Question for the community - what are your "must haves" and top priorities for N2?
I just posted in "chit-chat" many of the reasons why I love N2. Yet, I'm not quite ready to adopt N2 as my full-time GTD tool. I'll list what I think is missing - and my questions to the community are - what are your "must-haves? Or top priorities where you think there is a gap?
These are my "biggies" - these are what I think a complete GTD tool must have:
Performance - speed - RESOLVED in N2.
Email to Inbox - with BCC support. This really does prevent my full-time adoption of N2, as 99% of my tasks start with an Email thread. I know the original Nirvana had this, but this feature must also work from the BCC line.
Tags - currently, all tags are AoR, Context or Contacts - which limits the flexibility of tags - and works against their best usage in SmartLists or Advanced Searches. Which brings me to...
Advanced Searches.. I love the global search capability of N2. I really need an advanced search option, which could be used well in...
Smart Lists! - N2 must support a capability to create and access SmartLists, based on an advanced search, which would support "AND/OR" logic for tags, AoR, Contacts, Context, Start Date, Due Date, Focus, Project (including "standalone"), and Someday/Later/Next status.
iPod / iPad application - I realize the mobile app is a "work in progress" and I'd be willing to try to make that work - but I really want an iOS app.
Full keyboard control - there must be keyboard shortcuts for all actions + perfect tabbing in the task entry box. Full keyboard control is the shortest path to "power usage" for just about any tool.
Reports - Printing. A weekly review is so much more useful when you can print it - not to mention a "completed tasks" report. Any mid-level manager (such as myself) can appreciate just how important reporting is.
And finally - exporting. N2 must support an export of all data in a common format (such as .csv) and a corresponding import, also. We gotta have this - the data is our work-life - and we must have a means to get it out - and to get it back in.
Those are all what I consider to be a "must-have" for any mature GTD tool. And I don't think I am asking too much, either! :)
Here are some other top priorities where I think there is a gap (call these a notch below "must-have"):
Nested Projects and nested tasks (sub-projects, sub-tasks). I'd say this is almost a "must-have".
Checklists - please bring them back!
Advanced filtering in the top bar - support "And/ Or / Not" logic. (I haven't worked out a good UI for this yet, but I think it is needed).
A Reference section (a tie-in with Evernote - as an option - would be OK. However, I think N2 needs its own ref section for those who choose not to use Evernote or a similar tool).
Bulk changes (Edits, movements, deletion) to tasks.
Please retain the "Later" view after a restart.
And finally, I'd very much like these features - but I'd have to label them as "nice to have" - at least for now:
Quick entry via Email - include tags in the body of the email (use symbols to parse the text); include start dates and due dates; add multiple tasks via a single Email (text must be formatted strictly to enable parsing into multiple tasks); use body of text as notes.
More info for contacts (Email address, phone #s) added as "waiting for" tags.
Custom reporting (extensibility to the canned reports, suggested above).
Time stamps (optional) for each entry in the notes field.
Conditional "auto-tagging" based on user defined rules.
API extras - support for Reqall, Jott, Twitter, Siri - syncing with 2Do or ToDo.
Recurring tasks (I know this is huge for others, but are not quite as high a priority for myself)
Those are my must-haves and higher priorities. But what do you think? :)
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32 Posted by Scott Viney on 20 Dec, 2010 10:02 PM
OT
@Proximo,
Further up in the discussion you mentioned that you use Evernote for your reference material. Would you mind sharing how you do this? I cant for the life of me figure out how, as currently I have my general reference material on the computer under
General Reference then a folder for A, B, C etc and under each letter folders for each thing.
You can setup subfolders in Evernote can you?
Just curious as to how you work it and do you use the web address for a link in Nirvana?
Thanks for any info you could provide.
Scott (You can email me if you like)
33 Posted by Joe Marshall on 20 Dec, 2010 10:19 PM
I can't migrate to Nirvana (of any version) until recurring taks has been implemented. Everything else I can get by with as the app matures. But the lack of that functionality makes it impossible for me to convert from Toodledo and come over to Nirvana full time.
Support Staff 34 Posted by Elbert McLaughlin on 20 Dec, 2010 10:51 PM
Build 122:
There area some invisible infrastructure hooks in place now for Recurring Tasks, but we're still a few releases away from tackling that. Just wanted to keep y'all in the loop.
Elbert
http://help.nirvanahq.com/kb/site-updates/nirvana-2-release-notes
Support Staff 35 Posted by Elbert McLaughlin on 20 Dec, 2010 10:55 PM
Oh, and thanks @rique for starting/maintaining this list. It's quite helpful for taking the pulse of the crew here on the boards. I know it seems that we take awhile in addressing everyone's wishes, but they are all great. There is a lot a "A needs to happen before B" on our end that holds up the works, but we're getting closer to Nirvana, as it were, with each release. Hopefully with our new hires we'll be able to pick up the pace in the new year.
36 Posted by Tombit on 20 Dec, 2010 10:59 PM
Seeing that email is back made my evening. You guys rock n2 team!
37 Posted by Rique on 21 Dec, 2010 01:00 AM
@Elbert, thank you! Christmas is early (well, almost - I still need BCC support). I'm off for the holidays - great time to start setting up N2 for real-world use.
AND there is also export. Excellent! I wonder if this means that import is soon to come?
A woo and a hoo! ;) I need to go find someone to slap (not sure if my wife would understand and it would just confuse the dogs)
38 Posted by Rique on 21 Dec, 2010 01:02 AM
By the way, does Proximo collect a royalty every time someone references slapping their neighbor or just slapping in general? If so, I'd better watch what I say. ;)
39 Posted by Rique on 21 Dec, 2010 01:14 AM
Hi all,
I've updated the comments in the "living" part of the thread to include build 122.
http://tinyurl.com/26bthv7
40 Posted by Kenny Grant on 14 Jan, 2011 09:32 AM
For me it's these:
1. Sync reliability - I want to know that whether I'm on my iphone, my work desktop or my home laptop I always see exactly the same focus list - rock solid every time. No cache clearing, no sync work around - nothing. At the moment the first thing I do when I go to another machine is try to see what is different and make the corrections myself, this is usually just un-starring.
Filter by context, time and energy on the mobile web app - The irony for me is that the time I really need a context filter (i.e. what can I do now) is when I'm out and about or away from my work desk. I currently don't get anything done that isn't on my focus list because I can't filter my next list on my iphone....it's a big problem.
Starring or un-starring cancels any changes to the task - The number of times I've taken the time to update a task: tags, notes, time energy etc only for it to be cleared when I then realise I want this task to be in my focus list - it's infuriating.
41 Posted by Rique on 18 Feb, 2011 02:25 PM
It is 2-18! Is that synonymous with Christmas? Hopefully, "yes". I would love to update this discussion today. :)
(getting all fidgety already and that's after only one cup of coffee)
EDIT: Build 140 is up. I checked the blog first and assumed that no post = no update (yet). Happily, I was mistaken! :) I will update this thread later - after I find the time to "play" - and after reading through the release notes.
EDIT 2: No release notes yet - and the placeholder says "build 136" - so it looks like another build was needed. It happens. :)
42 Posted by Rique on 14 Mar, 2011 05:33 PM
Hi all,
I've once again updated the comments in the "living" part of the thread to include build 140.
http://tinyurl.com/26bthv7
The only feature which appears to have been - at least partially - addressed is quick entry through Email. Given the added tagging supported through Email entries, I'd have to say that request has been - at least in part - addressed with the 2-18 build (140). I'd be interested in reading what the rest of you think.
As for the other features listed, I didn't catch any on the "master list" which made it into build 140. Of course, there were some very necessary bug fixes, which are highly important and no doubt appreciated!
I am still patiently waiting for - and expecting - a lot of the features in this list. No pressure, Team Nirvana!
43 Posted by alexandremrj on 15 Mar, 2011 12:09 PM
In Nirvana 2, I really need the add multiple tasks in the Inbox
44 Posted by Alan Limebeer on 15 Mar, 2011 02:12 PM
I first looked at Nirvana what? a year ago? maybe it was last summer. Loved it right away, but stopped using it almost immediately because of the lack of nested projects and tasks. Without that, no amount of tagging and filtering is going to get me down to manageable daily lists if I capture everything. And if I can't capture "everything!!!" then what's the point. Also, add AND/OR filtering along with smartlists and unlimited tagging (as per Risque's description) and I'll drop Omnifocus and come running back as a paying customer. I've spent over $100 bucks on software on my Mac, iPad, and iPhone. But it still sucks because I can't access my actions from my PC. I'll gladly pay $100/year if you put that functionality in the cloud for me so my platform matters not again.
45 Posted by Lasse on 16 Apr, 2011 01:49 PM
I thought I'd keep this great discussion going by adding my wishes for GTD Nirvana, too. The last few months have been very busy for me and I’ve realized that I really long for a few features I’ve grown to love in other todo apps. Here’s a list of six features that would make Nirvana my GTD dream come true:
Having said this, let me add that I love Nirvana as it is and that it’s the best GTD app I’ve ever used by a large margin! Glad to see that development is moving along at a steady pace. Great work, Team Nirvana!
46 Posted by freecloud.may on 23 Apr, 2011 11:39 PM
My top wishes:
1. Next list (properly implemented, more info http://help.nirvanahq.com/discussions/questions/460-next-list-is-no... and search for Proximo posts about unified list)
2. Nested projects/sub-projects (with the current functionality of actibe and inactive project we would also get parallel and sequential sub-projects right away = win-win)
3. Advanced filtering (AND/OR/NOT/ANY)
If they are implemented then it'll be GREAT. If not - still the app is GREAT as is.
And that's it it for me, I don't really need anything else (well of course I could think about lots litlle small features here and there, but do I really need them - not really). Also have to say that the current Nirvana 2 is great as is already, love it.
Also wanted to ask. Why would you want sub-tasks? I mean the nex action should be always the next possible action so sub-actions don't make sense to me, just add more next actions (or use notes)?
About checklists - don't need them. wouldn't mind if they were there. A really good reference material tool is a must have along side with Nirvana anyway. Evernote is the best imo. I keep checklists and project support material and general reference there. It's an awesome duo. I think you really need 2 separate apps, each best for its purpose.
47 Posted by kwundram on 06 May, 2011 04:10 AM
Hi All. This is my first post to this discussion group. I use Nirvana N2 daily.
I really need Nirvana to default to an a specific area of focus each time a task is selected since most of my tasks are in one area of focus, but I have a few task in other areas of focus, but I dont want to have select an area of focus for every task.
Forgive me if there is already a way to do this that I may have missed.
Support Staff 48 Posted by David McLaughlin on 06 May, 2011 02:47 PM
@kwundram - the inbox intentionally does not assign an an area, but if you add tasks to next, scheduled, etc, and, if an Area is selected from the drop-down, it will be automatically assigned.
David
49 Posted by AJS on 10 May, 2011 12:18 AM
While I've had my eye on Nirvana for a while now, I never really gave it serious consideration before because I needed a faster mobile solution. Since that side of it is serviceable now I'm starting to experiment with using Nirvana alongside my current task manager Gqueues.
I would like a few more sort options like Due Date or Priority. Gqueues isn't great on that side either and with both you have to constantly drag tasks manually to the top of the list if you want certain tasks there. Drag and drop is a great feature and it is absolutely right that it has been given priority but automatic sorting of a basic type would be nice.