Justin Kaplan’s Mac and 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.

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Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Justin Kaplan, I am an energy consultant and entrepreneur in the health industry.

What is your current setup?

My current set up is a fully loaded 2018 13″ MacBook Pro with 2.7GHz i7/16GB connected to a LG 5k monitor. The MacBook Pro sits on the Twelve South BookArc and the LG monitor on the Twelve South HiRise Pro. I use an Apple Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad 2 (spacy gray, of course). I also have a LaCie Porsche Design USB-C 4TB hard drive inside the HiRise Pro. Everything is plugged into an Oneac 600e Power Conditioned UPS. My setup is on a VARIDESK ProDesk 60 Electric. I alternate between the standing and kneeling positions on a Topo mat with frequent breaks creating a true dynamic workstation.

Where can we find your macOS wallpaper?

I am using the default Mojave wallpaper.

What software do you use and for what do you use it?

• Apple Mail: I’ve looked at third-party email apps, but find it easier to just stay in the Apple ecosystem.
• Things: Switched to Things about a year ago from 2do. The UI is one of the best I have experienced, and after version 3 feel it has fully matured.
• Safari: Like Mail, I prefer to stay in the Apple ecosystem instead of using Chrome like many others are migrating to.
• Fantastical: Have used this calendar app since the day it came out.
• Photos: I do quite a bit of photo and video editing. While I used Lightroom for years, I have found using Photos has simplified things.
• Tweetbot: My twitter app that I have used since they launched (@justinpkaplan).
• 1Password: For managing all the passwords.
• Evernote: I use Evernote for many things. Quick note taker, keepsake organizer, track workouts, business notes…and many more. I attempted to switch to Bear, but while the interface was nice, it was lacking in functionality compared to Evernote.

How would your ideal setup look and function?

If Apple made a 27″ 5K display, I would be set!

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What iPhone do you have?

I currently use an Space Gray iPhone XS 256 GB sitting on Belkin Boost Up special edition wireless charging pad.

Where can we find your wallpaper online?

I made the wallpaper using Wallpaper List app.

What apps do you use the most, and why?

I use Things, Fantastical, Tweetbot, and Evernote for all the same reasons as mentioned above with the Mac apps.

• Pocket Casts: I have gone back and forth between this and Overcast for years. I like them both and am a podcast fanatic, so I use these apps every day. Most recently I have been using Pocket Casts.
• Nest: I check on my dog regularly!
• Audible: I love listening to books.
• Instagram: I started using this more about 6 months ago. I enjoy creating content that is informative with my @justinpkaplan account and sharing family photos/videos with my @kodakaplan account.

Which app could you not live without?

Nest — have to check on my boy!

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