This is just a friendly reminder to have a contingency plan. Preparing for the best and worst case scenarios can tremendously help your confidence when managing a complicated project. When you are confident, your client is confident and everyone is happy after another successful engagement.

One of the most effective task management tools that I have had the opportunity to use was Lotus Organizer. I had used the tool for several years and IBM had stopped updates and new releases. Despite this, it was still a pretty powerful tool. It allowed you the ability to synchronize your data with the Palm OS which came in handy back in the day. I have since begun to do more and more work on a Mac rather than a PC.

I had decided to install a couple of task management applications on my iPhone to see which one would be the most useful. The two that I decided to try out are Appigo’s To Do and Cultures Code’s Things. Being a project manager there are a few things that I looked for in a task management application that some of the “lite” versions did not offer. For this reason, I decided to give them both a try. Which one did this PM end up picking? Both. Here’s why.

To Do Dashboard

Ideally it would have been nice to have the ability to manage all of my tasks with one handheld application and it may seem a little inefficient to some that I am using both quite frequently. Like Internet Service Providers, Cable Companies and other products, some are better than others in some areas. For this reason, I decided to stick with both.

Some of the similar features that both products contain include a “focus” feature that allows the notification badge to show you what tasks and/ or projects are coming due within a given duration. Both applications let you customize the notifications in reference to how far out you would like to be notified. Both allow you to categorize tasks by project. Both allow you to create recurring due dates for tasks that you may want to see again.  Both have a task inbox to allow you to create tasks on the fly without categorizing them. Finally, both allow you to tag your tasks.

Appigo’s To Do is primarily an iPhone only application. Unlike Things, it does not have a desktop application that accompanies it. It’s ease of use and feature set are everything that you would need in a task management tool. I would venture to say that it is actually easier to enter tasks into your handheld than its counterparts. The user interface allows you to enter tasks in less time than it does in Things.  Selecting tags, contexts and list make it faster to create a task. Also, the date picker interface is an actual calendar rather than a scroll bar, which is extremely helpful in speeding things up.

If you are looking for a robust task management application for your iPhone without the desktop counterpart, I highly recommend To Do. I use To Do because it is fast. If I do not have my laptop, it is a quicker and more efficient way of entering the tasks. Additionally, it integrates with Apppigo’s Notebook application, which allows you to link data across applications. I also like the presentation of completed items. It makes getting tasks done fun.

Things Dashboard

Cultured Code’s Things task management application for the iPhone is a bit more involved. It requires more steps to get the tasks into the phone without the desktop application. Some of the additional steps in creating a task make it take just a little bit longer to enter tasks. Its user interface is a bit more streamlined than that of To Do since it allows you the ability to do just a little bit less from the phone itself.

Why do I still use it? The desktop application that compliments the mobile counterpart is extremely powerful. When I do have my laptop, I will usually plow through adding tasks and doing the majority of the organization on the laptop. If you have the ability for constant use of the laptop application and rely on the iPhone application solely for status and/ or updates, then this would be the way to go. I cannot say enough about the application itself. It is truly amazing and you can preview it in action on the Cultured Code website. Additionally, the iPhone application syncs with the desktop application over the air, which is quite helpful.

One last determining factor that you may want to take into consideration is the price points. Things desktop application will run you about $49.95 and the iPhone counterpart another $9.99. Appigo’s To Do will run you $9.99. Both of which are excellent products and have received rave reviews. If you have any questions about any of the other features, please feel free to submit them in the comments below. I love both of the applications and use them everyday to help make task management more effective.

As it became time to upgrade again, I decided to make, what I thought would be, the leap. An article on Tech Republic about CIOs and their weakening resistance highlighted the fact that the trend seems to be changing. It appears that more and more are finding out about the capabilities of the iPhone and it’s applications. I quickly learned to navigate the iPhone and all of its tips and tricks almost as soon as I had it connected to service.

As a Project Manager, I used my Treo and Blackberry for four main purposes; phone calls, email, task management, and calendaring. Any other function was more or less extra-curricular. The iPhone is a productivity powerhouse. Sorry business dudes. So, for the time being, the iPhone is lacking the email push functionality but is amazing in so many other capacities that I am thrilled that I made the switch.

In addition to the functions that I used my phone for in the past, the iPhone boasts a more intuitive and more efficient user interface. This is a big bonus because it allows one to add entries and navigate items faster. I actually use a couple of task management tools (I will be covering in more detail at a later date) that have more functionality that I have ever seen in a handheld version of a task management application.

Additionally, some of the available note applications extend your generic note pad to the extreme. Imagine categorizing, filing and password protecting notes, making your note pad used more frequently than just on occasion. Or, taking snapshots of your notes to upload them to have them transcribed. Recording voice memos, which recently came out on a firmware update, has been available in free third-party applications and can really be a time saver.

Also, if you are a contractor or you simply have the need to track your time on a project, you can do all of that from the phone as well. As a matter of fact, the project management and task management software that I use on a daily basis integrate with the phone.  As long as I stay off of the games, I know that I have been much more productive as a result of the iPhone.

Are you a business girl or guy that formerly uses a BlackBerry or Palm device and have switched over? What do you think?

A Called Strike

Originally uploaded by AZHardball

First let me begin by saying that MLB and MLB Advanced Media have done a fantastic job of integrating and developing new and cutting-edge technologies. They really have an immense understanding of their fan base and what their fans want. This was illustrated by the overhaul of MLB Live product that was sunset by MLB.TV. While MLB Live allowed fans to interact with each other during live streaming games, the new MLB.TV features extras such as picture in picture and DVR technology. Good stuff, but I am here to talk about MLB At Bat 2009 for the iPhone.

MLB At Bat is an iPhone application that debuted as At Bat Lite in the beginning of 2009. The Lite version was basically the 2008 version of the hot iPhone app that provided live game scoring. I saw this as a must have for all baseball fans that happen to have iPhones. While using it they would push a notification that the full version would be available by April, 2nd.

Software Project Management is a bit of a hybrid between art and science. Where am I going with this you might ask? Stay tuned. Ever-changing dependencies, software issues and challenges often make it difficult to deliver a project on time and on budget. This is why good project managers take the following into consideration:

• Project Scope

• Project Communication

• Risk Management Planning

• Quality Management Planning

• High Performance Team Members

• Project Time Line

• Project Budget

When and if proper planning is performed, a project is delivered on time and on budget to the delight of stakeholders, customers and consumers. MLB At Bat 2009 was delivered early and it’s out right now. You can get information about the application at MLB.com or in the iTunes application portion of the iTunes Store. Not to shabby of a job from a software project manager’s point of view.

While there are an interesting number of people complaining of the price point of 9.99 for the year, let me help put things into perspective. The application boasts live scoring, streaming video, pitch tracking and will stream live audio available for every game, for every team. The only alternative that allows all audio, both home and away teams, for every game is XM Radio.

The absolute cheapest XM Radio receiver that I could find is $50 and you are looking at around another $100 for the subscription of the service. I am not sure what other cost comparisons I could really do to illustrate the value more clearly.

To MLB and MLB Software Development Team, kudos to you for a job well done. Baseball fans, check it out if you have not already.