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Someone else’s OmniFocus 2 for Mac review

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There is definitely an irony to how I keep not getting around to writing a review of OmniFocus, the software that keeps me on track with everything I have or want to do. I think it’s because the software is so important to me that I want to do it justice. Anyway, here’s a review from someone who wasn’t an existing user of the earlier version, isn’t that fussed about any To Do managers, and says up front that they came to OmniFocus as a skeptic.

Spoiler alert: they like it now.

I don’t agree with how it argues the iPhone version is too expensive, though, and they are mistaken about the iPad one:

This brings us to our one main criticism, though: Omni Group have chosen to make the iPhone (and forthcoming iPad) version of Omnifocus equal to the Mac version in virtually all respects, thus allowing mobile-centric users to buy and use just the mobile version alone if they choose. While we applaud this, it also means that Mac users who have paid $40 for the regular desktop version ($80 for the Pro version) will have to pay an additional $20 for the iPhone version, essentially just for syncing and quick-entry or editing in the case of some users. The company may want to consider also creating a more lightweight free or low-cost “companion version” for those who primarily use the Mac version and just want some basic on-the-go functions.

Hands on: Omnifocus 2 for Mac – MacNN (22 June 2014)

The iPad mistake first: there already is one and has been for some time. Their confusion is that it is on its first version and a second is currently being developed. Last September we got OmniFocus 2 for iPhone, now we have OmniFocus 2 for Mac, at some point soon we’ll have OmniFocus 2 for iPad.

It’s an interesting little dilemma for me as someone who recommends this software a lot. Rewind a beat to before the 2 versions began coming out: it was very easy to say you should buy the iPad edition. That was easily the best with a mix of OmniFocus’s powerful features and a particularly easy design. OmniFocus for iPhone was fine but you would struggle to use it without one of the other versions in your life. And OmniFocus 1 for Mac was this bionic behemoth that had more power than you’d need to crack a concrete slab but was extremely hard to use.

Now OmniFocus 2 for Mac is the easiest to use and, I think, the best version. I like the iPad one but it’s weird how old it seems compared to the new design. And where I used to always turn to my iPad when I was doing a lot of OmniFocus work like the recommended regular reviews, now I tend to save that up until I’m at my Mac.

Nonetheless, you can do everything most users would use most often usefully on the iPad version. If it weren’t that we know for certain that – and don’t know at all when – there will be an OmniFocus 2 for iPad, I would say the iPad is still the one to get when you can only get one. It’s portable, powerful and easy to use. OmniFocus 2 for iPhone is much improved on its previous version – I liked the previous version a lot, I just like this one more – but I still believe the iPhone version needs one of the others.

MacNN thinks this more strongly than I do. Its argument is that you shouldn’t have to pay so much for an iPhone OmniFocus app if you’re only going to use it to add the odd task in during the day. I’d say that’s fair enough, but there are other ways to add tasks. If you don’t have OmniFocus for iPhone, just email a task into OmniFocus. I do this a lot wherever I am because so much of my work comes through email. It’s just tap, forward, send, gone into my To Do list.

So I don’t agree that one has to use OmniFocus 2 for iPhone. But I suspect you will. I’m not certain now how I got into this but I’m pretty sure I bought the iPhone one first and tried to last with that for a while, tried to get used to it and to test it out. But caved within a day or two and bought the iPad one. Then, inexorably, I bought the Mac one.

That was all version 1 of the software and if you’re wondering, yes, I did. I bought version 2. Both OmniFocus 2 for iPhone, on the day it was released, and OmniFocus 2 for Mac, on the day it was released. Individually they are more expensive than many To Do applications and jointly they are a punch to the bank account – but only if they aren’t right for you. If they are, they are worth the cost and then some.

Wait, this is turning into my own review. I should really get on that.

Sushi is a McGuffin in this theory of life

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But it’s an interesting one. Really this is about discipline and patience but Creativity Post sums up a theory of living well and productively under the catch-all heading of Seven Life Lessons from Making Sushi.

It begins:

To get a seat you must make a reservation months in advance. The courses are carefully planned and the creation and serving of the meal is a multi-course symphony of sushi that some guests have even described as “stressful” yet an experience like no other. Jiro himself serves each course to his guests and carefully examines their faces as they taste his elegant works of edible art. What follows is the wisdom distilled from the great sushi chef on how to master your craft.

1. Learn from the best. Sometimes you must learn to fail before you learn to succeed. Yamamoto, a renowned Japanese food writer, says: “When you work for Jiro, he teaches you for free. But, you have to endure ten years of training. If you persevere for ten years you will acquire the skills to be recognized as a first-rate chef.”

In Jiro’s restaurant, many apprentices do not make it to the next level. Yet there are those who persevere. For example, one of the apprentice sushi chefs tried over 400 times to make egg sushi that met Jiro’s standards of being worthy to be served. When he finally received Jiro’s approval, he was overwhelmed with joy and cried.

Take away lesson: Only when you understand what it feels like to fail and try again will you be able to cherish the moment when you achieve success.

Dr Jonathan Wai, The Creativity Post (20 June 2014)

Not the takeaway I’m thinking of now. But despite my rumbling stomach, let’s both read on for the other six lessons.

I am fabulous and you love me

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Oh, stop looking like that. Give me this one, would you?

You’ve heard this idea that looking yourself in the mirror and saying “I’m a tiger!” will turn you into a salesperson. I can barely write about this stuff without feeling itchily sarcastic, so I liked this paragraph on Lifehacker:

Some people have a level of success using self-affirmation mantras like “I’m great and people like me.” Others find them trite and unhelpful. The distinction may boil down to self-esteem and, more importantly, how much self-affirmation causes conflicting internal thoughts.

Positive Self-Affirmation May Backfire on People with Low Self-Esteem – Eric Ravenscraft, Lifehacker (20 June 2014)

I’m listening. Tell me more.

A study conducted at the University of Waterloo found that repeating self-affirmation statements like “I’m a loveable person” boosted self-esteem in some subjects. However, in subjects with already low self-esteem, they found that repeating the mantra only made the situation worse. They theorize that this is because the conflict between self-perception and the statements themselves caused more stress, leading the subject to feel worse.

Read the full article.

No Eureka moments

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Remember how Wuthering Heights has this weird structure where it’s really a story told to someone who tells it to someone who tells us? (I may have lost track there.) Here’s a story where I’m telling you something Time magazine says author Keith Sawyer recounts the story of researcher Vera John-Steiner who talked to creative geniuses.

She asked ’em “What nourishes sustained productivity in the lives of creative individuals?“ and she expected some bits about eurekas. Instead:

Creativity started with the notebooks’ sketches and jottings, and only later resulted in a pure, powerful idea. The one characteristic that all of these creatives shared— whether they were painters, actors, or scientists— was how often they put their early thoughts and inklings out into the world, in sketches, dashed-off phrases and observations, bits of dialogue, and quick prototypes. Instead of arriving in one giant leap, great creations emerged by zigs and zags as their creators engaged over and over again with these externalized images.

Strokes of Genius: Here’s How the Most Creative People Get Their Ideas – Eric Barker, Time (21 June 2014)
http://time.com/2907776/strokes-of-genius-heres-how-the-most-creative-people-get-their-ideas/

Guy Kawasaki on innovation

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He’s an interesting guy. Kawasaki was originally best known for being an Apple Evangelist – official. That was his job title. He’s written a book called The Macintosh Way that’s still pretty good and another one I’ve forgotten that isn’t so great. But I like this talk. Kawasaki’s got this line that we should strive to change the world and there are plenty of people who say that. In fact, hang on…

Go change the world.

There you are, I’m another one. But Kawasaki does it alongside a pragmatism. Specifically this: he argues that changing the world is indeed a ideal goal but since we have to eat to survive, people who really do change the world tend to make some money.

He’s interesting, he’s funny, this is a TEDx talk, do take a look:

Mindfulness or Don’t Multitask (part 99)

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From Canada’s HR Reporter:

The concept of mindfulness is to focus on living in the moment and avoiding distractions, particularly when one is involved in important tasks or activities. As well as tuning out potential distractions such as smart phones, e-mails and social media, mindfulness is about focusing on what you’re currently doing and giving it your full attention. In many ways, it’s also about living in the present and focusing on the here and now without thinking too much about the future.

How many times do we end up just going through the motions and not really paying attention to what we’re doing? I don’t know about others, but modern life is so hectic I often have five or six things on my mind at any one time. It’s so easy to lose focus by worrying about what’s coming next or some other important task that needs done.

The impact of ‘mindfulness’ on employers and employees – Brian Kreissl, HR Reporter (17 June 2014)

Kreissl argues primarily about how businesses would benefit from encouraging this type of step-back-a-sec and ponder about the moment thinking. But does also take a good potshot or two at how rubbish multitasking is.

Hat tip to reader Angela Gallagher.

Find a partner who looks like your ex

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What do you mean, that’s creepy?

I loathe the idea that any of us have a type, that there is certain physical type that we are attracted to. But I know it’s true. And dating firm Match.com is using this to help us. In partnership with the best-not-to-ask-why-it’s-called-this company Three Day Rule, the dating business is asking for photos that it will then use to pattern match.

Look, I’m just telling you, I’m not commenting on this. And I can’t seem to direct you to the US version of Match.com where this happening because my browser auto-routes to the UK one where I am and where my wife Angela is now going to wonder about my browsing history. Ah, I’ve searched for worse. I once looked for football news. It wasn’t for me, it was for a friend.

Before I give you Three Day Rule’s link and wish you well, let me point out that the service costs. It costs good. In the US it’s $5,000 which works out to around £2,937.89. But if that’s the cost of true love and a little creepiness over that whole type thing, there you go.

Match.com is here, though if you’re in the States you’d be better off typing it directly and skipping my local rerouting. And Three Day Rule is here.

Via On the Media