The Best iOS Apps and macOS Apps: November 2022
Welcome back to the next installment in AppleToolBox’s monthly series! In this series, we track down and share the best iOS apps and the best macOS apps currently available.
If you’re thinking, “Hey, I already use some of the best apps out there!”, don’t worry. This series (including this post) focuses on apps that are less well known. We’ll be looking at a combination of popular and indie apps. That way, you get the best of the best without feeling like you’re just looking at apps you’ve already seen before.
As always, I am not affiliated with any of these apps in any way. These are my honest opinions. So without further ado, let’s dive in!
The best iOS apps of November 2022
1. Glide: Stay in touch with your loved ones
First up on our list of the best iOS apps is Glide. This is an app that I’ve been using for so long, it just occurred to me that maybe I should share it with you.
This is a relatively popular app, so you may have heard of it. But for those who haven’t, this is essentially a video-based walkie talkie. You send videos of yourself to your friends and family, and they can send back videos in response. Kind of like FaceTime, except you don’t have to be on the call at the same time.
This app is totally free and is a great way to send long-form video messages between yourself and others. It’s perfect for when you have relatives who want to see your face, but you don’t necessarily have the time or energy to be video call them.
As simple as this app is, there’s something about it that just works. So give it a shot and keep in touch with your loved ones!
2. Whiteout: A better way to markup files on iOS
Next up on our list of the best iOS apps is Whiteout. This app essentially does what the Preview app on macOS does. However, there is no Preview app on iPhone, so Whiteout fills that gap pretty well.
You can use Whiteout to highlight, erase, redact, underline, strike, and more. It’s a powerful tool for marking up text in images and PDFs, allowing you to highlight or remove information before you share these files with others.
This app does come with a subscription, but it’s not required to use the core features. It’s just to remove ads and add a few extra tools. If you don’t need those tools, though, then you can definitely get by with this app without paying. Give it a look if you find yourself in need of this sort of tool!
3. BuildCores: A PC building app for your Apple device
I get it, not everyone who owns an iPhone is going to want or be able to afford a Mac. And even those with a Mac might want to grab a PC since gaming on Mac is pretty lackluster (see here).
For those Apple users who want to build a PC, there’s BuildCores. BuildCores is an app that allows you to keep track of the PC parts you’re ordering/want to order. It also allows you to visualize your build, so you can get an idea of what your PC is going to end up looking like.
Not only that, but this app is linked to websites like Amazon and Best Buy. That way, you can get a realistic idea of what building your PC is going to cost. And you can check a sales feed in BuildCores that shows you what parts are available right now.
In short, this is a great all-in-one app for building your own PC. It brings everything in one place so that you can easily figure out what you want and how much it’ll cost.
4. Good News 4 U: A happier news feed with one of the best iOS apps
Last but not least, another great option in our list of the best iOS apps is Good News 4 U. This is one of those great tools that aims to make your life a little brighter. Too often, I and plenty of others find themselves sucked into the negative news cycle, inundated with bad news that only seems to continually get worse.
The thing is, there is nearly always just as much good news happening as there is bad. If you’re looking to replenish your mental health and boost your optimism, then Good News 4 U has your back. It’s an app that only brings you uplifting news stories.
By using this app, you can either replace the negative news feeds you tend to go to. Or you can mix it in with your regular news feed so that you are seeing the good and the bad at the same time.
However you decide to use it, there’s a good chance that this app will help rebuild your mental health a bit. So if you’ve been feeling a bit down about the state of the world, go ahead and give Good News 4 U a shot.
The best macOS apps of November 2022
1. Presenting: A new way to make presentations on your Mac
With the best iOS apps out of the way, it’s time to dive into the best macOS apps. And kicking things off is an app that you’re sure to love, whether you’re a desktop professional or just someone who wants to make videos with their Mac.
In essence, Presenting is an app that allows you to record your screen for others. What sets it apart from other options, though, is the editing. Presenting brings cinematic editing tools to your Mac’s screen recordings, allowing you to present tutorials and tasks in a much more engaging manner.
This is great for those who make presentations for class or work, are trying to teach someone else how to use their Mac, or those who simply need some eye-catching Mac footage. It’s not a cheap app by any means, but definitely worth the price if this is something you’re looking for.
2. Claquette: A simple app for odd video tasks
Next on our list of the best macOS apps is Claquette. It’s hard to describe exactly what this app does, because the truth is that it does a variety of odd tasks related to video editing and capturing.
Essentially, you can use Claquette to record your Mac’s screen. You can also use it to edit and crop videos, including the videos you record with Claquette. And you can turn those videos into GIFs or PNGs. Or other formats. And you can share videos with others, too.
In other words, Claquette does a lot of handy things with videos in a way that is faster and more convenient than a more robust video editor. It’s totally free to use, unless you want to integrate it with some of your other video editing apps. For that, you will need to pay. But you can still use all of the core features of Claquette for free, which is one of the things that makes this app so great.
3. Ulysses: A beautiful writer and one of the best macOS apps
That brings us to the third item on our list of the best macOS apps, Ulysses. If you’re a writer, then there’s a good chance you’ve heard of Ulysses before. That’s because it’s one of the most popular writing apps around.
For those that haven’t heard of it, Ulysses is an app that allows you to write long-form content in an organized, concise manner. It’s minimalist, very beautiful, and allows you to focus on what matters most when you’re writing: Your writing.
I will say that, personally, I prefer Scrivener, as it’s a much more fully-featured app. However, what Ulysses lacks in features it makes up for in style. This app is far more streamlined, so if you’ve tried to use Scrivener in the past and didn’t dig it, then Ulysses might be more your speed. It’s pricey, at around $5.99/month or $39.99/year. But if you’re writing a lot, then the price pretty much evens out anyway.
4. Highland 2: A minimalist writer for short-form content
Last but not least on our list of the best macOS apps is Highland 2. This is another app for writing (what can I say, I’m a writer!) that is ultimately minimalist. It removes all distractions and most features you would expect to see in favor of keeping this completely simple.
This simplicity means that formatting, menu settings, and more simply aren’t there. Instead, this is handled automatically for you so that you can focus on writing.
You can technically write long-form content with Highland 2, but I think it’s best suited to short-form content, like notes, short stories, blog posts and so on. It’s very similar to the app I have used as a writing professional for years (Typora), albeit a bit more robust. Give it a shot if you’re tired of writing in Pages, Word, or Google Docs!
Start using the best iOS apps and the best macOS apps today
And that’s it! Those are our November recommendations for the best iOS apps and the best macOS apps. If I had to pick a few favorites, I’d settle on Glide, Presenting, and Ulysses. But let me know which of these apps jumped out to you the most in the comments below!
For more insights, news, and guides on all things Apple, check out the rest of the AppleToolBox blog.
See you next time!
