The Things iPhone and Desktop ecosystem (Giving away 2 copies)

by Milind Alvares
Wednesday March 11, 2009

The Things iPhone and Desktop ecosystem (Giving away 2 copies)

by Milind Alvares on March 11, 2009

things-mac We’ve talked about Things extensively on Smoking Apples. This getting-things-done app has been refined to the point that it is perfect. Well, it’s still not perfect, but it’s certainly worth your time and effort. Check out our Things coverage below or scroll down to see how you can win yourself a copy of the Things desktop and iPhone package!

Things for Desktop

Things desktop review

It’s been like what, a little over a year now? From the day Things was released for public consumption as a beta, I’ve been hooked. Cultured Code set out to make a getting things done platform that actually gets you. A year later, I think they did. Read on for what might be less of a review, and more of an encomium. [Read Review]

Things for iPhone

Originally published in the Smoking Apples Magazine Issue 3. Free direct download.

The iPhone version of Things is a perfect complement to the desktop one. Although both workspaces are totally different, with a different user interface, they both feel like they are part of one another.

Standalone
things-touch-screenshot-01 As a standalone task manager, Things for iPhone lets you add tasks, move them around, and basically do pretty much what the desktop version can do (with some limitations of course).

The beauty of the UI is the + button at the bottom left. It is always there, so no matter what, you can add a new task. The button will by default create a new task in your Inbox, but if you’re already in a project, it will default to that instead.

You can also batch-move items to another location, which is handy for organising your events from your inbox to projects. Things also carries the concepts of Somday and Scheduled over to the iPhone.

Syncing
The main feature of Things for iPhone is the seamless sync. As long as both, the iPhone and Desktop version of Things are on the same wifi network, it will initiate a sync. The sync usually happens at launch, but it also periodically syncs as long as both apps are open.

Shortcomings
While Cultured Code has been working hard on bringing the desktop features of Things to the iPhone, it still misses out on some. For once, Areas is totally absent from the features list. That is the main feature of the desktop version that I use and not having it on the iPhone is a bummer. However, the Next view will show events from any of your Areas that have synced over, so that’s a sort of temporary workaround.

Another feature I ind missing is the search feature, or narrowing down by tags. With version 1.3 Things for iPhone supports tags, but they are basically useless for a iPhone-only usage.

VFM?
All in all though, Things for the iPhone is a solid GTD extension, and a must-have if you have the desktop version of Things. The iPhone version sells for $9.99 and is totally worth it.

Things Desktop Screencast

Things Screencast review
Take a look at how I use Things to manage the behind the scenes of Smoking Apples. [Screencast]

Giveaway

This time, we’re giving away two ‘Things packages’. You get the desktop version and the iPhone version (US iTunes accounts only) for a complete GTD experience. Our thanks to Cultured Code for this amazing offer.

All you have to do, is let us know why your tasks are the most important and are deserving for this license. Winners will be drawn randomly, but only of deserving relevant comments.

Gather round folks. Dr. Whites graced the occasion and hand picked the winners for the giveaway. Winner number 1 was Kevin for his comment. Winner number 2 was drawn randomly, aggregating all comments and tweets about this giveaway. Lucky enough, it was a tweet by “Chris F” that got through, and a last minute one at that. Congrats winners, and thanks to everyone for participating.

Tagged as: getting things done, giveaway, iPhone, mac, Reviews, things

Reader Comments

GTD on your Mac Part 1: Things and The Hit List | Smoking Apples: June 2, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Apple Design Awards Winners Announced | Smoking Apples: June 10, 2009 at 5:46 pm

Reader Comments

← Previous Comments

Donv March 15, 2009 at 6:38 pm: I have no important things to do, have lots of cash to afford a license, and would probably be a waste if I win. Doesn’t mean I don’t want to!
Tony P March 17, 2009 at 3:47 am commitmenttoliving.com: 1. @Work: my tasks revolve around preventing suicide.
2. @Home: my tasks revolve around loving my wife, and three children, including one with disabilities.
3. @Ministry: my tasks revolve around strengthening the ministry to children at our church.

Tony
Chris F. March 19, 2009 at 3:57 am: Tasks are what keeps me focused and are a HUGE part of my day. I tried things in the past and LOVED IT, but the price tag made it expendable. I use Google tasks because it has an iphone interface and you can use it with Gmail. Just not as full-featured as I would like, though free. I would be immensely grateful for a license!
ahjo March 19, 2009 at 4:01 am wiredot: I tried few software similar to Things, but none of them seemed to be as good as Things. I need to survive at my new @work, remember about all duties in @home so my wife can be happy! and my iPhone would like to get a new great app!
Brad Heintz March 19, 2009 at 4:03 am bradheintz.com: My tasks are the most deserving because there are so many of them, and if you do not recognize them, they will overrun you as they have me.
Susie L March 19, 2009 at 4:05 am twitter.com/susielin: 1. Currently working a few different part-time jobs and having to keep track of each one has become very challenging! Different deadlines constantly gives me a headache. Scheduling conference calls and remembering them.

2. Keeping track of bills and payments. Learning how to pay attention to my finances after graduating from college.

3. Organizing personal photography projects and reminders for possibly themes to look into.

Aloha,
Susie
Oren M March 19, 2009 at 4:14 am the_red: Well, I really need this pair of utilities that compliment each other.

Got a demanding job here in Japan that I do all by myself, recently got my first baby boy, got loads of tasks and on top of that i am not the most organized person in the world.

though, the above will be only 5% of the use I plan for those utilities… the remaining 95% is going to be the THINGS my better half want/need me to do And for that I need the project feature!
Milind Alvares March 19, 2009 at 4:19 am goobimama.blogspot.com: Winners announced, Kevin and Chris F. Details at the bottom of the post.

Thanks everyone for commenting. Feeling bad that so many of you didn’t get the license. Kya karey (what to do), we only had two of them.
Jennifer June 10, 2009 at 8:24 pm twitter.com/JenniferLockett: I work for a fast-paced, summer educational program - there is a lot to get done and rarely enough time in which to complete it. It’s the most ‘multi-tasking’ job that I have ever had - there are always 10-15 simultaneous projects with various due-dates and multiple levels of importance. Normally, I have multiple ‘to-do’ list scattered all over - on my notebook, in an open MS Word document, using my calendar, etc - it all gets cluttered and something inevitably gets done. Additionally, at the end of the summer, I have to write a ‘site report’ - essentially a journal of everything that has happened all summer, how it was handled (including when), and things that could be done better. I foresee using things on my iPhone and desktop to organize all of my projects (both long and short-term) and then using the log feature in order to write my end of summer report.