No virtual whiteboard is perfect for everyone - and every virtual whiteboard service seems to shut down after a few years. While we've recommended several over the years, the only one still around is Twiddla, which is so feature-rich that it might feel too complicated (and ugly) for some projects. If so, try the simpler app RealtimeBoard.
iTunes is bloated. If you just want to play some MP3s like you did in the old days, try Tiny Player for Mac.
Mac: Some people keep their computer desktop neat. Some people are happy to keep their desktop messy. For those who want a clean desktop but have trouble maintaining it, there's Declutter.
Inspired by games from the 2016 Self-Care Jam (which Kotaku mined for favourites), MetaFilter users recently named their favourite calming video games. Some will be familiar, but others are deep cuts by independent developers. Most aren't for winning or losing, just exploring, interacting and existing. None of them force you to battle other players in a tense show-down. Try these out if you're too stressed out for Overwatch or Plague Inc.
Mac: Microsoft's experimental projects division has released a toolbar utility for Mac-based Office 365 users that lets you access your OneDrive files, make video calls, and see your next appointments.
iTunes users all know the aggravating feeling every time you plug your phone into your car, or idly hit play: The first song in your library comes on, feeling less like music and more like an alarm clock, and you rush to turn it back off. And then you never again want to play Adele or Abbey Road or "Ain't No Sunshine". iTunes has poisoned your mind.
Mac: If you've ever needed to upload an image or two, or deal with a scanned document, you know about all the headaches that come with conversion, and how finicky sites get with different file types.
It seems like a lot of web pages are disappearing from the internet these days. If you feel like taking on archiving duties for yourself, there are a variety of tools for doing so.
If you use the terminal a lot to code, then you know it's easy to get lost deep inside those blinking commands. Tiny-Care-Terminal is a small little dashboard that reminds you to stop and take care of yourself every once in a while.
Windows/Mac/Linux: When it comes to notes apps, you have a seemingly endless trail of options, but it's rare to find one that's cross-platform, supports the Evernote-style of rich notes, and works without needing an account somewhere. Collate is just that.
Using a password manager is basically internet security 101 these days, but that doesn't make them any less intimidating. If you've never used a password manager, they're annoying, cumbersome to use, and baffling at a glance. 1Password is one of the easiest to use options around, but that doesn't mean you don't need some help setting it up.
Mac: We've seen plenty of Pomodoro timers over the years, but Tomates might be the most full featured option around.
Last year, Opera, the little browser that everyone seems to forget about, rolled out a free VPN. While it immediately ran into a security problem by leaking IP addresses, it's now been patched up, and is easily the simplest, cheapest and reasonably private way to access a VPN right now. It does come with a slew of caveats though.
Mac: Apple might have pulled the battery life indicator out of the MacBook, but there are plenty of third-party ways to bring it back. If you're looking for something a little more fun than just a number, Juice let's you set your own customisable icons for different battery levels.
Mac: Switching apps on macOS with the Command+Tab shortcut is great as it is, but there aren't any built-in tools to customise how the app switcher works. Command-Tab Plus is an app switcher that adds just that.
Mac: If you've ever been curious about just how much time you spend in an app, Usage is a simple little utility that will track just that.
When it first launched, Bear was an intriguing alternative to bloated note-taking apps like Evernote and OneNote, but it was still a little too new to dive into. After a couple of minor iterations, I'm convinced it's a worthy alternative for those sick of the bloat of other notes apps and for those who like the take-home simplicity of plain text. Provided you're in the Apple ecosystem, anyway.
We've seen a few different tools for Windows-esque window management on Mac over the years, but none of those ever fit well with my workflow. Magnet is an app that's been around for a while, but a few recent updates have finally made it the app I need.
Mac: If you have a multiple monitor setup for your Mac, you know that the simple act of disabling the extra monitors when you need just one is a little cumbersome. Screen Commander makes it easy.
