As frankps sees the world

What is the best To-Do app?

On 28th July 2017

I’m a frequent user of to-do apps, simply cause I need to organise my life in lists. I guess I’ve always had a GTD approach to life! It gives satisfation to have completed something and I love to simplify tasks by breaking them in to sub-tasks when possible.

I’ve tried many To-Do apps and cloud services, like Reminders on iOS and macOS, to-do in Outlook on various platforms, Keep on Android, Remember the Milk, Any.do, Todoist, OneNote, Wunderlist and the new Microsoft To-Do.

What is important with to-do app?

For me there is a few things, that comes to mind:

Ease of use – User interface should be simple to use on any platform. Only to focus on tasks and when they should be done.

Overview – An overview is as good as getting reminders. You need to be able to plan your day.

Reminders – When you need them (time and geographical).

Sharing – I’m not alone, nor at work or at home. A lot of tasks or subtasks should be done by others! GTD is about making the right person do the job.

Most apps are available with a web interface, but I prefer using an app. So for me the perfect to-do app is available for macOS, iOS, Windows and Android. If possible also for Windows Phone! Yes, I use Windows Phone once in a while…

Remember the milk

My first to-do app. Still a great app, even the free version. Has envolved a lot from originally being a shopping list app.

Really easy to use, and also comes with Alexa support. The free version only lets you share with two persons, but that is enough for most of us. Sadly, subtasks can only be added to a task with the Pro version.

Remember the milk lets you add places for geofencing, so that you can get reminders when you get to work, home or other places. You can also estimate time for each task, giving you even more functionality for planning your day! The app also comes with tags support and great integration with Gmail and Google Calendar for those of us using that. Outlook syncronization is only available in the Pro version.

This service has an API available, so there are few 3rd party apps available and apps for the desktop. The APIs also makes it possible to integrate Remember the milk with other cloud services. But really good apps are missing, other than the official ones for iPhone, Android and the web.

Any.do

I bought a subscription for a month to try it out, but was very fast to abondon it!

I simply couldn’t like it’s user interface. There also seems to be only mobile apps available next to the web version. Alexa has an official integration with Any.do, so no integration through skills is needed and Any.do is also integrated with Apple Reminder.

You can easily colloborate over tasks and shopping lists with others.

Any.do had a lot of great functionality, but this service simply wasn’t for me!

Wunderlist and Microsoft To-Do.

The very reason why I’m writing this blog post. Wunderlist was recently announced EOL (End of Life). An announcement that almost made me angry, and started a process looking at other services that could replace it. I have not found any, and concluded that Wunderlist still works really well.

Wunderlist will eventually be replaced by Microsoft To-Do. But that is most likely still a year away or even more. The new To-Do app gets updated every second week with bug fixes and from time to time new functionality.

Official Wunderlist apps excists for Windows 10, Windows Phone, macOS, iOS (iPhone and iPad versions) and Android.

Wunderlist has a brilliant user interface. It is easy to share a list of tasks and it fast became our preferred shopping list with its live update. I have list for work and private, but sadly the team behind Wunderlist never got around to implementing geofencing.

There is no official support for Alexa voice commands, but I am quite happy with the Alexa skill Wunder Shopping. Most of the time, it gets what we want correctly, but once in a while it misses target completly and have a big laugh! I also have it integrated with Cortana, and I also can use voice commands on my Android phone and Windows 10.

Microsoft To-Do

My big hope. It is off to a promising start. It is developed by the same team as the one that developed Wunderlist. And it feels very much the same. Sharing is not there yet, nor is support for voice commands. I guess voice support is being actively developed with Harman Kardon Invoke soon to released for purchase.

Apps for the new to-do is in place for iOS, Android and Windows. It is also integrated as to-dos on Outlook.com, and runs as a separate web app.

A feature that I am missing is with Wunderlist is an integration with Office 365, that will surely come with Microsoft To-Do. Have a look at UserVoice to get an overview on what Microsoft plan to develop for its new To-Do service.

Todoist

The service has a great user interface, both on the web and for all the apps. And for those of you, who want to migrate from Wunderlist, it comes with import functionality.

When Todoist starts, it shows you an overview of tasks due today, and with an extra click all tasks due the next 7 days.

Tasks are organised in lists and in the premium version you can also organise them with labels. You can also filter your tasks to only show tasks assigned to you, after priority and with no due date. You can of couse make your own filters and it also comes with geofence support.

You can both share tasks and lists with others.

Alexa support

What made me really fall for Todoist, is that Alexa is officially supported. No 3rd party skills are need use Alexa voice commands to add items to your todo or shopping list.

Here are three of my favourite commands:

“Alexa, add shopping to my to-do list”
“Alexa, add coffee to my shopping list”
“Alexa, what’s on my to-do list today?”

Summary

I highly recommend Todoist for those of you who are in the search for a great to-do list app. It is “feature complete”! I can’t think of functionality missing. And if it hadn’t been for the fact that I’ve been using Wunderlist daily the last 2-3 years, I would have subscribed to the premium version of this app. I am honestly still thinking of migrating away from Wunderlist, untill Microsoft To-Do gets all the needed functionality implemented.

What is your favourite to-do app?

I like to hear from you. You’ve found my blog and read this article. Is there a great app or web service I have missed out on?

Blackmagic Web Presenter

By frankps

On 21st July 2017

In Technology

Today I got to play with a new hardware that I think we will be using a lot at work. The Blackmagic Web Presenter is simply a box that captures video from any camera (HDMI and HD-SDI) and relays it to your computer, making the video appear as though it originates from a webcam. The Web Presenter works with macOS, Windows, Linux, and even Chromebook.

To test it, I set it up with a Dell Latitude 7280 and a Sony PXW-X70.

Windows 10 detecked the new hardware as soon as I connected it, and installed the correct driver:

On the Sony PXW-X70 I only had to change the output from HDMI to SDI, and set the resolution to 1080p and a crisp and clear video stream appeared in my Skype settings:

The Web Presenter supports video output from cameras up to Ultra HD resolution. The device scales output signal down to 720p for web streaming using Teranex conversions, which should result in very high quality scaling. It supports both HDMI 2.0 and 12G-SDI connections, and also includes XLR and component audio-in.

My guess is that the Blackmagic Web Presenter will be ideal to stream live video on platforms like Facebook Live, Microsoft Teams, Skype, Web RTC (Appear.in and similar services) or Periscope with a high quality camera.

Nikon KeyMission

By frankps

On 12th March 2017

In Photography, Technology

The Nikon KeyMission 360 is the second 360 camera that I have tried. As a Nikon guy, you can imagine how high my expectations were! I borrowed it at work, from a department that imported it from the US. The camera is not available in Scandinavia. And that is a good thing!

I’ve tested it over a few days. Never have I had such horrible experiences. This blog entry offers a brief summary.

Yubico security key

By frankps

On 2nd February 2017

In Technology

Security should be about simplicity. Making security both simple and understandable even for novice users. Security keys is such a technology, but have mostly been used in enterprise. The Yubico USB key is a game changer, it offers for the first time an easy and secure way to log in to services. Let’s face it, we have been learned to have a unique password for each net service we use, but end up using the same static password across multiple services and when a site is hacked, we don’t change the password on all the services using the same password.

Securing my online activities

By frankps

On 30th January 2017

In Technology

I have been using Google Authenticator on several of the online sites that I use.

Today I learned about a new open authentication standard, Universal 2nd Factor Authentication (U2F). Compared to app based two factor authentication, U2F is a hardware-based authentication that aims to simplify, fasten and secure the two-factor authentication process. Initially the standard was developed by Google and Yubico.

I learned about U2F through an announcement from Facebook. They now support this new standard, instead of relying on a one-time passcode sent via text message or email. I have ordered the cheapest YubiKey: Fido U2F security key and will be writing about my experiences in a future blog post. The security key is on its way, and shipping is said to take 5-10 days.

U2F standard as a security feature has already been implemented by major companies including Facebook, Google, Dropbox, GitHub, Salesforce and supported by the latest versions of Chrome and Opera web browsers.

A Review of Daydream View

By frankps

On 8th January 2017

In Technology

Last autumn I’ve spent time trying out the VR systems Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. I recently got a Moto Z phone and my girlfriend bought me a Daydream View. Google’s new VR platform is still not launched in the Nordic market.

This blog post sums up my first experiences with my new VR platform. Please grab a cup of coffee or tea and start reading…

Macbook Pro with Touchbar

By frankps

On 4th January 2017

In Technology

I’ve finally got the new Macbook Pro 13″ with touchbar. It arrived within a month of ordering. My iPhone 7 plus did not arrive and I cancelled the order after two months.

For the first time I am not sure if I like the new Macbook Pro 13″ or not. Previous models have all been highly regarded.

How do you use Facebook and would you stop using it?

By frankps

On 30th December 2016

In About me, Technology

I’m trying to figure out how I might best escape from Facebook. Facebook has in many ways become a private Internet and being blocked by Facebook can damage your social life or be a democratic problem (your voice will not be heard). As Facebook is “free”, everything you do (post, comment and like) is being tracked and sold to advertisers and others. Facebook is the most successful lock-in of information on the Internet we’ve seen so far. The situation we are in reminds me of one of the best books I’ve read, Ready Player One. The movie is out in 2018 for those who don’t like reading and is directed by Steven Spielberg. It should be a mandatory read (and watch)…

Moto Z – Wow, what a great phone!

By frankps

On 16th December 2016

In Technology

Two months ago I ordered an iPhone 7 Plus, but it never arrived. In the end, I got tired of waiting and ordered a Moto Z instead. Before returning to an iPhone, I had already become fed up with Apple’s constructed marketing “always shortage of devices because of high demand”. The new Moto Z was of course in stock and delivered a day after it was ordered. My two last phones were Sony Xperia Z and Z3.

Zoom Q8 – A multi purpose camera

By frankps

On 24th November 2016

In Photography, Technology

I love trying out new technology that we buy at work, and then blog about it. This is a mini review of a camera that took me by surprise. I didn’t expect such a cheap camera to deliver such a high quality experience!

zoom-q8-handheld-audio-video-recorder

Imagine having a camera that can do video recordings with brilliant sound, that you can use as a dictaphone, and as a webcam for Skype or other video conference solutions. Yes, there is such a camera!

I’ve used the Zoom Q8 with excellent results for recordings of a choir and for a solo artist singing with piano accompaniment. And I’ve used the camera to do a video conference with my girlfriend when she was working abroad. Other Point-of-View cameras, like the GoPros, just aren’t meant to be used for long videos with lots of talking: they are limited to being action cameras.

The Q8 is a high-end device that records both audio and video. It ships with a 120-degree stereo mic. The sound quality is excellent and can record uncompressed at 24-bit/96kHz. It’s compatible with most of Zoom’s famous mic capsules, so that you can choose a mic based on which type of recording you’ll be using it for. If that is not enough, you can connect two additional XLR microphones with a selectable phantom power (-20dB pad) if your microphones don’t have onboard power. And, unlike most Point-of-View cameras, it includes a headphone, enabling you to monitor the mix live.

zoom-micselection

The camera has a 160-degree wide-angle lens that can record up to a whopping 1296p at 60fps. You can of course do recordings in 1080p 30fps, 24Mbps for easier workflow for publishing videos on the Internet. The picture is extremely clear, but the camera lacks a built-in stabilizer. It is a great semi-professional Point-of-View camera, and should be considered a competitive option to GoPro Hero and Sony cameras. You might not need 4K resolution, but what about getting the best audio quality on the market for such cameras? The model should be considered if you plan to buy a camera to do home videos, podcasts, filming concerts, music videos, etc. — as long as you don’t extend it to water and extreme sports.

What makes this camera truly awesome is the fact that the Zoom Q8 allows you to record the audio and video on separate tracks (up to four audio tracks, actually). If you put an effort into editing, it’s mandatory to have them as separate tracks to mix it better in your video editing software. The camera has an accurate built-in clock. An inaccurate clock isn’t a problem when you’re recording a ride down a mountain side, but when you need to sync separate audio and video tracks, it’s a huge pain when you then have to stretch the duration on either the audio or the video.

If all this isn’t enough, what if I tell you that this wide-angle camera is perhaps the best Skype camera I have ever used. Both on 1-1 and conference calls. The wide-angle lens, great XYQ mic and included table tripod make it ideal for calls where you are to capture 3-4 people!

One negative thing that I see being mentioned in other reviews is that the camera has overheated when doing recordings longer than 40 minutes, resulting in a corrupted video file. I have never run in to this, as I have not done such long recordings. Despite this apparent problem, I have no doubt that this camera comes highly recommended.