SSPAI App Picks: Must-Try Apps This Month

TabTab: A Feature-Enhanced Window Switcher

Platform: macOS
Keywords: window switching, tab switching

@ElijahLee: TabTab is a window switcher designed specifically for macOS. It is similar to macOS’s native ⌘ Command + Tab feature, but more powerful. In addition to switching between application windows, TabTab can also switch browser tabs and tabs within certain apps, helping you quickly locate your target among multiple windows and tabs and improve multitasking efficiency.

First is the window-switching feature. To distinguish itself from the system’s default shortcut, TabTab uses ⌥ Option + Tab to trigger window switching. Its switcher interface is displayed in a vertical layout, and the app offers three positioning options: docked to the left edge of the screen, the right edge, or centered, which users can choose freely. Holding down the shortcut cycles through app icons, and releasing it switches to the selected window, consistent with the native behavior. For users accustomed to the default shortcut, the app can also be configured to use ⌘ Command + Tab to replace the system’s built-in function.

TabTab supports search. Using the shortcut Shift + Command + L brings up the switcher window and activates search. By typing keywords, you can search across app names, window contents, and more. It supports searching by app name, window title, tab title, and even URL.

Based on this, TabTab also supports tab switching. For applications that support tabs—such as browsers (Safari, Google Chrome, Arc, etc.), development tools (VS Code, Xcode, Cursor, etc.), system apps (Finder, Terminal, etc.), as well as apps like Notion and Figma—it allows you to search directly for content, locate the corresponding tab, and switch to it. This is faster and more precise than macOS’s native switching. However, based on my brief testing, the search function is basically unusable on systems set to Chinese.

TabTab emphasizes an experience close to native macOS usage. Its interface is clean, performance is lightweight, memory usage is extremely low, and everything runs locally. In the settings, the app also provides various customization options. The mouse-trigger feature is disabled by default; when enabled, moving the cursor to the edge of the screen will bring up the switcher. The tab-group feature is enabled by default; disabling it will list all tabs individually. You can also set a blacklist for specific apps to prevent them from being included in window or tab switching.

You can download TabTab for free from its official website. The free version supports switching between only five windows and tabs, and search is also limited to five windows and tabs. The paid version unlocks all features, including unlimited windows and tabs and full search functionality. Pricing is based on the number of devices activated: USD 15.19 for one device, USD 19.99 for two devices, and USD 26.39 for three devices. It is a one-time purchase with lifetime access.

KashCal: Syncing Your Calendar with iCloud on Android

Platform: Android
Keywords: calendar sync

@Peggy_: For many users who use both iOS and Android devices, keeping data in sync has always been a headache. As a syncing solution deeply rooted in Apple’s ecosystem, iCloud can be said to be almost unbeatable within that ecosystem.

However, for various reasons, I first used a Google account as my primary account, then later switched to Outlook because of syncing issues. After all that back and forth, calendar syncing—something that was never a problem before—has now become one. At present, I mainly use Apple products, and while iCloud’s syncing is far from perfect, it is indeed the most convenient option. So I started thinking about migrating my data again. Around that time, I came across a calendar app that can sync iCloud account data on Android: KashCal.

As a calendar app, KashCal claims to prioritize privacy, so it can be used completely offline. However, doing so means giving up syncing, making the data visible on only a single device—something most of us probably don’t need from a fully offline local calendar app.

When it comes to data syncing, KashCal says it has implemented multiple security measures. It does not analyze user data, and its codebase is open source, which means anyone can audit the code to help ensure security. As its killer feature, KashCal allows you to use your iCloud account as the syncing account.

Open the app’s settings, and you can choose to sign in to iCloud. On this screen, you need to enter your Apple ID and generate an app-specific password online exclusively for this application. The app provides detailed instructions on how to generate this password on the login page. This way, you don’t have to worry about your main Apple ID password being exposed. Once logged in, you can use your iCloud account to sync calendar events across devices.

Of course, KashCal also includes the basic features found in other calendar apps. For example, you can subscribe to calendars to bring in calendars from other accounts or even shared calendars created by other people. You can also import local calendar files in .ics format, or export the calendar data from within the app.

If you want to use your iCloud account to sync schedules across both iOS and Android devices, there are currently not many options available. KashCal may be one of the more hassle-free solutions you can find right now. You can download and try KashCal via F-Droid. The app is open source and completely free to use.

aShell You: An ADB Command Tool with Material You Design

Platform: Android
Keywords: command-line tool, ADB

@大大大K: The fun of tinkering with Android is not just about installing countless apps. A deeper level of play lies in using ADB commands to query system outputs and parameters. In the past, using ADB usually meant connecting to a computer. Later, a number of apps emerged that made it possible to run ADB commands locally through various methods—one of which is the aShell You app introduced here.

Unlike the “clunky and utilitarian” command-line tools people might be used to, aShell You adopts a Material You design. Its interface is not only modern and visually appealing, but also supports dynamic theme colors and linear motor haptic feedback. Even the gear icon on the settings page has an animation, giving the whole app a very polished feel.

In terms of functionality, aShell You supports three ADB debugging modes. If you want to run higher-privilege commands directly on the local device, you must execute them via Root or Shizuku. Given that rooting phones has become increasingly impractical in recent years, Shizuku is probably the simplest and most straightforward option. Alternatively, you can connect to the current device via wireless ADB debugging, similar to how Shizuku is activated. aShell You also supports connecting to other Android devices via wireless debugging and OTG mode, making its usage highly flexible.

In practice, however, aside from professional developers, even Android enthusiasts with some technical background are unlikely to remember so many ADB commands. To address this, aShell You has many of them built in. Tap the button to the right of the input box to view and search preset commands. For each command, the app thoughtfully adds attribute tags, such as whether it accesses a file or a directory, or whether it is a system command.

For your own frequently used custom commands, in addition to adding them to the preset list, you can also bookmark them for easier access. If you use many custom commands, it’s recommended to save them as bookmarks to avoid mixing them up with the built-in presets.

ADB command functionality is already included in many all-in-one system utility apps, but few do it with this level of refinement and attention to detail. If you’d like to try this convenient tool, aShell You is available for free on GitHub and F-Droid.

Lexibird: An All-Around AI-Powered Translation Tool

AI-based applications have been booming over the past year or two, and translation tools are one of the most important categories among them. However, few products truly integrate language translation with language learning. The tool introduced today, called Lexibird, is more like a comprehensive AI toolkit designed to help users learn languages more effectively.

In addition to the text translation features commonly found in translation apps, Lexibird also bundles a series of tools useful for language learning, including a built-in dictionary, text-to-speech, writing tools, and transcription. Take text and image translation as examples: compared with web-based translators that we often use, I personally encounter far more situations where I need to translate local documents.

When I want to check the meaning of a paragraph of English or another language in a document, I used to open Google Translate and copy and paste the text. Lexibird solves this pain point: I only need to copy the text into the app’s translation dialog box to get the result instantly. What’s more, I can choose different types of large language models to make the translation sound more “human.”

Beyond text translation, Lexibird also supports image OCR translation and voice translation. For images, you simply upload the file, and Lexibird will first perform OCR recognition and then translate it into your target language. As for audio translation, you can upload an audio clip and have it converted and translated into the desired language, which is especially useful for work scenarios that involve speech transcription.

Another highly practical feature of Lexibird is its writing tools, which are particularly useful for people working in publishing, journalism, or self-media. For example, if I need to adjust the style of a piece of English news text, I can open the “Rewrite” option, paste the text directly, and wait for the model to analyze and rewrite it. For more fragmented content such as meeting minutes or communication records, the “Summarize” function can be used to extract key points. And for content you’ve already written, you can use “Proofread” to check and correct it.

The final feature, in my view, is even more helpful for language learning: the dictionary. If you encounter a word you don’t understand at all during your studies, you can look it up to see its meaning, example sentences, and translations, helping you quickly grasp how the word is used.

Overall, Lexibird covers most of the scenarios involving language translation and learning that we encounter in both work and daily life. With AI, tasks that used to be time-consuming—such as transcription, organization, and proofreading—become much easier. In terms of pricing, the free basic version provides 100,000 AI credits per month along with full access to features like text translation and transcription. You can also purchase a Pro subscription to get more credits or use more advanced AI models. You can download the desktop client from the official website or use the web version directly, and you can also pair it with a browser extension for better translation while browsing the web.

Halo: Can AI Really Help You Build Better Habits?

Platform: iOS
Keywords: habit building

As one of the evergreen categories on the App Store, habit-tracking apps should be familiar to almost everyone. SSPAI has also published detailed reviews and comparisons of various popular habit apps in previous articles. With the arrival of the AI era, habit-building apps have naturally entered a phase of “upgrading and transformation.” Halo is one such app. It comes from the developer of the well-known read-it-later tool Matter and adds an AI assistant on top of traditional habit-tracking features, aiming to help users cultivate habits more effectively.

When you open Halo for the first time, the app guides you to create a habit you want to build. Most habits can automatically pull data from system APIs such as HealthKit and Screen Time to complete check-ins automatically. This is nothing new—veteran habit apps like Streaks have been doing this for years. Tap the plus button in the top-right corner to add new habits. Halo provides many built-in templates you can use directly, and of course you can also create custom habits based on your needs. For each habit, you can freely adjust the check-in frequency, reminder method, and detailed goals.

After completing a habit for three consecutive days via the app or home screen widgets, you unlock Halo’s Progress and Toolkit sections. As the names suggest, the Progress page shows each habit’s development score and duration, while the Toolkit page offers a collection of video tutorials about habit building. Halo categorizes and organizes these YouTube videos to help you acquire relevant knowledge and build habits more effectively.

Naturally, the most eye-catching feature is Halo’s AI Coach. However, Halo’s AI functionality is not built directly into the app. Instead, it provides an entry point to the Messages app, where all interactions take place. Before starting a conversation with the Coach, you need to add Halo as a contact, verify your phone number, and then communicate with the Coach via SMS. The AI Coach provides personalized advice based on your habit-building progress.

If you have a strong need for a habit-tracking app, Halo is worth trying. Its basic features are free to use, and its overall design and interaction are quite polished. As for the AI Coach, however, it feels more like a gimmick—the annual subscription price of RMB 398 is hard to justify.

WidgetWall: A “Wall” of Desktop Widgets for macOS

Platform: macOS
Keywords: widgets

@Snow: Since macOS Sonoma introduced support for desktop widgets, the macOS desktop—long overlooked—has returned to users’ attention. Unlike the “Swiss Army knife” widget apps on iOS, which let standalone widgets of different sizes blend into the native home screen layout and truly shine, similar apps on macOS—such as DeskWidgets or Widgetify—mostly adopt the approach of creating a new “desktop overlay.” It’s like a transparent glass wall attached to your desktop, on which you can freely arrange built-in widgets. WidgetWall, which we introduced previously, has recently added multiple style options and new widget choices in its latest update, so it’s worth revisiting.

The current version of WidgetWall includes 29 functional widgets. Common tools such as clocks, timers, photos, calculators, and music controls are all there, along with some widgets designed to boost your work (or “slacking-off”) efficiency. The app provides a web browser widget that supports layouts up to 2×4 and 4×2, adapting well to both landscape and portrait screens. You can “pin” any webpage to your desktop for quick viewing. On top of that, it comes pre-optimized for TikTok and Pinterest—after logging in, you can start scrolling short videos and image feeds right away.

WidgetWall is also one of the few apps that supports video widgets. You can play specified video files or videos from the system photo library, and it even supports playing Live Photos as videos on the desktop. The video widget offers basic playback controls such as a progress bar and play/pause, as well as adjustable size and volume, making it a very practical video preview tool.

Pomodoro timers and white noise have both been proven to help improve focus. If you don’t yet have tools you’re satisfied with in these areas, you can make do with the built-in widgets here.

Beyond productivity, WidgetWall also includes some widgets with a strong sense of ritual. One example is the nostalgia-filled iPod widget. Functionally it’s just a simple music player, but its four size options mimic several generations of classic products like the iPod shuffle and iPod nano. Long-buried memories start flooding back.

If you’ve just finished writing a piece of code or completing a proposal, you can enable the built-in confetti widget and treat yourself to an explosion of colorful paper as a burst of positive energy. And if confetti alone isn’t enough to brighten your dull workday, you can also use the built-in sticker tool to further decorate your desktop and add a bit more fun.

WidgetWall’s desktop overlay is adapted to the grid size of macOS native widgets, so you can either use it on its own with freely arranged widgets or combine its grid with native widgets. Unfortunately, WidgetWall does not currently support automatically changing colors based on desktop activity. Even though it supports light and dark modes and offers four levels of adjustable widget materials, there is still some visual mismatch when used alongside native widgets.

The app includes an in-app “Pro” upgrade that unlocks all widgets and stickers. You can subscribe for RMB 15 per month or RMB 148 per year, or make a one-time purchase of RMB 298 for lifetime access. If you are a Setapp subscriber, you can use the Pro version for free.

You can download WidgetWall for free from the App Store.

App Brief

Dozens of iOS apps have been found by security agencies to contain serious vulnerabilities that could lead to the leakage of sensitive information such as chat records, user IDs, and contact details. Most of these apps are related to AI technologies or categories. Source
A cooperation agreement worth USD 800 million between Epic Games and Google has come under court review. The deal involves licensing of Unreal Engine technology and joint promotion efforts. The court’s focus is on whether the transaction could affect Epic’s stance on the Android app ecosystem and its antitrust claims. Source

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