The ultimate toolset for digital minimalists: programming, information sources, note-taking tools, efficiency tools, and payment solutions. These tools are designed to simplify digital life, enhance productivity, while maintaining control over personal data and time.
AI Tools
ChatGPT? → Claude
Claude.ai feels more realistic than ChatGPT. I dislike ChatGPT because it banned my account several times simply for being from an unsupported country, even though I was a paying pro user. While they have their regulations that users shouldn't violate, it still feels arbitrary. I switched to Claude, and the experience is much better. Claude also works best with Cursor. Another option is Poe, which acts as a more stable intermediary than the original LLM providers and allows us to try multiple models while only paying Poe. for example, U can use google Gemini, Claude, GPT4o, LLama3 at the same time, and also use SDXL So, my top choices are definitely Claude, Poe.
Cursor
Cursor is my go-to programming tool at the moment. The 500 fast response quotes are sufficient for my needs. I make mobile apps and crypto smart contract programming, It saves me at least half of my typing time, and I believe I haven't even tapped into its full potential. When coding with Cursor, I've become more of a "Tab hitter" than a coder. Most of the time, I can confidently hit the Tab button to accept Cursor's auto-complete suggestions, which is incredibly satisfying (though it feels a bit like cheating).
Perplexity/MetaSo/Jucharts/Doubao Search/Kimi/Zhipu
These are AI-powered search engines replacing Google's role in daily search. Perplexity is mainly for English-speaking countries, while the rest are best for Chinese users. Although Perplexity is the most famous tool, and it's even more powerful after using OpenAI's o1-mini where LLM has the power of reasoning, its speed is slow compared to Google search. Not to mention that Google is meant to give choices instead of answers. But definitely for people who want to make reports or social media posts regarding a topic, it's quite time-saving to first search your subject in an AI-powered search engine. It will return you a nice draft which is 80% ready for submission, and we can then make dedicated modifications easy and relax based on this draft . That will save considerable time. Maybe I will try each one and give feedback to you someday.
Information Source
Follow.is (invitation code ? email me)
This is a trending app that serves RSS subscriptions. RSS is a protocol that allows users to subscribe to website/blog updates as a newsletter. Compared to classic RSS apps like Feedly or Reeder, it's backed by RSSHub—a service that can transform any website into an RSS source, even if the website doesn't natively support it. It also adds a social module that allows users to view other users' public subscriptions and adopt the good ones. Additionally, it's powered by cryptocurrency and tokenomics, so I assume it's less likely to sell my privacy data for ads.
The right way to use Follow (or any RSS app) is to actively collect information instead of relying on algorithmic recommendations. We need to invest time in finding trustworthy, high-quality content sources. After finding good sources, we should separate them into different themes to manage our focus and avoid distraction by irrelevant information.
Some people say RSSHub is an unethical way to access content from creators. Well, it's a complex issue. It's unethical if it can't compensate the content creator. Since Follow uses a different business model that utilizes cryptocurrency, I guess it's exploring ways to pay creators. Looking at the history of the internet, the profit model for content creators has evolved from subscription models to advertisement models, and then been hijacked by content distribution platforms. We need a new model to improve experiences for both consumers and creators. Users shouldn't need to pay monthly subscriptions or watch ads, and creators shouldn't be squeezed by creative platforms. I think tokenomics shows us a new possibility. Imagine an internet without "login to read more," "30s ads to skip," or "$0.99 first month" offers. Imagine an internet where you can log in with a single click and pay only for what you use. That would be great. Let's see how far Follow.is can go.
16 Oct 2024 updates:
Follow.is has added a new feature that shows users trending RSS sources and popular users. To subscribe to some of these trending RSS feeds, users need to pay with 'POWER' tokens. This appears to be part of Follow.is's tokenomics model.
Notion → Obsidian or AnyType
Notion is easy to use and syncs well between devices. But it has some drawbacks. The cost adds up quickly - I was surprised to see a bill for hundreds of dollars. Exporting content is difficult, with files in odd formats and strange filenames. This makes switching to other apps challenging. Also, since everything is stored online, you can lose access due to internet issues or even political reasons.
I'm looking for alternatives to Notion. Two options I'm considering are Obsidian and Anytype. Obsidian works offline, uses standard markdown, and has many plugins thanks to its open-source community. Anytype is like a decentralized version of Notion. You use a secure private key to log in and it syncs through peer-to-peer technology instead of central servers. Both are worth trying if you're interested in moving away from Notion.
Efficiency Tool
Quicker
Quicker is a Windows-only productivity tool. It lets users access a customizable dashboard by clicking the mouse scroll button. The dashboard offers shortcuts for common tasks like screenshot, long screenshot, OCR, translation, Google search, and clipboard. Users can also add their own automation shortcuts. The dashboard adapts to show relevant options based on the current application. For instance, you could add a "save webpage as PDF" shortcut for Chrome. While Quicker lives up to its name in boosting efficiency, it's currently only available in Chinese. This may pose a challenge for non-Chinese speakers. If you need help understanding how to use it, feel free to request a tutorial video via email.
(referral code: 1119414-3970 , you got free 3 month professional access)
Freedom
Freedom is a cross-platform tool designed to help you reduce digital distractions. I got to know this software when I read the book "Digital Minimalism" by Cal Newport. It blocks access to specified websites during designated work periods. When you try to access a restricted site, a green butterfly image appears, preventing access. This simple approach is effective. Research shows that placing tempting snacks just two meters away can reduce consumption by 45%. Freedom applies this principle to digital distractions. Set an 8-hour block and focus on your work without interruptions. The annual subscription fee is $27.99, which is reasonable for the productivity gains it offers.
Multi-account/App Clone
App Clone or multi-account is a feature that allows users to create multiple instances of an application on the same device, enabling them to simultaneously log in and use multiple accounts. For example, on social media platforms, users can use the multi-account or app cloning feature to log into multiple accounts at the same time, in order to manage different personal or business accounts. I believe the one who use this feature is a genius. Social Media app never want you use it this way.
Island
Android for Work (hereafter referred to as AFW) is an enterprise application solution released by Google in 2014. It enables the simultaneous support of personal and work applications on the same device, with work area applications managed by your enterprise. In simple terms, it creates a complete copy of the system (workspace) that runs simultaneously with the main system. The data is isolated and independent from each other!
Utilizing this principle, you can create a workspace, and if your phone has root access, you can open multiple workspaces without limitation, thereby achieving unlimited app cloning.
Motorola China Version
Motorola's China version offers six app clones at the system level, without hacking or additional apps. This makes it unlikely for your account to be banned when using this phone's feature. Moto's phones also have another powerful capability called "Ready For," which allows you to connect an external monitor and display a desktop mode of the phone's OS. This is impressive because you can use your phone for light business tasks like marketing, document work, and calling. Other phones, such as Samsung, offer similar features like DeX. While other phones' desktop modes are also good, these two are the most mature options.
Payment and Receive Payment
WildCard (16 Oct 2024)
WildCard is a reliable virtual card provider. It's compatible with the US Apple App Store and services like ChatGPT, Claude, and Twitter Premium. They also operate https://2233.ai/, offering LLM API access and accounts. Use these services responsibly.
Wise (16 Oct 2024)
Wise specializes in international money transfers. I recently received my Wise card and have been using it successfully. I'm currently in the process of applying for a business account with my UK-registered company. After sending the £60 activation fee, my application is under review. Due to high demand from UK applicants, I've been informed that the review process may take up to a month.
Stripe (16 Oct 2024)
Stripe offers comprehensive solutions for international business transactions, but it comes with strict compliance requirements. Opening a Stripe account in China isn't feasible, so I'm planning to use a UK company account and Wise account for my application. While this approach works, I sometimes miss the simplicity of blockchain-based transactions.
- AI Tools
- ChatGPT? → Claude
- Cursor
- Perplexity/MetaSo/Jucharts/Doubao Search/Kimi/Zhipu
- Information Source
- Follow.is (invitation code ? email me)
- Notion → Obsidian or AnyType
- Efficiency Tool
- Quicker
- Freedom
- Multi-account/App Clone
- Island
- Motorola China Version
- Payment and Receive Payment
- WildCard (16 Oct 2024)
- Wise (16 Oct 2024)
- Stripe (16 Oct 2024)
update: @October 16, 2024