My favorite five apps are Spotify, Plex, SiriusXM, Strava, and LeicaLux.

That list probably says a lot about me.

Spotify is for everyday music. It is the app I use when I want something quick, familiar, or mood-specific. Driving, working, cooking, sitting around, there is almost always a playlist or album that fits the moment.

Plex is for my own collection. I like having access to the movies, shows, and music I actually care about, organized the way I want it. Streaming is convenient, but Plex feels more personal. It is like carrying a little version of my own media library with me.

SiriusXM is for when I do not want to think too hard about what to play. There is something nice about radio-style discovery. You turn it on, let someone else drive for a while, and occasionally hear something you would not have picked yourself.

Strava is the app that makes movement feel a little more intentional. Even a simple bike ride or walk feels more satisfying when you can look back and see where you went, how far you made it, and the little record of effort you left behind.

And LeicaLux is for photography. I like apps that make you pay closer attention, and a good camera app does that. It turns ordinary things into something worth noticing: light, shadows, color, small details you might have walked past otherwise. What makes it special is that it does not feel like just another camera app. It gives iPhone photos more of that Leica character: rich color, mood, depth, and a more intentional look. Leica describes the app as bringing the “Leica Look” to the iPhone, with manual controls, lens profiles, and signature Leica-style rendering. What I like about it is that it makes taking a picture feel less automatic. Instead of just pulling out my phone and snapping something forgettable, it makes me think about light, framing, shadows, and atmosphere. It turns ordinary moments into something more deliberate. That is really the appeal. LeicaLux makes phone photography feel closer to photography, not just documentation. It makes me want to notice the world better before I hit the shutter.

So those are my five.

Music, movies, movement, radio, and photography.

Basically, the apps that help me listen better, watch better, move more, and notice the world a little more closely.