OmniFocus (The Omni Group $19.99)
I think it is pretty obvious by now that I like the OmniFocus apps, whether on my iDevices or on my mac. I find it an extremely useful tool and would be completely lost with out it. I use it quite a bit on my mac (throughout the work day) and on my iPad (when I am at home and around the house) but whenever I am out and about, I use it primarily on my iPhone. This review is specific to the iPhone version as it is NOT a Universal App. The two versions are significantly different in how they look and in some of the features. You can find the iPad review here. I recommend taking a look at the iPad version and seeing if it is right for you. I was reluctant to purchase at first but now find it exactly what I needed!
I have been using the iPhone version for several years now and have come to rely on it as a trusted system. As with other versions, it helps give me focus on the tasks that truly need my attention at that time. But it also helps me organize myself in quite a bit of ways, everything from bills that need to be paid to work tasks for the current project. Where the iPhone version really comes into play though is when I am out of the office or out of my home and need access to this list on the go. I use it for some of my shopping items, in particular items that I need to get from a specific place. I also use it for all my random errands that I would otherwise forget about. One of the great features of OmniFocus is the ability to have recurring events. That of course means if there is something that I regularly need to get from Costco, (for example) then I can schedule it as a recurring event. The next time I am at Costco I can look at the Costco context and see the things I likely would have forgotten had they not been in OmniFocus.
Most of the features of OmniFocus that have the biggest advantages are not unique to the iPhone version. So I may not list all of the features available but I am listing those that I specifically use from the iPhone.
FEATURES:
- Quick add items on the go. No matter what the app is doing at any point in time you can always add an item to your inbox making it easy for you to put something in and get it off your mind.
- Syncs with your MobileMe idisk or any WebDav server. This allows you to stay in sync with the desktop and iPad versions.
- Add images or audio files (voice recordings) as attachments to any action.
- View or listen to the attachment of any action item.
- Access to all context based perspectives allowing you to easily see things based on the correct context with one click (showing the context in the exact setup you specified in the Desktop App).
- Nearby mode allows you to see, whether in list or on a map, the action items due nearest you. Click on a location in the list to get driving directions.
- Push notifications of due items allows you to get an alert when an item is due reminding you of that.
- Easily add new items to OmniFocus using a bookmark which can be used from any other apps. Some apps like Twittelator Pro have already implemented this as a feature.
- Background syncing of your db, if you start a sync and then leave the app it will continue to sync in the background.
- Mark off items as they are completed.
- Add new items, rename, move, organize.
This is definitely more than just a to do list, it is a way of getting things done. If you already own the desktop version then I strongly suggest you purchase the iPhone version. It is worth every penny. I do use the iPad version more and so if you had to choose between the two I’d suggest getting the iPad version. But that is mostly because, with a larger screen it is much easier for the information to be presented to me in a way that works. The advantage though of the iPhone version is mobility. The fact is by far one of the most important apps on my iPhone.
