The digital landscape is constantly evolving, and for those who live and breathe the tech world, keeping up with the latest apps and services is crucial. In this annual deep dive, we’ll explore the 2022 app ecosystem of prominent tech personality Mykel Hurley, focusing on his surprising shift away from the popular task management app OmniFocus.
The Great Task Management Shift: Why Mykel Hurley Ditched OmniFocus
For many productivity enthusiasts, OmniFocus is the gold standard for task management. It’s robust, feature-rich, and loved by power users. However, even the most dedicated OmniFocus user can sometimes find themselves questioning its complexity. This is precisely what happened to Mykel Hurley.
“I felt like OmniFocus was too complicated for what I was doing,” Hurley confessed during a recent podcast episode. “I was having to add too much metadata to a task, and really all I needed was a simple list of projects.”
Hurley’s quest for simplicity led him back to Todoist, an app he had previously used and abandoned in favor of OmniFocus. He was drawn to Todoist’s intuitive interface, natural language entry, and infinite scrolling task list – features that resonated with his desire for a streamlined workflow.
Adding fuel to the fire was the beta version of OmniFocus 4. While acknowledging that the app is still in development, Hurley expressed concerns about the direction OmniFocus is taking.
“They are making some decisions that are not what I want,” he shared, citing UI changes and a shift towards Swift UI as potential dealbreakers.
Hurley’s journey highlights a crucial truth about productivity tools: The best app is the one that best fits your individual needs and workflow. And for him, Todoist emerged as the clear winner.
Obsidian Reigns Supreme: The Rise of an All-in-One Text Ecosystem
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Mykel Hurley’s exploration of the 2022 app ecosystem isn’t just about task management. He’s also embraced the power of Obsidian, a note-taking app that has become his central hub for all things text.
Obsidian’s rise to prominence in Hurley’s workflow has been a gradual process, but it has now firmly established itself as his go-to app for both note-taking and writing. In fact, it has even dethroned the popular writing app Ulysses, which Hurley previously used for scripting.
This shift was triggered by a redesign in Ulysses that disrupted Hurley’s workflow. Coupled with his growing affinity for Obsidian, the decision to switch became inevitable.
“The more I was using Obsidian to take notes, the more I kept thinking, ‘Well, I can also just sort of write the scripts in here as well,'” Hurley explained.
While acknowledging that Obsidian isn’t a perfect writing app, Hurley has found it to be a more flexible and adaptable solution for his unique needs.
A Tale of Two Obsidians: Embracing the Power of Workspaces and Plugins
Hurley’s use of Obsidian goes beyond the typical note-taking paradigm. He’s pushing the boundaries of the app, utilizing its powerful features to create a truly personalized workflow.
One key element is Obsidian’s ability to open multiple instances of the app, each with its own set of preferences. Hurley uses this feature to create separate “writing” and “notes” versions of Obsidian, each tailored to its specific purpose.
“I can have this totally crazy situation where there is the writing version of Obsidian, which is using my favorite black and green color scheme, and it works in typewriter mode,” Hurley enthused. “And then behind it, I can have this version that is just set up for all of the notes and information that I have about the script.”
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Further enhancing his Obsidian workflow are the app’s built-in workspaces feature. Workspaces allow users to save different arrangements of notes, providing a seamless way to switch between projects.
“What is fantastic is if I’m working on two projects at once, I can fussily arrange all of the different notes that I have about that project, save it as a workspace, and then load an older workspace and have it remember the arrangement,” Hurley explained.
Obsidian’s plugin ecosystem opens up even more possibilities. While Hurley is currently exploring the potential of hiring a developer to create custom plugins for his specific needs, the fact that this is even an option speaks to the app’s remarkable flexibility.
The Power of Precise Tools: Mykel Hurley’s Unique Time Tracking System
Time management is paramount for anyone juggling multiple projects, and Mykel Hurley has developed a sophisticated system that leverages the strengths of multiple apps.
At the heart of his time tracking workflow is Timerary, a popular time tracking app known for its clean interface and seamless integration with Toggl. Hurley praises Timerary’s new features, including detailed reporting and a robust Mac app.
But Hurley doesn’t stop there. He seamlessly integrates Timerary with other apps, creating a truly personalized time management ecosystem.
“The system that I have for time tracking right now is I’m using Timerary and shortcuts in combination with an app I had just started to use last year, which is called Just Timers,” Hurley revealed.
Just Timers excels in its integration with shortcuts, allowing Hurley to set countdown timers and create intricate automations for resetting timers based on specific actions.
“Like say I’ve done my writing block, I go and get my coffee, and it’s only five minutes and I go back to the desk and I flip the writing timer again. What has to happen now is all of the running timers need to stop, which would mean that seven-minute timer, and then also start counting down from an hour and 20 minutes again,” Hurley elaborated.
This intricate system of interconnected apps demonstrates Hurley’s commitment to finding the best possible tool for each task, even if it means combining multiple apps to achieve his desired outcome.
The Never-Ending Quest for Communication Clarity
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Effective communication is vital for any business, and Mykel Hurley has strong opinions on the current state of communication tools. While he remains a staunch advocate for Slack for internal communication, he laments the fragmentation of business communication as a whole.
“The fragmentation of business communication,” Hurley declared, highlighting the stark contrast between the instant, real-time nature of internal communication tools like Slack and the asynchronous, often delayed nature of email.
“Internal communication is a million times better than it ever was for this type because of the way that Slack works,” Hurley acknowledged. “But it only makes the external stuff feel more jarring, and then you’re managing both of these things.”
This dichotomy presents a real challenge. While Hurley sees no easy solution, he yearns for a unified communication platform that can bridge the gap between internal and external communication.
“I wish there was just some master cue of here are all of the messages that have been sent to you from people, and I don’t really care where they originated from,” he mused.
The Lightning Round: A Glimpse into Mykel Hurley’s Favorite Niche Apps
No exploration of Mykel Hurley’s app ecosystem would be complete without a lightning round of his favorite niche tools. These apps address specific needs and demonstrate Hurley’s keen eye for finding the perfect tool for the job.
- Parcel: This app has dethroned the long-time favorite Deliveries as Hurley’s go-to parcel tracker. With its superior tracking capabilities and Amazon integration, Parcel provides a streamlined way to monitor packages.
- Bike Citizens: For urban cyclists, Bike Citizens offers an unparalleled route-finding experience. Hurley is particularly impressed with the app’s ability to suggest multiple routes based on speed, ease, and safety.
- Clean Shot X: This app elevates the humble screenshot to an art form. With its plethora of customization options and annotation tools, Clean Shot X is a must-have for anyone who regularly captures screenshots on their Mac.
- Coolors: This app is a game-changer for anyone who struggles with choosing complementary colors. Its intuitive interface and color-matching algorithm make it easy to create beautiful color palettes.
- Bartender: This essential Mac app tames the often-cluttered menu bar, allowing users to hide, show, and organize menu bar items with ease.
- Top Notch: Specifically designed for Macs with a notch, this app seamlessly blends the notch into the menu bar, creating a cleaner and more unified aesthetic.
- Rocket: This app brings the convenience of emoji and GIF search to any text input field on a Mac. Say goodbye to hunting for the perfect emoji; Rocket has you covered.
- Pipifier: This Safari plugin unlocks picture-in-picture functionality for video content that doesn’t natively support it, making it easy to multitask while enjoying videos from Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other platforms.
- Super Agent: This must-have Safari extension automatically fills out cookie forms, sparing users from the annoyance of endless cookie pop-ups.
- Numbers: While often overshadowed by its more popular counterparts, Numbers is a surprisingly powerful and aesthetically pleasing spreadsheet app. With the recent addition of pivot tables, Numbers is now a compelling option for spreadsheet users of all levels.
FAQ: Your Burning Questions About Mykel Hurley’s App Choices Answered
Q: Will Mykel Hurley ever go back to OmniFocus?
A: While he hasn’t completely ruled out a return to OmniFocus in the future, Hurley seems content with Todoist for the time being. He’s found that Todoist’s simplicity and intuitive interface better align with his current workflow.
Q: Is Obsidian a good choice for writers?
A: While Obsidian is primarily a note-taking app, its flexibility and markdown support make it a viable option for writers, particularly those who embrace a non-linear writing process. Hurley’s use of Obsidian for scriptwriting demonstrates the app’s potential in this area.
Q: What is the best way to get started with time tracking?
A: Hurley’s time tracking system may seem intricate, but the core principles are simple: Find an app that works for you, leverage its integration with shortcuts, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different tools to create a system that meets your unique needs.
The Conversation Continues: What are your thoughts on Mykel Hurley’s 2022 app ecosystem?
Have you made similar shifts in your own digital workflow? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
