iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Six apps updated for OS 27 this week, all following the same rules: you can always buy them once and keep them, there is no account, and nothing in them tries to pull you back in. Also the three years I shipped no AI features at all, and what changed this year. simonemontalto.com/blog/softwar...

simonemontalto.com

The cost of building software that does not want anything from you

Why my apps have no subscription and no account, why I waited three years before adding any AI, and what building software this way costs me.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

After months of betas, the iOS 27 and macOS 27 update for Book Tracker is out. Seven years of this app now. Writing something later this week about why it still works the way it does.

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Movie Tracker @movietracker.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Movie Tracker is a movie and TV show tracker for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch. Everything you watch, want to watch, and are halfway through, in one place. No account, no server, no tracking. Here is what it actually does.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Movie Tracker now imports the ZIP file you export from TV Time. Bring your full watch history over in a few taps, no account required. Before you do that, there is something you should know about that ZIP file, whichever app you end up choosing.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

TV Time shuts down July 15 and everyone is scrambling for a replacement. Before you move your shows, understand why it is closing. A free service still costs real money to run, and that never lasts. Free is not free. You either pay with your data or when the app shuts down.

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Movie Tracker @movietracker.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

TV Time is shutting down on July 15th. If you’re on Apple devices, Movie Tracker is a native alternative with iCloud sync, no account needed, and full privacy. And yes, you can bring your library with you. Guide: movietrack.app/migrating-from-tv-time App Store: apps.apple.com/us/app/movie...

movietrack.app

Migrating from TV Time - Movie Tracker

If you currently track your movies and shows in TV Time and want to move them into Movie Tracker, you can do it in a few simple steps using a browser extension that exports your data. TV Time does not...

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Book Tracker @booktracker.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Also in this update: - Publication date in book list view - Positions in filters and Smart Lists - Bug fixes for ratings display and barcode scanner Download Book Tracker on the App Store: apps.apple.com/us/app/book-...

apps.apple.com

Book Tracker: Bookshelf & TBR App - App Store

Download Book Tracker: Bookshelf & TBR by Simone Montalto on the App Store. See screenshots, ratings and reviews, user tips, and more apps like Book Tracker:…

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Book Tracker @booktracker.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

2. You can now export any book list as PDF or CSV. Tap the options menu (...) in the top right corner of your book list and select Export.

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Book Tracker @booktracker.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Book Tracker has a new update out. Here's what's new. 1. Searching online? You can now see the format, language, and publication date right in the search results, without opening the detail page.

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Book Tracker @booktracker.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

An honest ask from an indie dev. App Store rankings are a brutal game for small apps. If Book Tracker has been part of your reading life, two things make a real difference: leaving a review on the App Store, and telling a friend who reads.

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Movie Tracker @movietracker.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Your TV shows. Now on your wrist. The new Apple Watch app for Movie Tracker lets you see upcoming episodes and mark them as watched in seconds. Also includes performance improvements, bug fixes, and better image loading. Hope you enjoy this update. Feedback is welcome.

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Book Tracker @booktracker.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Book Tracker is now on Apple Watch! I’ve just released an update that introduces the official Apple Watch companion app. • See the books you’re currently reading • Start your reading timer directly from your wrist • Pause it anytime • Update your reading progress on the go

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Movie Tracker @movietracker.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

The update is available now on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Thanks for supporting Movie Tracker and independent, privacy focused app development. apps.apple.com/us/app/movie...

apps.apple.com

Movie Tracker: Watchlist App - App Store

Download Movie Tracker: Watchlist by Simone Montalto on the App Store. See screenshots, ratings and reviews, user tips, and more apps like Movie Tracker:…

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Movie Tracker @movietracker.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

5. Improvements and stability This update also includes several under the hood improvements on Mac and across all platforms, including better window restoration and smoother scrolling, for a more stable and consistent experience.

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Movie Tracker @movietracker.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

4. Interactive charts Tap on any chart to instantly see the list of movies and TV shows watched in the selected period. Statistics are now more detailed and more actionable.

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Movie Tracker @movietracker.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

3. Enhanced statistics Explore a new calendar view showing the covers of movies and TV shows watched each day. New daily and monthly charts make it easier to understand your viewing habits over time.

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Movie Tracker @movietracker.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

2. New Upcoming section Keep track of upcoming movies and TV shows and see how many days are left until their release. A simple way to plan what’s next and never lose track of what’s coming.

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Movie Tracker @movietracker.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

1. Custom Home and Sidebar You can now personalize the Home on iPhone and the Sidebar on iPad and Mac. Add cards at the top and choose from tags, smart lists, spaces, actors, and more. Just tap Edit and build the layout that works for you.

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Movie Tracker @movietracker.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Movie Tracker just got a major update. This release focuses on personalization, planning, and better insights into what you watch. Here’s what’s new.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

I often get asked why my apps don’t send notifications or show badges to remind you to read a book, watch a movie, or start a new episode. The answer isn’t technical. It’s about how software makes us feel.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

Really happy to share the first Book Tracker update of the year. Every new feature and improvement in this release comes directly from conversations with users, emails, messages, and feedback I receive every day. This is how Book Tracker keeps growing. ❤️

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

This quote is a good reminder to be cautious. When a product is built mainly to attract investment or an acquisition, user happiness is rarely the final goal. Often the real product is the team, the growth metrics, or the exit. As users, trusting blindly is rarely a good idea.

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Craig Grannell @craiggrannell.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

+1 for this app. It’s great. I use it for all my graphic novels tracking, and will this year be adding prose books to it as well.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

A reading app is trending right now. It’s VC backed and heavily built around AI. That’s one approach. Book Tracker was built the other way around. No investors. No growth hacks. No AI deciding what you read or how you should read it.

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Creativerly @creativerly.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

Another year reflecting on the apps that became my favourite ones throughout the past year. Thank you Tot @iconfactory.com, Book Track @simonemontalto.bsky.social, Reeder @Silvio Rizzi, Croissant @benricem.bsky.social + @vegh.ca, Ripples by #MykolaHarmash 😊✌️ creativerly.com/creativerlys-...

creativerly.com

Creativerly's Favourite Apps of 2025

It is time again to sit down and reflect on the apps that became my favourite ones over the course of the past twelve months.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

App Store reviews are valuable, but they are also dangerous if you read them the wrong way. I learned this the hard way. Some reviews point out real problems. Confusing UI, missing features, unclear behaviour. Those are signals you should never ignore.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

I often receive App Store reviews complaining that my apps are paid while there are “many free alternatives”. It is fair feedback, and it always makes me stop and think. Is my message not clear enough, or do people simply not care.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

Shipping software and keeping it alive are two very different skills. Shipping is about momentum. Keeping something alive is about responsibility.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

Most conversations about scaling focus on users. More traffic, more data, more load. But many indie apps do not scale in users. They scale in time.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

One of the most dangerous traps in indie development is the quick win. A small change that ships fast, feels good immediately, and seems harmless. Until you realise what it actually costs over time.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

Rewriting an app from scratch is one of the most tempting ideas as a developer. You see all the things you would do differently today. Cleaner architecture, better naming, fewer compromises. It feels like a fresh start.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

People often imagine that “pixel-perfect design” means obsessing over alignment, spacing or visual polish. But the real meaning is much deeper. Pixel-perfect design is not about precision. It is about intention.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

Pricing is one of the hardest decisions an indie developer has to make. Not because you want to maximise revenue, but because the price shapes the relationship between you and the user. It defines expectations, trust and sustainability.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

I often get asked why my apps do not rely on external servers. No custom backend, no dashboards, no centralised data storage. Just local data and Apple’s sync infrastructure. This is not a limitation. It is a design principle.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

There is a common belief that the best design is always the simplest one. But simplicity can become its own form of complexity when it hides structure instead of clarifying it. Minimal does not always mean intuitive.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

As a solo indie developer, App Store reviews make a huge difference. If Book Tracker has been useful to you, I’d love your support with a quick review.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

There is a lot of discussion about AI in apps, and most of it focuses on capability. What AI can generate, suggest or automate. But the real impact is not about what it does. It is about what it replaces.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

I have been reading Cory Doctorow’s new book about enshittification, and it captures something I have felt for years. The idea is simple. Platforms start by treating users well, then slowly shift their focus to advertisers, and finally squeeze everyone to maximise profit.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

Most apps are built around the idea of consumption. They want you to stay longer, tap more, return often. The value is measured in time spent, not in usefulness. I never wanted my apps to behave like that.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

Releasing a new version of an app looks simple from the outside. You publish the update, wait for the rollout, and move on. But anyone who has ever shipped software knows that the emotional part is much more complicated.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

When you build apps alone, you eventually realize that the product starts to look like you. Not because you want to make it personal, but because every decision reflects your own way of seeing the world. There is no committee to dilute your choices.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

I work on several apps, and each one has a different age. One codebase is six years old, another is three, another two, and the rest are much younger. Opening them feels like opening old journals. You see who you were as a developer at that time.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

Some of the most difficult bugs are the ones you cannot reproduce. They appear on a few devices, under conditions you cannot replicate, and then vanish without explanation. These are the bugs that test you the most as a developer.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

One of the hardest parts of being an indie developer is deciding which feature requests to follow and which ones to let go. People often assume that every suggestion should become part of the roadmap, but that is not how a product grows.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Answering support emails is not the most glamorous part of building apps, but it is the one that teaches me the most. It is the closest I ever get to seeing how people actually use what I create. Users rarely write just to report a bug. They write to share a piece of context.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

Sync is one of those features that looks simple from the outside and incredibly complex from the inside. When it works, no one notices it. When it fails, everything else in the app becomes unreliable. That is why designing sync is mostly about avoiding fragility.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

Most apps today are built around numbers. Clicks, conversions, funnels, retention curves. Metrics can be useful, but they also change the way you think about your product. You stop designing for people and start designing for graphs.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

When people talk about UX they usually think about big redesigns or major features, but most of the experience is shaped by the smallest details. Margins, timing, alignment, typography, animations that last just long enough. Things you do not notice unless they are wrong.

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Simone Montalto @simonemontalto.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

People usually see a feature only in its final form, but most of the work happens before a single line of code is written. Designing a feature is mostly about understanding what you should not build.

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