OmniFocus for Mac

OmniFocus is amazing, with powerful functionality. I was impressed enough to buy it, but ended up getting a refund. (The vendor was great!) My problem: OmniFocus is fundamentally a push system (the software reminds YOU what to do). I need a pull system (I DECIDE what to do). Things 3 was closer to what I needed. I currently use Things for scheduled reminders, am transitioning back to low-tech to-do lists.

After looking at many Todo applications, I ended up using Nextcloud tasks, which sync via CalDAV and allow me to use them cross-platform on iOS, Android, macOS, Linux and Windows. That seemed to offer the most flexiblity as everything is based on an open protocol. And the cost is zero (sure you need to have a nextcloud instance, but if you don't have your own there are many options for free sign-up).

After having used Things 3 for a year, I've switched to OmniFocus. I've used previous versions of both apps for many years. Things 3 fails in key areas: 1. No way to easily see which tasks are due and overdue. Things 2 had a switch for that, but 3 doesn't. Major omission. 2. Cultured Code never listens to user feedback, let alone entice communication with their users. OmniGroup on the other hand offers EXCELLENT, attentive support AND listens to their users/customers. 3. Things has no way to save searches. This is particularly problematic since it doesn't has tabs either. Whenever you switch view from f.e. a tag-filtered Today view, to some project, and back again: your Today view is no longer filtered by that/those tag(s): it's back to its default view of everything. OmniFocus on the other hand, has Perspectives, which is like "saved searches on steroids". Immensely useful! One click, and you see your tasks from the exact perspective – filtered exactly like you've configured it. 4. Things 3's sections/headers were a nice, welcome addition to Things 2. But compared to OmniFocus' true, fantastic outlining capabilities: their usefulness is very very small. You can't collapse them, to create a less cluttered view. You can't search for them. They don't do anything else than visually divide your task list into sections. 5. OmniFocus has attachments. Even audio files. Things 3 has none of that. 6. Things 3 dumbed-down their "start-date" feature. And it's not as powerful for postponing projects, as OmniFocus' "defer-dates" feature is. 7. "next actions" in Things 3 is as bad an implementation as it was in Things 2. In OmniFocus, you have true dependencies. Projects can be set as "sequential" – and you'll only see the next action in your action lists. This is HUGE! If you have complete a given client project before you can invoice it, there's no reason that the "send invoice for the project" shows up in your list of admin-work to do. In Things it will. Things is "dumb" that way. Overall, in Things I end up with way too many tasks in the Today view, because everything I don't wanna forget ends up going there. But the result is a constant list of 50-100 tasks in "Today". OmniFocus lets me prioritize and FILTER much better – and more consistently. And OmniGroup is really, IMO, such a cool company worth supporting. For us long-time Mac users, they're one of those developers who has stuck with the Mac, listens to their customers, and develop unique applications that you just KNOW WORKS.

I have found OmniFocus to be amazingly useful. OmniFocus is expert friendly. OmniFocus gives you a number of ways to do something so YOU decide what subset of features you need to use. HINT: You don't have to use every OmniFocus feature. Pick a subset. Even the most basic can be very useful. If your set of task management grows, OmniFocus has the features that will allow handle the growth. This is why I use the term "Expert Friendly". Unlike apps such as Todoist, OmniFocus can start simple, and grow with you as your needs grow. If you are starting out managing tasks, don't overdo it. A hyper-organized list of tasks will NOT make it easier to get them done. Start simple. Finish simple tasks. When over time, your set of tasks grow, consider adding a OmniFocus feature or two. Last, put this app front and center on your Desktop, smart phone, and tablets. Schedule tasks for dates in the future. Check on your list on a daily basis to start. If your day is too busy, reschedule tasks to a later date (life happens, this is normal). When you DO finish a task, give yourself a sense of enjoyment marking that task as done. Even saying to yourself "yay" as you check it off helps. Enjoy!

So the OmniGroup is preparing their users for a subscription based service?
I don't need the webbased app and certainly don't need the $10 a month subscription to access a web function I don't need. I have paid way way too much for the Pro version on iPad, iPhone and Mac. I guess if they force their users to a subscription it is goodbye for me. Over the years I have probably paid over 300 dollars to keep OF current on all my devices.

I think I am not alone in this trend. for years I have bought more and more software and since the last year I find myself deleting more and more apps I hardly use. The subscription model has taken it's toll on me. I am in the process of dumping most of my subscription model based software. Things here I come ...

In the end there is only one solution to the subscription based software. Don't subscribe!