Co-authored with Siskar.co
Every app on my phone I have ever had is now gone. And I think I am happy about it. I and everyone around me knows I have too many apps on my phone. Years of testing apps from various startups and services combined with the never leave an app behind again "iCloud Backup" meant that unless I deleted an app manually, it never went away. Then something happened. Apparently somewhere hidden in my iCloud backup was a glitch according the Genius's at Apple. I was told the only way to not have it affect my phone anymore was to erase my phone and start from scratch. So that is what I did.
I have been thinking about doing this for years after reading a few blog posts from others before me. I was attracted to how freeing I heard it could be. Also, I clean my home all the time and it felt about time I did the same for my digital world too.
So currently, I am only re-downloading the apps that matter to me. In the process I will be saying goodbye to several apps. Those of note worthy in both categories I will mention here. I thought it would be interesting to share which apps are worth keeping in 2016. So without further ado:
- Dark Sky -- Best weather app there is.
- Apple Podcasts -- Can't delete, but wouldn't anyway. It is back on the home screen so Ambition Today is always close!
- Audible -- I listen to a lot of books.
- Slack -- Immediate access for those close to me and on my teams who know my email inbox can get a bit backed up.
- Todoist -- the life saver of to-do list apps.
- Google Maps -- Obviously this is back. I tried Apple maps recently in NYC and it took me to the wrong place by about 20 blocks. I was late for that meeting...
- Google Inbox -- My lifeline. My go to e-mail app. If you know a better one you swear by then let me know in the comments.
- Google App -- I look up a lot of things. I'm curious, what can I say.
- Google Drive -- Are you seeing a theme here?
- Twitter -- The best social network there is currently.
- Snapchat -- The best up and coming social network. If you need further proof of that, my Mom joined recently.
- Instagram -- Just because.
- Nuzzel -- I love Nuzzel! It has become the first news app I click each day.
- Yahoo News Digest -- When I want to know whats happening in the world outside my immediate industry and networks.
- Fitbit -- because health.
- Bitmoji -- because fun with friends.
- Giphy -- because hilarious with friends.
- Esper -- Great platform to track my time and work.
- Robinhood -- Why is anyone still paying Scottrade7 to buy and another7 to sell?
- Youtube -- Loving the content on Youtube recently.
- The Herd Report -- You have to have your own app. Plus the Sabres have Eichel now.
- Ward eSports -- Best new eSports app for fans there is.
- Timehop -- Who doesn't love some personal nostalgia from time to time.
- Buffer -- Best app for sharing content across multiple channels. Works with Nuzzel to easily share articles I like.
- Venmo -- Use it constantly with friends and family.
- Acorns -- I didn't want to re-download but it is mobile only so I kind of had to.
- Uber- I live in New York City. Enough said on this one.
- Facebook - I turned off badge and push notifications a few weeks ago. Not even going to put it back on my phone this time. I will check in on my laptop when I feel like it.
- Google Chrome - It's just not "that" much better then safari. Don't need it and will give Safari one more chance.
- LinkedIn - Very, very little value comes out of this app that isn't more easily found other places.
- Reddit - Nuzzel has replaced it.
- Periscope - I broadcast from time to time, but I haven't consumed anything of note recently.
- Medium - The best medium posts surface inside Nuzzel. And Medium has been sending way to many push notifications recently anyway.
- Vine - I recently went viral on vine, but still do not think enough people are using it day to day. I never open it.
- Skype - Will probably have to re-download but don't want to.
- Whatsapp - I talk to these friends on iMessage or Facebook Messenger now.
- Facebook Messenger - Will probably have to re-download but don't want to.
- Many, many more - I didn't even re-download any apps from screen 3 or 4 of my phone.
These are the apps I have downloaded while setting my phone back up and the ones that I didn't bring back. I am sure I will have to re-download more apps as I realize I need them and I will do that when the time comes. Now though, I am excited to see how my phones battery life improves. Most importantly though I feel freed.