Realmac Software — who you may know from Rapidweaver or Littlesnapper — previewed its upcoming to-do list app for iOS. Called Clear, it's about as minimalist as you can get, and seems to lack the usual task manager visual bric-a-brac, instead opting for an interesting set of gestures for navigation. Pinching out adds a new task, pressing and dragging an item rearranges it, swiping left deletes it, pinching out pulls you back to view your different lists, and swiping right on a task completes it. It's all very clean and should look great next to your macchiato, but we're really hoping Clear bucks the trend and syncs with Google Tasks, your iOS reminders, or some sort of cloud service and isn't just another pretty task manager.
Clear for iOS manages your to-do list with a minimalist, gesture-based interface

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This looks very appealing, but I’ll probably just stick with Wunderlist unless they do a universal app.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 3:04 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
I don’t get why everybody is using Wunderlist. Sure, the graphics are nice but from a usability standpoint it’s often horrible. For example adding notes is frustrating, notifications are push-only, no effective way to navigate with the keyboard, the settings in the Mac app are cluttered all over the place instead of one menu one can access with Cmd+, etc etc…. they just did Wunderlist to create some hype and the real thing is Wunderkit of course. I say either do it right and charge some money for a quality product or don’t do it in the first place.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 7:48 AM EST reply Recommend (5) Flag actions
yea i agree. i used it for a while and i could never get used to it. now im trying out producteev and so far im pretty impressed. this look banging though, maybe theyll release an android app too lol
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 8:33 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Yeah, the lack of decent keyboard commands is a real bummer.
Yes!
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 9:26 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
People are willing to pay for quality apps! I wish more task app creators realized this.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:45 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
When is this available?
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 3:11 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
Dev tweeted that Clear should be available in about two weeks.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 3:28 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
That’s pretty damn neat. I’m downloading.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 3:25 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
And it’s apps like this that set the iPhone apart from the rest.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 3:36 AM EST reply Recommend (11) Flag actions
When’s it coming for Android? /s
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 3:42 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Wait 2 years. #tablescraps
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 3:48 AM EST reply Recommend (7) Flag actions
Any.Do for android, while not exactly the same App, is also quite excellent and – would you believe it – not out for iOS yet ;-)
Not saying iOS doesn’t have better Apps, just in this case, there’s actually a good android app available
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 5:54 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Yeah, any.do seems to have a nice user interface!
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 6:20 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Still wondering why it’s not out for iOS yet, their developer team seems pretty big. Also, they’ve been working on it for quite some time. Interesting to see if they manage to get to the app store before ‘Clear’. I’d love to try it out on iOS…
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 6:37 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I have been using Any.Do for a month now and after trying several others (including Wunderlist) all I can say is I am finally one with the universe.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 8:45 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Whenever people that like simplicity actually get to doing it…
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 9:25 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Far from it. Flipboard is, however.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 9:26 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Awesome design. Loving it!
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 3:38 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Looks really cool. I use only Reminders occasionally but this looks like it’s been designed to appeal to people who make extensive use of to do lists. I’d never write ‘bread’ and ‘coffee’ etc separately, just ‘groceries’ is enough to remind to me get stuff.
The interface is sublime though and I really like the Apple style of the ad.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 4:01 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Looks really great. I WANT! :D
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 4:32 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
2Do is still the best.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 4:52 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Why would they organise this media push WEEKS BEFORE the app actually becomes available?
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 5:53 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
looks good – hope it works with my ever slowing down 3gs
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 7:13 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Evernote (and its ilk) do this task just fine. I’m trying to limit the number of clouds I am juggling.
Now if this somehow tied in with Evernote using their APIs? Then I’m definitely in.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 8:16 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Why does all “simple” to-do apps have to have lists. List are not simple. I tried pretty much all to-do apps in the store and they are all ugly or too complex to use or just plain pointless. I’m using Notes. It’s easy to add a new note. You have the list of all notes. U have sync with the iPad. And when you’re done, just swipe and delete the note.
I don’t want lists. I don’t want titels. I don’t want reminders. I don’t want gps. How hard it is really?
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 8:36 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Good point. Maybe someone should think of something better than lists….
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 9:28 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Or make it like Notes and Mail. Have a default list. And every time you pop the app you go in that list. Then you have a Lists back button at the top-left to go see your other lists or you don’t if you only have one list.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 10:39 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Hmm, this looks nice. iPad version perhaps?
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 10:12 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I use any.do for Android because it syncs with Google Tasks, and is quite visually similar to this app, but I like the accordian effects a little more. Want.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 10:15 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
The thing is with task list, if I don’t have them on my home screen getting in my face every time I turn on my phone it’s useless for me, because I forget to open the app, so I never see what else I’m forgetting:(
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 10:17 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
You’re not alone :(
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 2:15 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Very true.
We need a on-screen widget system like android. I remember my days with HTC Magic when iPhone 3GS disappointed me. With that HTC well-done widgets, I bearly forgot to check out my schedule, etc. The reminder app iOS 5 offers doesn’t really work like a reminder, more like an improved version of note.app.
Just want the on screen widgets!!!!! or damn tiles.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 2:15 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Will the app be free?
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 11:51 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
This should be a very nice, free and basic, hopefully very capable, tasking app. I’ve used some free ones but they lack severely. Hopefully this one won’t disappoint.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 12:23 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
If they disappoint, why not try a paid task manager? Most are pretty inexpensive, and there are some nice options.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 1:09 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Which paid apps do you recommend? I’ve been using RTM, but always open to new apps…
Posted on Jan 29, 2012 | 2:18 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I want to go to there…
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 1:30 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
If it doesn’t connect to IOS reminders then its useless. Just another app taking up space on my phone.
Posted on Jan 27, 2012 | 10:04 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
So:
- I can add “Buy Groceries” as an item, but if I want to add the things I want to buy, I have to start a new list? (No support for sub-items)
- I can add “Buy anniversary present”, but I can’t do things like use images instead of text (like when I spot a gift in a shop I want to look at again later)?
- I can add “Go to movies”, but I can’t get the app to remind me when my desired showing is?
- I can add “Pick up dry cleaning” but I can’t get it to remind me when I leave work (location-based reminders)?
- The app does away with traditional iOS navigation and adds inconsistent gestures in its place, e.g. pulling down on a list adds a new item whereas traditionally this has been used to refresh/requery
I think using this app may be a case of being impressed by the animations for a few minutes, then rapidly realising it can’t actually accomplish anything more than having a piece of paper with your TODOs written on it.
Posted on Jan 28, 2012 | 6:47 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Exactly. And the gimmicky UI doesn’t offer any advantage over already understood tableviews and navigation controllers. And it suffers from being undiscoverable. There’s no indication of what’s a collection of items and what’s an individual item. There’s no navigation bar to show you what list you’re in or where you are in the hierarchy.
This appears to epitomize empty flash with poor functionality.
Posted on Feb 01, 2012 | 9:22 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
What is the point of promoting an app that isn’t available yet? This company needs a new PR firm.
Posted on Jan 29, 2012 | 3:44 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
You know Phil Ryu is from taptaptap who made the million selling camera+ app and mindheist. I’m sure they know what marketing is. This is just to drum up hype and David Lanham is the guy from iconfactory. So, I think they have quit a good idea of what’s happening.
Posted on Jan 29, 2012 | 6:51 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Obviously not.
Posted on Jan 29, 2012 | 6:53 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
This UI is a mess, a gimmick designed to provoke thoughtless gushing in comment threads. The devices shown here offer no advantage over regular tableviews and navigation controllers; in fact, they’re far worse because these actions are undiscoverable.
Look at this thing: There’s no visual difference between the screen entries that are lists and those that are individual items. How do you know that the entries on the screen are actually collections of items that can be expanded? There’s also no title or navigation bar that shows you the name of the list you’re viewing.
And why would a user try pinching the list? And again, there’s no indication that the list is even collapsible. What if you’re at the top level?
The “skinning” fad died 10 years ago for a good reason: Nobody wants a UI that pointlessly eschews standard controls, in favor of an Easter-egg hunt while you’re trying to get things done.
Posted on Feb 01, 2012 | 9:18 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
At the very beginning of the video, it shows the top level containing blue parent categories (which I assume you can create with a gesture) that you can then pinch open and reveal its list of children items. Seems pretty clear (heh) to me.
Posted on Feb 03, 2012 | 3:32 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I agree, I’m sorely disappointed with this app. Anyone who thinks this app is better than Reminders is being fooled. Don’t get over-hyped on this app just because it’s been announced long ago and many can’t wait. After using this app I found myself forgetting to do certain tasks I listed because the app contains very few rows and also isnit able to remind you via notification center. This app is also not intuitive, and you cannot write more than one line of reminder. Talk about counter-productivity!!
Posted on Feb 18, 2012 | 2:20 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I think Steps solves a lot of issues Clear might have. Clear is probably fun to use, but Steps might be more practical. Have a look at http://stepboard.net
Posted on Feb 08, 2012 | 8:14 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
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