is keeping me sane by managing all my tasks. I use Evernote as my document management system of choice and Evernote combined with Dropbox has become my “Finder” for iOS, essentially giving me access to all my documents on the go. I have so many “must-have” apps on iOS that I’ve incorporated into my workflow and they all come together to make a complete system work.
There are more Sweet Setup interviews right here, including an iPad setup interview with Katie’s podcast co-host, David Sparks.