Things

1. What is Things?

Positioning: Things by Cultured Code is a premium, beautifully designed task manager application focused on the Apple ecosystem (macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS), offering an intuitive and efficient system for organizing personal and professional tasks, deeply inspired by the Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology.

Functional Panorama: The application covers core task management modules including an Inbox for quick capture, dedicated lists for Today and Upcoming tasks, and structured areas like Anytime and Someday. It features robust project management capabilities with nested projects, headings, and checklists. Further modules include powerful tagging, quick entry functionality, Mail to Things integration, Share Sheet support, widgets, keyboard shortcuts, and seamless synchronization across all devices via Things Cloud.

2. Things’ Use Cases

• Individuals can use Things to manage daily errands, personal goals, shopping lists, and routines, leveraging the ‘Today’ view for immediate focus.
• Professionals can organize complex work projects, track deadlines, manage client communications, and structure their workflows by breaking down large tasks into manageable steps using projects with headings.
• Students can keep track of assignments, study schedules, research tasks, and project timelines, using tags for course categorization and checklists for multi-step tasks.
• Productivity Enthusiasts (GTD Practitioners) can implement a full Getting Things Done workflow, from capturing ideas in the Inbox to processing, organizing, and reviewing tasks within a structured system.
• Creative Professionals can capture ideas, manage creative projects, and track progress on various endeavors, benefiting from the clean interface and ability to add detailed notes.

3. Things’ Key Features

• GTD-inspired Workflow: Seamlessly integrates Inbox, Today, Upcoming, Anytime, Someday, and Logbook views for comprehensive task management.
• Things Cloud Sync: Provides reliable, free synchronization across all Apple devices, ensuring tasks are always up-to-date.
• Quick Entry with Autofill: Allows rapid task capture from anywhere on your Mac or iOS device, intelligently suggesting dates and projects.
• Project Management with Headings & Checklists: Facilitates the breakdown of large projects into smaller, manageable sections and sub-tasks.
• Siri Integration: Tasks can be added or checked off using voice commands.
• Focus Filters Integration: Enhanced in March 2024 (Things 3.19) for better integration with iOS/macOS Focus modes, allowing users to show specific lists or tags based on their current focus.
• Interactive Widgets: Improvements in May 2024 (Things 3.20) brought more interactive widgets for the Lock Screen and Home Screen, enabling quick task completion directly from the widget.
• Handoff Support: Users frequently commend the smooth Handoff experience between devices, allowing seamless transition of tasks from one Apple device to another.

4. How to Use Things?

Things is designed for intuitive use, blending official workflows with productivity best practices:

1. Capture Ideas (Inbox): Use the Quick Entry shortcut or share from other apps to add new thoughts, tasks, or reminders directly into your Inbox.

2. Organize & Structure (Projects & Areas): Drag tasks from the Inbox into dedicated Projects (for multi-step goals) or Areas (for ongoing responsibilities like “Work” or “Personal”). Utilize headings within projects to group related tasks.

3. Schedule & Focus (Today & Upcoming): Assign tasks to the ‘Today’ list for your daily priorities or set deadlines for ‘Upcoming’ tasks using the calendar integration. Pro Tip: Drag tasks from ‘Anytime’ directly onto the ‘Today’ list for immediate action.

4. Add Context (Tags): Apply tags to tasks for easy filtering and context-based work. Pro Tip: Use the ‘Magic Plus’ button on iOS/iPadOS to quickly add tasks with pre-filled tags and dates.

5. Review & Reflect (Logbook): Regularly review your ‘Logbook’ to see completed tasks, fostering a sense of accomplishment and providing a record of your work. Pro Tip: Utilize Things’ keyboard shortcuts for rapid navigation and task processing.

5. Things’ Pricing & Access

• Official Policy (One-time Purchase): Things operates on a premium, one-time purchase model for each platform:
  • Mac: $49.99 USD
  • iPad: $19.99 USD
  • iPhone (includes Apple Watch): $9.99 USD
• Things Cloud: The synchronization service, Things Cloud, is included for free with any purchase, requiring no additional subscription.
• Trial Availability: A free trial for the Mac version is available directly from the Cultured Code website, allowing users to experience the full features before purchase.
• Web Dynamics: Unlike many productivity apps, Things does not typically offer limited-time discounts or seasonal sales, maintaining its fixed price point. This pricing strategy reflects a commitment to a high-quality, stable product and a strong preference for one-time purchases over recurring subscriptions, which is a key differentiator against competitors like Todoist.
• Tier Differences: There are no tiered subscription plans; a single purchase unlocks the full set of features for the respective platform. Users purchase the app for each Apple device they wish to use it on.

6. Things’ Comprehensive Advantages

• Deep Apple Ecosystem Integration: Things offers a truly native experience, leveraging Apple-specific features like Handoff, Siri Shortcuts, Focus Filters, and Widgets seamlessly. This contrasts with cross-platform tools that may offer a less integrated feel on macOS/iOS.
• Award-Winning Design & User Experience: Recognized with multiple Apple Design Awards, Things is frequently lauded for its clean interface, intuitive navigation, and thoughtful design, making task management a visually pleasing experience compared to more cluttered alternatives.
• Reliable and Fast Synchronization: Things Cloud provides exceptionally fast and stable synchronization across all devices, ensuring data consistency with minimal latency, a common pain point in other cloud-based task managers.
• One-Time Purchase Model: Its pricing model stands out in an industry increasingly dominated by subscriptions. This offers long-term value and predictability for users who prefer to own their software outright rather than pay recurring fees, contrasting sharply with models like Todoist Premium or Omnifocus subscriptions.
• High User Satisfaction for GTD Implementation: User feedback consistently highlights Things’ effective and simple implementation of Getting Things Done principles, making it a favorite for those who follow this methodology for productivity.
• Focus on Core Functionality: Things deliberately avoids adding overly complex collaboration or advanced project management features often found in tools like Asana or Jira, instead focusing on perfecting personal task management. This focused approach leads to a lean, performant, and reliable application.