5 posts tagged “37signals”

I’ve started using 37Signals Backpack (in addition to my OmniFocus set-up) again after it’s recent upgrade. I’m using it for random lists - blog ideas, photo setups, podcast ideas…my someday/maybe/must-have lists.

I love:
1. The dividers - I can move them around anytime I want
2. The way you can move sections of text, reorder the pages, move things to other pages
3. It feels a lot faster
4. Page feeds!

This is a lot of fun to play with, and I know it’s going to be really helpful now that I’ve got two (hopefully) active blogs and am looking to start 2 podcasts.

37Signals has released their new version of Backpack, their simple organization system.

New features (from the website):
1. Move anything anywhere on a page
Now you can order the elements on your page anyway you’d like. You can have a note on top of a list or three files then a photo then a note then a list. They’re your pages to organize the way you want.
2. Move stuff to other pages
Moving stuff on a page is hot, but now you can also move stuff to other pages. One page getting cluttered? Go on, just drag it to another page. You can even create a brand new page by dragging the item to the “Make a new page” button.
3. Search!
You can now search all your Backpack pages from any page. The search field is right under the “Make a new page” button.
4. Page dividers
Page dividers let you compartmentalize your pages to keep your stuff even better organized. You can label the dividers anything you’d like.
5. New toolbar
We’ve cleaned up the toolbar and put it at the top of the page instead of under the page title. This keeps your pages nice and clean. Everything under the toolbar is yours.
6. Multiple photo galleries per page
You can now group photos in galleries and add as many galleries to a page as you’d like. You can also move the photos around inside a gallery!
7. Better titles for lists, notes, and pictures
Now every list gets a title (it defaults to “List” but you can rename it anything you’d like). Note titles are optional. Picture galleries can be titled now as well.
8. Page feeds for shared pages
Every shared Backpack page now has an RSS feed. This helps you stay up to date when someone else changes the page. You can also subscribe to all your pages at once on the “My Pages” screen.

I’ve started using it again after about a six-month layoff and am really liking the changes (especially the drag/drop and the dividers). Packrat, the invaluable Backpack desktop app, is reportedly working on an update to utilize all the new features (It’s now updated!). This app easily integrates Backpack use into any established GTD system (or your own non-specific…).

My Backpack compatriot is surely going to write one of his detailed posts on this update (He’s a big Backpack fan!). I’ll point to his post as soon as it’s up Update - it’s here!).

Relevant Links:
37Signals announcement
ReadWriteWeb

Widget Watch: Avalanche - A free Basecamp client for Yahoo! Widgets - The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW): “Basecamp is a popular and powerful web-based project collaboration and management service from 37signals, makers of other TUAW favorites like Backpack and Highrise.”

I’ve not used my Basecamp account for a while (new job, new system!), but this would have been handy when I did. Except I’m not really a Yahoo!Widget-kind of girl…but I applaud the functionality.

(Via The Unoffice Apple Weblog - TUAW.)

UPDATE: The 37Signals Product Blog has a new post on Avalanche (more detailed!) with comments by one of the developers.

37signals Product Blog: Create Backpack reminders via e-mail/SMS:

For those fans of 37Signals Backpack (I’m one of them!) - a great script that adds reminders when offline. I’m going to revisit Backpack, I’m having iCal issues and I think this might be a great stop-gap until I can get them straightened out.

(Via 37Signals Product Blog.)

I bought an 8G iPhone on the first available weekend. For weeks before I was saying I was going to wait - and yet, Saturday morning I’m in (and out) of Apple Soho in 10 minutes with my shiny new gadget and case.

Impressions after two weeks - it’s exceeded all my expectations. My Twitter feed that first weekend was full of hyberbole (even from usual low-key developers) but it really lived up to the hype.
- It’s easy to navigate with the touch screen (the “Calamari” commercial is a real-time example)
- Developers (especially after iPhoneDevCamp) have been churning out new apps
- The iPod sound is so clear, a definite step ahead
- The Text Feature is fun (looks like iChat bubbles) and I’m using it so much more than previously
- The Web app (Safari) turns horizontally and vertically (I really like the the keyboard input while on it’s side)
- While the keyboard was a little challenging at first, I was a pro after just a couple of days.
- The battery life (I have heard others have had issues) has been great. I turn off the Wifi when I’m not using it as I think the sniffer uses a lot of power
- I have a lot of email accounts and all are now on (except work, I need help from my Network guys on that)

Favorite Applications (so far) -
- Mockdock (an online dock for iPhone apps)
- PocketTweets (Twitter on the iPhone)
- gOffice (Microsoft Office for iPhone)
- Meebo (Chat client that includes AIM, MSN, Yahoo!, etc.)
- Ta-Da (37Signals Ta-Da - to do list maker)

Resources -
- Top 25 Web Apps for iPhone (Rev2.org)
- iPhone Appr
- iPhoneDevCampsApps(BarCamp.org)
- Macenstein.com’s test for dead pixels
- iPhone Typing Test
- Simple Spark

Acknowledgements -
These resources and applications have been gathered from a number of places, including my Twitter feed, Pownce, Daring Fireball, The Macalope, Scobleizer, TUAW, and probably more.

Thanks to everyone who shares resources/apps/etc!

I am slowly incorporating the iPhone into my GTD system - more as it becomes ingrained.