We're thrilled to announce that OmniPlan v2.0 ships today! Since releasing OmniPlan v1.0, we've learned a lot about how people are using OmniPlan to manage their projects and we think that OmniPlan v1.0 grew into an excellent resource for project planning workflow for a single person. However in undertaking OmniPlan v2.0, we knew that people wanted to bring this workflow and user experience to their teams — and so that's what we focused on: collaboration.
Collaboration in OmniPlan v2.0 allows a manager to create and share a project with their team. By syncing over MobileMe, Omni Sync Server or a WebDAV server, teams are able to synchronize their work and stay up to date on the latest changes.
While collaboration is the most exciting new feature, OmniPlan v2.0 also adds scheduling and printing options and improves performance with large projects to add speed and versatility to your workflow.
We know a lot of you have been anxiously waiting for this, so let's jump right into some of the new features we've added in OmniPlan v2.0:
Collaboration: Sync, Publish, Edit, and Track Changes
Use a WebDAV server to sync your projects between resources. Then, publish your tasks automatically upon saving. Grab new changes automatically via Bonjour or at a specified interval. (You can also publish and update manually, of course.) Publish tasks and pull in updates from a server-based calendar. Export your plan automatically in any supported format. Execute custom AppleScripts from within the app during export.
Use Apple's Calendar Server to pull in free times and busy times for your resources. Import vacation and holiday schedules from a web-hosted calendar.
Keep track of the changes to the project with visual change tracking. See your own edits on a personal project or see the synced changes on a team project. Accept and reject changes on a task-by-task basis or all at once.
Scheduling
Fiscal years are now supported in addition to calendar years so you can choose whether your tasks are due in Q2 or Spring. Schedule projects backwards from a fixed end date. Create, save, and compare your projects against multiple baselines. Highlight the critical path to individual milestones in the new ‘‘Project: Milestones’’ inspector. Resource schedules now have optional start and end dates.
Tasks and Resources
Split your tasks to schedule around interruptions. Create hammock tasks that have start and end dates based on prerequisites that you define. Effort and Duration can now be unlinked. Default task and resource attributes can be configured per project or in a template for faster task creation. Color-code tasks based on their resource. Choose independent display formats for duration and effort values.
Filtering
Save multiple, commonly-used filters for quick re-use later. Configure publishing actions to use filters.
Printing Options
Headers and footers are now more flexible. Expand or collapse all notes and task and resource groups. Page margins support mirroring on facing pages. Customize the margin above and below the header and footer.
OmniPlan v2.0 is available from our store and from the Mac App Store for $199.99. Folks who purchased OmniPlan v1.0 from the Mac App Store and our online store between January 6, 2011 and July 17th, 2011 will receive a free upgrade to OmniPlan v2.0. For folks who purchased OmniPlan v1.0 before that date, an OmniPlan v2.0 upgrade is available from our online store for $99.99.
We hope that you'll enjoy the new features, improvements, and updated user interface in OmniPlan v2.0. We've been working very hard on this new version and we're looking forward to hearing your thoughts about OmniPlan v2.0: please send any feedback, questions or comments to us at omniplan@omnigroup.com and someone from our team will get back to you as soon as possible.
Hello OmniPlan planners!
The release candidate is here! We're getting very close to OmniPlan 2.0 final, so if you find any issues with this release please let us know. If you'd like to check out the full release notes, click here and scroll down to the bottom of the page.
As always, please keep in mind that this version is still in development so feedback is encouraged and we apologize if it breaks your computer, corrupts your files, or ruins your weekend. We're looking forward to hearing your thoughts about OmniPlan v2.0: You can contact us directly by our support page or by using the Send Feedback feature in your copy of OmniPlan.
To start using the new rc, you can use the built-in software updater in OmniPlan v2.0 or you can download it from our website here.
Hello again OmniPlan planners!
For this beta update we fixed 5 more distinct crashers and added support for full screen mode and hidden scroll bars in Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion). We also addressed some issues with scheduling, publishing & subscriptions, as well as various bugs that were reported by beta testers over the last couple of weeks. If you'd like to check out the full release notes, click here and scroll down to the bottom of the page.
As always, please keep in mind that this version is still in development so feedback is encouraged and we apologize if it breaks your computer, corrupts your files, or ruins your weekend. We're looking forward to hearing your thoughts about OmniPlan v2.0: You can contact us directly by our support page or by using the Send Feedback feature in your copy of OmniPlan.
To start using the new beta, you can use the built-in software updater in OmniPlan v2.0 or you can download it from our website here.
Hello again OmniPlan planners!
For this beta update we fixed 16 more distinct crashers, plugged some memory leaks, and started work on compatibility with Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion). We addressed some issues with scheduling, change tracking, and publishing & subscriptions, as well as various bugs that were reported by beta testers over the last couple of weeks. If you'd like to check out the full release notes, click here and scroll down to the bottom of the page.
As always, please keep in mind that this version is still in development so feedback is encouraged and we apologize if it breaks your computer, corrupts your files, or ruins your weekend. We're looking forward to hearing your thoughts about OmniPlan v2.0: You can contact us directly by our support page or by using the Send Feedback feature in your copy of OmniPlan.
To start using the new beta, you can use the built-in software updater in OmniPlan v2.0 or you can download it from our website here.
OmniFocus for iPad v1.3 updates Forecast Mode: Never spread yourself too thin. Enable Calendar integration to see your hard landscape events alongside your overdue and due soon OmniFocus actions. Use the View options menu to show your items with a start date. Reschedule your projects and actions—with just a tap or two—to keep your days balanced.
This update also includes full screen note viewing and editing, improved support for screen mirroring, and a number of other user interface and workflow improvements.
[NOTE: If you're reading this within a few hours of approval, your local App Store might not have the update yet. If that happens, just wait an hour or so and then try again: it will be there soon!]
We love hearing from you! You can reach us by tapping Contact Omni (in the Gear Menu above the sidebar), sending email to
omnifocus-ipad@omnigroup.com, tweeting to
@omnifocus, or calling 1-800-315-OMNI or +1 206-523-4152.
Forecast
-
Forecast mode now integrates calendar events into a convenient timeline. Use the View options menu to configure which calendars appear on the timeline, and the range of hours for which events are displayed. (This feature requires iOS 4.0 or later.)
-
Forecast mode now includes an additional section for viewing items starting on the days of the upcoming week. Use the View options menu to hide or show this section.
-
Tapping “View” on a Due Reminder alert now takes you to the Forecast screen, showing you all items which have become overdue at once.
Editing
-
The Note section of the Editor now includes an expand button. Tap on the expand button to view or edit your notes full screen.
-
When searching in the Project and Context pickers, Smart Match terms are underlined in the search results.
-
When assigning a Project or Context to an Action, search results are now presented in Library order rather than alphabetically.
Workflow
-
The application’s badge counts the union of overdue, due soon, and flagged items. Items that are both flagged and overdue or due soon are no longer counted twice.
-
Folders’ remaining count incorrectly included Single-Action Lists.
-
Dropped Contexts are only visible in the Context move popover when the current View options are set to All.
-
Dropped Folders are only visible in the Project move popover when the current View options are set to All.
-
Errors from automatic sync sessions no longer interrupt you with an alert. Instead, the Sync button is badged. Tapping the Sync button will display the error alert and offer to retry the sync.
User Interface
-
OmniFocus takes advantage of hardware screen mirroring when available.
-
When mirroring your iPad 2 on a secondary display, OmniFocus now shows your gestures—taps, pinches, swipes, and all—so that your viewers can follow along.
-
Untitled items are now correctly represented in Project, Action, and Context lists.
-
Fixed a bug that could cause incorrect sorting of a Perspective’s actions when grouped by a date.
Inbox
-
The Inbox badge count no longer includes completed items.
-
Items blocked by a future start date are once again excluded from the Inbox badge count.
-
Paste and New Action are now available from the contextual menu for the Inbox header.
-
Fixed a bug which prevented you from moving an item to the top of the Inbox.
Review
-
Projects within the Review sidebar are sorted in Library order.
-
Fixed a bug where launching OmniFocus into Review mode with the Inbox selected incorrectly resulted in an empty list of projects needing review.
-
When there are no remaining Projects requiring review, the plus button no longer gives multiple choices for creating an Inbox item.
Stability
-
Fixed a crash which could occur when entering the background and using Bonjour syncing.
-
Fixed a rare problem which could lead to a crash if OmniFocus received a memory warning while in landscape orientation.
-
Fixed a regression where Email Debug Info (to the OmniFocus support ninjas) was inappropriately using the in-app mail client.
Hello again OmniPlan planners!
Just a quick post to let everybody know that a new update for OmniPlan v2.0 beta has been released! We fixed 17 of the most commonly reported crashers from the first beta and addressed some issues with exports and collaboration that beta testers found over the last couple of weeks. If you'd like to check out the full release notes, click here and scroll down to the bottom of the page.
As always, please keep in mind that this version is still in development so feedback is encouraged and we apologize if it breaks your computer, corrupts your files, or ruins your weekend. We're looking forward to hearing your thoughts about OmniPlan v2.0: You can contact us directly by our support page or by using the Send Feedback feature in your copy of OmniPlan.
To start using the new beta, you can use the built-in software updater in OmniPlan v2.0 or you can download it from our website here.
I'm very pleased to announce that OmniOutliner for iPad is now available on the App Store for $19.99!
We've posted screenshots and a video tutorial on our OmniOutliner for iPad pages, and here's the official press release:
The Omni Group Brings OmniOutliner to the iPad
OmniOutliner for iPad Enables Users to Efficiently Create, Collect and Organize Information on the Popular Tablet
SEATTLE – May 12, 2011 – The Omni Group, a developer of productivity applications for Mac and iOS, today announced that OmniOutliner is now available on the iPad. The iPad edition of the company’s popular note-taking and outlining program offers users the ability to create, collect and organize information in a multitude of ways including creating to-do lists and agendas, managing tasks and expenses, taking notes and planning events. OmniOutliner for iPad is available for purchase on the App Store.
Industry analysts forecast that 52 million tablets are estimated to be shipped in 2011, with the iPad comprising 75 percent of these shipments. While iPad and other tablets have been traditionally used for consuming content on the web, watching videos, reading e-books and listening to music, selecting the right tools and apps can easily optimize the iPad for use as a mobile computing platform for business.
"The moment we learned about the iPad we knew it marked a shift in the direction of personal computing devices," said Ken Case, CEO and founder of the Omni Group. "Each time we bring a productivity app to the iPad we redesign it from the ground up to take advantage of this new platform, and OmniOutliner for iPad is no exception. Our team has done an amazing job of making the app easier to use than ever, without sacrificing the app's power. OmniOutliner is the app I turn to whenever I want to collect and structure my thoughts, and it's great to be able to take my outlines with me and work with them wherever I am."
OmniOutliner for iPad includes the powerful features specifically designed to help iPad users get the job done simply and easily:
Rich Text Styling– Fully customizable text styling options provide users with the same functionality as expected from a word processor with a simplified style system that’s already available in OmniOutliner 3.
Simple Outline Restructuring– OmniOutliner for iPad affords users the ability to easily rearrange and drag rows individually. Additionally, users can mark multiple rows to either group or move them at the same time.
Multiple Column Formats– In addition to text, OmniOutliner for iPad provides column options for numbers, duration, pop-up lists, and date types, many of which include their own specific data formatting options.
Inline Image Support– OmniOutliner for iPad allows users to paste images directly into their documents, which will be displayed inline.
Improved Document Sharing– With OmniOutliner for iPad, files can be emailed or uploaded to users’ MobileMe accounts or any other WebDAV servers. Files may also be transferred with iTunes, and can be sent in HTML, plain text, or OPML using the above methods.
Compatible with OmniOutliner 3– OmniOutliner for iPad is completely compatible and interchangeable with files generated in OmniOutliner 3.
Ability to Import OPML Files– OmniOutliner for iPad allows users to import OPML files, a common format used by basic outlining applications, directly into the application.
OmniOutliner for iPad is more than just an outlining tool, offering multiple columns, smart checkboxes, customizable popup lists, and an innovative styles system within a few easy clicks. The app’s document structure is effective for brainstorming new ideas, drilling out project specifics, and lining up the steps needed to get everything done.
OmniOutliner for iPad is available for $19.99 on the App Store at www.itunes.com. More information about OmniOutliner for iPad is available at www.omnigroup.com/omnioutliner-ipad/.
###
About the Omni Group
One of the first companies to develop software for the Mac OS X platform, the Omni Group is a leading developer for Apple products and has designed several productivity applications for Mac OS X, iPhone, and now iPad. Founded in 1993, the Omni Group is located in Seattle.
We hope you enjoy our latest app!
Hello OmniPlan planners!
We are very excited to release the first public beta of OmniPlan v2.0 today! Since releasing OmniPlan v1.0, we've learned a lot about how people are using OmniPlan to manage their projects and we think that OmniPlan v1.0 grew into an excellent resource for project planning workflow for a single person. However in undertaking OmniPlan v2.0, we knew that people wanted to bring this workflow and user experience to their teams — and so that's what we focused on: collaboration.
Collaboration in OmniPlan v2.0 allows a manager to create and share a project with their team. By syncing over MobileMe, Omni Sync Server or a WebDAV server, teams are able to synchronize their work and stay up to date on the latest changes.
While collaboration is the most exciting new feature, OmniPlan v2.0 also adds scheduling and printing options and improves performance with large projects to add speed and versatility to your workflow.
We know a lot of you have been anxiously waiting for this, so let's jump right into some of the new features we've added in OmniPlan v2.0:
Collaboration: Sync, Publish, Edit, and Track Changes
Use a WebDAV server to sync your projects between resources. Then, publish your tasks automatically upon saving. Grab new changes automatically via Bonjour or at a specified interval. (You can also publish and update manually, of course.) Publish tasks and pull in updates from a server-based calendar. Export your plan automatically in any supported format. Execute custom AppleScripts from within the app during export.
Use Apple's Calendar Server to pull in free times and busy times for your resources. Import vacation and holiday schedules from a web-hosted calendar.
Keep track of the changes to the project with visual change tracking. See your own edits on a personal project or see the synced changes on a team project. Accept and reject changes on a task-by-task basis or all at once.
Scheduling
Fiscal years are now supported in addition to calendar years so you can choose whether your tasks are due in Q2 or Spring. Schedule projects backwards from a fixed end date. Create, save, and compare your projects against multiple baselines. Highlight the critical path to individual milestones in the new ‘‘Project: Milestones’’ inspector. Resource schedules now have optional start and end dates. Tasks and Resources Split your tasks to schedule around interruptions. Create hammock tasks that have start and end dates based on prerequisites that you define. Effort and Duration can now be unlinked. Default task and resource attributes can be configured per project or in a template for faster task creation. Color-code tasks based on their resource. Choose independent display formats for duration and effort values.
Filtering
Save multiple, commonly-used filters for quick re-use later. Configure publishing actions to use filters.
Printing
Options Headers and footers are now more flexible. Expand or collapse all notes and task and resource groups. Page margins support mirroring on facing pages. Customize the margin above and below the header and footer.
OmniPlan v2.0 will be available from our store and from the Mac App Store for $199.99 when the final version is released. Folks who purchased OmniPlan v1.0 from the Mac App Store and our online store between January 6, 2011 and the final release date will receive a free upgrade to OmniPlan v2.0. For folks who purchased OmniPlan v1.0 before that date, OmniPlan v2.0 will be available from our online store for $99.99.
We hope that you'll enjoy the new features, improvements and updated user interface. We've been working very hard on this new version and we're looking forward to hearing your thoughts about OmniPlan v2.0: please send any feedback, questions or comments to us at omniplan@omnigroup.com and someone from our team will get back to you as soon as possible.
Without further ado, here's the link to the OmniPlan v2.0 beta download page!
I'm very pleased to announce that all of our paid apps are now available through Apple's new Mac App Store! The Mac App Store is the most convenient way to buy our software, letting you purchase, download, and install our apps with just one step, and easily update our apps at the same time as you update other apps you've purchased from the the store.
But to be clear, the Mac App Store is not the only way to buy our software: we'll continue to offer direct sales and updates through our own website as well. Through our website, we can offer much more flexible terms and options: trial and beta downloads, upgrade pricing, and discounts for volume, bundle, and educational purchases.
No matter which way you buy our software, you'll be getting the same product: all of our Mac App Store apps are exactly the same as the apps we sell through our website (except for a few minor changes made to work with the store). We'll also keep future updates to our apps in sync—apps you've purchased directly through us will continue to update themselves as they always have, while App Store updates will appear on the App Store (after a slight delay due to the App Store's review process). And either way, you'll have the same great support from our team here at Omni.
—
A few quick questions that I know a few people are wondering about (because I've already been asked!):
"Why doesn't the App Store recognize that I've already purchased an Omni app?"
The Mac App Store only supports software which you've purchased directly from it. That's even true of Apple's software, as I found out this morning while testing Keynote. And unfortunately, there's no way for us to tell the Mac App Store that someone has already purchased one of our apps. (Though really, that wouldn't be fair to Apple since they wouldn't get their 30% of the purchase price to help support the store's infrastructure.)
There's been a bit of confusion over this point, since the App Store does notice when the exact same version of the exact same app is already installed: it displays "Installed" instead of a price tag. But that doesn't mean it will update that software: as soon as the version number changes (on either side), it reverts to showing you a price tag for that app instead.
"If I'm purchasing from the Australian Mac App Store, why are your prices so much higher than they are through your own website?"
On our website, we sell all our products in our local currency—and since we live in Seattle, that currency happens to be US dollars.
For the Mac App Store, we don't set prices directly; we choose a price tier which Apple uses to choose a price for each region. We've chosen the price tier which is closest to our own online store pricing (just a few cents different in our local currency), but exchange rates fluctuate and this week you might happen to get a better deal buying directly from us than you do when purchasing locally. Please feel free to take advantage of that if you wish!
"Where do I find your apps on the Mac App Store?"
We've added links on each of our product pages, or you can go straight to the Mac App Store's page for the Omni Group.
"Does your 30-day money-back guarantee apply to Mac App Store purchases?"
Absolutely! But please remember that the 30-day guarantee is not intended to take the place of a trial period: we pay 30% of our App Store sales to Apple whether or not we refund a purchase. If you'd like to try one of our Mac apps, we have two-week trial downloads available on each of our product pages. (If you need more time than two weeks, please contact sales@omnigroup.com for an extended trial license.)
—
As always, if you have a question I didn't answer (or any other feedback you'd like to share), please let me know! Either leave a comment here, or send me a message on twitter (where you'll find me at @kcase).
It's been another crazy busy month here at Omni! In the last four weeks, we've celebrated Thanksgiving and somehow survived Seattle's snow, we've started private beta testing of OmniPlan 2 and shipped updates to OmniFocus and OmniWeb for Mac. Oh, and that's not counting the 13 app releases we've submitted to the App Store this month: 2 iPhone updates, 4 iPad updates, and 7 "new" Mac apps (OmniFocus, OmniGraffle Standard and Pro, OmniOutliner Standard and Pro, OmniGraphSketcher, and OmniOutliner).
"OK," I hear some of you asking, "15 app releases this month? That's great and all, but really I only care about one release: where is OmniOutliner for iPad?"
Well, given that we're at the end of November and we have yet to reach beta, I think I can predict with confidence that OmniOutliner for iPad won't be shipping this year. We did finally come up with a design that makes us all reasonably happy on paper, but we're still busy implementing that design in code—after which we'll be running it through its paces to make sure it works as well on an actual device as it does in our imaginations.
(Not that our engineering team has been idle while all this design work has been going on. They've been busy working on all the nuts and bolts which make up the unique functionality offered in OmniOutliner!)
For those who prefer pictures, here's an updated graphic:
"You're really going to sell your apps through the Mac App Store?" I hear others asking. "What about all those questions and challenges you mentioned in your last blog post? How will you handle upgrade pricing and volume discounts, for example?"
We've decided the best way to solve those problems is to recognize that the Mac App Store isn't an exclusive distribution channel, so it doesn't need to solve every problem. We will continue to sell our apps through our own website (in addition to the App Store), where we can continue to offer discounts for upgrades, bundles, and volume purchases. We still think the Mac App Store will be the most convenient way to purchase apps for the average consumer, but those who prefer more flexible terms and options will be able to continue to purchase and install apps directly from us.
"Hey, wait, those weren't my questions at all!"
Hmm, um, OK, sorry, my magic 8-ball palantír must be broken! If you have a question I didn't answer (or any other feedback you'd like to share), please let me know! Either leave a comment here, or send me a message on twitter (where you'll find me at @kcase).
