WebRunner can help you focus your web browsing...

WebRunner is Mozilla (Firefox, Thunderbird, etc.) software based on the concept of Site Specific Browsers (SSB). SSB is "an application with an embedded browser designed to work exclusively with a single web application." Just a browser window, one website, no toolbars, nothing fancy.

It has been called a "distraction free browser". So, if you are one of those people who opens up a browser either at home or at work and can get lost with the vast universe that is the world wide web (I can be one of those people), this might help.

After downloading and installing WebRunner (for Windows, Linux, or Mac OS X), you then download different "webapps" (under the previous link) for specific web sites.

That was probably a bad explanation, so I will give an example. I use the previously mentioned Todoist for task management. I downloaded the Distraction Free GTD pack for WebRunner from internetducttape.com (here is the actual download link).

In Windows, the .webapp files automatically associate with WebRunner. So, to run Todoist, I double-click on todoist.webapp and that is all I see in my browser. I don't have any other options, which can keep me focused. You can create shortcuts to your .webapp files for your desktop or quick launch bar and have multiple WebRunner windows open. An example of my todoist window is to the right. Click on it for a bigger view (my task management isn't totally efficient at this point).

A few notes...

There are webapp pages for many other sites (including sites that will not promote efficiency like Facebook and Twitter).

If you like to proxy everything, you will need to edit the config file.

I don't group windows in my taskbar and personally like Firefox to minimize to the system tray instead of the taskbar (Firefox extension: Minimize to Tray). So, to get my WebRunner windows to minimize to the system tray, I installed TaskSwitchXP. It seems to be free, but only works in XP/2003. It will also replace your default Alt+Tab and give give preview windows.


Lifehacker link

UPDATE: engtech, the creator of internetducttape.com, left a comment informing me the Distraction Free GTD pack has been enhanced, so I changed the link.

Organization I didn't accomplish this weekend...

I have all of my electronics concentrated in the corner of my living room, below my TV. The TV is mounted on the wall, which provides cable clutter in itself since I'm not cool enough to have the wires running inside the wall.

But, something I wanted to try this past weekend was to organize my cables by using a towel rack:


LINK to original lifehacker post

Here are some other ideas:

Lifehacker - go cordless with clamps

Lifehacker - the cordless workspace (sort of)

I will post pictures if I ever accomplish this goal (probably not for another two weeks)....

Todoist is the Truth

Over the last month or so, I've played with a few online productivity/task list tools (Tracks, GTDTracks, Vitalist) and they all have come up a little short for me.

I've used Todoist for the last 2 weeks or so and, like Jordan Bratman, I don't think I'm going to do much better than this.

A few of the things I like about it:

Clean Interface
After hiding the info page with one click, all you see are your tasks, projects, and a minmalist search window. No clutter on the screen.

Dates/Times
Maybe the coolest feature. Tired of clicking around in Outlook, setting a deadline for something that has to be done tomorrow by noon? I'm not going to check (it takes too long), but I'd guess it takes at least 12 clicks in several different date, time, scheduling boxes. In todoist you just type "tomorrow @ 12", "friday @ 12", or even "tom @ 12". Schedule recurring tasks by putting an "every" or "ev" in front of the date. I defy you to set up a recurring task in any other system with fewer key strokes than "ev 15" (Every 15th of the month) or "ev mon" (every Monday).

Contexts
If you're practicing your GTD mantra, or just sorting things out, you can add contexts to your tasks by simply adding "@home", "@work", etc... to the task description. Unlike GTDTracks and Vitalist you can add multiple contexts to tasks you can get done either at home or in the car, or wherever.

Prioritization
Similar to adding contexts, adding priorities is simple. "!p1" makes the task a top level priority, "!p2" a second level priority, and so on. There are 4 levels, each color coded.

Keyboard Shortcuts
Along with dates, the keyboard shortcuts are what really make Todoist stand out. Adding tasks, promoting and demoting tasks and projects, sorting, and much more can be done with shortcuts.

Launchy/iGoogle/Integration
Adding the Todoist DLL to your Launchy program folder allows you to add tasks to todoist using Launchy. 'Nuf said. I haven't used the iGoogle widget yet, but I imagine it works wonderfully. A Firefox extension for g-mail lets you send e-mails directly to your task list. And so on. There are Quicksilver and Mac Dashboard plug-ins and widgets, but, like Pony Parties (definately not linking to that, look it up yourself), I won't admit to knowing anything about how they work.

Chaining
I haven't done much chaining (a la Seinfeld), but it is equally easy to implement.

Price
It's $3 per month for the premium level. That gets you SSL, reminders (MSN, Jabber, Twitter, chaining, and other labeling capabilities. You probably spend at least $3/month on plastic silverware, replacement earring backs, and contraception. Todoist is more important than any of those things. Just think how quick it will be to type "[Ctrl-A] Go to planned parenthood, take care of it [Tab] tom @ 8".

What's Missing

There is not (or I have not found) iCal or RSS functionality.

Anyways, I've enjoyed using it, sign up, get your act together, then comment and tell me how smart I am.

Achieve your goals...

An interesting site I was turned on to while reading a link from a lifehacker post on tips to becoming an early riser.

Joe's Goals

Apparently, a free site to track your daily goals. You can even post them on MySpace (boo) or your blog (yeah!).

I'm sure everyone who reads this blog wants to know if I am achieving my goals...well, even if that is not true, I'm signing up.