We've got a really nice update to the iOS app this month, we have added a few really nice new features to the App.

Search

First up, and the most obvious: full Search available right from the main screen.  Type in anything you waant and it will go search the server for the latest most up-to-date information possible. Tap on one of the results and if it's something that's not already on the phone the details will be instantly downloaded automatically for you - so no stale information here.  

The list of search results has been designed for quickly skimming through, however if you need more detail then tap the 'Expand' button and it will give you that extra bit of context. Hit it again to go back to the simple display.  And finally, to help you get around, start scrolling and a large index bar will fade in allowing you to jump straight to the section that you're most interested in.

Notebooks

The Project screen sports three new sections, one of which is Notebooks.  As you'd expect, this new Notebook section gives you the ability to read all of your Notebooks directly within the app.  So no more having to go out to Mobile safari and zooming around to fit the notebook to the display - the display fits the notebook. Exactly.

(download)

Click here to download:

ios-update-search-files-notebooks-and-contacts-lijxsvzelefDDJtAFpai.zip (234 KB)

Files

Just like Notebook, the Files section gives you full access to all of the files available in your Project. Plus, as you can see from the screenshot, you can easily send the file to your favourite App.  So if you like reading PDF's in iBook or presentations in Keynote, no problem

Contacts

Finally, Contacts.  A full listing of everyone associated with the project, this screen has a couple of nice touches.  Each detail of the person's information can be used - so, for example, tapping on a Skype address gives you the option of starting a Skype call, a chat or simply copying the account name.  Same goes for GTalk, Email and, of course, Phone Numbers.

We hope you like it and as usual, let us know what you think!

Download the app from the App store today.

One of the most requested features, for the iPhone app, was to have some way to track and log time.  And to be fair, the phone is a perfect device for this kind of thing.  Whether you're in a meeting with a client or working at your desk, the chances are that you'll have your phone near by.  As I write this post, in a café in Blarney, the phone is serving me some Hotspot goodness while displaying a full screen TeamworkPM timer - reminding me to stay on the straight and narrow.  Time is money after all.

So what have we done?  Well, as you'd expect you can quickly start a timer from any task or project. (Sorry Martin not from a Milestone!).  When you do, a big, easy to read, timer is displayed. Stick the phone in the dock and the screen won't dim.  So while you work, a single glance towards the phone will remind you what you're working on, and how long you've been doing it.

But you don't have to stay on the big timer screen. You can continue moving around the iPhone app as normal.  To remind you that you're working on something a small timer will appear at the bottom of both the Task List and the Dashboard.  Clicking on the small timer brings you straight into the full screen timer.

Now, when it comes to tracking time it seems people fall into one of two camps: some like to set out what they are going to do at the start, while others prefer to wait until the end when they say what they've been working on. You can work either with TeamworkPM.  For example, if a call comes in and you want to know how much time it sucks up - just hit the project timer and press play.  You don't have type anything until after the call. But if you want to set out what you're going to do, tap the edit button, enter a description and hit continue instead of upload.  That way you can work away and have the timer remind you what you're working on.

As with the previous post, seeing this stuff is better than reading it.  So I've recorded another screen cast.  When you're watching it, just try to imagine that your finger is the little arrow moving around :)

(download)

Click here to download:

Timers.mov (4.19 MB)

That's it.  Version 1.5 of the TeamworkPM iPhone app should start showing up in the App Store at some stage today, so keep an eye out for it and as usual, let us know what you think!

      Mike.

The Task Editor

I was going to write a long post describing the new Task Editor.  But I figured a picture, or maybe two and a half thousand brief pictures, would make it all a whole lot easier.  So, I put together some screencasts instead.

Screencast 1 : Editing a Task

We'll the start the 'casts by looking at tasks, and in particular, editing. With the new layout, our goal was that after getting to the task screen, you shouldn't be forced to leave task screen.  So you get all of the information that you might need, but when you want to change something you simply do it right there, in place, and not on a separate edit screen.  

We didn't want to have a lot of clutter either.  So when you hit 'Edit', the things that should be edited get bigger and things that shouldn't be edited, disappear.  Just as it should be really.

We followed that up by allowing attributes of the task such as dates, priority and assignment, to be set not just with the normal tap, but also by swiping left or right. Now, a gesture like swipe is one of those things that you're better off seeing rather than reading - so take a look at the screencast to better understand just how quick it is to move the due date on a few days, or assign the task to yourself. Try it a few times and you'll soon find the new gestures becoming second nature. 

(download)

Click here to download:

Edit_Task.mov (1.63 MB)

Screencast 2 : Creating a Task

All of the goodies from the Task Editor screen have been brought over to the Task Creator screen as well. So when you're hit by inspiration and you want to give yourself a task to complete today it becomes as simple as:

1. Enter the title, 
2. Swipe once on "Assigned To" 
3. Swipe once on "Due Date" 
4. … and 4? there is no Step 4! :)

Also in the second screencast you'll notice that the new layout displays any comments attached to the task.  New comments can be added and individuals in the company notified.  Judging by the feedback we've had, this alone is something that will make quite a few of you happy!

(download)

Click here to download:

Create_Task.mov (2.32 MB)

That's it, hope you like it, and as usual let us know what you think about the changes.

      Mike.

If you've talked to us via the feedback page you'll know that we've been working hard on the latest version of the TeamworkPM iOS app.  You'll also know that we've put blood, sweat, tears and a lot of love into this one.  Prototypes were built and thrown away.  Finer points were argued and sometimes even agreed.  A bucket load of Costa coffee was consumed.  But that doesn't matter any more.  What matters is that TeamworkPM 1.5 is queued up, ready to roll, and will be hitting the App Store in a few days.

And we think you'll like it...

Background

The first releases of the TeamworkPM iOS app focused on giving you the necessities - the basic features you had to have to be able to work with TeamworkPM in a mobile world. But now we want to take the creativity and spark from TeamworkPM on the web and distill it for iOS. That's what we've started to do in 1.5.

So what did we work on?  Well, Tasks, Statuses and Timers were our main focus.  But the challenge that we set ourselves was to find a way to add these extra features without adding clutter. We think we've done a pretty good job at meeting those goals and over the course of the next few posts we'll walk you through some of the changes.  So check back regularly and let us know if you agree.

       Mike.

(download)

Click here to download:

untitled-hDeyoIdADyDyosrsBAbf.zip (104 KB)

[this wouldn't be much of a sneak peek without a few teaser screenshots now would it?]