My name is Philipp and you are reading Creativerly, the internet corner where I unpack my musings, curate and write about noteworthy apps and software, and explore the latest trends in design and tech.

Hey and welcome to Creativerly 363 👋

Today is one of those very few days, where I simply have no idea what I should put into this intro section of Creativerly. My days have been packed as of recently, and I am trying to get a hold onto multiple things right now. And therefore, my mind is completely empty when it comes to ideas to write about here.

So, in that sense, simply enjoy this week's newsletter. See you next week!

SPONSORED
CTA Image

The best new app for newsletter reading.

Meco is a distraction-free space for reading newsletters outside the inbox. The app is completely free and packed with features designed to supercharge your learnings from your favourite writers. Become a more productive reader and cut out the noise with Meco - try the app today!

Get started for free

This is an affiliate link to support Creativerly. If you are interested in putting your tool, product, or resource in front of over 2000 creative minds, consider advertising in Creativerly and book a sponsor or classified ad spot. Find all the important information at creativerly.com/advertise.

Fresh Updates, news, and findings

AppFlowy introduces highly requested features for its desktop app →

With its most recent update, AppFlowy introduced a highly requested feature for its desktop app: new database views, which means you can now view your databases as gallery, list, or chart. Besides that, you can now use "Group by" in a grid view, which allows you to organize database entries into collapsible sections based on property values. Check out the linked blog post to read through the whole release notes.

Helium is a browser without the adware, bloat, and noise – and it is fully open source →

While other browser and AI companies are focused on replacing the web with corporate-controlled summaries and surveillance, Helium provides best privacy and unbiased ad-blocking by default.

When you are using Helium to browse the web, it blocks ads, trackers, phishing websites, and other nonsense by default, powered by community filters and uBlock Origin. Additionally, Helium itself does not have any ads, trackers, or analytics, and it also does not make any web requests without your explicit consent. Helium is based on Chromium (yes, I know, debatable), but it builds on this base to improve performance, and save even more energy, as all bloat is removed.

All parts of Helium are open source, you can self-host it, and use it completely for free. It is available for macOS, Windows, and Linux.

How Substack makes money from hosting Nazi newsletters →

Hey, Substack is back in the news again, this time, The Guardian revealed how the site takes a cut of subscriptions to content that promotes far-right ideology, white supremacy, and antisemitism. So, I keep this short and to the point here: if you are still on Substack, why are you still there?

There are plenty of alternatives, and if your friends tell you independent writers do not have a choice in selecting a platform because Substack makes it so easy to start and build an independent publishing business, you might want to look out for new friends.

Mental Wealth

❯ The Decision Before the Work – “What happens when the most consequential design decision is made before you even get started? This is the reality of design work today. When you choose Webflow vs. WordPress vs. Shopify vs. custom development, you’re making decisions about what’s even possible to design, what fonts and components are available, how content will be structured, what the maintenance burden will be, what integrations are feasible, and what performance constraints you’ll live with.”

❯ How “Tiny Tweaks” Help Us Shift Toward Happiness – “Baking delicious banana bread requires trial and error. Your first attempt might need more salt; your second might need more nutmeg. If it still doesn’t taste the way you want it to, you continue making tiny tweaks until you’re happy with your loaf. The same idea can be applied to our lives, says Erin Port. ”

❯ The Displacement of Purpose. – “There is no shortage of writing about artificial intelligence. Most of it sits at the two poles of collective imagination: radiant optimism or cinematic dread. Depending on who speaks, AI is either the torch that will illuminate a golden future or the spark that burns the house down. What it rarely is—despite all the noise—is real.”

❯ How to find your direction, in work and life – “A while ago now, I had a conversation with a coaching client that stuck with me. She is an exceptional creative, one of the best in the world at what she does, and yet she finds it hard to give herself credit for her achievements.”

Do not miss out on this ...

❉ Experience the ultimate vector editor for macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. Get started with Amadine*.

❉ Think tasks, not apps. Setapp* is you one-stop subscription to solving every task on Mac and iPhone.

❉ Fathom is cookie-free, GDPR compliant, privacy-first website analytics software. Get $10 off your first invoice and a 7-day free trial when you use this link*.

These are paid promotions or affiliate links to support Creativerly. If you are interested in putting your tool, product, or resource in front of over 2000 creative minds, consider advertising in Creativerly and book a sponsor or classified ad spot. Find all the important information at creativerly.com/advertise.

Appendix

❯ ICYMI

Discover the rise of decentralized social networks like Mastodon and Bluesky as traditional platforms increasingly face criticism. In my post about "The tools for decentralized social networks – How to interact with Mastodon and Bluesky" you can learn about essential third-party tools enhancing these networks, from clients like Ivory and Ice Cubes to cross-posting apps like Croissant.

❯ Quick Bits

Till next time! 👋‌‌‌‌

Support: Do you have a friend who is looking for inspiration, news about design, and useful tools and apps? Forward this newsletter to a friend or simply share this issue and show some support. You can also show some love by simply clicking the button down below and keep this newsletter a sustainable side-project by buying me a coffee. ☕ đŸ„°

Some of the links in my newsletter and my blog posts are affiliate links. Those links are marked by an asterisk. If you buy something through the link, the product will not cost you anything more, but I will receive a small commission which not only supports Creativerly and my work but also helps me to keep this publication a sustainable side-project.

Creativerly is proudly published with Ghost*.