In the world of GTD, Midnight Inbox is surely one of the best designed contenders. It’s so good it’s addictive.
I’ve recently started using Inbox for organizing and collecting all my various projects as well as study materials and schedules. Although it took a while for me to get used to the whole GTD concept, I now use the application constantly.
![[Midnight Inbox]](http://lipidity.com/images/Inbox-20070826-130315.jpg "Screenshot of the Midnight Inbox app Work screen")
Midnight Inbox implements David Allen’s GTD approach
One of the great things about Inbox is that it looks so good. Good enough to forgive make up for its relatively frequent crashes. The interface is really well designed, keeping in line with many of the Mac metaphors while adding a few unobtrusive features that are generally easy to work out.
It’s clear this is a great application. It has major potential and version 2.0 looks exciting. Congrats to the developers.
Going through the contents of the application, I found CGS.framework and thought, “Interesting. They’re using Core Graphics”. It didn’t occur to me that I released a framework with the exact same name. Well, I’ve finally realized that one of my favorite apps is possibly using this framework and … [speechless].
This is the first application (to my knowledge) to use that particular framework, and only the second to use code that I’ve posted. (Logan Rockmore’s Assignment Planner was the first, using the AnimatingTabView).
I’ve never used another GTD program before, but after trying this app, I doubt I’ll need to. Go check out the fantabulous Midnight Inbox and get things done with style.
12 Comments so far
Leave a commentDo yourself a favor and try iGTD also. Not as pretty as Midnight Inbox, but actually much, much better. I was also a Midnight Inbox customer before. I hope you are still on your trial period.
mentioned by sergio on August 27, 2007 6:56 pm | Permalink
Sergio, on your recommendation I’m trying iGTD. It certainly looks powerful. I’m still new to the GTD concept so it’ll probably take a while before I settle into a workflow no matter which app I use.
professed by Ankur on August 27, 2007 7:33 pm | Permalink
I actually own a copy of Midnight Inbox. It is indeed pretty, but I came to find it too much, too over the top. I’ve been much better pleased with OmniFocus, which I do not believe is generally available, but looks soon to be. Inbox has a habit of being everywhere and doing everywhere. Focus slides in and slides out just when I need it to, and it has some very nice touches. I’d at least give it a gander.
voiced by Andre on August 27, 2007 11:54 pm | Permalink
I’ve tried many GTD apps. Midnight Inbox looks so pretty but sadly the workflow sucks (for me). Currently I prefer iGTD like Sergio. It works for me although I must admit it doesn’t have much style. But I’m still hoping for someone to combine usability with style. Maybe Midnight Inbox 2.0 will get it right. Or maybe Things from Cultured Code will do the trick. Judging from their website it looks very promising… Too bad they don’t have a beta yet.
uttered by Lance on August 28, 2007 2:44 am | Permalink
Drop both Inbox and iGTD. I followed Inbox from early, EARLY, in beta - and I just recently dropped it for OmniFocus. And OmniFocus is EARLY in alpha.
OmniFocus is absolutely AMAZING. That’s all I can really say - I suggest you don’t get too used to anything else, and maybe if you know how, find a way to try out omnifocus - so to speak d-:<
mentioned by elliottcable on August 28, 2007 10:01 am | Permalink
I second the voices on OmniFocus. Been using it for more than two months now, and I don’t want to miss it. It’s power is its simplicity in my opinion. It’s not for everyone, but I tried Inbox and iGTD and both were just too bloated for my taste. I wouldn’t say you should drop everything for OmniFocus though. Everyone has a different taste and different workflow, so I’d suggest giving iGTD a try and then maybe OmniFocus when it’s out.
reported by Mathias on August 28, 2007 9:32 pm | Permalink
iGTD has a not too bad concept but is more than poorly realized. The UI is just crap.
Midnight Inbox has nice look but is well known to be more than buggy.
OmniFocus is just beautiful, both in GUI and workflow. But it is still in private beta.
Another (yet unreleased) promising GTD app one should keep an eye on is called “Things” from the makers of “Xyle Scope”.
http://www.culturedcode.com/things/
Jason
uttered by Jason on August 28, 2007 10:08 pm | Permalink
I’ve tried them all.
OmniFocus is unintuitive and (sorry, Jason) unattractive.
iGTD’s UI is an utter mess.
Midnight Inbox is extremely buggy.
The new “it” GTD app is Things.
http://www.culturedcode.com/things/
I’m using it, and I love it. It’s gorgeous, intuitive, and deceptively simple. It’s not even in beta, yet, and I’m already sold. I migrated everything out of OmniFocus and into Things. (Disclaimer: I’m not affiliated with Cultured Code in any way. I’ll be paying for it, like everyone else.)
I tried to like OmniFocus. I really did…. But it “beat me over the head” with too much rigidity and too many “rules.” It felt like a stern babysitter. Her way or not at all. Then I found Things.
Things is “GTD for grownups.”
OmniForgotten.
composed by Mark on December 16, 2007 7:21 pm | Permalink
I’ve reverted to VoodooPad for now, but Things is looking good. I just need to get my hands on a copy.
reasonded by Ankur on December 16, 2007 7:42 pm | Permalink
just got the things invite yesterday and couldn’t agree more about it vs. omnifocus. i love omnioutliner and use it whenever possible but OF, not so much. which is weird since they have so much in common — but OF started to feel fiddly after using it for a while. it’s really powerful and i can see how some folks would love it, but for me things is a great breath of fresh air. i just hope it doesn’t lose its elegance as they start adding features.
determined by markb on December 18, 2007 5:49 pm | Permalink
I’m hoping to find a substitute for Entourage’s Project Center — a GTD-like software that allows me to include emails into a project. I tried OmniFocus and SohoNotes, but neither seem to allow dragging emails over to a project. I hear Midnight Inbox does, but the reports of it’s bugs scares me off. Can you recommend something? Cheers!
proclaimed by seahose on April 30, 2008 1:27 am | Permalink
I’ve been using Things since early beta. I think that its interface is simple and looks very good. And if you’re not a strict GTD user it’s perfect choice.
But since I started to follow GTD more I had to switch to OmniFocus. The reason is that Things lack sequential projects. Without them all contexts are useless. And working strict GTD style is simply impossible. You can’t filter only next actions for given context (tag). And 90% of my projects are sequential so until Thing would implement this feature i’ll stick with OF.
And I have to say that OF is a great app. You’ve got to get used to interface and workflow but then working with it very easy and intuitive.
stated by vagabond on April 30, 2009 10:07 am | Permalink
Leave a comment