This week’s home screen post features Rogier Williams (Website)(Twitter). I first met Rogier years ago at Macworld. Rogier is a Mac IT expert that started in the bay area and has recently moved to to Southern California. So Rogier, show us your home screen.
The iPhone is my most important tool for work and communication. The Apple watch is a great companion that has helped me move a few often used apps to the last screen. And allows me to leave my phone in my bag or pocket. As a right handed person I mostly handle the iPhone with my left hand and I have placed the apps that I can reach my most used apps easily with my left thumb.
What are some of your favorite apps?
Mail, Safari, Overcast (radio is dead, I follow 26 podcast), Camera, Amazon
What would you like to see improved on the iPhone?
I speak a various languages and wish that the keyboard language would change automatically to the language for the person who’s email I have selected when writing an email.
The other thing is that the WiFi would drop off faster and connect to the nearest network it knows. Currently the iPhone stays connected far too long to a network that you have moved away from while a stronger Access Point is available in the area that you have entered. This is the main reason why I have the settings app on the front page so I can quickly turn the WiFi On/Off in order to make it connect to the nearest station.
Which app is your guilty pleasure?
Pinterest. We are designing a new house and I use Pinterest to find all sorts of ideas. I often get lost in other categories that are inspire me to create or build something. One day I want to build a Steampunk Mac.
What app makes you most productive?
Besides Mail, 1Password:
Not only for passwords, credit cards and other important personal information. I also store data from my clients in there like their passwords, gate codes and credit card info.
What are these strange apps?
I love how easy it is go get paid with Square. Recently they also added the option to send invoices via the website witch is great when I do remote support. I haven’t had a single problem in the past 2 years.
This is the iOS interface for “Controlled By Web” relays ad sensors. These are professional grade network relays and sensors that can be programmed and managed via a web interface. This App lets me open and close gates, sense moisture and temperature. I can even power cycle routers and servers remotely.
This app works with an external receiver as a 2.4Ghz WiFi spectrum analyzer witch comes in handy while solving mysterious WiFi network issues.
I manage a number of Peplink routers this app allows me to keep an eye on things and make quick adjustments when needed.
What app do you know you’re underutilizing?
Siri, it just doesn’t work for me with my Dutch accent.
What is the app you are still missing?
An app that helps me search and filter the App store.
How many times a day do you use your iPhone/iPad?
Countless times. I am using it all day.
What is your favorite feature of the iPhone/iPad?
The camera!
I am an avid photographer. I shoot film with a pinhole camera and various Holga’s. Have a “big boy” full frame DSL. But the iPhone camera is the one I use all the time! I have great pleasure creating images with it and the results are amazing.
If you were in charge at Apple, what would you add or change?
I would love to see an iCloud Pro where you could use your own domain name with the iCloud services and better collaboration features. It would certainly keep clients away from Office 365.
Do you have an Apple Watch?
I bought one because I have to have one in order to learn it inside out. Now I have had it for a few weeks I really like it! I have set strong filters so only the most important messages get trough. I am not much of a fitness person. But the activity monitor does help me to be more aware of my activity and gently motivated me to be more active.
I have set the watch face in 24hr time with timer and stopwatch. I use the timer a lot for keeping track of a parking meter and when I am cooking dinner. The stopwatch helps me to keep track of time while working. For sure the watch has already earned its money back as I was often forgot to track time properly.
I cant wait to see the Apple Watch work with HomeKit!
What’s your wallpaper and why?
Nothing special. The wall paper is rather plane to keep the icons and labels visible.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Thank you for the Mac Power Users and your Fieldguides.
Thanks Rogier.