Jan Zdarsa If I had to pick one iPhone app from the past year that I she helped the most in work and personal life, then it would be an application Things from the company Cultured Code. Things is a task manager that uses the Getting Things Done method. This method was invented by the American David Allen.
According to Allen, a person is not adapted to remember and recall all his tasks or appointments and therefore should record them in some external system. This is the only way a person clears his mind, can fully concentrate on the task and does not have to think about what he has to do during this activity and get there unnecessarily under pressure. And if you want certain matters to stop bothering you, just do them.
The Getting Things Done method it's all about these 5 steps: collect tasks, process, organize, review and of course do. It also applies here 2 minute rule - if the task does not take you more than 2 minutes, then do not postpone it, but do it now.
For those who do not know the GTD method, but would be interested in further information, I would refer you to the website MitVseHotovo.cz. If you want to go in depth, I would recommend to buy the book Get Everything Done od David Allen, which is simply excellent. If you are not sure about the purchase, I recommend a review from Peter Mary.
Today, however, I will focus on one of the applications that is currently using the GTD principle for your planning, and that is it the Things app. The application is not complicated and that is its biggest plus. It has a very clean design. The application offers you an environment with the smallest possible number of different boxes and buttons, but still managed to preserve excellent usability. The fact that there are not so many setting and filling options does not scare you into adding tasks on your iPhone, but on the contrary, you are happy to start the application and write down the task.
The main page contains Inbox, Today, Next, Scheduled, Someday, Projects and Logbook. Your work with the application is such that whenever a new task appears or you remember, you enter the Inbox container and write the task here. This is important for clearing your head. You can add a note to the task or a date by which the task must be completed.
Whenever you have enough time, the following tasks are appropriate process and organize. You move items from the Inbox to different folders with two clicks. If you plan to solve the task today, you transfer it to the Today container. If you don't plan to do the task today, do it you can move by character. For example, you can schedule a task for an exact date or just move it to the Next container, where tasks you plan to do in the near future are waiting for you, or you can put it in Someday (sometime in the future). Someday is more like "Learn to speak Spanish" style tasks, in short, sometimes you would like to do something like that.
Often there is some big task like "Plan a trip to Formula 1". You can have that one save as a project and under it you save the sub-tasks that will be needed to handle this big task – the project.
Things stands out precisely because of its simplicity and working with him is a pleasure. Tasks are very easily and quickly moved between folders, you can quickly mark the tasks that you plan to do today or those that you have already completed. At the end of each day, completed tasks are moved to the Logbook, where you have your diary of completed tasks.
But what kind of planner would it be if it was only possible to work with it on a mobile phone. Things also have theirs desktop version, which offers more more functionality than Things on iPhone. Of course, there are also wi-fi sync between the desktop application and the iPhone. Unfortunately, this desktop application is currently only available for MacOS operating system. Although the developers would very much like a version for Windows, it is not in their power yet, as they are just finishing the final version of Things 1.0 on MacOS, which will be presented at Macworld.
Things on iPhone is also missing the option adding tags and areas to tasks (although the desktop version can), which could be a big minus for some. However, the iPhone version is still being worked on very intensively. For example version with tags will appear on the Appstore in a few days, is just waiting for approval by Apple. And so we can expect the addition of areas in a relatively short period of time.
I also miss synchronization with some online server here. Developers would love to sync with MobileMe, but Apple doesn't currently allow them to do so.
Although at the same time I have some reservations about the application, I did not find an application that would suit me better in the Appstore. Things offers me exactly what I need. And since the authors are constantly informing their customers about the progress of development (for example via Twitter), I believe that their $9.99 for Things on iPhone is definitely worth it.
[xrr rating=4.5/5 label=”Apple Rating”]
Contest for readers
Contest closed
One of the most used features on my iPhone – Notes. I'm a notes maniac :P The calendar is also useful, but Notes doesn't have it ;-)
I will be happy to participate in the competition.
it looks interesting...I personally don't use anything except my own head to organize my time and that's why it looks like that:)...I can't finish my assignments and then I get stressed, so this application definitely works for me :)
Nice article. I would definitely use such an app ;)
I'm using Remember The Milk for now, but I'm still deciding whether to pay for a Pro Account.
Hello everyone! Until now, I used "paper" diaries to organize my time, which supplemented notes on my mobile phone. Since I got the iPhone, I've stopped using the calendar on my phone because the iPhone itself doesn't let me know that I have something on the calendar for today (unless I have a notification set). A few days ago I downloaded the To Do's app, which is free and allows you to write down tasks with comments and check them off when done. What I like most about it is that its icon displays a number with the number of uncompleted tasks, similar to the SMS or email icon. Too bad the calendar doesn't do this at least. I can recommend To Do's to anyone who doesn't want to store a large number of tasks - most importantly, it's free.
(I'm not opposed to paid apps, but I don't currently have internet payments activated on my credit card, so there's nothing to buy them with. Winning the Things app would definitely be nice. :-))
I mostly use mind maps for similar things.
(On iPhone iBlueSky, on desktop Mind Manager), and on simple ToDos tasks. In general, I think the iPhone is still far behind the Palm OS I've worked with - especially Agendus - for many years (8?) when it comes to organizing tasks.
So far I'm missing a good - ideally two-way - sync between desktop and iPhone, Things are looking promising, just as far as the desktop is concerned. Thanks for the tip.
Nice review,
The best is a piece of paper in the pockets, but I really learned to remember a lot of things, otherwise if it's important, I set an alarm on my iPhone :D
I would love to compete :)
Hello.. I'm currently using Apple's calendar, but I'm missing the ability to differentiate colors according to importance... (but maybe I just didn't figure it out :-) )
A relatively short time ago, I also bought one of the GTD applications, Todo from Appigo. I am satisfied with it, but it is also a paid application at the same price as Things, i.e. $9,99. For someone, it may be an advantage that it can be synchronized with Toodledo and Remember the milk, but born from Things does not support subtasks, which is a shame, although I myself did not need this functionality at the time. The main advantage of Things that I see is that the desktop application is, unfortunately, useless to me as a Windows user :(
I've heard a lot about Getting Things Done, but never read much about it. An app with this concept would certainly be an interesting ticket. Then I'll make do with iCal and Stickies :)
Hello,
I am very happy to participate in the competition.
Filip Bacák
So if there is already a competition for a much-needed app, then of course I have to participate too..
And now to how I organize my time..
I have the Todo app, as someone already wrote here, it's definitely a great app, but it really lacks project support. Although the application has garbage like "tags" and "contexts", although I have no idea what the difference is supposed to be. After all, the strength should be in the fact that it can be used easily, and not in the fact that I define for myself at every single step where it needs to be fulfilled, which "tags" it fits into, and the like. But as I wrote: I miss project support very much. I tried to somehow implement projects in Todo, for example by making projects from already winterized "tags", but I couldn't stand it. It wasn't comfortable.
Furthermore, when I was choosing my "GTD" application, the criterion was that I should have access to all tasks on the desktop as well.
However, today, when I look at this criterion, even though I have Todo synced with my Toodledo account, I still don't go to it on the PC. Because Toodledo has terribly nasty sides. So I figured out that I could get by with the app itself on the iP, without synchronization..
And I wouldn't be Czech if I didn't participate in an event where something is FREE...
So that was kind of a glimpse into my past with GTD apps. And I would like to participate in the contest!
I don't use much for organization, but sometimes when I get an idea, it annoys me that either there's nowhere to write it down or it gets lost (I thought of a script for a movie) and nothing comes of it either :D
That's exactly what I was missing. I was just wondering if it could somehow be combined with GoogleCalendar.
So I want to go to the competition to at least try that...
I use notebooks for organization, but the right ones. The most popular Nznack is, of course, Moleskine. but this works :)
So far, I've used the built-in Notes and Calendar apps for similar purposes. But the article made me want to upgrade. So I'll try it as a contest first :)
At the moment I'm thinking about buying RTM, but if this app offers two-way sync with Windows, then why not! :D
I love almighty task managers, so I'll definitely be participating in the contest. Even though I paid for an account with Remember the milk, precisely because of their iPhone application, which I have as a free bonus, I am not satisfied without reservations. So I like to try something new. In the worst case, I'll stay with the milk. I need to eventually discover how to easily create projects in it... :-)
I don't want to win..:D:D:D
That doesn't look bad. If it also had a win application, it would be ideal for GTD. Personally, I put my hopes in pocket informant.
When luck gets tired, will ………………… on me too? :D
I tried to find an efficient way to do tasks on the Mac, but ToDos in Mail didn't excite me, so to this day I deal with it more with a piece of paper that I always write in the morning and then try to get rid of. GettingThingsDone looks like it might be what I'm looking for. I just got Things for iPhone and downloaded the OS X trial, but I don't want to pay for it yet.
I personally used Mail / iCal then, but Things looks a lot better, especially on the iPhone, it would like something more helpful.
I'm using RTM Pro. I've been using a combination of: iPhone, Gmail and sometimes a full-fledged web application for a long time... and I'm satisfied. But I am also open to news. ;O)
I would like to start using Things ;-) I would like to join ….
Very interesting review, I also crawled the linked website and ate the book for lunch. There is an application in Polish and tunes at a price of about 8 euros. Well, what can I add... the greatest joy comes not from fulfilled wishes, but from fulfilled obligations. I would just like to add to the iPhone that the organization of work is intuitive but very modest. What I miss the most is the active area that I had on the Nokia and whenever I was working with the phone I could see what was waiting for me today.
PS I want to enter the competition...:-)
For me, syncing with an online account is important, so I use Todo by Appigo. But I will be happy to participate in the competition.
I will decide to participate.
Because what I lack is good time management, according to my manager :-)
And what's more, I will be able to synchronize time and tasks at home on the Mac.
I have a trial version of the Things app on my iPhone and it's great... I don't know the iPhone app yet, but from what I've seen it's definitely worth it.
So I've tried several to-do lite apps, but it's still not the same. Does anyone know a method to sync a task from Outlook WIN to iPhone?
Thanks
Jirka
please how do i use the "THINGSPRESALE20" coupon to get the 20% discount on the app?
@Jirka: There will probably be more solutions, for example I know the following. You download the program ToodleDo sync with Outlook by Chromatic Dragon and then, if you set it up well, your outlook will sync with the ToodleDo website. All you have to do is choose an iPhone application that can sync with ToodleDo. For example, directly from the ToodleDo or rather Appigo ToDo application. If you are interested, I can write a setup guide here on the blog tomorrow. But it's easy.. It probably won't be necessary..
Oh, I misread the first sentence. it's a shame that I can't shop on my US account.
Well, since my biggest headache is also my head, I can't pick up any programs here. It is true that for things that are not so important and I might forget them, a calendar is enough for me, and if I still need a note, a notebook. And the only "do" I have for shopping is shop shop, which is a nice free app :)
Great app, I started using the Trial version and I'm satisfied. Clear, simple, functional synchronization. A license would make me happy :)
I want to enter the competition
I would rather be pleased with a license for the desktop version, I already have the mobile version
I want to enter the contest, thanks :)
Otherwise, I still need classic Notes for organization :)
so desktop version for 50 usd + 10 usd for sync with iphone? phew
I've already tried all the free available chanters, the thing that bothers me the most is that it has to be recorded..:-) I would like the option of recording the voice with added time. That's why I use a simple voice recorder in iPhone iTalk
I used to use Notes on previous phones, but I expected a little more from Notes on the iPhone, so I'm disappointed. Those of you who use Notes, I recommend trying something else, you will see the difference. What does YouNote need? Or for the tasks of the ordinary, but sikova To Do's? Both are free, don't hesitate.