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ATPM 14.10
October 2008

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Next Actions

by Ed Eubanks, Jr.

Master List for October

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

next-actions-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

next-actions-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: ActionTastic now has a new Web site.

EasyTask Manager

next-actions-easktask-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

next-actions-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

next-actions-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

next-actions-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

next-actions-ikog

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

next-actions-mgtd

Developer: Jeff Fisher

Current Version: 1.3

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 1.6.11

Distinguishing Features: Expands Mori (digital notebook) functions to include GTD principles.

News: None

Midnight Inbox

next-actions-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: None.

OmniFocus

next-actions-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!

next-actions-ready-set-do

Developer: Todd Vasquez

Current Version: 1.3d

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: A minor update in August brought a few new features.

TaskPaper

next-actions-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

next-actions-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: None

Thinking Rock

next-actions-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

next-actions-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: None

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: 4.1

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: Update from 4.0.5 to 4.1 is available, but no release notes are available—it’s hard to say what the changes are. (Anyone?!?)

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: Web site fails; for two months in a row now…

Organized

Developer: iSlayer

Current Version: 1.11

Price: Donationware

Development Status: Release

iCal Sync: Yes

QuickSilver Plug-in: No

Web-app Sync: No

Print Lists: No

iPhone Presence: None

Distinguishing Features: Dashboard widget with calendar events, tasks, notes, and world clock.

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.

GTD and Task Management Wikis

Also in This Series

Reader Comments (7)

John Faughnan · October 1, 2008 - 20:52 EST #1
I'd like to see the list posted as a linked Google Apps Spreadsheet. Easier to browse and compare!
Eric Durbrow · October 1, 2008 - 21:33 EST #2
NoteBook by Circus Ponies has been updated to 3.0. It is NOT a dedicated task manager but the To Do features are pretty powerful...
Ted Witt · October 2, 2008 - 16:29 EST #3
Check out Reqall. Web-based with an iPhone app, and you can talk to it!
Daniel Link · October 3, 2008 - 08:04 EST #4
Check out IWantSandy.com - It's a web based service for your calendar items and to-dos. You can updatae it via the website, Email, Twitter, or Jott. It also offers a web calendar of your items that you can subscribe to from iCal.
tony sturges · October 6, 2008 - 15:22 EST #5
I thought your article was superb! thanks so much.

however I cannot find a download link for ActionTastic it looks good.
Lee Bennett (ATPM Staff) · October 6, 2008 - 16:20 EST #6
Tony - interesting. You're right. They're pretty spartan on information. But I did find a download link on Macupdate. http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/22916/actiontastic
Tony Sturges · October 6, 2008 - 20:21 EST #7
Lee, thanks so much. i would not have found that link. It works!

best wishes,
t

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