Switching from Windows to Mac requires some adjustments. I keep mistaking Cmd with Ctrl, and what do you mean the X button doesn’t close the app?
The app installer was just…weird. It took me 2 mins to realize I need to drag and drop it to the Applications folder. And what happens after dragging? Nothing. Not even a message to tell you the app is successfully installed. While on Windows, the whole installation process is clear and it asks if you want to open the app once installed.
Turns out Mac lacks a lot of basic stuff that I have to find solutions from third-party apps (and many of them cost money).
Here are the apps I use to make Mac work the way I want:
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Raycast: The Spotlight search doesn’t always show the app I want to open, so I use Raycast. This app is packed with so many features, but I mostly use it to find emojis, calculate numbers, exchange currency, and create text shortcuts.
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Reverse: The scrolling direction of the trackpad and the external mouse kept going the opposite way no matter what I tried in settings, so I just used this app to control the scrolling.
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Rectangle: The default split screen experience on Mac is disappointing. This app makes it much easier to split screens.
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RunCat: Shows a small running cat on the top toolbar. The running speed changes according to the performance of your Mac. How cute!
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CleanShot X: More flexible options for taking screenshots and screen recordings.
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Yoink: There’s no cut and paste for files on Mac, so I have to use this to copy paste files easier. Yoink gives you a small shelf that you can temporarily store files while copy pasting. Drag the file to the shelf to copy it, go to another app, and drag the file from the shelf to paste.
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DockDoor: Gives you a preview of the app and the windows when you hover over an item on the dock, just like Windows.
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Ice: Hide the icons on the toolbar for a cleaner look.
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AirBattery: Shows the battery percentage of your AirPods.
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IINA: A video player that gives more controls than the default player.