In this final episode of the OmniFocus Screencast trilogy, David covers task completion, review, and additional customization and database maintenance. The screencast is in AppleTV format and looks great on your Mac, iPad, and AppleTV. This episode has a small overscan so it plays better on the AppleTV. Enjoy.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (156.8MB)
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David,
When I open up the video in a new window, it is so small I can’t read what is in the window.
Is there a way to make the video larger?
Thanks,
Mark
David, you’ve resurrected OmniFocus for me. Up until this series of podcasts I’d basically written it off as ‘too painful’ as I just couldn’t wrangle my workflow into shape.
Combining a bunch of the things you’ve put into practise, plus some other info pulled from Simplicity is Bliss, has managed to give me the confidence to attack OmniFocus again. Pretty sure I’ve got it nailed this time!
Great work David!
Agree, the video is too small. I would really like to see the video. Is there a way to make it larger? Thanks,
Marcus
Have you tried downloading the video (either from the web or iTunes) and running it there? I was able to blow it up full screen.
That did it, Katie….looks good now….
Thanks!
Downloading will work, but it might be wise to find a better embedding streaming player that supports expanded viewing.
Downloaded and it looks gorgeous on my 27″ iMac. Regular and Full Screen. Only way to go. Thanks David. Great series.
Synching. Love it
Great Series David, I now use omnifocus to much greater effect.
Thanks
Martin.
Dubai
While out bicycling, I finished listening to my first podcast from you guys.
It was called: “Mac at Work.”
I’ve heard many, many podcasts and I have to say this was one of the best podcasts I’ve ever heard. I’m a self-published author, two books with the third almost finished, and hearing an entire podcast on how you went through the entire process of writing, pitching, editing, re-writing and even the mushy spot with your co-podcaster – all of it was great, great stuff.
I paused the podcast and had Barnes and Nobles in my iPhone address book, called them, they had one left on the shelves, and asked to have it put on hold.
Anyway, just a great accomplishment, David. May you sell more than you ever anticipated!
The video looks great ……. except on my iPod Touch (2nd Generation)
This podcast will not sync down to my 2nd Gen iPod touch. I suspect the file formate of the podcast is “too big” for this model of the iPod Touch ……
While I could convert the file “fit” my particular Ipod …… perhaps a iPhone in the fall ……
David,
I was wondering about something that maybe another cheat on GTD: Aren’t some of your projects really areas or lists of one-off-actions? For example ‘General Gardening’? I was just trying to define projects better for myself and realised that maybe part of my frustration or dissatisfaction with my projects list was the fact, that they were really areas that I never could finish or close. Isn’t a GTD rule that a project should be something that has a goal or target that can be reached and therefore be closed as a project?
I think to confuse these things avoids having the great feeling of closing a project as done.
What do you think?
Best regards,
Michael
I’m absolutely stunned at the behavior of your sponsors, given your repeated endorsement of them.
I contacted OmniGroup and asked them about their Terms of Service for the OmniSync server. I stated that while I was willing to take the risk that a third party might hack their server and access my data, I was concerned about their requirement that customers agree to let OmniGroup use and SELL my customer data. Here is the relevant part of their reply:
Fundamentally, you’re going to be better off securing your own data than trusting any third party to do so. Changing the TOS won’t alter that. We’ll make good faith efforts to protect the server, but I’m not interested in making promises of anything additional. Folks shouldn’t be making the security of their data “someone else’s problem”.
I must say I’m amazed to have a company say that a simple request that they agree not to sell my data is making it “someone else’s problem”.
I’m even more amazed that you are promoting it.
Anita-
We have forwarded your concerns to Ken Case, the head of the OmniGroup and we were pleased to learn that he has already been in contact with you to further discuss this issue. Please know that choose our sponsors very carefully, I have every confidence that Omni try to implement a workable solution that addresses your concerns or at least better explain and clarify their policy. I hope you will follow-up here an in other forums where you have posted this with the results.
Great series. This has made a complex system usable. Just what I needed. Thank you.
greetings to you
seems like since mpu joined forces w/ 5by5, the 3 fantastic omnifocus screencasts are no longer available thru the macsparky itunes channel. this is very very sad news since the screensize is way too small via 5by5. don’t like it at all and i think this will be a great disappointment to many. itunes was a much larger screen, easy to read and so on… the mpu layout and options, especially for a screencast, has got to be improved.
what do you suggest?
please comment
thank you
neil
Neil,
You can download them direct from our website in full size using the download link. You don’t have to watch them in the web browser.
When I try to download this file It opens instead as a “Play in new window”
Part 1 and 2 works ok
Thanks
Screencast 003: OmniFocus Ninja Tricks (Part 3 of 3)
if it won’t’ download in your browser, try holding the option key while you click to force the download. That should work.
Thanks Katie
That worked
Great videos
As a recent Mac new Mac owner one of the first applications I bought was OmniFocus based on how much I liked the iPad and iPhone versions plus the videos that were on Omni Groups website. I bought my Mac and OmniFocus back in April 2011 and have been slowly implementing and using the programs across the Mac, iPad and iPhone. I just came across the 3 screencasts that David did on OmniFocus and really wish I would have stumbled across them earlier. They were AWESOME! It made OmniFocus SO much easier to understand and use and the hint about setting up the Today view was fantastic. I only rarely used a start date for my tasks but I always used a due date, now I am using both start and due dates and feel that I am more productive for it. Since watching these screencasts I have been able to use OmniFocus a lot more and it’s helped me to better organize the thoughts in my head about things to do so that nothing falls through and gets forgotten. Thanks so much!
Thank you David! I’ve had Omnifocus for about 3 years and so busy I never was able to take the time to research everything to get it into a completely trustable system. With your 3 videos, I now have all of my 200+ projects and 700+ next actions completely organized – productivity and clarity are through the roof! I even FINALLY have hubby in on the game and we are both working on one overall system.
One question. I would like your thoughts on keeping huge projects organized. I have my ideas, but in the realm of getting another view on how you handle knowing what you have done and still need to do on project. ie: Do you have a ‘completed’ prospective & write notes on each action?….do you write all notes on the project in the project’s ‘notes’ section?…etc.
My husband and I work together and use OF on our iPhones throughout the day & we have a weekly or biweekly meeting to go through the weekly review on my Mac.
However, I’m looking for the quickest and easiest way to know (without having to ask him every time)…..for example, he called whomever, this was the result & therefore, I can complete the next action. OR review what happened on each step of a 40 action project when we are both taking on different parts.
I’m looking forward to see how you process this on your end.
Thanks in advance for your time and your brilliant website and blog!
Your other screencasts – as well as podcasts and books! – are great, David. The download link for Screencast 003: OmniFocus Ninja Tricks (Part 3 of 3) however, only opens a viewing window and doesn’t allow me to download the screencast.
To you and all of your partners, keep up the good work…we REALLY appreciate it!!!
[...] A review process in OmniFocus is very simple (see more in this MPU screencast): [...]