Lukas Gregor To-Do applications, programs specialized in project management and, last but not least, tools based on the GTD method have already been discussed several times at Jablíčkář. (Editor's note: For example, a series Is OmniFocus the best GTD app?) But the rich multitude of variants is far from exhausted. This time we will look at an application that was created exclusively for the iPad, so it does not even have an iPhone version, and you would be in vain Next! also searched for Mac OS.
The addition just mentioned in the opening paragraph may be for Next! handicap. Desktop little sister it doesn't freeze that much, but I know from practice that ideas are often born on the fly, and a mobile phone is a more convenient mailbox. If you find this lamentation of mine vain, then know that Next! you might more than like it.
Fresh
That's the word fresh characterizes the product from Leftturn Labs most succinctly. I've probably complained here before, but it seems right task lists they often suffer from the malady of wannabe paper notebooks and pads. And when they follow a different path, they may encounter confusion or in short ugly appearance. One of the clear exceptions is the application OmniFocus, but you also have to pay three times as much for it as for Next! And while we're at it, Lefturn Labs certainly didn't shy away from shame - on the contrary!
Freshness is manifested in the idea of how to grasp the entire program. The concept works with four screens arranged in a cross. There is an overview of goals at the top, tasks on the right, projects on the left and so-called references (attached notes and files) at the bottom. While someone would put this basic four under themselves, put a switch/click panel on the left, v Next! you move by dragging your finger. The motion animation looks nice, so you'll have fun for a while just looking alternately at projects, tasks, glancing at goals, then quickly back to tasks and on and on.
Freshness in the control concept is not everything. Individual windows are really nice. The four are distinguished by color, but beware. It is not an unsightly coloring of the "paper", only the title contains light green Projects, a narrow bar above the list of projects and a bottom bar where you switch between criteria for sorting projects (by name, status, end date and importance). On the right side of the "paper" you have a narrow black panel with control elements - quick addition, search, labels, export, archiving and settings.
Next! in terms of design, I like it the most out of all the GTD applications so far. But it does not lag behind in terms of functions.
Effective
In order for an application to boast the GTD abbreviation in its annotation, it must meet certain criteria. Have a clipboard, tasks sorted into projects, work with contexts (labels), allow the user to assign a description and attach deadlines to individual tasks/projects. Next! in addition to all this, it also leads a person to determine goals. I really appreciate it because it non-violently encourages a person to make what they do somehow resonate with their longer-term visions and goals. Since you can see how close you are to the goal (thanks to the completion of each task/project assigned to the goal) through the decent graphics, you have your journey under control.
When the button is clicked + the creation of a new task/project/goal/attachment will be offered as a priority, depending on the currently open screen. However, it's not a problem to put a task in the clipboard very quickly when browsing through projects. In addition, you can also work with a list Someday, which every GTD user knows well.
All possible file types can be opened in References - iOS too Next! takes note, so when you click on an attachment in Mail, it offers to open it in Next! and attach to a task, project or goal. However, you can only edit notes created directly in the application, you can view text files from Pages or Word passive as a PDF. However, the program cannot be particularly blamed for this. This belongs to the general characteristics of similar programs.
The Lefturn Labs team pleasantly surprised me, I will be watching closely to see if the development of the application will move forward and if by chance they will also offer a version for the iPhone. I believe that this would not only please me.
Next! -$1,99
I managed to buy the app for zero money. It looks really nice, but the absence of an iPhone version freezes and puts this graphically very successful application on the back burner
So I couldn't do it and I asked - LefTurn Labs is said to be working on an iPhone version. So I'm curious :)