Things ($9.99) is a task management iPhone app with some pros and cons, and is only worth your money if you use it consistently.
First, the pros. Things allows you to sort your tasks into five lists and apply tags. Lists include: Today, Next, Scheduled, Someday and Projects. This feature is handy for differentiating short-term and long-term goals.
When you complete tasks, you check them off, and Things sends them to your Logbook. Things also has an Inbox, giving you an inventory of current items from your lists.
Things is also offered as a desktop application. Until a recent update, Things was not accurately syncing between the mobile and desktop versions, a point of frustration for a $10 iPhone app and $50 program.
Second, the cons. Things does not give you the option to assign a specific time for each task, forcing you manually type a time if you want it. It’s good that Things does not require you to assign a time for every task, as some agenda items do not lend themselves to that kind of scheduling. However, meetings, appointments and many other things we do require precise timing. Things’ omission of an option to assign times to tasks, and therefore the ability to prioritize that way, is the biggest drawback to this iPhone app. A more minor problem is that Things lacks the ability to create repeatable tasks, such as a daily routine.
At $10 for the iPhone app and $50 for the desktop software, Things is certainly not a small, impulsive purchase. The Things developer, Cultured Code, offers a free trial of their desktop software for 15 days. If this sounds like an iPhone app for you, try it out first, because odds are good that if you use it everyday on your device, you’re also going to want to sync it up with your computer.
Whether Things’ pros outweigh the cons, or vice versa, is up to you. If you relate to the way the iPhone app sorts your agenda and you use it daily, Things might be worth your $60. For me, I am disappointed Things only recently addressed syncing problems, and does not allow me the option to assign times to my tasks. Plus, $60 for a time management tool that does not allow me to prioritize tasks in this way is out of sync with my financial agenda.
