Next Actions
Master List for September
By reader request, I’ve added a new report to the list: iPhone Presence, which reports one of three possible options—an application in the App Store, an iPhone (or mobile) version of a Web-application, or nothing. I’ll be working the kinks out of this for a couple of months, so any help you might have is appreciated.
ZenPages by Zenbe is a new addition to the general Web-based solutions below; while it’s not heavily GTD-oriented, it is worth a look for what it does do: it can serve as a project and task manager, calendar, global e-mail, global address book, and social network aggregator all in one. If this sounds like your kind of thing, you’ll want to check out ZenPages, as it is a well-done implementation of all of that.
As usual, I welcome any feedback on my list, or suggestions for additions. I won’t always add every suggestion, but I’ll look at them and evaluate whether they fit with what I’m trying to cover.
Locally Installed GTD Applications
Action Tracker
Developer: Mac Productive
Current Version: 1.3.1
Price: Free
Development Status: Release
iCal Sync: Yes
QuickSilver Plug-in: No
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: Yes
iPhone Presence: None
Required Applications: FileMaker Pro (free Runtime version available)
Distinguishing Features: Also organizes notes, contacts, and other information related to projects.
News: None
ActionTastic
Developer: Jon Crosby
Current Version: 0.9.3
Price: Free, open-source
Development Status: Beta
iCal Sync: Yes
QuickSilver Plug-in: Yes
Web-app Sync: Yes
Print Lists: Yes
iPhone Presence: None
Required Applications: None
Distinguishing Features: Processing engine; iPod sync; Mail and MailTags compatibility.
News: None
EasyTask Manager
Developer: Orionbelt.com
Current Version: 2.0
Price: $20
Development Status: Release
iCal Sync: Yes
QuickSilver Plug-in: Yes
Web-app Sync: Yes
Print Lists: Yes
iPhone Presence: App (free); Web App (free)
Required Applications: None
Distinguishing Features: Windows version available; automatic advance of uncompleted due tasks to today.
News: None
Frictionless
Developer: Twin Forces
Current Version: 2.0d18
Price: Free, open-source
Development Status: Release
iCal Sync: No
QuickSilver Plug-in: Yes
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: Yes
iPhone Presence: None
Required Applications: None
Distinguishing Features: Quick-entry box; fuzzy repeated actions.
News: None
Ghost Action
Developer: Ghost Park Software
Current Version: 1.1
Price: $20
Development Status: Release
iCal Sync: Yes
QuickSilver Plug-in: No
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: Yes
iPhone Presence: None
Required Applications: None
Distinguishing Features: .Mac syncing (without iCal running); PDA/iPod syncing.
News: None
iGTD
Developer: Bartek
Current Version: 1.4.5.6
Price: Free
Development Status: Release
iCal Sync: Yes
QuickSilver Plug-in: Yes
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: Yes
iPhone Presence: None
Required Applications: None
Distinguishing Features: Compatible with Address Book, Mail, iSync, and MailTags, as well as Web browser support, Path Finder, Yojimbo, MacJournal, and others; quick-entry feature; simple yet powerful interface.
News: None
iCog
Developer: HensPace
Current Version: 1.88
Price: Free
Development Status: Release
iCal Sync: No
QuickSilver Plug-in: No
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: Yes
iPhone Presence: None
Required Applications: Python 2.4 or later
Distinguishing Features: Compatible with any OS running Python (including Windows); very simple text-only utility.
News: None
mGTD
Developer: Apokalypse Software Corp.
Current Version: 1.2
Price: Free
Development Status: Pre-final
iCal Sync: No
QuickSilver Plug-in: No
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: Yes
iPhone Presence: None
Required Applications: Mori 1.4
Distinguishing Features: Expands Mori (digital notebook) functions to include GTD principles.
News: None
Midnight Inbox
Developer: Midnight Beep Softworks
Current Version: 1.3.1
Price: $35
Development Status: Release
iCal Sync: Yes
QuickSilver Plug-in: No
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: Yes
iPhone Presence: None
Required Applications: None
Distinguishing Features: Action timer; quick-note and quick-action hot keys; Mail compatible; automatic data collection.
News: Developer has suggested that version 2.0 will be released in August, so it may already be in-hand by press.
OmniFocus
Developer: Omni Group
Current Version: 1.0.3
Price: $80
Development Status: Release
iCal Sync: Yes
QuickSilver Plug-in: Yes
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: Yes
iPhone Presence: App ($20)
Required Applications: None
Distinguishing Features: Mail- and Spotlight-compatible; simple interface with powerful view features.
News: Development continues on version 1.1, which is the only iPhone-sync-compatible version and is still in alpha/beta.
Ready, Set, Do!
Developer: Todd Vasquez
Current Version: 1.3
Price: $20
Development Status: Release
iCal Sync: Yes
QuickSilver Plug-in: Yes
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: Yes
iPhone Presence: None
Required Applications: None
Distinguishing Features: A very different approach using a set of AppleScript routines to impose organization and communication across a computer’s entire file system; multiple language support.
News: None
TaskPaper
Developer: Hog Bay Software
Current Version: 1.0.3 (26)
Price: $19
Development Status: Release
iCal Sync: No
QuickSilver Plug-in: No
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: Yes
iPhone Presence: None
Required Applications: None
Distinguishing Features: Simple, text-based system; no-frills, intentionally designed as an alternative to more fully featured systems.
News: None
Things
Developer: Cultured Code
Current Version: 0.9.4
Price: $50 (pre-release price of $40 with sign-up for newsletter)
Development Status: Alpha
iCal Sync: Yes
QuickSilver Plug-in: No
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: Yes
iPhone Presence: App ($10)
Required Applications: None
Distinguishing Features: Features will include: iCal sync; repeating tasks; Mail compatibility; network and multi-computer operation; and import/export options.
News: Release of version 0.9.4 (and version 1.1 of the iPhone app) brought syncing between the two, as well as additional features for the desktop version.
Thinking Rock
Developer: Avente Pty Ltd
Current Version: 2.0.1
Price: Free, open-source
Development Status: Release
iCal Sync: No
QuickSilver Plug-in: No
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: Yes
iPhone Presence: None
Required Applications: None
Distinguishing Features: Cross-platform compatibility through Java; interactive collection and processing.
News: None.
What To Do
Developer: Objective Satisfaction
Current Version: 1.3.2
Price: $29
Development Status: Release
iCal Sync: No
QuickSilver Plug-in: Yes
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: Yes
iPhone Presence: None
Required Applications: None
Distinguishing Features: Drag-and-drop intensive for easy reorganization; .Mac syncing for multiple computers; XML export.
News: None
Locally Installed General Task Managers
Anxiety
Developer: Tom Stoelwinder, Model Concept
Current Version: 1.0
Price: Free/Donationware
Development Status: Release
iCal Sync: Yes
QuickSilver Plug-in: No
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: Yes (through iCal)
iPhone Presence: None
Distinguishing Features: A menu-bar utility that gives a HUD-like interface to iCal tasks; sorts by calendar; Mac OS X 10.5 only.
News: None
Check Off
Developer: Second Gear
Current Version: 3.8
Price: Free/Donationware
Development Status: Release
iCal Sync: No
QuickSilver Plug-in: No
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: Yes
iPhone Presence: None
Distinguishing Features: A menu-bar utility that manages basic task lists; syncs with iPods; a .Mac Backup QuickPick is provided.
News: Version 4 discussion has begun in the user forums.
Dejumble
Developer: Thinking Code Software, Inc.
Current Version: 1.2.b1
Price: $19
Development Status: Release
iCal Sync: Yes
QuickSilver Plug-in: No
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: Yes (through iCal)
iPhone Presence: App ($8)
Distinguishing Features: A simple yet powerful menu-bar style task list manager, with tags, groups, notes, and a handful of other options.
News: None
Docket
Developer: Surprise Software
Current Version: 1.3
Price: $20
Development Status: Release
iCal Sync: No
QuickSilver Plug-in: No
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: Yes
iPhone Presence: None
Distinguishing Features: A neat basic list management application. A Windows version is also available.
News: None
DoIt
Developer: Jim McGowan
Current Version: 2.6
Price: Donationware
Development Status: Release
iCal Sync: Yes
QuickSilver Plug-in: Yes
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: No
iPhone Presence: None
Distinguishing Features: .Mac support and AppleScriptability. Also supports file attachments and categories for lists.
News: None
High Priority
Developer: Aram Kudurshian
Current Version: 1.11 (Mac OS X 10.4 only)
Price: $6 (personal); $12 (family); $60 (business)
Development Status: Release
iCal Sync: Yes
QuickSilver Plug-in: No
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: Yes (through iCal)
iPhone Presence: None
Distinguishing Features: A system preference pane, creates a menu in the menu bar that lets you create and update your iCal tasks.
News: None
Hot Plan
Developer: Intuiware
Current Version: 1.4.1
Price: $20
Development Status: Release
iCal Sync: No
QuickSilver Plug-in: No
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: No
iPhone Presence: None
Distinguishing Features: Tracks a substantial amount of information about a given task, including completion status, priority, time remaining; supports tagging, color-coding, and locking of tasks. Also allows collection of URLs and files.
News: None
iClock
Developer: Script Software
Current Version: 3.0.5
Price: $20
Development Status: Release
iCal Sync: Yes
QuickSilver Plug-in: No
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: No
Distinguishing Features: Offers a menu bar–based method of managing task lists; includes .Mac syncing.
News: None
Life Balance
Developer: Llamagraphics
Current Version: 4.0.5
Price: $65 ($80 bundled with Palm version)
Development Status: Release
iCal Sync: Yes
QuickSilver Plug-in: No
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: Yes (through iCal)
Distinguishing Features: Gives “meta-feedback” about tasks: how much time are you spending in different areas of your life (i.e., work, family, hobbies, etc.), and are you keeping it balanced? Palm and Windows versions available.
News: None
MultitaskingAssistant
Developer: Green Cog Software
Current Version: 1.0.3
Price: Donationware
Development Status: Release
iCal Sync: No
QuickSilver Plug-in: No
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: No
iPhone Presence: None
Distinguishing Features: Perhaps especially helpful for repetitive and redundant tasks.
News: None
Stapler
Developer: The Blue Technologies Group
Current Version: 1.1
Price: €7.50 (about $10)
Development Status: Release
iCal Sync: No
QuickSilver Plug-in: No
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: Yes
iPhone Presence: None
Distinguishing Features: Is a combination notepad and to-do list manager, with creation date, notes, and a check-box for completed items. Tasks can be color-coded based on a low-level preference set-up.
News: None
ToDo X
Developer: Omicron Software Systems, Inc.
Current Version: 2.2
Price: $15
Development Status: Release
iCal Sync: Import from iCal only
QuickSilver Plug-in: No
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: No
iPhone Presence: None
Distinguishing Features: Offers categories, priorities, and attached notes.
News: None
ZooDo
Developer: InterfaceThis
Current Version: 1.0
Price: Free
Development Status: Release
iCal Sync: Yes
QuickSilver Plug-in: No
Web-app Sync: No
Print Lists: Yes (through iCal)
iPhone Presence: None
Distinguishing Features: A basic task creator for iCal, serving as a collection bucket.
News: None
Browser and Web-based GTD Applications
30 Boxes
Price: Free
Description: Lean and fast, including a calendar, task list, and limited Gmail interaction. Also RSS and iCal feeds, SMS, and sharing. Nice interface, too.
43 Actions
Price: Free (donations get extra features)
Description: Specifically designed as an iPhone web-app, it’s light and lean for EDGE network optimization. Submit inbox items via e-mail, Twitter (with donation), Jott (with donation), and the usual features.
GTDAgenda
Price: Free
Description: Another Web version of a GTD tool, with the standard features, plus addition of Goals, check-lists for recurring tasks, schedule management, and an iCal-compatible calendar. A mobile version is also available.
GTDInbox
Price: Free
Description: A Firefox extension for GTD integration with Gmail. Prepackaged labels, a Review process, specialized searches within Gmail, quick-entry for tasks, and printable. Works well in conjunction with RememberTheMilk. Current version, 2.0.8.4, is open-source; requires Firefox.
GTD-PHP
Price: Free
Description: A PHP solution designed to be locally installed. A simple tabbed interface, capture, and process stages; weekly review. Currently at version 0.8.
Neptune
Price: $10/year
Description: Includes a collection inbox and context or project task viewing panes, as well as inactive projects and tasks. Daily e-mail reminders of tasks; new tasks can be added by e-mail; data export.
Next Action
Price: Free
Description: Uses Google Gears and Firefox; has a lean, basic interface with multiple-list management capability. Works with or without a network connection.
Nexty
Price: Free
Description: PHP-based, so it installs locally and runs in your browser; supports contexts and reminders.
Nozbe
Price: Free
Description: Has markers for which action will be next and a time estimation for tasks. Contexts are visible and identifiable. And it is easy to collect and process quickly. iPhone-ready.
SimpleGTD
Price: Free
Description: Tabs for next actions, contexts, projects, and done actions; drag-and-drop organization; easy un-doing of tasks.
Toodledo
Price: Free
Description: Has a Firefox plugin and a Google gadget for easy collection; also supports e-mail, voice mail, and traditional entry for collection. Includes a good overview of GTD in co-operation with its tools, as well. iPhone-optimized.
Tracks
Price: Free
Description: A Web server that runs locally, or hosted through tracks.tra.in. Fast, lean, and pretty, it offers calendaring and a multi-user component. Currently at version 1.6.
Vitalist
Price: $5/month (premium)
Description: Is a wide-scale GTD system: collection, project management, recurring actions, and tickler files. Includes a mobile edition, iCal and RSS feeds, and e-mail and SMS reminders. An iPhone-specific version is available. A premium (paid) version also includes security encryption, collaboration, file attachments, and calendaring.
Also in This Series
- The Last Action · May 2012
- Master List, April 2011 · April 2011
- GTD for iOS/iPad · February 2011
- E-mail Tricks and Tools · August 2010
- Master List, May 2010 · May 2010
- Inbox Overload · April 2010
- Master List, February 2010 · February 2010
- Getting Back on the GTD Wagon · December 2009
- Master List, June 2009 · June 2009
- Complete Archive
Reader Comments (2)
The combination of ToDo.app (iPhone) + ToodleDo is much more valuable than either alone. So maybe you need a new category of combination services?
HiveMinder is a GREAT web-based app. We are using it for managing delegated tasks amongst remote staff.
It has a flexible API, with IM, email, and even Twitter-based interfaces.
Would be cool if someone cobbled up a local client for it, so task reviews could be accomplished offline.
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