Category Archives: Cool Software

Software that will help you do what you do, better.

OmniFocus 1.0.1 Released

Leave a reply

Just got back from a nice weekend away with the family, turned my laptop on and OmniFocus 1.0.1 has been released.

Here is the list of updates in 1.0.1

Stability

  • Updated our error handling support to catch more cases where there is a possible problem and promote it to a crash, so that we can then fix it. Since OmniFocus always keeps its data in a saved state, the net effect of this is that any such exception won’t be able to cause data corruption.
  • Copy a workaround for a bug in Mac OS X 10.5 that can cause a crash when using the keyboard to navigate between cells in the outline.
  • Fixed exception where committing editing on a row caused that row to be collated into a different group.
  • Fixed a few glitches in the AppleScript suite that could cause scripting errors.
  • Fixed exceptions when parsing some European date formats. Updated the date parsing to log details about the date format if there is a problem parsing a date, allowing the user to more easily gather the relevant information in the future.
  • Fixed an occasional hang when performing a manual check for updates when no updates are available.
  • Clicking on a link to a recently deleted task will no longer cause an error.
  • We now ignore and log exceptions raised from Growl.
  • Fixed bug causing the available/due soon/overdue timer to fire too often in some cases.
  • iCal syncing will now deal with unnamed calendars.

    • Interface

  • The Perspectives menu now always has options to make a new perspective or save a snapshot of the current view settings into the current perspective.
  • The Clear Perspective command has been folded into the Revert to Default View command, so you don’t have to take two steps to get back to normal.
  • Actions created in context mode should no longer appear to be missing their project, once it is assigned.
  • Updated usage of shadows in the interface to match changes made in Mac OS X 10.5.
  • Empty projects with a start date will now get the normal project icon once its start date passes instead of getting stuck with the ‘pending’ badge.
  • The flag icon should now show up appropriately in HTML exports.

    • Miscellaneous

  • Various small updates to the online help.
  • Turned off some debug logging in the Clip-o-Tron 3000.
  • Software Update will now only show you builds on the same track that you are running. So, if you want to see sneakypeek builds, you’ll need to manually download one sneakypeek build main OmniFocus site.

    • Internationalization

  • Fixed several issues that would prevent internationalization. No localizations are in place, but those are in progress for a future release.

    • Already installed it and I am eager to try out some of the new functionality!

    Nozbe For Getting Things Done – Project Sharing

    2 Replies

    Hi All, hope you are all having productive days!

    Just been watching the fourth Nozbe Video courtesy of YouTube. The fourth video is about Project Sharing and is well worth a watch if you are looking to use Nozbe as your GTD application.

    Just a recap about Nozbe.

    Nozbe is a simple web-based gtd software, so you don’t need to install anything on your computer – just sign up for a free account and log in to manage your to-dos, tasks, notes and projects.

    Forget Outlook’s to-do lists and other task managers. All they do is help generate long to-do lists that never get done and make you feel miserable and overwhelmed with the amount of to-dos and tasks.

    Nozbe’s GTD software helps you process your to-do lists and get things done. With Nozbe your to-do lists and projects will shrink very quickly as you will get more done and stay in control!

    I am at a convention in Vegas for the next few days so posts may be either non-existent, or rather blurred and non-sensical!

    GTD Application OmniFocus Updated

    Leave a reply

    The GTD application OmniFocus has been updated today to version 1.01 Sneaky Peak.

    OmniGroup have two trains of updates now for the OmniFocus application. By default, your installation of OmniFocus will ask you to upgrade to the latest version when it is released. This is classed as the Sneaky Peek Build Train. On this train you will get minor updates as they are released from OmniGroup.

    The second update train is to just get the major versions, and the next one will be version 1.01 Final. As the default is to get the Sneaky Peak updates, to disable this, and only get the major updates, you have to exit from OmniFocus and enter the following command:

    defaults remove com.omnigroup.OmniFocus OSUVisibleTracks

    So far in the Sneaky Peak update it is mainly bug fixes and no new functionality has been released. Obviously I am following this very closely and will report when new features are available within OmniFocus.

    YouTube to your iPhone or iPod – Tooble

    1 Reply

    I love YouTube, and have done since I first discovered it years ago. Now one of the annoyances with YouTube is that it does not allow you to download your movies locally.

    I have, and love my iPhone and I know that I can use the inbuilt YouTube application to watch any YouTube video I want. However, I need to be really connected to a WiFi network in order for this to work as GPRS access is too slow for YouTube.

    There are so many great GTD videos, such as the ones on the Online Nozbe GTD App that I would love the ability to download these and put these on my iPhone so that I can watch them at my leisure.

    Well, I have now discovered a Mac application called Tooble. Tooble is a one stop shop for YouTube to iPod/iPhone video integration.

    Tooble lets you browse, search and download any video from YouTube and put it on your iPod, iPhone or Apple TV. You can also save them to watch on your computer.

    Tooble automatically converts YouTube video to MP4 format and then sends them to iTunes so that the next time you plug in your iPod or iPhone they’ll be there for you to watch.

    This is currently only available for Mac but the site does state that a Windows application is coming soon.

    GTD Mind Mapping Tasks on the Apple iPhone

    1 Reply

    iPhone Mind MappingA while back I blogged about a really cool Web 2.0 application called MindMeister.

    MindMeister is an application that allows you to create Mind Maps online. Now, I love Mind Maps and I Mind Map everything I can. They are such a cool way to logically plan everything from a complex project, to what to buy people for Christmas. I have over 1,000 Mind Maps that I have created in my personal storage that date back to 1999.

    Now, I use Mind Manager as my application of choice. I use this both on Windows and on my Mac.

    Here is a bit of blurb about MindMeister.

    MindMeister brings the concept of mind mapping to the web, using its facilities for real-time collaboration to allow truly global brainstorming sessions.

    Users can create, manage and share mind maps online and access them anytime, from anywhere. In brainstorming mode, fellow MindMeisters from around the world (or just in different rooms) can simultaneously work on the same mind map – and see each other’s changes as they happen. Using integrated Skype calls, they can throw around new ideas and put them down on “paper” at the same time.

    So, MindMeister have now updated their little GeistesBlitz widget to run as a Yahoo Widget, iGoogle Gadget or as an iPhone Gadget.

    Now i know a Mind Map is not the true implantation of the GTD methodology, but it is a great way to collect your tasks in a easy to use graphical manner. Nozbe have implemented their app with an iPhone web front end and called it iNozbe.

    I have checked it out myself and played with it. It gives you a nice little interface where you can very quickly enter information which is saved to the Mind Map of your choice. I have left it open on my iPhone as a separate window, and this seems to get around having to authenticate everytime.

    Be sure to give this a go as it is a great free way to collect tasks on your iPhone.

    OmniFocus for Getting Things Done, Version 1 Released

    Leave a reply

    OmniFocus Released

    As many of you will know, I have been following and also been a part of the beta testing for OmniFocus. Well, I am glad to announce, if you do not already know that OmniFocus is now at version 1.0, released and available to purchase from The OmniFocus Store.

    Here is a snippet about OmniFocus..

    Task management shouldn’t be your full time job. We’ve built OmniFocus to take a load off your mind by managing your tasks the way that you want, freeing you to focus your attention on the things that matter to you most. Finish that novel. Spend more time with your friends and family. Grow your business. Let us worry about keeping your goals and tasks, both personal and professional, in one ordered, easy to access system that you can depend on.

    When time permits, I will be reviewing OmniFocus here on this Blog, but until then, try it out and Download the Demo, if of course, you use a Mac!

    Cool New GTD Mind Mapping Tool – From MindMeister

    4 Replies

    Mind Maping Shortcut GTDIf you do not know, I am a real advocate of Mind Mapping. I map everything, and I mean everything!

    I also run a Mind Mapping blog, MindCert.com, aimed at Computer Certifications such as the CISSP, CEH, and Cisco Certifications.

    I have previously posted about MindMeister, a rather cool Web2.0 Mind Mapping application that is free. Well MindMeister has been out of Private Beta for a while now and I have to say that I am extremely impressed with it.

    On my Mac, I favor MindManager from MindJet. I am still on version 6 but will upgrade to version 7 as soon as I get the promised upgrade voucher for beta testing version 7.

    I have recently started another business venture, that is a service that performs online vulnerability assessment and management, called RandomStorm. This has been a pretty large project to plan and build and has taken a lot of my time over the past few weeks. One issue that I had with this is the way to share ideas and thoughts between my staff. We have several staff, from sales and account managers to a team of developers. I needed a way to get my ideas across and track the tasks of all my team working on various development tasks. My team are remote and not located in a single office so we had to put technology to the best use. I did look at quite a few online tools such as basecamp and backpack but I really do prefer the simplicity of Mind Mapping and found MindMeister to be the number one choice.
    Continue reading →

    Getting Things Done with iGTD for Mac

    1 Reply

    iGTDI found out about iGTD from reading the download of the day link from Lifehacker. Sounds good so I have added this as a task to my @computer task list!

    iGTD is a Mac OS X application for implementing the Getting Things Done methodology from David Allen.  It is a very nice looking application that also integrates with Quicksilver.

    Merlin Mann over at 43folders.com also has good things to say about iGTD.

    Be sure to check it out!

    Thinking Rock – GTD Application

    5 Replies

    Just seen a post about this application at LifeHacker.

    Thinking Rock is a cross platform GTD Application for collecting and processing your thoughts using the GTD Methodology.

    Thinking Rock allows you to collect your thoughts and process them into actions, projects, information or future possibilities. Actions can be done by you, delegated to someone else or scheduled for a particular date. Projects can be organised with ordered actions and sub-projects. You can review all of your actions, projects and other information quickly and easily to see what you need to do or to choose what you want to do at a particular time.

    I am going to check it out and then add it to my review list for this site.

    Cool Little App – TextExpander (Mac)

    1 Reply

    TextExpanderI recently discovered a great application that is saving me a ton of time. This is called TextExpander, from SmileOnMyMac.

    I discovered this application after watching MacBreak Episode 63, which has Merlin Mann covering TextExpander.

    Merlin has also posted a new blog item about using TextExpander to help with Amazon associate information in Blogs.

    Be sure to check these links out and give TextExpander a try, if you are lucky enough to own a Mac that is!