iPhone Does anyone only use default iOS apps?

[iMelhado]

Hey,

This is honestly a question out of pure curiosity and interest: does anyone here use default iOS apps exclusively?

As in, iOS apps right out of the box. No third part apps installed whatsoever?

If so, how is it for you?

I thought it would be a fun thing to try for a week to so how it would go.

 

[netnewswireuser]

well... I use Whatsapp instead of Messages but, in general, I prefer bundled Apple apps to 3rd party ones (Mail, Photos, Maps, Find My, ecc).

 

[iMelhado]

well... I use Whatsapp instead of Messages but, in general, I prefer bundled Apple apps to 3rd party ones (Mail, Photos, Maps, Find My, ecc).

Hm, I'm in the same boat minus WhatsApp. The additional apps installed I typically have would be Reddit, Snapchat, Facebook, FB Messenger, Twitter, USAA and financial apps.

My third party apps are not apps that replaces iOS's default apps but rather apps for websites and such. I used the Outlook app and gmail app but honestly, it's a drag to have to manually open it when Apple's default mail app pops up in an instant or Maps or anything else by apple. That's why I like Apple's default app.

I'm trying to find ways to utilize Reminders but I can't seem to get inspiration! Do you use it? if so, for what? If you don't mind sharing.

 

[iOSpecialist]

Haha, yeah it might be a good way to cut down on games and social media and stuff. But it kinda sounds like a waste of an awesome device too.

There are tons of great apps that apple doesn’t make. I use duolingo for learning french, and google’s docs, sheets, slides, etc for productivity/school stuff.

 

[dk001]

Tried that a couple of versions back. Found out how limiting that really was.
Now I use about 1/3 of stock iOS apps. Or less.

 

[tranceking26]

Half and half with me, I deleted a fair few Apple defaults but still use things like Safari and camera and photos.

 

[vicviper789]

I can’t stand the stock music app. I use Cesium. I wish there was an app to replace Photos but without all of the machine learning bs

 

[yeahtyeaht]

I use Photos, Camera, Music, Contacts, Files and Safari

 

[posguy99]

I can’t stand the stock music app. I use Cesium. I wish there was an app to replace Photos but without all of the machine learning bs

<shrug> Just keep the pictures elsewhere. The phone shouldn't be authoritative, ever, and iCloud isn't any sort of backup, so it's a no-brainer solution.

 

[CTHarrryH]

Probably not a lot of people on forums such as these but I'll bet there are a huge number of people who don't even know you can add apps. I volunteer with several.

 

[netnewswireuser]

Probably not a lot of people on forums such as these but I'll bet there are a huge number of people who don't even know you can add apps. I volunteer with several.

that's so true... but It's not a problem because most Apple apps are pretty darn good from a usability point of view and cover 90% of the use cases.

For tech savvy people, Google apps might be better, more powerful and technical advanced... but they are difficult to use, with hidden functionalities and menus... common people don't care about advanced stuff.

I mean, you can live a pretty happy life using Apple apps only. xD

 

[Hi Tek]

• I use pretty much all of the native apps.
• I DO NOT USE News.
• I use Weather and CARROT
• I use Music and Spotify (and Soundcloud)
• I use the Camera app, but am considering an app that can help it take RAW photos

• EDIT: Safari and Chrome

 

[ApfelKuchen]

I'm sure there are those who never download an app. Mostly, they're people who "only wanted a phone." It's all about the phone and (maybe) text messages and camera - basically smartphone as flip phone. Even Contacts may elude them - they may punch in half of their regularly-used phone numbers rather than create a new contact. They're not computer users, either.

I have a few friends and family members who nearly fall into this group. They're still on their first smartphones (iPhone SE, 6, and 6s, respectively). While their use has grown beyond phone calls, it's still solidly stock-apps-only with the exception of a simple game or two, and perhaps a couple of totally unused apps a friend or family member insisted they download. Well... one has Facebook, Messenger, and Gmail because Facebook and Google are just so darned insistent on funneling their browser-based users to their apps. The other two haven't been roped into the Facebook universe.

 

[iDento]

I use all the stock apps but TV and Tips. However, there’re so many great apps in the AppStore I can’t live without, Things, Infuse, DayOne to name few.

Apple itself puts many apps in the AppStore that are great and free, Pages, Keynote.

 

[AustinIllini]

I use mail, photos, messages, notes, reminders, calendar...

 

[tarsins]

Stock: Safari, Messages, Mail, Notes, Reminders, Music, Calendar, News, Clock (for alarms), Camera.
Non-Stock: Whatsapp, 1Password, Google Photos, Documents.

 

[uniquexoxo]

Yes I use native apps. I try to avoid 3rd party apps for privacy reasons.

For messages I use the native Messages app all the time as much as possible. I have WhatsApp installed because that’s our communication app in the office, but with Facebook infiltrating WA, soon it will be used for target Advertising. FB Messenger I have that too. If there is an equivalent iPhone app, I will use that instead because it integrates better with the phone and the system.

In short, I prefer to stay in the Apple ecosystem.

 

[BBDDVV]

Hm, I'm in the same boat minus WhatsApp. The additional apps installed I typically have would be Reddit, Snapchat, Facebook, FB Messenger, Twitter, USAA and financial apps.

My third party apps are not apps that replaces iOS's default apps but rather apps for websites and such. I used the Outlook app and gmail app but honestly, it's a drag to have to manually open it when Apple's default mail app pops up in an instant or Maps or anything else by apple. That's why I like Apple's default app.

I'm trying to find ways to utilize Reminders but I can't seem to get inspiration! Do you use it? if so, for what? If you don't mind sharing.

Reminders for reminding me to e.g. take out the trash every two weeks, with a notification 'when arriving home' that day and 08:00pm. The location based notification is really useful as I get reminded by the time I get out of the car. The time based notification makes me not forget it when I didn't leave the house that day.

I also use the shared Family list in the Reminders app as a grocery list: could have used the notes app as well (with check boxes), but in the reminders app the lines are further apart, making it easier to hit the right check box while pushing a grocery cart, and the checked off items hide automatically, so the list shrinks while getting things. Before going to the grocery store it's also easy to see the 'complete items' and uncheck things you need to buy again. That completed list is also ordered such that the last completed item is at the top -> frequently purchased items are high up...

And then there's the cases where I use it with Siri while driving to just remind me about something. The triggers 'getting in the car' or 'getting out of the car' come in really handy as well.

I hope this gives you some inspiration ;-)

 

[AMTYVLE]

Hm, I'm in the same boat minus WhatsApp. The additional apps installed I typically have would be Reddit, Snapchat, Facebook, FB Messenger, Twitter, USAA and financial apps.

My third party apps are not apps that replaces iOS's default apps but rather apps for websites and such. I used the Outlook app and gmail app but honestly, it's a drag to have to manually open it when Apple's default mail app pops up in an instant or Maps or anything else by apple. That's why I like Apple's default app.

I'm trying to find ways to utilize Reminders but I can't seem to get inspiration! Do you use it? if so, for what? If you don't mind sharing.

Right now I use Reminders for things like appointments, or a reminder to turn something on/off at a certain time, also I have a reminder set Mon-Fri at 4:50pm to remote start my car, so when I leave work at 5 its nice and cool for me and ready to go, lol (in southern FL here). Reminders is getting a complete overhaul with iOS 13 coming in September which I believe will have even more use.

 

[dk001]

Even under iOS 13 (PB1-3) I am finding most stock iOS apps are lacking or still carry bugs and gaps from prior releases. It is for this reason that I tend to find alternatives wherever possible for most iOS apps.

I test many of the shelved apps each new iOS upgrade but have found my overall usage pattern changes little.
Really wish Apple would allow alternativer defaults in iOS.