The Productive Organizer

Firstly thank you Charles for being kind enough to extend a beta copy of Action Lists for me to do this review.

So far i have the chance to investigate 2 Task Management Software:

1. Appigo ToDo [Review Here >>]
2. eToDo [Review Here >>]

For sure, these are not the only lists around and the fact that the competition is so hot means there is only one winner here, which is you the consumer!

Action Lists is brought to you by Daze End Software, you may have come across another of its software which is ListMaker and this one is working on the same formula as List Maker.In fact you can say that action Lists is building on the same formula as List Maker.

Action Lists, like most task management applications on iPhone enables you to follow the GTD Workflow by David Allen but for me, it can be much more than that.

How much does it cost?

There is a free version for you to try that is FREE. However, it only enables you to create a limited number of tasks and projects.

The paid application cost USD9.99, which is the same cost as Appigo Todo and Things.

When you cost that much, you gotta be as competitive as them. Here we will see if it measures up.

How does it work?

Action Lists does task management according to the GTD workflow, but you have the flexibility to do it in alot of ways.

Typically you start off by doing a sweep to collect any thing that you can think of. Any thoughts that translates to actionable tasks will go into the Inbox.

Task entry is similar to Appigo ToDo in that you can use a Quick Add button to add a task without detail specifications. But most would prefer to use the detail entry screen.

Here you can enter the

1. description of your task
2. start date of the task
3. end date of the task
4. notes for the task
5. context/categories of the task and
6. which project it belongs to
7. set task to repeating

whatever a good todo list have, Action Lists have it for you. You can specify your own contexts and later you can filter by them.

The repeating task is abit special. You can set them to continous repeat, and the tasks will be generated either when the day have been reached, or when the task have been completed.

I find this to necessary in the past to have the task recur on its own when the day comes but i realise that doing this, you can very likely litter your todo list should you fall off the to do list bandwagon and attempt to hop back on.

The preferred method will be to recur when you have complete the task. Either way, once you marked a task completed, a new recur task is added to the Inbox

This is abit different but its Action Lists way to make sure that all new task is handled at Inbox level. some people will like this, some will not.

Nested Projects

When you are organizing your tasks in your inbox, if the task needs more than 1-2 steps to be handled, you will create a Project to group them together.

This is where Action Lists differs from all task list on the market. Action Lists enables you to have unlimited projects within projects and there will alot of folks who appreciate this as you can really group your tasks by:

1. Personal and Work
2. Strategic Goals
3. Area of Responsibilities
4. Project Milestones
5. Small Projects

I used to want this nested feature alot as i think it makes alot of sense. Even the Desktop ToDoList that i have created based on Nested Tree List. People that are in software development would have use Microsoft Project and it enables you to have nested task. If you look at your life as one big project then having nested list will really help.

Not having it is not end of the world. In fact most people will just make do with 2 levels: the first level being your Area of Responsibilities be it Project A, Being a good family man and the second level being your Project milestones to achieve that area of responsibility.

Task Status and Doing the Task via Context

How you perform the “Do It” after “Organzing it” will be based on 2 things: the Status of the task and the Context.

When defining the task you can select the status.

Setting the Task to Waiting will cost the task to pop up at the Waiting Tab (notice the increase in number badge indicating the number of waiting task) for me this is good as it really provides a clear seperation of tasks that are currently waiting. Currently with Appigo ToDo, i have it as one of my Tags and while i have said Appigo toDo main problem is that you need to go into the tags to see how many unfinish task you have. With Action Lists you don’t have this problem.

The Same goes with Someday. Once you decide to do a Someday task, just switch the status to Active or Next Action

As i have said, you hop on over to Action Lists Tab to go through your context to see your next action.

You will note that there aren’t alot of task queued here. Why is that? This is because only task set to Next Action Status will appear here!

Its a novel way of filtering away all the freaking task and only show what you have to do next.

There is abit of a problem here. So lets say you completed a task, what you need to do next is go to the Projects tab and go to that particular project and set the next task status to Next Action from Active.

what happens when your task is so deeply nested inside?

This is where Task Queue comes in. Touch the blue arrow next to each project folder and you will see the option “Queue Next Actions“.

Toggle it on and after you finish one next action, it will immediately set the next earliest due task to Next action from Active. This may not work well if you have tasks that have dependency not based on time of completion. the jury is still out if this performs well enough

Synchronize and backup to ToodleDo

Action Lists enables you to back up your tasks and folders to Toodledo. I have not tested how well this works since my ToodleDo syncs with Appigo ToDo but i have a feeling it will be another case that ToodleDo will act as a backup rather than allow you to use it both online and on your iPhone.

Do tell me your experience with syncing.

Where to improve upon

This App have alot of potential i feel.However here are some things that they need to iron out.

Full Calendar selection – We cannot rely on the roller to select the date! As we are setting dates, we want to see clearly which day of the week or which weekday we set upon. Using a roller selector is not good for this.

More Description details – from the picture below you will see that its very difficult to tell at one glance what you need to do. you will have to go into the task itself. I feel this needs to be expanded

Conclusion

On the whole a very good to do list i feel. Does everything the competition has and a very niche and competitive feature in Nested Projects. Fix the problems that i mention and its well worthed the price.

For one that have program a todo list, i can truely appreciate this product and its difficulties. We hope that the next 1 month users will give ample feedbacks to increase the stability of the software. Appigo Todo have this problem for all versions, due to the complexity of to do lists in general.

so do contribute and highlight the issues to make this a good todo list!

I do know for a fact that the data services that we use are far less than voice data when it comes to constraints that the cell tower of wireless carriers use. So how come the wireless carriers are still so much affected? Ars Technica have a good article on this, specifically, the smart monitoring of connections could be causing this:

The first problem that O2 encountered was that the iPhone uses more power saving features than previous smartphone designs. Most devices that use data do so in short bursts—a couple e-mails here, a tweet there, downloading a voicemail message, etc. Normally, devices that access the data network use an idling state that maintains the open data channel between the device and the network. However, to squeeze even more battery life from the iPhone, Apple configured the radio to simply drop the data connection as soon as any requested data is received. When the iPhone needs more data, it has to set up a new data connection.

The result is more efficient use of the battery, but it can cause problems with the signaling channels used to set up connections between a device and a cell node. Cell nodes use signaling channels to set up the data connection, as well as signaling phone calls, SMS messages, voicemails, and more. When enough iPhones are in a particular area, these signaling channels can become overloaded—there simply aren’t enough to handle all the data requests along with all the calls and messages.

It’s important to note, however, that this technique is not limited to the iPhone. Android and webOS devices also use a similar technique to increase battery life. While the iPhone was the first and currently most prolific device of this type, such smartphones are quickly becoming common, and represent the majority of growth in mobile phone sales in the past year.

Our source at O2 told us that network equipment that is configured to handle signaling traffic dynamically—shifting more spectrum to signaling channels when needed—can mitigate this problem. But even with more signaling capacity, network nodes may not be able to set up a data session, or may have problems getting a valid network address from an overloaded DHCP server. He said that data capacity is rarely the problem—nodes themselves can usually handle much more data than is flowing through them. However, the networks need to be configured to handle a growing number of devices connecting and disconnecting at a much higher rate than they’ve been accustomed to.

We spoke to another expert who works in the telecom field to find out why most European networks were not experiencing the problems that AT&T and O2 did. He told Ars that Europe embraced heavy text messaging and data use far earlier than users in the US. SMS and MMS messages rely heavily on signaling channels to operate, and so networks were generally configured to dynamically manage changes in signaling traffic.

O2 worked with its network equipment vendors to identify the problems and adjust the configuration to adapt to the changing needs of its smartphone users. For its part, AT&T has announced publicly that it is increasing backhaul capacity by running fiber to its cell sites, and plans an additional investment in network infrastructure—including adding up to 2,000 additional towers this year. The company would not comment on its efforts to address the kinds of issues described by our source at O2, though we know that O2 shared what it learned with AT&T and other carriers.

[From Ars Technica >>]

I am happy with my purchase of iThoughts over Mindjet. Throughout these few months, the developers have proved that they are willing to build upon a good product and come up with improvements

1. Relationships
2. Auto Organize Map
3. iMindMap support
4. Many bug fixes

The update post is here for all who would like to know what iThoughts is able to do [Link Here >>]

No doubt we can expect the developers to build on top of this for the new iPad platform. Can’t wait to see what kind of stuff they can come up with.

Since the days of the Palm, Pocket PC, one of folks’ favorite software have been a password manager. Having a password manager that keeps key information with you can be very helpful:

1. Whenever you are on the go, needs to access a website but can’t remember your login, you can always refer to this.
2. You need to remember your father or your mother’s critical info, you can refer to this.
3. Someone asks you about a certain secure system’s work procedure. It is complex enough for you not to be able to remember off your head. You can store it in this so that people getting access to your iPhone will not be able to knwo this vital piece of information

The list can go on and on but at the end of the day we look for a few things more than other factors when we are evaluating which software to purchase to store our passwords and logons.

This week, i will be evaluating SplashID. Its a software that have its roots from the Palm days and you can be sure the guys behind this know what they are doing since they have been doing this from a long time back.

Password Manager must be secure

You will be likely storing alot of information that

• concerns your own privacy
• your family’s privacy
• monetary and finance information
• secured logins for sensitive sites
• work related confidential keys and info

The easy way out when it comes to security is not store it anywhere! not even on your desktop computer! but there is a fine line here as if we store all these info in our brain and we forgot about them, chances are we will face another set of problem.

My advice to all is that those super crucial information (bank logins, ATM pins and those software/sites you use to aggregate information) remember them by hard and not record them down. Only use these password software for privacy stuff like forum logons, CD-Key for registered software, non sensitive website logons)

This way you control the worse case scenario where if you lose that info and they manage to crack it ( hats off to them if they manage to do that!) you don’t lost all those things that have the greatest impact to you.

The nutshell is that you still have to rely a bit on your brain. Don’t worry, exercising the brain is good for you.

SplashID uses the AES and 256Bit – Blowfish encryption which are the industry standards. As far as i know Blowfish and AES are not easy to crack. .In fact, i believe if the password you use is strong [Creating Strong Passwords >>] then cracking them will prove to be not lucrative deal (my research shows me that no one have cracked them yet)

The data file used is encrypted by Blowfish and i believe the passcode that you use at the login is using AES encryption.

What i like about SplashID here is that they enable you free play on the kind of password for the passcode. Password1 Pro for example lets you enter a 4 numeric password, which is much weaker without other ascii characters. (however it have 2 levels of password, even though getting by the first level enables you to view the password already!)

Browse by Category, Searching

I shall not venture too much into this area of explaining about browsing since a password manager’s job is to enable you to view your info at a glance.

SplashID does a good job here in that you can choose what type of info you are storing, and the category of the info to store it as, whether it is Personal, or Business.

In addition you can filter by searching for a specific phrase. I tend to use this most of the time as it is likely that you will ALWAYS not remember which category what you are searching for is under.

Backup, Restore and Desktop Synchronization

Another important aspect is how do you backup your data. Backup of data is usually done through a proprietary software and in the cash of SplashId it can only be performed via a wireless synchronization with a desktop software.

Once you are synchonized, if you are moving from Palm, Windows or other platforms, you will be able to restore your SplashId database to your desktop client for iPhone and then sync with the iPhone.

Most password managers used this option as this is the most viable method. I used to hope that i have a password manager that can do offline sync with a server database, but probably no company thinks it is viable enough to do something like that for things that are so dear to an individual.

The switching cost

The thing about these password managers is that if you use SplashID or in my case Keepass to keep your secured stuff you will most likely look to the same provider instead of jumping to a better alternative. Import and Export for password managers at best is through a CSV file. That will need the user some time to format the CSV so that it is compatible with SplashID.

SplashID vID
You may import and export SplashID records in SplashID Virtual ID (vID) format, which allows you to export and import records in a secure, encrypted format. vID files may be encrypted by assigning a password when exporting. The recipient of the vID file may import the data into their copy of SplashID Desktop by double-clicking the file, or choosing Import/SplashID vID from the File Menu. If a password was assigned to the file, the recipient must enter the password in order to import the data.

vID files are a convenient way to share records with a coworker or spouse by exporting a vID file, assigning a password (optional), and then emailing the resulting vID file to the recipient. You can even use the vID format as a backup mechanism by periodically exporting a vID file and archiving it on a backup disk.

*New in SplashID 4* — You can also use the Email button on the SplashID desktop to export vID files and attach them to a new email message.

CSV
You may also import and export SplashID records in CSV format. CSV stands for Comma Separated Values, and is a common file format readable by most spreadsheets, databases and word processors. If you wish to import a CSV file, the data must be in the following format:

Type, Custom 1, Custom 2, Custom 3, Custom 4, Custom 5, Custom 6, Custom 7, Custom 8, Custom 9, Date Modified, Notes, Category

It is easy to create the above format in Excel by creating a spreadsheet with 13 columns (as designated above) with one record per row. Then save the file in CSV format.

Note: When importing data, if the type field is blank the record will be placed in Unfiled. If there is a type name and it does not match an existing type a new type will be created.

The cost

Password managers don’t normally come cheap. SplashID for iPhone will set you back USD 9.99.

However, there can be additional cost.

If you are not an existing splashID user and would like to backup your data to a computer or have the option to key in at 2 location, you can download the 30 day trial [Link Here>>] or after you like this concept, purchase this desktop client for USD19.90.

If you are an existing splashID user (that have a splashID desktop. this is different from this one im talking about) and would like to sync your data to your iPhone SplashID, you can get the SplashID desktop for iPhone free. You can request for a registration code and keying in the registration code will convert the 30day trial desktop software to registered.

Conclusion

The combination for this solution is not cheap. if you are a new user you will need to set you back USD 30 bucks. If you are an existing splashid user probably 10 bucks.

By no means are the alternative (Password1 and mSecure (USD23+3)) are cheap.

However, if you are looking for a good password manager solution, you want one that you know is going to be around for a long time, one that should you switch to another platform, be it web, another phone OS or desktop OS you are able to bring your data to that platform.

SplashID have its tentacles across many platforms:

1. Palm OS
2. Windows Mobile
3. Android
4. iPhone
5. Symbian S60
6. Blackberry
7. Windows
8. OS X

To all my friends who thinks that iPhone is overtaking the world, take a look at this worksheet:

Every day in blog world we see so much blogging about new phones coming out and new device, i am struggling to find a site that talks about how mobile OS and hardware can change business process and workflow.

Here is a good example of how a good mobile platform like the iPhone and iPod touch can really change the way different profession do things:

this is a video on a doctor by training talking about how his iPhone and mobile devices help doctors and medical practitioners around the world.

What i find interesting is that iPhone is a really powerful platform and companies are willing to develop applications for a particular industry.

On the App store you can see a category called “Medical” showing how much of a take-up the industry is giving to the iPhone ecosystem.

Watch this video:

Ivor Kovic, an emergency physician from Croatia, has developed a device which turns the iPhone into a physical tool.

The device, which is only in the prototype stage now, allows for an iPhone or iPod touch to be inserted into a plastic cradle that assists an individual in performing Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR (also known as ‘basic life support’ in most of the world). The user would open the PocketCPR app (free) [iTunes link] and place the iPhone into the cradle. The cradle allows for greater leverage during CPR, thus reducing administrator fatigue, while also allowing unobstructed views of the the CPR app which is giving audio and visual commands to the user.

Dr. Kovic says that his device isn’t necessarily intended for non-medical professionals who might only have to perform CPR once in their lives. He sees its primary advantage in hospital settings where doctors perform CPR on a daily basis. Also, the device could be useful in schools and businesses as an inexpensive way to help people perform CPR correctly.

You can find out more about the cradle at Dr. Kovic’s blog.

Death from sudden cardiac arrest is not inevitable. If more people knew CPR, more lives could be saved. To find a class in your area, in the US contact the American Heart Association. In the UK contact Bart’s City Life Savers.

I was a big fan of netbooks when they first came out.  They’re cheap, provide plenty of functionality, and make great traveling companions.  Despite the booming popularity of netbooks, I believe that the iPad will create a new market for tablet-styled devices.  Whether you’re an Apple fan or not, the iPad’s perceived ease of use, design, and portability will assure it has a place.  The question some are now asking is whether they should buy a netbook, the iPad, or a similar unreleased tablet.

The core of this question ultimately relates to the device’s purpose.  What exactly do you need to accomplish?  While it seems that the iPad is primarily a consumption device, there will likely be many available applications that make it a useful tool.  The iPad’s extra accessories such as the keyboard dock highlight that it will offer an extended experience rather than simply being a large iPod Touch.

Netbook

Pro	Con
Low cost	Usually lower performance
Size	Often smaller, cramped keyboard
Battery life	Small screen
Integrated webcam	Lower build quality
Various OS choices	Lacks Apple coolness factor?
Multitasking	Impractical compared to full featured notebook

iPad

Pro	Con
Low cost for entry unit	Apple controlled App Store
Ease of use	No physical keyboard (unless using keyboard dock)
Portability	Lack of inking/pen support
Battery life	Lack of webcam
iPhone OS	iPhone OS
140,000 Apps	Lack of multitasking

[Read the rest of this article at GottaBeMobile >>]

This could be really exciting. Myriad Group AG, a member of the Open Handset Alliance, unveiled yesterday a brand new high performance virtual machine, named Dalvik Turbo. It would replace the standard Dalvik engine that Android uses to run applications.

One of the gripes i have about the Android is that the user interface feels so much more laggy then the iPhone unless you use something like a 1 GHZ Snapdragon. Why can’t the android respond like that of the iPhone on a weaker processor?

This Dalvik might prove to be important:

Dalvik Turbo increases application execution speed by up to three times ‐ allowing OEMs and operators to bring smoother delivery and more complex applications to Android phones, while also providing substantial battery life improvements when running resource intensive tasks. It also enables developers to take full advantage of Android, allowing them to create games boasting advanced graphics and complex models while retaining full compatibility with existing software.

A three times speed increase on Android apps would allow even the G1 to run the most complex apps. It would also improve battery life, something smartphones tend to suck at. However, the best part about this is “full compatibility with existing software”, meaning we could see the benefits of this new Dalvik virtual machine very, very soon.

Ever thought about what is the equivalent of Appigo ToDo or Things for the iPhone for Android?

Astrid is a free todo list but judging by the response it is not a shitty todo list. Here is a good review on it:

Mobile Personal Organization With Astrid

Astrid is a to-do list and “task tracking system” from the good folks at WeLoveAstrid. I’m not exaggerating when I say that Astrid completely transformed my time management style, and it dramatically improved my efficiency and the amount of work that I’m able to accomplish in less time. It does this by evaluating the information you provide and then prioritizing your work appropriately.

By inserting everything that you need to get done, when it’s due, as well as priority status and what alert settings you would like, Astrid becomes your virtual secretary that assists you with your personal organization – telling you what you need to do right now and how much time you have left to do it. This lets you focus on the most important things instead of jumping from task to task, because you can’t figure out what’s really the most important to do first.

This is the main list that you’ll review every day. These tasks include everything – the daily, weekly and monthly tasks that you schedule to repeat as well as the one-time tasks that you need to get done every now and then. The main screen provides you with a quick glance at your workload, with your most important tasks (by the priority you set and the deadline) listed at the top. On this main screen you can see the task title and when it’s due.

Adding a new task can be as quick or as detailed as you want it to be. The fastest approach, when you’re in a hurry, is to just type in the task at the bottom of the screen and then press the “+” character to the right. This immediately adds the task to your list without any deadline set. When you’re running around from place to place, but you really need to remember to do something, just type it in quickly. You can always set the deadline and priority later, but at least you know you won’t forget about it.

[Read the rest of the review @ MakeUseOf >>]

A group of journalist discuss on the famed Charlie Rose Show how iPad will work for Apple: