In last year's "Best Value Apps of 2022" article, I introduced a total of four software applications: Heptabase, Fastmail, Readwise, and Inoreader. Among these four apps, Inoreader was replaced by Readwise Reader and Telegram RSSbot this year. Heptabase has become my main note-taking software and content hub (this article was written in Heptabase). Fastmail and Readwise also provide invaluable value in their respective fields.
This year, with the rise of AI, I have experienced many apps and tried out some apps due to workflow iterations. For me, the five most valuable apps are as follows:
𝕏 premium ⭐⭐
After Twitter was renamed to 𝕏 by Musk, Twitter Blue was also changed to 𝕏 premium. There is an article by Bingru titled "Why Am I Willing to Continue Subscribing to Twitter Blue" that is worth reading. In addition to the algorithm improvements and long-form posts mentioned in the article, the useful bookmark folder feature is also something I am satisfied with after subscribing.
After stopping using Weibo and reducing the use of domestic social media, I was missing a large part of daily news input. Now, I mostly make up for it through Twitter. I have set up several different lists and added some accounts to follow, allowing me to concentrate on getting the latest news. For example, the PKM list mainly focuses on knowledge management and related topics, while the AI list contains news related to artificial intelligence.
Poe ⭐⭐⭐
In the era of AI, you need a handy tool. When my original ChatGPT account was banned, I subscribed to Poe, and it did not disappoint me.
Based on my personal experience, Poe has multiple built-in models that allow users to build their own bots. The user experience of GPT-4 is consistent with ChatGPT Plus, except for the inability to use plugins (which I don't have much need for). The capabilities of Claude-2-100k are not bad, although they cannot compare to GPT-4, they can handle long texts.
As I am writing this article, OpenAI has made comprehensive updates to ChatGPT, and many features are no longer available in Poe. I wonder what adjustments Poe will make next. So, if you want to use ChatGPT more in-depth and advanced, it is still more suitable to choose ChatGPT Plus.
I am also reevaluating my actual needs to decide whether to continue subscribing to Poe or switch to ChatGPT Plus.
Pinboard ⭐⭐⭐
Last year, when I was looking for a read-later tool, I considered Pinboard, but I didn't find the right opportunity at that time. This year, after setting up a Telegram channel and automating it, I finally decided to get Pinboard. Whenever I come across a good article, I can add it to Pinboard and it will automatically be published on the Telegram channel.
Pinboard's UI looks really old-fashioned, but it is more user-friendly than I expected. First, it is web-based, which means I can use it on any operating system or terminal. Second, its archive function is similar to Internet Archive, allowing me to preserve the pages I add without worrying about 404 errors. Of course, because the data is still stored in the cloud, some content may be more secure when saved locally using DEVONthink.
Raycast ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Raycast brings a completely new experience as a disruptor in the macOS launcher app market, which has long been dominated by Alfred. First, its beautiful UI is pleasing to the eye. Second, its deep integration with macOS and AI has made it the app I use most frequently.
Raycast's basic features are free, so I don't recommend purchasing the Pro version right from the start. Although Raycast AI is very useful, if you don't have a high demand for using AI in the launcher, you can also use the ChatGPT extension as an alternative. The API pricing for ChatGPT is more cost-effective than directly purchasing Raycast Pro.
After purchasing Raycast Pro, you can use Davinci-3 and GPT-3.5-turbo. If you need to use GPT-4, you will need to purchase an additional package.
Currently, the features I use almost daily include quick launching of websites, apps, file search, clipboard, and AI. The first few are self-explanatory, but I want to focus on two use cases of Raycast's AI feature.
The first use case is translation. I have set up several different translation commands with shortcuts. One of the AI commands is "Translate {selection} to Chinese. Only return the translate result. Don't interpret it." The model I chose is GPT-4, with creativity set to the lowest.
Another use case is that I have set up an AI command as "Process {selection} according to {argument}." The model is also GPT-4, with moderate creativity. When I encounter something I don't understand or need a prompt while reading articles or taking notes, I can simply select the text, invoke Raycast, and enter the task I want the AI to complete in the input box.
Based on the information published by Raycast's 𝕏 account, the iOS version is currently under development, and I am looking forward to it.
Immersive Translate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Immersive Translate developed by Owen is definitely the most worthwhile purchase of this year.
First, it has built-in multiple translation engines, some of which do not require any setup and can be used out of the box, such as Google Translate and Microsoft Translate. Some require API setup, such as Youdao Translate and Caiyun Xiaoyi. If you, like me, have purchased a membership, you can also use DeepL and OpenAI's translation.
Second, it can display bilingual translations side by side, unlike other translators that have a split-screen layout. This allows for more focused reading and makes it easier to know if there are any translation errors in the context.
Third, it provides ample translation credits. Whether it's DeepL or OpenAI's translation, they are not cheap if you purchase them individually. However, after purchasing a membership for Immersive Translate, the credits for DeepL and OpenAI are sufficient for frequent use.
Fourth, it can create bilingual PDF and ePub e-books and translate YouTube subtitles.
Because Immersive Translate is so useful, I have become dependent on it and developed a habit of immediately opening the translation whenever I see English content. So, everything has two sides.
These are the five most valuable apps among all the apps I renewed and purchased this year. I wonder if I will discover any apps that I consider to be of great value next year.
Overall, these five apps, along with Heptabase, Readwise, and Fastmail from last year, cover the majority of my use cases.
- Note-taking and writing: Heptabase, Pinboard
- Information consumption: 𝕏 premium, Readwise
- Communication: Fastmail
- AI: Poe
- Launcher: Raycast
- Translator: Immersive Translate