About Yuichi Sato (佐藤雄一)
Based in Hokkaido, Japan, Yuichi Sato plans and builds his own Android apps, Garmin watch faces and data fields, and Kindle books. The columns on this site are written from things he has actually done — on the sales floor and in his hobbies.
In short: this site is run by someone who has worked both on the selling side and the building side, and who only makes and recommends things he genuinely finds useful himself.
What is his background?
In telecom infrastructure, he worked in door-to-door sales of fiber-optic internet (Flet's Hikari, au Hikari, TEPCO Hikari) and business phone systems, including negotiating equipment installation in apartment buildings. He then led store operations and sales strategy as a store manager and area supervisor for mobile carrier shops.
In insurance, he proposed individual life and third-sector (medical, cancer) insurance at Japan Post Insurance, handled auto and other property insurance at Tokio Marine Nichido, and worked in corporate life insurance sales. Across that wide range of products — from personal life planning to corporate financial strategy — he honed the ability to draw out what customers are really struggling with.
Today he combines that experience with the hardware and software knowledge gained from building over 100 custom PCs to plan, develop, and publish apps and digital content.
What does he make?
Android apps
- MediaToolbox: a free app to convert video, images and PDFs
- PDF Toolkit: scan, merge, split and OCR in one free PDF app
- Rakuraku Step Counter: a no-button pedometer designed for seniors
- Readshot: a screenshot OCR app that reads text instantly (coming soon)
- HagLog: a digital baby record book for photos and growth (coming soon)
Garmin Connect IQ (watch faces, data fields & apps)
- Aurum: a gold watch face built like a fine dial
- Empress: a frameless jewelled chronograph
- Overwatch: a data face that switches between 5 layouts automatically
- Cairn / Cairn Pro: a hiking data field built for the climb
- Cairn Cycle / Cairn Cycle Pro: a cycling data field for speed and power
- Multitime / Multitime Pro: a multi-timer app that runs several timers at once
Kindle books
- MY 100 DIVES: a scuba logbook for 100 dives
- The Golden Ratio PC Build Bible: a budget-based build guide
- Double Your PC's Lifespan: maintenance and troubleshooting
- No More Leasing: a cost-cutting guide built on custom PCs and self-maintenance
The Kindle books are written in Japanese.
What experience are the columns based on?
| Topic | Actual experience | Related columns |
|---|---|---|
| Custom PCs & gadgets | 100+ custom PC builds, including the failures (such as a destroyed power supply) | Custom PC columns |
| Smartphones | Sales and supervisory work at mobile carrier shops; buys the latest phones every year and runs several side by side | Smartphone columns |
| Scuba diving | PADI diver: Open Water in the Kerama Islands, Advanced in a drysuit at the Shakotan Peninsula | Diving columns |
| Golf, darts, billiards, dance | Breaking 100 without range practice, forming a darts team, a pool table at home, breakdancing | Hobby columns |
| App development | Every app and watch face on this site was planned and developed by him | App how-to columns |
What rules does he follow when writing?
- Never present something as personal experience if it isn't. General knowledge and first-hand stories are written separately.
- Be open about self-promotion. Most of the apps and Kindle books featured in the columns are his own.
- Disclose affiliate links. Some articles contain Amazon Associates and Rakuten affiliate links. See the Privacy Policy for details.
- Keep things current. When an app's features or store listing change, the article is reviewed and its update date refreshed.
Official pages you can check
His apps, watch faces and books are also listed on each official store's developer or author page.
The custom PC parts and desk setup gear he actually uses are introduced in the gear roundup.