For your consideration
The last few years have seen Apple open up its ecosystem more than any of us previously thought possible, and part of that means you can now change your iPhone’s default apps with relative ease. For example, instead of being forced into Safari every time you tap a web link, you can have your device open a different browser instead.
This newfound choice has opened the door to a host of excellent third-party apps that are ready to step into the void left by Apple’s default choices, should you wish to change them–and in many cases, you should. Here, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorites. In some instances, you can change your default app choice to one of these options, in others you can’t, but you can still use our picks to elevate your iPhone regardless. Here’s how you can switch it all up.
Ditch: Reminders. Get: Things
Apple’s Reminders app has never really kept up with third-party alternatives, and even when it was overhauled at WWDC 2024, it still left us wanting more. But you don’t have to settle for Apple’s effort. Install Things instead.
This well-known app is a great example of what a to-do list app can be. It contains all the power-user tools you’d expect, like smart lists, ongoing projects with headings and completable sub-sections, a context-aware plus button for adding and moving tasks, super-smart and speedy search, and more.
Ditch: Camera. Get: Halide
Apple’s Camera app works well enough, and it gives you a few controls for tweaking things like exposure, depth of field, and tone. But that might not be enough for seasoned photographers who want more options to shoot the way they want.
Ditch: Calendar. Get: Fantastical
Forget Apple’s Calendar app. You deserve something better for organizing your schedule. That something is Fantastical, and it’s so good that it’s hard to know where to start when detailing its advantages.
But we’ve got to start somewhere, so we’ll begin with its beautiful layout, which is so polished that it’s been bestowed with an Apple Design Award. With powerful views to choose from, you’ll always have the information you need to hand, no matter which device you’re using.
Ditch: Mail. Get: Spark
For many years, Apple’s Mail app felt stuck in the past as competitors raced ahead. Mail got a spruce up at WWDC 2024 with the introduction of Apple Intelligence, but we wouldn’t say that it’s managed to close the gap entirely.
One of the apps that’s surged past Mail is Spark, and it aims to give you more control over your inbox so that you rule your emails, not the other way around. For example, only senders you’ve approved will get their messages into your inbox. High-priority mail floats to the top while newsletters and notifications sit below, so you can dive straight into your important work without having to fight your way through the everything else.
Ditch: Safari. Get: Firefox
Sick of Safari? Apple’s web browser isn’t for everyone, and you might find yourself looking outside the company’s walled garden for a fresh browsing experience. Chrome may be the obvious pick, and it’s certainly an excellent browser, but it’s raised concerns over some of its privacy practices. If that’s a worry for you–or you just want to try something different–Firefox is an excellent choice.
As an unashamed Firefox stan, I recommend this browser to anyone within earshot. It comes with privacy built-in, including defenses against trackers and scripts, cryptominers, fingerprinters, and more. It’ll put a stop to cross-site trackers following you across the web, and it halts social media data collection in its tracks.
Ditch: Messages. Get: WhatsApp
Put an end to the blue bubble/green bubble debate once and for all by dumping Messages and using WhatsApp instead. This cross-platform app doesn’t care whether you’re typing on an iPhone, an Android device, or a potato–no one misses out on its features. It also packs in voice messages, stickers and emojis, GIFs, and more. And it lets you chat directly with businesses and customer support agents, too.
But WhatsApp is much more than just a messaging app. It can also handle calls too, whether you prefer to conduct them over audio or video. That extends to group video calls, too, making it easy to catch up with friends and family no matter where they are.
Ditch: Passwords. Get: 1Password
At WWDC 2024, Apple introduced its own password manager, the (rather plainly) named Passwords. That’s great news if you want a free password manager on your Apple devices, and it’s got plenty to offer. But we’ve found it’s not quite up to scratch compared to other offerings, at least not yet. If you agree, your best bet is to try 1Password instead.
This brilliant password manager is all you need to keep all your important info safe. It can autofill login info on sites you’ve created an account with or suggest rock-solid passwords for those you’re just registering with. If any of your logins have been leaked online, it’ll alert you so you can update your passwords, and it can also analyze your existing logins to find weak and repeated passwords.
Please read more at the below link
https://www.macworld.com/article/2795553/best-alternatives-to-apples-default-apps.html