All Entries in the "Productivity" Category
Appigo’s Todo updated to 5.0, now supports iCloud syncing
Appigo’s Todo (TMA Review), one of the more robust task managers on the App Store, has just been updated to 5.0 and now supports iCloud sync. Todo already syncs with a number of services, including Todo Online, Dropbox, iCal, Toodledo.com and others. But with the latest update, keeping your tasks synced across Todo apps on the iPhone, iPad and Mac just got a whole lot easier. On the iDevice, it’s a matter of going into Settings, Synchronization, Service and tapping on the iCloud button. Assuming you’re already on iOS 5 and signed in on your device, the app requires no other data input from your end. You don’t even have to press a sync button – it all happens in the background. The free Todo Lite for the iPhone was also updated to include support for the iCloud.
Appigo, Todo (TMA Review), – $4.99
Appigo, Todo for iPad, – $4.99
Appigo, Todo for Mac, – $29.99
Omnifocus now compatible with Siri after update
OmniFocus, the greatest Getting Things Done system ever created, was updated earlier today and the robust iPhone app now supports Siri, your favorite virtual assistant. Using something the Omni Group calls “iCloud Capture”, Omnifocus imports Reminder data from your iCloud account and into your Omnifocus inbox. It’s something of a workaround as the data isn’t transfered seamlessly (i.e in the background), and you’ll have to manually open the OF app before anything gets moved into your inbox. Still, it’s definitely a great start for iPhone 4S owners who rely heavily on the Omnifocus platform. More info after the gap, along with demo videos by David “MacSparky” Sparks showing you how this newly minted union all works.
The Omni Group, OmniFocus for iPhone, – $19.99
Agenda Calendar adds Themes, portrait view on iPad
Agenda Calendar, one of my favorite apps for quickly browsing calendar entries on the iPhone, now adds themes to its minimalist design (12 in total, some of which are inspired by several Apple related websites) and portrait view on the iPad with to its 2.3 update. These two additions address concerns that the black and white interface can get drab for some, and how on the iPad, users had no choice but to use the app in landscape view.
While Agenda Calendar falls behind in adding/editing events (it simply uses the iOS interface), the fact that you can easily swipe left/right to move between year, month, week, day, or event views is quite fantastic. And at its current $0.99 price, this universal app is worth investing in to replace the stock calendar app.
App Savvy, Agenda Calendar, 1.1 MB – $1.99
Astrid To-do makes it way onto iPhone and iPod Touch
Astrid To-Do, one of the most popular todo apps for Android with over 2.5 million users, has recently been released for the iPhone and iPod Touch. This multi-platform and FREE productivity app isn’t as comprehensive as say OmniFocus, but it does all you’d expect from a reminder and checklist tool. Aside from being able to create custom Lists, set Priorities and Due Dates for an event or task, Astrid’s most desirable feature is the ability to share todos with your friends and family via email, Facebook or Twitter. As such, co-workers or friends can rely on Astrid to collaborate on a project, or even something as simple as a shopping list. There’s even Voice Recognition that’ll turn your speech into tasks, so you won’t have to type out the text every single time. From my experience thus far, it’s fairly accurate and should work just fine for simple task entries. Astrid is definitely worth checking out, especially if you require a (social) task manager that also lets you easily share lists and todos with others.
Todoroo Inc., Astrid To-Do, – Free
Official Gmail app now available for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad
Google has finally released the native Gmail app for iOS. No longer will you have to rely on Apple’s own (limited) Mail app or Gmail on mobile Safari. Optimized for the iPhone and iPad, Gmail lets you do many things you’re already accustomed to on the desktop version of the email client. Here’s a partial list of features you can expect:
● Receive notification badges for new messages
● Read your mail with threaded conversations
● Organize your mail by archiving, labeling, starring, deleting, and reporting spam
● Keep track of important messages with priority inbox
● Auto-complete contact names as you type
● Send and receive attachments
● Search through all your mail
As I rely heavily on the Priority Inbox feature on my iMac browser, having it on a native app while on-the-go is fantastic. And the swipe right to view labels functionality ain’t too shabby either. Needless to say, this is a must-download for Gmail users.
Google, Gmail, – Free
Update: Shortly after the Gmail app went live, Google had pulled it from the App Store after discovering a notification breaking bug:
Update: 11/2/11: Earlier today we launched a new Gmail app for iOS. Unfortunately, it contained a bug which broke notifications and caused users to see an error message when first opening the app. We’ve removed the app while we correct the problem, and we’re working to bring you a new version soon. Everyone who’s already installed the app can continue to use it.
Manage your Time on the iPhone with Fathm
The iPhone is absolutely fantastic for the “getting things done” variety of apps. Some of the more popular ones include OmniFocus, Things (TMA Review) and Todo (TMA Review). But what if you simply want to keep track of your day-to-day routine and see what you’re spending your time on most by category? Fathm, a recently released app lets you do just that.
Time management made beautiful and completely personal
If you like to keep track of your daily life, meet a friend called Fathm. See where your time goes and budget to get more out of every day. With the cool interactive Daily Donut and Fragmentation charts you can see the breakdown for each day or a week at a time. Get a handle on your time and let Fathm open the window to a brighter tomorrow, day by day.
Aside from the well designed interface, interactive charts and daily timelines, Fathm is also free for its initial 30 days on the App Store. From what I’ve seen so far, it’s also one of the better time tracking/management tools for the iPhone. Check out the video demo after the gap.
Pajama Consulting, Fathm – Time Management, – Free
Adobe’s official ‘Adobe Reader’ app finds home on iOS
Adobe has finally released Adobe Reader for iOS, an app that has was first introduced to Android phones nearly a year and a half ago. But as the saying goes, better late than never. As the name suggests, it’s predominantly a PDF reader without all the thrills; you won’t have the boat load of features that’s found in other apps, namely Goodreader and PDF Expert (both of which I use extensively). What is unique to Adobe’s app is its ability to open and view password protected PDF files, access Adobe LiveCycle Rights Management files, as well as encrypted PDFs, up to AES256. If you are already using some of the more robust PDF readers/annotators out there, you’ll probably want to skip Adobe Reader, but for Free, it may still be worth checking out.
Adobe Systems Incorporated, Adobe Reader, – Free
Apollo Browser + IM updated with Chrome/Firefox sync and more
ApolloBrowser+IM, one of the more useful Safari alternatives on iOS, has now added Chrome and Firefox sync to its number of features. With the new sync abilities, you can leave your desktop and pickup where you left off on your iPhone/iPad – bookmarks, tabs and browser history will appear within Apollo. To enable sync though, you do have to carry out two steps beforehand: Install Firefox Sync and/or Chrome Sync apps on your iDevice, as well as the desktop extensions for Firefox and Chrome. All the data are stored using Google Docs, so your google password isn’t sent to or saved by the developer. Even if accessing your bookmarks and tabs aren’t essential on the go, Apollo does offer nifty features like video pop out (watch a video and continue visiting other webpages at the same time), two panel Google Reader functionality, tabbed browsing, adblock and of course, Facebook Chat. For the price of Free, Apollo is certainly worth checking out. Video demo of the app in action after the break.
Apollo, ApolloBrowser+IM, – Free
Get Free 50GB upgrade with Box.net’s iOS promotion
Hot off the heels of Apple’s iCloud launch, Box.net, a cloud storage service similar to the popular Dropbox, is now offering a lifetime upgrade of their free account from 5GB to a whopping 50GB for storing and sharing documents and files. To take advantage of this amazing promo, simply follow these steps:
- Visit the app store and download the app for your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch
- Log in to your account or register for a new one directly from the app
- Start sharing and collaborating in the cloud
- (optional but recommended) Tell the world how you’ll use your 50 GB with the hashtag #Box50GB
It normally costs $19.99/yr on Box.net to upgrade to 50GB usage, so needless to say, if you have lots of files you’d like to store in the cloud, this is one deal you don’t want to miss out on (offer ends Dec 2nd, 2012). Also of note, with the recent app update, you can now use AirPlay to stream photos, videos, presentations and more to an Apple TV.
Box.net, Inc., Box.net, – Free
GTD on the iPad: Next! receives 1.3 update
Next!, a gorgeous looking “getting things done” productivity app (aka GTD) for the iPad, has received some major enhancements thanks to the recent update. Users can now move between Action lists, projects and goals with a simple swipe on the screen. A handy new navigation wheel has also been implemented on the bottom right that mimics the gestures. One of the more appealing features of Next! is the ability to create links between multiple Actions, Projects, Goals, and References. You can even import an assortment of files (images, pdfs, word docs) and link them to individual events and items. So if you’re planning out all the actions for your school or work project, having all the reference materials right at your finger tips will (hopefully) make you much more productive. LefTurn Labs has also made available a pdf user guide that’ll give provide a more in-depth look at their app. Demo videos and more info right after the gap.
LefTurn Labs LLC, Next!, – $9.99
