I have Android, so keep that in mind.Apps I Actually Use and Like
I try to keep my phone pretty lean. These are the apps that have earned a permanent spot because I actually open them, sometimes daily, and would be annoyed if they disappeared.
Citymapper
If you live in New York and do not use Citymapper, you are doing unnecessary work. It is consistently better than Google Maps for real-world transit decisions. Subway quirks, delays, walking shortcuts, which train car to stand in, when to bail and walk. It feels built by people who actually move through cities.
ChatGPT
I mostly use this with voice input. Not conversations, more like thinking out loud and asking questions while walking or cooking. It is the fastest way I know to clarify a thought, sanity-check an idea, or work through something without switching context. It has replaced a lot of random Googling.
Combustion
This is the app for my wireless multi-sensor thermometer. If you care about cooking meat properly, especially larger cuts, this thing is excellent. Real-time internal temperature gradients, predictive finish times, no guesswork. It turned cooking from “hope this works” into something closer to instrumentation.
eBay
I like vintage clothes, and eBay is still the best place to actually find them. Not curated, not precious, not trying to upsell me a lifestyle. Just an enormous, weird inventory and the ability to hunt. It rewards patience and knowing what you are looking for.
Fidelity
Boring in the best way. Reliable, clear, and does what it needs to do without trying to be clever. I use it for long-term investing and appreciate that it feels designed for adults making real decisions, not for dopamine hits.
Gemini
I mainly use Gemini because of Nano Banana Pro. The experience is clean and stable, and I trust it more than most alternatives. I am not trying to trade constantly. I just want access that works and does not feel sketchy.
The Way
This is Henry Shukman’s meditation app. What I like most is that it is a path. You do not pick a random meditation each day. You stay on the same guided track and move forward gradually. That structure matters more than variety for me, and it is why I have stuck with it.
Yelp
I have been a Yelp Elite for 11 years. At this point it is muscle memory. I use it constantly for restaurants, bars, and general city decision-making. It is flawed, but still incredibly useful if you know how to read it and ignore the noise.
Jack Maguire 