Things - 1.2.5

I updated through the app. Not a problem for me.

Great application, I use it daily for work and personal.

why Things can't/won't institute some sort of cloud backup/sync. I have owned the app for well over a year now and also own the iphone app, but as it can't sync without you being in the same wi-fi zone, have had to sideline it and use ToodleDo.
Don't get me wrong, I love the app otherwise, and expect that with Bartok on board, the app will only get better. I simply think that having an amazing app with no way of syncing wherever you are is like having a Ferarri with a 2 gallon gas tank. Please fix this guys and you will have all the users you want.

Neither the program's updater or a download from versiontracker works to update to Things 1.2.

I get an error message from the progam saying the download is improperly signed and the manual download from versiontracker results in a 1.5 to 1.8 Mb file (should be 8 Mb) that refuses to open.

This is one of the most satisfying apps I've ever used, after many unsatisfactory experiences with To Do List and, in particular, GTD applications.

A trivial example representative of bigger picture: The first time I used Things, I was struck by its treatment of columns... or rather its use of flexible columns. Applications generally take the view that a column should always be a column, whether or not a particular row contains data. If, for instance, you have a column containing tags, the column is present (and of fixed width) whether a particular item has zero tags or ten. With Things, an item's tag column expands if it has more tags, and it's invisible if it has no tags. Sound like trouble? It really isn't. In fact, it's beautiful. Try it and see.

The bigger picture that this trivial example illustrates is that the developers of this app have really considered the user experience, right down to questioning why things need to be done the way they've "always been done." They've created a gorgeous, streamlined app that really (finally!) helps me work through my list of tasks. Complaints? I have only one: I wish that there were slightly more visual feedback when clicking a checkbox.

It's a pleasure to synch Things with the iPhone version. I know that some have expressed difficulty: I've never had a synch problem. Beyond that, the pace of development is steady, and fresh iterations tend towards the "useful enhancement" rather than the "window dressing" end of the spectrum.

I should say that I also own the desktop and iPhone versions of OmniFocus, which is another fine application. If Things didn't exist, I'd probably be firing up OmniFocus, but I'd wince just a little every time. It isn't as pretty, nor as intuitive as Things, and in an effort to provide flexibility for list tweakers, it sacrifices a measure of elegance. Let me be clear: OmniFocus does not suck. I just think that Things makes it easier and more pleasant to get things done.

This app is THE best for me (and I have used many) for two reasons: one, it has a beautiful face (if interface is ugly, I hate to look at it -- not good for a to-do list) and two, it helps me focus on what I want to do TODAY. If my to-do list gets long, I get discouraged and again, I hate to look at it. Things hides all the someday-maybe stuff, the scheduled-later stuff, and the stuff that is going to have to wait because I can't possibly get around to it today. Plus, it shows only what you fill in for an item -- no empty cells like OmniFocus. I have used this since it was a beta and the developer was very responsive to suggestions on their forum. It has been rock-solid on my G5 with Leopard. Sync with handheld is well-done, although a bit limited. This is hands-down the best app for any designer or creative person.