Final MWSF Tidbits: Things, Ampli-Phone, Music Skins, Psyclops

[MacRumors]

We're wrapping up our coverage from Macworld, and here is a diverse collection of items that may be of interest.




Cultured Code released the 1.0 version of Things alongside a version update to their iPhone app [App Store]. The Mac application won Best of Show and offers an "elegant and intuitive" task manager for organizing to-dos, notes, due dates, and projects. Things 1.0 for Mac is $49.95 and the iPhone companion application is $9.99.




Gryphon Corporation was showing off Ampli Phone, a passive amplifier for the iPhone. The scientifically designed horn amplifies the sound coming out of your iPhone without the need for any additional power source. The cradle for the iPhone allows room for cables to keep it powered and the entire unit can be turned on its side for watching video. Comes in black or white and is available for $29.95.




Music Skins provides officially licensed band decals that can be applied to your iPhone or iPod. Made from 3M vinyl and adhesive technology, they can be applied and removed without leaving a residue. Prices per skin is $15.00 and they are available for all iPod and iPhone models.




Psyclops introduced a new set of iPod nano silicon sleeves aimed at the 8-14 year old market. The company also offers an interactive online dance/music community in which kids can assemble their own dance videos by mixing available audio and video clips. These videos can be shared and downloaded to their iPods. Each case (photo) comes with a unique code to unlock special dance moves. The company will also releasing an iPhone App that allows kids to create and share their videos on their iPhone or iPod touch.

Article Link: Final MWSF Tidbits: Things, Ampli-Phone, Music Skins, Psyclops

[yoyo5280]

I don't really like the look of music skins, though I did see something like that with the Tokyo subway map. That was cool

[kjs862]

That amp seems cool, but I don't think I would ever buy one.

[syavno]

Cool. Loved the show.

[mathcolo]

Things is expensive but definitely the worth the $! It's an awesome GTD application. Anyone who needs task management should use it.

[Stike]

I love "Things". It´s just the right balance between complex and effective To-Do-Software. I was trying OmniFocus, but it was more expensive and I realized I would spend more time organizing my things rather than getting them done.
Also, they offer a 20% discount for early adopters until the 15th, if I am not mistaken

[KingYaba]

Ampliphone, huh?

[Srai-W]

I don't really get the skins. You pay to put them on, but then after some time I am sure you will get bored and want another one... So then you take the old one off and buy a new one. Oh! I know... so you pay more $$$

As for the amp it looks cool and I guess it is saving electricity, but what about the sound though?

[ibosie]

Originally Posted by Stike

I love "Things". It´s just the right balance between complex and effective To-Do-Software. I was trying OmniFocus, but it was more expensive and I realized I would spend more time organizing my things rather than getting them done.
Also, they offer a 20% discount for early adopters until the 15th, if I am not mistaken

I started with OmniFocus then switched to Bento because it's easier and faster to create the layout and fields I want. Bento is full of unecessary eye candy though and it's not even pretty. Things looks a bit like Bento having watched the video. File Maker looks ugly too. It's project management I'm interested in to escape the windows carp at work.

[akac]

Originally Posted by Stike

I love "Things". It´s just the right balance between complex and effective To-Do-Software. I was trying OmniFocus, but it was more expensive and I realized I would spend more time organizing my things rather than getting them done.
Also, they offer a 20% discount for early adopters until the 15th, if I am not mistaken

I hope you take a look at Pocket Informant then. We've were showing off our software catty-corner to Things at MacWorld and we got such a tremendous response I wish we had final software to release, not beta in-development stuff.

Our philosophy is that it has to be dead simply and we've been doing mobile software for over 8 years now, so we know what the issues are with mobile interfaces - especially mobile interfaces designed by desktop developers.

We design our software focused on the platform we use - BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, iPhone - and I think it showed to most people. A lot of people came by and looked at our software and how it integrates the calendar and tasks with a GTD concept (or Franklin Covey if you prefer) and told us that they were looking forward to it because we really focused on that ease of use factor compared to other GTD apps. $12.95 is what we're going for with a free Lite version when we ship at the end of the month. http://www.PocketInformant.com/

[Maxington]

Gotta love useful apps that sync with their Mac component app.

[localoid]

Does the Ampli Phone come with a free Rofl Copter?

[niji]

best of one of the worst macworlds ever.
bad interface.
cumbersome.
simple apple Mail app's To Do function more integrated, more intuitive, and simpler.
Things call itself a Task Management app. utterly ridiculous.
Things should be free of charge, made into a widget, and get people to know the maker of the app better and then charge for the 2nd or 3rd (hopefully) much more useful app they write.

[TuffLuffJimmy]

Originally Posted by niji

best of one of the worst macworlds ever.
bad interface.
cumbersome.
simple apple Mail app's To Do function more integrated, more intuitive, and simpler.
Things call itself a Task Management app. utterly ridiculous.
Things should be free of charge, made into a widget, and get people to know the maker of the app better and then charge for the 2nd or 3rd (hopefully) much more useful app they write.

I disagree. Sure, I don't feel it's worth the fifty dollars (although I will be buying it) but it's up to the Developer to decide how much to charge for the app. Not some random poster on MacRumors who can barely form a sentence.

[ProFont]

Originally Posted by TuffLuffJimmy

I disagree. Sure, I don't feel it's worth the fifty dollars (although I will be buying it)

Not to go all Econ 101 on you, but the fact that you are going to buy it at $50 by definition means that you think it's worth that amount.

Remember that $10 off coupon:

Coupon Code: THINGSPRESALE20
(valid through January 15th, 2009)

[bluefido]

Because software programs and devices that I want to work fail to in OS X. There is no excuse to not be able to sync my BlackBerry device (that my work provides and requires) to my MacBook. Missing Sync does not work properly, and frankly, this is something that Apple should find a solution for if it wants to be serious about people using Macs for anything outside of photos and video.

I am also sick not being able to play decent games on my Mac, and when I resort to very old ones (Diablo 2 for instance), the new Mac OS X update breaks compatibility. And no, I don't plan to hack my MacBook for sake of playing one game.

I am sick of paying extreme premiums for a laptop when serviceable ones are available with more features at half the price. One only needs to look at a Best Buy ad to see what I am talking about.

My original reasons for buying a Mac (working with photos and videos) have not been as compelling with the rise of as good third party options on the PC.

Finally, I am sick of the crazy Mac fan boys who seem to exhibit some Napoleon complex about a company that can honestly give a crap about them.

I am giving my MacBook one more year before I shovel dirt on its plastic ass.

[burningbright]

Originally Posted by ProFont

Not to go all Econ 101 on you, but the fact that you are going to buy it at $50 by definition means that you think it's worth that amount.

Hmm, I'd say there's a bit of a difference between what you're prepared to pay for something you might decide you need and what you consider a fair price... If a monopoly provider of water decided to charge $20,000 p/a for water then I'd have to pay it, but I wouldn't think it's a fair price. The fair price takes into consideration how much it costs to produce, time involved etc. The market price is often massively distorted by things like the availability of credit and inequalities. In this case, because GTD has such a following among executives for whom $60 is nothing, the price is artificially high, in my opinion. Still, it's better than $100 for Omnifocus' Heath Robinson app!

[kironin]

Originally Posted by niji

best of one of the worst macworlds ever.
bad interface.
cumbersome.
simple apple Mail app's To Do function more integrated, more intuitive, and simpler.
Things call itself a Task Management app. utterly ridiculous.
Things should be free of charge, made into a widget, and get people to know the maker of the app better and then charge for the 2nd or 3rd (hopefully) much more useful app they write.

I strongly disagree. I have been using it in beta for months now and have the iPhone app as well. As a GTD system it's more than simply a todo app.

[kockgunner]

How do those skins differ from Gelaskins?

[branjosef]

$50 for a fancy to-do list. No thanks. Sorry if I get flamed for that one. When I first saw it, I thought...cool A to-do, calendar,PDA style transfer files to iphone all-in-one, but nope, just a fancy "to-do" organizer with the look of itunes. Ugh I'll stick with my free to-do app from itunes app store.


EDIT: Oh I forgot. The app icon for Things looks like they ripped off file magnet because they are very similar.

[burningbright]

I'm experimenting with GTD at the moment, and like the look and ease of use of Things. It just really is not ready for a $50 release. It still lacks several things that users have been pleading for for months, even when they seem really simple to implement. I'm no coding expert, but I'd have thought if they can do recurring tasks in 'Areas', they could easily implement that feature in 'Projects'? And the communication is lousy- they hired a communications officer in October and he has written two blog posts since. Currently the most recent posting is Nov. 11th...

Also the iPod version keeps unticking my completed to-dos. It's a bit annoying.

A previous poster downgraded to an earlier version of Things Beta. I'm thinking about doing the same thing- didn't see that many changes as the developers make sloths seem pacy. Am I right in thinking that those betas will 'self-destruct' in T-11 days though?

I like Things, I'm tempted, but it's a lot of money for a half-finished product without any clear roadmap or timeline for fleshing out the project.

[twoodcc]

things seems pretty cool, but i don't think i want to pay that much for it

[burningbright]

Thanks for the suggestion, errordiskfull! Have discovered Process for free at http://www.macheist.com , will check it out. Also just discovered that the price for Things doesn't include VAT, which is added on in a grand total *after* you've sent them your credit card details. Is that even legal? I think I'll sit on my cash and use alternatives. Perhaps in a few months I'll check Things out again to see if it's improved much.

[scott pruett]

Remember The Milk (www.rememberthemilk.com) is a pretty kickass GTD service & has a free iPhone app to accompany it.

$25/yr for the Pro version, but worth it.

Check it out.



Edit: I'm not affiliated w/ these guys, just a happy customer.