Comments on: Ethan Schoonover’s OmniFocus overview video http://blog.omnigroup.com/2007/04/30/ethan-schoonovers-omnifocus-overview-video/ The Omni Mouth: standing outside your bedroom window playing \"In Your Eyes\" since 2006. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 05:53:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: My Get Things Done List » Blog Archive » OmniFocus video and feature presentations [eDragonu - the choice of a personal path] http://blog.omnigroup.com/2007/04/30/ethan-schoonovers-omnifocus-overview-video/#comment-63160 My Get Things Done List » Blog Archive » OmniFocus video and feature presentations [eDragonu - the choice of a personal path] Sun, 26 Aug 2007 04:02:45 +0000 http://blog.omnigroup.com/2007/04/30/ethan-schoonovers-omnifocus-overview-video/#comment-63160 [...] One other interesting news, this time from Omni blog, is that we can expect a first beta in no more than a couple of weeks, and that most of the efforts has been geared towards a standard file format that will be compatbile with future versions. This is something that I lilke. [...] [...] One other interesting news, this time from Omni blog, is that we can expect a first beta in no more than a couple of weeks, and that most of the efforts has been geared towards a standard file format that will be compatbile with future versions. This is something that I lilke. [...]

]]> By: ajea http://blog.omnigroup.com/2007/04/30/ethan-schoonovers-omnifocus-overview-video/#comment-59826 ajea Wed, 16 May 2007 17:56:39 +0000 http://blog.omnigroup.com/2007/04/30/ethan-schoonovers-omnifocus-overview-video/#comment-59826 Didn't see ANYTHING about retaining a record or archive about work done or accomplished. Dont need to keep records of buying cheese or eggs :-) but some projects far more important and having to resort to yet another project to keep track of work accomplished or completed would be disheartening to say the least. Didn’t see ANYTHING about retaining a record or archive about work done or accomplished. Dont need to keep records of buying cheese or eggs :-) but some projects far more important and having to resort to yet another project to keep track of work accomplished or completed would be disheartening to say the least.

]]> By: Microsoft and the mask of transparency ¶ Articles ¶ Richard Flynn http://blog.omnigroup.com/2007/04/30/ethan-schoonovers-omnifocus-overview-video/#comment-59477 Microsoft and the mask of transparency ¶ Articles ¶ Richard Flynn Sun, 13 May 2007 23:21:02 +0000 http://blog.omnigroup.com/2007/04/30/ethan-schoonovers-omnifocus-overview-video/#comment-59477 [...] Ten days later, they published a video ’screencast’ of the pre-release application with a commentary talking us through the features and workflow. 9 Perhaps more to the point, though, is the fact that hundreds of comments were being left on each blog post, and the software developers were responding effectively to the questions that were being asked about the new application. [...] [...] Ten days later, they published a video ’screencast’ of the pre-release application with a commentary talking us through the features and workflow. 9 Perhaps more to the point, though, is the fact that hundreds of comments were being left on each blog post, and the software developers were responding effectively to the questions that were being asked about the new application. [...]

]]> By: Bruce Corkern http://blog.omnigroup.com/2007/04/30/ethan-schoonovers-omnifocus-overview-video/#comment-58951 Bruce Corkern Fri, 11 May 2007 23:07:45 +0000 http://blog.omnigroup.com/2007/04/30/ethan-schoonovers-omnifocus-overview-video/#comment-58951 One suggestion that I make to all GTD software designers is to allow multiple contexts. Nested is another way, but doesn't quite have the flexibility. For instance, if I have a bill to pay (which I pay online), I can do it @lunch or @home. Using a context such as @online is nonsense as almost all tasks would end up there and it doesn't describe the scenario - I am online during working hours, but would never pay bills. If I mark that task with tags @lunch @home, I see it in both contexts in Mori. But I can't nest those contexts and make it work. That's just one example. Another would be "write memo regarding project goals". I might write that @office or @home, but I couldn't nest those contexts. My 2 cents, free of charge and worth what you paid.. One suggestion that I make to all GTD software designers is to allow multiple contexts. Nested is another way, but doesn’t quite have the flexibility. For instance, if I have a bill to pay (which I pay online), I can do it @lunch or @home. Using a context such as @online is nonsense as almost all tasks would end up there and it doesn’t describe the scenario - I am online during working hours, but would never pay bills. If I mark that task with tags @lunch @home, I see it in both contexts in Mori. But I can’t nest those contexts and make it work.

That’s just one example. Another would be “write memo regarding project goals”. I might write that @office or @home, but I couldn’t nest those contexts.

My 2 cents, free of charge and worth what you paid..

]]> By: a11en http://blog.omnigroup.com/2007/04/30/ethan-schoonovers-omnifocus-overview-video/#comment-58930 a11en Fri, 11 May 2007 21:58:26 +0000 http://blog.omnigroup.com/2007/04/30/ethan-schoonovers-omnifocus-overview-video/#comment-58930 I'm thinking Gantt charts that show progress on something with version numbers along the bar (v.0.1a --- v.0.2b---) etc. Mixing these things might be really really intriguing. Especially the back and forth in goal creation that may be possible between worker and manager... Ok, I'll stop posting in my excitement here... ;) -Allen I’m thinking Gantt charts that show progress on something with version numbers along the bar (v.0.1a — v.0.2b—) etc. Mixing these things might be really really intriguing.

Especially the back and forth in goal creation that may be possible between worker and manager…

Ok, I’ll stop posting in my excitement here… ;)
-Allen

]]> By: a11en http://blog.omnigroup.com/2007/04/30/ethan-schoonovers-omnifocus-overview-video/#comment-58926 a11en Fri, 11 May 2007 21:49:47 +0000 http://blog.omnigroup.com/2007/04/30/ethan-schoonovers-omnifocus-overview-video/#comment-58926 Very cool demo, guys! A quick couple comments for you- 1) if you are able to seriously limit your work-flow to areas (i.e., go into the folders and only work on "work" eg), you need pretty serious visual queues that you're not seeing your "whole world" of tasks. It looked very minor with the folder-change in the window-bar. 2) that concept of areas of focus, is very similar to Stephen Covey's life "roles" quite nice. 3) I'm starting to think you guys should consider a versioning server... a public and private side of this app. I.e., if you can link with Omni-plan, you could link and publish goals etc., for the omni-plan project sub-goals (waiting fors)- a versioning system would allow the "publically viewed goals" and links with omniplan to be altered and agreed upon between manager and worker together.. in fact, goal-reviews could be done within this versioning system as well. [likely you could wrapper subversion or cvs for this] Add to this the concept of a document area (subversion or cvs could handle this as well), and now you have a collaborative planning and project tool that may be a good bit better than subversion or CVS alone. It could even be worked into performance reviews etc., in terms of public goal accomplishments etc. Very interesting stuff, guys! Love the new-app. Hope that we can see a beta or even an alpha very very soon. I for one would adopt it in my work-flow now as a beta-tester. Cheers! -Allen Very cool demo, guys! A quick couple comments for you-

1) if you are able to seriously limit your work-flow to areas (i.e., go into the folders and only work on “work” eg), you need pretty serious visual queues that you’re not seeing your “whole world” of tasks. It looked very minor with the folder-change in the window-bar.

2) that concept of areas of focus, is very similar to Stephen Covey’s life “roles” quite nice.

3) I’m starting to think you guys should consider a versioning server… a public and private side of this app. I.e., if you can link with Omni-plan, you could link and publish goals etc., for the omni-plan project sub-goals (waiting fors)- a versioning system would allow the “publically viewed goals” and links with omniplan to be altered and agreed upon between manager and worker together.. in fact, goal-reviews could be done within this versioning system as well. [likely you could wrapper subversion or cvs for this] Add to this the concept of a document area (subversion or cvs could handle this as well), and now you have a collaborative planning and project tool that may be a good bit better than subversion or CVS alone. It could even be worked into performance reviews etc., in terms of public goal accomplishments etc.

Very interesting stuff, guys! Love the new-app. Hope that we can see a beta or even an alpha very very soon. I for one would adopt it in my work-flow now as a beta-tester.

Cheers!
-Allen

]]> By: Jonathan http://blog.omnigroup.com/2007/04/30/ethan-schoonovers-omnifocus-overview-video/#comment-58406 Jonathan Thu, 10 May 2007 08:54:29 +0000 http://blog.omnigroup.com/2007/04/30/ethan-schoonovers-omnifocus-overview-video/#comment-58406 I find myself actually slacking on my normal GTD program (using kGtd) because I'm waiting for Omnifocus.. I know I'm not alone... Can't wait for that beta! I find myself actually slacking on my normal GTD program (using kGtd) because I’m waiting for Omnifocus.. I know I’m not alone…

Can’t wait for that beta!

]]> By: Peter Merel http://blog.omnigroup.com/2007/04/30/ethan-schoonovers-omnifocus-overview-video/#comment-58327 Peter Merel Thu, 10 May 2007 04:30:49 +0000 http://blog.omnigroup.com/2007/04/30/ethan-schoonovers-omnifocus-overview-video/#comment-58327 I like the interface but I am presently utterly wedded to the "High Priority" menubar control. High Priority has everything I could possibly want in gtd *EXCEPT* projects. I'd like either a menubar control equivalent to "High Priority", or at least an ability to sync with iCal Calendar ToDos so I can continue to use High Priority as I do now. An ability to colour contexts is very important to me too. I know it seems silly, but the ability to see context at a glance is very powerful. Thanks for the excellent work! I like the interface but I am presently utterly wedded to the “High Priority” menubar control. High Priority has everything I could possibly want in gtd *EXCEPT* projects.

I’d like either a menubar control equivalent to “High Priority”, or at least an ability to sync with iCal Calendar ToDos so I can continue to use High Priority as I do now.

An ability to colour contexts is very important to me too. I know it seems silly, but the ability to see context at a glance is very powerful.

Thanks for the excellent work!

]]> By: Al http://blog.omnigroup.com/2007/04/30/ethan-schoonovers-omnifocus-overview-video/#comment-57561 Al Mon, 07 May 2007 21:45:40 +0000 http://blog.omnigroup.com/2007/04/30/ethan-schoonovers-omnifocus-overview-video/#comment-57561 Looks good - looking forward to hearing of more progress. Some points spring to mind though: Chris is totally correct IMHO - in a canonical GTD implementation you need to be able to have tasks not associated with projects. Is the "on hold" function intended to be @waiting for, or is it Someday/Maybe? I'm not sure how useful the idea of one task in a parallel project being designated as the next action is. Surely in a parallel project, all the actions are next actions and should be highlighted as such? I would have thought that if they have to be done in a specific order then some of them aren't really next actions and the project should be a sequential one (or a mixed parallel/sequential one). I think a Mail.app-style count of number of projects, tasks per context etc. would be useful. Roll on the beta. :) Looks good - looking forward to hearing of more progress. Some points spring to mind though:

Chris is totally correct IMHO - in a canonical GTD implementation you need to be able to have tasks not associated with projects.
Is the “on hold” function intended to be @waiting for, or is it Someday/Maybe?
I’m not sure how useful the idea of one task in a parallel project being designated as the next action is. Surely in a parallel project, all the actions are next actions and should be highlighted as such? I would have thought that if they have to be done in a specific order then some of them aren’t really next actions and the project should be a sequential one (or a mixed parallel/sequential one).
I think a Mail.app-style count of number of projects, tasks per context etc. would be useful.

Roll on the beta. :)

]]> By: Russell http://blog.omnigroup.com/2007/04/30/ethan-schoonovers-omnifocus-overview-video/#comment-57362 Russell Mon, 07 May 2007 04:02:38 +0000 http://blog.omnigroup.com/2007/04/30/ethan-schoonovers-omnifocus-overview-video/#comment-57362 One thing I thought about watching the screencast, which was great btw, how about a task count out to the side of the project or context like Apple's Mail folders? I just think that could be helpful in some instances. This may clutter the interface and be useless, I'm not sure, so maybe the option in preferences is enough for those who do and don't want it. Otherwise though, great stuff! Looking forward to it! One thing I thought about watching the screencast, which was great btw, how about a task count out to the side of the project or context like Apple’s Mail folders?

I just think that could be helpful in some instances. This may clutter the interface and be useless, I’m not sure, so maybe the option in preferences is enough for those who do and don’t want it.

Otherwise though, great stuff!
Looking forward to it!

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