A Review of the New Nozbe Desktop

Having tried just about every ToDo app there is, my preferred app of choice is Nozbe.  I like the fact that I can use it anywhere on any device and have written extensive reviews as such.

Nozbe, as a company, is also a great example of a group of developers who are using their business to do some good in the world.  Their customer service flows out of a desire to serve the customer rather than simply acquire more users.

Their new desktop version for both Windows and Mac is very promising. I've been using an advanced version for several weeks and here are my reactions:

1. Very nice looking.  Gone are the hard ines and sterile landscape and in are greens and beiges as well as more prominent input buttons.  It feels like a Mac Lion app and even offers full screen mode.
2. Accordian expansion.  Unlike the older versions of Nozbe, the new desktop app features a three panel expansion process that grows if a project needs it to, giving you the ability to add comments and other details.
3. Excellent pop-ups.  When you are about to delete something, a nice and large pop-up prompts you to confirm whether or not you are serious.  It just feels slick to me.
4. Color coding.  You can now add various colors to your tasks- I haven't figured this out yet but it looks promising.  

What I don't Like

If quick-keys and keyboard shortcuts are your thing, the current version of Nozbe desktop isn't quite there.  I have no doubt however that they will finish the shine on the version that Apple eventually approves for the App Store but it's that final 1% that will make Nozbe yet another option for your productivity toolbox.

Here is a short video from Michael, Nozbe's founder about how the desktop app is coming along:

P.s. if you'd like to try Nozbe, consider using the "Tools I Use" link to Nozbe in the far right collumn of the page.  TDS gets a small commission for everyone who tries out Nozbe through that link.  Click here for the link.

My Comprehensive Review of Nozbe

I've written in the past about my love/hate affair with ToDo apps on either the Mac or iPhone.  Now that the iPad is such a success, we can toss that in as well.  While some enjoy Things or Omnifocus to get things done, my favorite is Nozbe.  I find that it meets my needs and offers users a ton of options that help them to be more productive.  It's been so helpful to my personal workflow that I rarely even think of using another app for my productivity needs.  In this post, I'll provide a detailed look at Nozbe.

First, let's talk about the overall system that makes Nozbe so effective.  It includes:

• iPhone app


• iPad app


• Online app


• Desktop app (Mac and Windows)


• Mac app store app


• Android app

With iOS, Android, Windows and online versions, you can see that Nozbe is a very comprehensive approach to getting things done at home or at work.  The founder of Nozbe, Michael Sliwinski, also publishes a free iPad magazine called Productive Magazine. This is a value-add in my book and it shows that the company is committed to productivity and giving something back to its users.

I won't be reviewing the Android version of Nozbe since I'm working only on the Mac side of things.  And now, on to the review.

iPhone App

I look for a few things in an iPhone app- speed, simplicity and aesthetics and Nozbe has them all. The icon is attractive and it launches very quickly.



A free version is available through the App Store but is limited to a few projects.  To really get the most out of Nozbe, you'll have to purchase one of three subscriptions via their website.

I went with the Personal plan. We use a Family account at work. When you are part of a family or team account, Nozbe creates a system of personal accounts, all linked to one another. You retain your personal lists within Nozbe but can also share items or delegate an action to another person in your group.

Nozbe can link to your DropBox account as well as to your Evernote account. I find this helpful as a project is often more than a few action steps. Sometimes, you will want reference materials which is where DropBox can come in handy. I like to link Evernote files to a project to share ideas, web clippings or URL links with them.

The iPhone app is very fast. 

The traditional "inbox" is where you place your capture-items. If you want to add a start or due date to an action item, it will then show up in the Next Actions list as well as in the inbox. I use the inbox for quick and dirty action and reminder items.

Next is projects and like David Allen says, most people (if they're honest with themselves) have 30-50 tasks actively open at one time. I probably have 25-30 at the present time. Projects are anything that involve more than one step to accomplish. "Buy a new car" is actually a project involving many steps.

Here is what my projects page looks like, with many more that I can scroll down to find.  I'm not sure why but I like to label my projects as @Project.  It adds a layer of thought that makes it easier for me to find various projects.  I'm sure there are other ways to list your projects as well but this works for me.

There is then a tab called "calendar" so that you can view your action items by due or start date. I don't use this feature all that often but intend to in the next few months.

The "context" tab is very helpful if you want to group tasks by the environment you will be in when you will be in it. In other words, a context might be "@Phone" where you would list calls you need to make the next time you are at a phone. Similarly, a context might be "@Hardware Store" and contain a list of items you need to buy the next time you are at the store.

I use the context tab for meetings and people. Instead of trying to remember what I need to talk about with Kevin, I have a context called "@Kevin" and the next time I meet with him, I can reference the list. Now that I have others at work using Nozbe, we can each prepare for meetings more effectively and even share items with one another.  

You can see a number sign in the bubble to the right of each person's name, referring to an item that I need to speak with each person about.

Finally on the home screen is "delegated items". This will only be present if you are part of a family or team account. Other team members can share an item with me and I with them and these show up under delegated items.

One of the best aspects of the home page is the multi-input button at the bottom of the screen. Here, you can specify if you want to add a simple action (one item), a note, project or context.  

iPad App

The iPad version of Nozbe has a slightly different look. The developer captured a leather notebook kind of feel which works in either landscape or vertical format.



Inside the app are the same functionalities as in the iPhone with tabs for projects, inbox and contexts. The sync is flawless with the online account and was just recently updated so that it syncs in the background. You don't even know that it's happening which helps you to "simply get things done" rather than having to think a whole lot about it.

Mac App / Web App

Of all of the versions of Nozbe that I use the most, the Mac app is my favorite.  It is nearly identical to the online version. I prefer to use the Mac app so that I don't have to live within a browser. The layout can be expanded or contracted, using one to three columns, depending on your preference. You can also customize based on color with Green, Blue or the high-tech grey. The fact that the developers of Nozbe thought of this detail tells you that they take aesthetics as seriously as function. Nice touch.

Native Desktop App

As of right now, the native desktop app is in version three and appears to be close to being finished. I like the Apple Lion-esque look to it and it now includes both DropBox and Evernote integration. It will be interesting to see how Nozbe finishes both the Windows and Mac desktop version. For now, I'm content using the iOS and Mac apps.

Nozbe's tag line is "Simply Get Things Done" and that's just what it helps you to do- be productive. Its full suite of apps is both robust and fun to use. When you take into account that you can also use Nozbe online and collaborate with others via the team/family versions, Nozbe is unrivaled. Things and Omnifocus are excellent task managers but only Nozbe offers online and offline versions, collaboration and a cross-platform approach to its services.

For my money, Nozbe helps me to "simply get things done" each and every day.

 

The Most Important Four Hours of Your Day

We know intuitively that the first few hours of every day are important.

Really important.

They set the tone for the entire day, especially when we do things that we might otherwise put off.  Brian Tracy's famous book, Eat that Frog made the beginning of the day even more famous. “There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing.”  Brian Tracy

This comes as no surprise, that morning is important time for creative work.  This leads to a successful 9-5 working day.

But how about 5-9pm?  Are we as attentive to that block of time?  Last night I was doing some work on the computer and then checking in on the Red Sox game.  As it became clear that 9 innings weren't enough and things were heading to extra innings, I made a bad decision and stayed up.  And up and into the 12th and 13th innings.

I was so wired that I could not fall asleep, try as I may.  This led to a lousy night's sleep and a Monday feeling slow on my game.

So how can you use 5-9 in order to finish the day well?  I suggest less TV, more reading and a few minutes thinking about the following day.  I like to review my Nozbe lists as well so that my brain is working overnight to make the most of the next day.

What's working for you in the 5-9pm time slot?

An Alternative to a Daily Schedule

We spend a lot of time talking about a daily schedule.  Our ToDo list is rounded out by a number of things that we think are important.

Sometimes they are and often they are not.

Here's an alternative to consider: look at the week as a block of time rather than one day at a time.  The week provides a helicopter view and more importantly, affords you the chance to tend to your natural ebb and flow.

I don't know about you but I find day-to-day approaches to productivity to be somewhat tedious.  Getting up at the same time, trying to beat traffic, having "office hours".  All of this can grind on the system and lead to what my wife and I know as the "Sunday dreads".  Those are the feelings you get on Sunday as the demands of Monday approach.  Even if you work in a faith-based environment, work is work and can be less than inspiring.

Instead, go for a week's view.  You'll be more compassionate with yourself, be able to build in breaks and vary your pace.

A New Criterion for Choosing a Productivity App

The Mac App Store is now in a quiet war with the Android Marketplace and Amazon has entered the fray as well.

It's never been easier to take a productivity app for a test drive.  Many offer a free version for a week or two.  This allows you to see if you like it and to learn how easy it is to use.

I have been testing out The Hit List for Mac and it's quite impressive.  I'm delighting Apple's architects by doing exactly what they wanted users to do- play around.

Most reviews of apps like The Hit List focus on the ability to multitask, expand windows, sync wirelessly or whatever.  A New Englander's approach to getting work done- rugged and simple.

So I'm adding today a new criterion for how you should choose a productivity app.

Is it fun to use?

So many apps are powerful but boring (yes OmniFocus I'm looking at you).  Others are just copies of each other.

Why not make a pledge to enjoy your own productivity with tools that match your attitude? Work is hard enough as it is; we don't need our tech tools to make it any harder.

If the learning curve is more than 5 minutes, ditch the app.  Do this for a while and you'll shave that time limit to 60 seconds.

So far, The Hit List is passing the grade.  Anyone can figure it out in less than two minutes.

Oh and one more thing, it's fun to use.  I think I'll keep it around for a while longer.

Should You Ditch Your Productivity System?

We're all susceptible to the straying eye.  A new piece of software comes out and you just can't help yourself.  Like the latest tablet that is unveiled at Staples, you want to test it out and see how it feels.  The recent creations of the Amazon App Store and Mac App Store make it all too easy to explore new apps and techniques for getting things done.  I'm hoping that I'm not the only one who does this on a regular basis.

Some have called it "productivity porn".

A new planner.  A sleeker smartphone.  A simpler bit of software.  The latest TO DO app.  Just watch- something new will come out tomorrow that will call out to you, "try me out, you know you want me!"  This tug of war will test you at every curve and your will power (just like in the spiritual life) may not be as reliable as you think.

I recently gave in to this as I had been reading by Michael Hyatt (along with everyone else I suppose based on his obscene comment list; sure a little jealousy for sure) about how great Mac Mail is for email.  As a three year Gmail devotee, I waded into the water and tried it out.

Folders all set- check.  Digital signatures- check.  Mailbox rules- check.

And then I tried it out and actually missed my old friend, Gmail.

I missed the fact that I can use it anywhere.  I missed the keyboard shortcuts that I don't even have to think about.  And then it struck me- I had strayed again. Can you relate?  Did you ditch a part of your system in the past six months only to realize that it wasn't all that it was hyped up to be?

So I decided, bravely I think, to go back home to Gmail.  So long Apple Mail.  As sweet as some think you are, my Gmail works just fine thank you.  Heck, I don't even see the ads anymore.

How do you know that you should stay put instead of try out the latest and greatest?  Here are three signs that work for me:

• You haven't thought about another system for months. If it's not broken, don't try to fix it with something new.  Trust me, the level of improvement with a new gadget is minimal at best.


• You are currently very productive. If you're getting a lot done (and the right things), why bother messing with a finely oiled machine?


• You are at peace. This is the spiritual part of the discussion.  If God is using you to get a lot of things done and you actually feel good about it, your current system might be a-ok just as it is.  The negative consequence of new stuff is the added stress of learning how to use it.

Sometimes readers as me about my current system.  The details will be included in a future post but I'll spill the beans on at least some of what's working for me right now: Evernote mixed with Nozbe mixed with Gmail and plenty of pad and paper.  I'm sure this will change and evolve over time.

The next time you're tempted to stray, think twice.  Will it really make you that much more productive or can your current system do the job with an added focus and commitment?

What's working in your current productivity system?