Hello everyone!
Last month we worked on improving the performance of the application and adding a set of functional improvements.
For much of this month we have continued to improve system performance and fix a handful of minor bugs.
The summer holidays have delayed it a bit, but I hope that at the end of August we can publish a new version of the mobile app that, in addition to other improvements, will allow you to capture photos, gallery images, files, handwritten notes and audio notes. We are adapting the web application so you will be able to see those images and listen to the audios in a straightforward way.
We are also working on the new Perspective section, which will have a new design and some new features:
- The new structure will allow you to navigate between all the elements and make better follow-up of each level.
- You will have a detailed breakdown of the projects and actions that belong to each goal and area of responsibility.
- You will be able to indicate which areas of responsibility are personal and which are work, and this will allow you to filter all the actions in the system related to work and personal issues. This is not a GTD requirement, but many users who use FacileThings in the workplace prefer to maintain the privacy of their personal affairs.
That’s all for now!
6 comments
Ah so excited for the work vs personal filtering! That is going to help me so much!
Ah so excited for the work vs personal filtering! That is going to help me so much!
This is great and exciting news!
FT brings a lot to the table and is - in my opinion - the strongest personal productivity app on the market today for those who want to adhere to the tried-and-true GTD methodology. What has stopped it from obtaining the next level of greatness was its performance and mobile offering.
With performance issues quickly being nailed down and the renewed focus of bringing the mobile application to a state that matches current technology, FT is turning a corner. In addition, the little changes now being made that are not GTD specific but are being purposely put in place due to customer needs strongly suggests that the application and the team's vision has reached a new level of maturity. No longer is the primary focus on building an application that drives itself on its self-imposed rails of the GTD system. Having laid the track and finding it solid, the application is now broadening its horizons by implement user experience improvements.
All of this adds up to what you would expect to see form a professional company and a successful offering: growth.
I've been with FT for a long time and during these years I have been both elated and frustrated with the application and its slow movement. I am very glad to see that much of the new infrastructure is now in place and momentum is starting to become apparent.
And yes, to echo Ivan's statement, filtering on my personal and professional life at a high level is going to a true game-changer for the application. We can already do this using the paper version of FT. It was a black eye on the application's face that we couldn't do it electronically.
Additional improvements I would like to see announced in the future include:
- Better approach to editing and adding to long notes (the edit window for notes is absurdly small - which is not based on technology shortcomings but limiting layout)
- Better mass editing (I want to be able to edit more than one item at a time, which would drastically reduce the amount of clicking the application forces today)
- Cloning of tasks (I'll capture a task in my inbox and upon clarifying realize that I have two distinct tasks that are not projects but are next action. The current method requires me to copy/paste the content I want to use for the other task which is time-consuming)
- Improvements to all usability "on the fly" with the mobile application (long lists are difficult to view and add to on the mobile application)
- Improvements to mobile clarification (missing a number of key features and usability remains cumbersome)
- Templates for reoccurring projects (FT allows for repeating tasks by creating a template that is copied automatically. Take that functionality and allow me to create template projects that work much like a project in the "Waiting" state but can be created by a click of a button. Very useful for those of us who have monthly/quarterly/yearly projects. The current method is to import via email which can be cumbersome.)
- Reduce the capture window to a "call from anywhere" field that allows for quick entry. (I don't need an entire browser to capture an idea that only allows me to create a title, assign a tag, and write a note.)
- Improvement reminders (allow the user to set when goals, projects, and follow-up tasks should be viewed as a reminder and allow for them to be "snoozed". I am currently being told weeks in advance that a project is going to be due but I cannot remove that notice. Creates stress and clutter.)
OK, now I'm just sounding needy...
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!
This is great and exciting news!
FT brings a lot to the table and is - in my opinion - the strongest personal productivity app on the market today for those who want to adhere to the tried-and-true GTD methodology. What has stopped it from obtaining the next level of greatness was its performance and mobile offering.
With performance issues quickly being nailed down and the renewed focus of bringing the mobile application to a state that matches current technology, FT is turning a corner. In addition, the little changes now being made that are not GTD specific but are being purposely put in place due to customer needs strongly suggests that the application and the team's vision has reached a new level of maturity. No longer is the primary focus on building an application that drives itself on its self-imposed rails of the GTD system. Having laid the track and finding it solid, the application is now broadening its horizons by implement user experience improvements.
All of this adds up to what you would expect to see form a professional company and a successful offering: growth.
I've been with FT for a long time and during these years I have been both elated and frustrated with the application and its slow movement. I am very glad to see that much of the new infrastructure is now in place and momentum is starting to become apparent.
And yes, to echo Ivan's statement, filtering on my personal and professional life at a high level is going to a true game-changer for the application. We can already do this using the paper version of FT. It was a black eye on the application's face that we couldn't do it electronically.
Additional improvements I would like to see announced in the future include:
- Better approach to editing and adding to long notes (the edit window for notes is absurdly small - which is not based on technology shortcomings but limiting layout)
- Better mass editing (I want to be able to edit more than one item at a time, which would drastically reduce the amount of clicking the application forces today)
- Cloning of tasks (I'll capture a task in my inbox and upon clarifying realize that I have two distinct tasks that are not projects but are next action. The current method requires me to copy/paste the content I want to use for the other task which is time-consuming)
- Improvements to all usability "on the fly" with the mobile application (long lists are difficult to view and add to on the mobile application)
- Improvements to mobile clarification (missing a number of key features and usability remains cumbersome)
- Templates for reoccurring projects (FT allows for repeating tasks by creating a template that is copied automatically. Take that functionality and allow me to create template projects that work much like a project in the "Waiting" state but can be created by a click of a button. Very useful for those of us who have monthly/quarterly/yearly projects. The current method is to import via email which can be cumbersome.)
- Reduce the capture window to a "call from anywhere" field that allows for quick entry. (I don't need an entire browser to capture an idea that only allows me to create a title, assign a tag, and write a note.)
- Improvement reminders (allow the user to set when goals, projects, and follow-up tasks should be viewed as a reminder and allow for them to be "snoozed". I am currently being told weeks in advance that a project is going to be due but I cannot remove that notice. Creates stress and clutter.)
OK, now I'm just sounding needy...
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!
Hi Ivan, Cyrus,
FacileThings is not only a GTD-based personal management tool. It is also software in which sensitive information is entered, and therefore, both the security and privacy of the data is essential.
We have to find a balance between methodology and technology. And that balance is defined by your needs, your experience ;)
Most of the additional improvements mentioned by Cyrus are currently in our backlog (thanks for all your suggestions!). Two exceptions though:
- Mass editing. It is something that I don't like very much from a psychological point of view. Each action, each item, has its own life cycle, and each change of state must be considered. Making massive changes often leads to "not thinking too much" and establishing habits that make you go faster, but at the same time, be more disorganized.
- Reducing the capture window. The capture window occupies the entire visible area for a reason. When a thought or idea comes to mind, you need to focus on it without any distraction. That is why everything is hidden, so that you capture quickly and without being distracted, what has caught your attention.
Thanks for your encouragement!
Hi Ivan, Cyrus,
FacileThings is not only a GTD-based personal management tool. It is also software in which sensitive information is entered, and therefore, both the security and privacy of the data is essential.
We have to find a balance between methodology and technology. And that balance is defined by your needs, your experience ;)
Most of the additional improvements mentioned by Cyrus are currently in our backlog (thanks for all your suggestions!). Two exceptions though:
- Mass editing. It is something that I don't like very much from a psychological point of view. Each action, each item, has its own life cycle, and each change of state must be considered. Making massive changes often leads to "not thinking too much" and establishing habits that make you go faster, but at the same time, be more disorganized.
- Reducing the capture window. The capture window occupies the entire visible area for a reason. When a thought or idea comes to mind, you need to focus on it without any distraction. That is why everything is hidden, so that you capture quickly and without being distracted, what has caught your attention.
Thanks for your encouragement!
Love the progress the team is making towards making this must have, must use daily app. Thank you for your ingenuity and tireless efforts! Looking forward to the update!
Love the progress the team is making towards making this must have, must use daily app. Thank you for your ingenuity and tireless efforts! Looking forward to the update!
The last mentioned point is the one that I'm waiting the most. To be able to easily separate office and private projects/tasks.
For now I'm using tags but it's not convenient to always have to add a tag just for this function. I can't wait for the next version.
Stay the course, Francisco, you do a great job. Thank you.
The last mentioned point is the one that I'm waiting the most. To be able to easily separate office and private projects/tasks.
For now I'm using tags but it's not convenient to always have to add a tag just for this function. I can't wait for the next version.
Stay the course, Francisco, you do a great job. Thank you.
Scott, Bertrand: Thanks for your encouragement.
These improvements (and others that I have not told you about) will be available in two weeks ;)
Scott, Bertrand: Thanks for your encouragement.
These improvements (and others that I have not told you about) will be available in two weeks ;)