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Wunderlist 2 Review

NOTE: Originally, this was a review for Wunderkit. Wunderkit is not being developed anymore as 6wunderkinder focuses their development on Wunderlist 2, which was the better product anyway.

What is it?

Wunderlist 2 is the king of all to-do lists. It’s simply the best task management, reminders-like app out there. Period.

For most of you, you probably should just stop reading right here and try it out for yourself. What’s below are just proves the claim that I made above. After all, it’s better to see for yourself how an app can be so functional yet so beautiful as well. It’s almost as if 6wunderkinder took the idea of “form follows function” and threw it out the window because both the form and function of this product are equally outstanding.

Enough jabber, let’s get to the good bits.

The Good

It’s not just an iPhone app as many may think. It’s also available on iPad, Andriod, Mac, and Windows. Yep, Mac and Windows. That means that all your tasks will be with you anywhere you go. If you set it to remind you to do something at a certain time and you happen to be on your computer, a notification window will appear on your screen. That’s a nice touch. Of course, Wunderlist will also send you a notification on your phone, too. Oh, and we can’t forget about the web access, too. If your computer/phone aren’t accessible, they have a really nice web app that works just as well. You just won’t get those nice push notifications that you will on the other apps.

All the apps across the board sync together really well. If you edit a task on your computer, you can bet that the change will show on your iPhone. They’ve had some performance issues with syncing but those seem to have been fixed. It’s been running smoothly for quite a few months now.

As I mentioned before, it’s frickin’ beautiful. I could go into depth and tell you how it’s beautiful, but honestly… it’s better for you to just see for yourself.

As far as features go, there’s a lot. I’ll just go over some of my favorites to keep this short. If you want a full list of features, they’re here.

I think the sub-tasks would have to be my favorite. It’s very useful for shopping, homework, etc. I don’t know how I functioned without it.

Another feature that I liked was the ability to share lists with people. This is perfect if you’re always that guy that ends up leading a group project. Make all your friends download this app and you can make a list of what needs to be done that everyone can see. If one person marks a task as done, it updates on everyone’s app. It’s also helpful for grocery shopping, which my family uses it for. If I need something, I just put it on the shared grocery shopping lists and whoever’s out at the moment picks it up and checks it off the list.

Notes. Although it may seem simple, it’s great. At the time of writing a task, it might make sense. When I actually have to do it, it might not make as much sense. Do you ever get up to do something and then totally forget why you got up? It’s the same thing…. wait, that never happens to you? Well… you get my point.

The Bad

The occasional downtime, but that’s unavoidable and not really noticeable. Also, the option for multiple reminders for a task would be awesome. Honestly, that’s all I could think of for downsides. I haven’t needed to contact support, really. It just… works.

Conclusion

It’s great. Seriously, try it. Do it now.

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More posts + general update!

After a few months of silence, Rubiverse is alive again and with many more posts in the pipeline (I have at least 10 posts in the works). Summer is here, and that means time for stuff like blogging, swimming, friends, etc. School has been out for a good two weeks and after complete and utter relaxation, I think I’m ready to resume productivity. There’s lots and lots of content that I need to catch up on, probably around 20 entries worth. These are listed in order if importance…

  •  In May, I attended TechCrunch DisruptNY. It was one of the most awesome experiences of my life, and you can bet your bottom dollar that there will be a posts (yes, plural) about this coming very soon. One will be a post about the event in general. Then, I will post a series detailing all the Startups I met at TC Disrupt that I thought were noteworthy. Because of how belated this is, I will try to push this out as soon as possible.
  • I’m a Senior… but I don’t feel like one. I feel more like a Freshman than a Senior, to be honest. It’s strange, and there will be a full entry about this. Look for that soon.
  • In addition to Startups that I met at TC Disrupt, there are numerous apps and services that I’ve found recently that are all worthy of their own posts.
  • I have a couple philosophical entries in the works, but this is low priority. They’ll be finished by the end of the Summer.

Also, I intend to redesign this blog. I have no idea when and I’m not really experienced in designing sites, but it’s something that I definitely want to do. The only way for me to learn how to design/develop well is to practice… so I might be redoing this blog more than once. There’s no time frame for this as of now, so I’m not sure when it will happen.

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Tips for incoming Juniors

After about two weeks of break, I can now fully appreciate the school year that I’ve just completed. The PSATs, HSPAs, SATs, AP tests, drivers license, Junior paper… all done! It wasn’t an easy road, but it was one that had to be crossed. It wasn’t even the school work that made this past year so difficult (although it was slightly more challenging than past years), it was the combination of school work, tests, extracurriculars, etc. Whatever it was, I’m glad that it’s over and that I’ve survived.

Junior year is important, there’s no doubt about that. Although it might seem daunting and not so much fun, it’s something we all have to do. There’s some things that I wish someone would have told me before I entered Junior year. Lucky for you, I’ve posted them here, so actually read this because it will help you. I’m sure other Seniors will agree with me on these.

  1. DON’T look at the big picture. It’s easy to become overwhelmed rather quickly when the obligations pile up, but there are ways to suppress this. Complete tasks as they come and don’t think too much about the total amount of work that you have to do. Focus on the current task at hand and you will get through it. If you try to take everything in at once, you won’t be a happy camper. Take bit size portions, and don’t forget to chew your food before you eat it!
  2. FOCUS. I’ll admit, I had a little bit of trouble with this. As mentioned before, focus on what you need to do. Get off of Facebook/Twitter/Reddit/Stumbleupon/etc; put the computer away if you don’t need it. Work until it’s done, and once you’ve finished, you’ll feel less guilty about doing what you were doing before. Don’t think about doing your work, JUST DO IT. It honestly feels so much better when it’s done.
  3. Manage your time wisely. Even if you usually don’t do this, use some sort of task system to organize yourself and your time. Things will begin to pile up as the year goes on, and if you don’t dedicate time for each task, they won’t get done in a timely manner. Paperwork, especially. Don’t rely on your brain for this, it will fail you. If you have an iPhone, Reminders is a beautiful thing (as well as Calendar). Wunderkit, a beautifully designed project management app, is a godsend.
  4. Take a breather. Don’t work yourself too hard, it’s not healthy. Take breaks; naps are always in season. Stress is your enemy, so fight back, close your eyes, and breath deeply.
  5. Do you work. Just do it, it’s not that bad. Even if it’s annoying, it’ll help you somehow. You’ll be a better person because of it.
  6. Get on your teachers’ good sides. Honestly, this makes a world of difference. If you form a bond with your teacher, life will just be so much easier for you. Also, this is good recommendations for colleges. You’ll need teachers that like you to write you good recommendations.

If you follow all of these tips, you might even have time for a social life. Have fun in Junior year!

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Video game theme song: finished!

I FINALLY completed this. It took forever, but it needed to be done. I am creating music for a video game that my high school’s TSA club is creating. It is a pain, but it’s fun at the same time. I have been using GarageBand in previous compositions for past video games, but this time is different. I laid down some cash for Roland’s CakeWalk Music Creator 6. It’s one of the most intuitive and best designed software I’ve ever used on a PC, and the music it creates sounds fairly good for 40 bucks. What you’re about to hear is a theme song to a video game that I created myself. I hand wrote (or typed) every note you will hear; there are no per-fabricated loops. Also, all the instrumentation is virtual. Tell me what you think!

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Rubiverse.net is on a new server!

I haven’t made a blog post in a while, but that doesn’t mean that I haven’t been THINKING about doing a blog post. Trust me, I have thought about it. Almost every single time, I decided it wasn’t worth it because I had more important work to do. Now I actually have something worthwhile to post about: I have moved Rubiverse.net to a brand spanking new server.

What: This was not a simple move. I didn’t just copy the site from one shared host to another. I moved the whole site from a shared host to an unmanaged Virtual Private Server (VPS). Most of you probably don’t know what this is. A VPS is a slice of a dedicated server that has it’s own operating system and is separated from other VPSs on a server by virtualization software. Because the one that I bought happened to be unmanaged, that means that I had to set it up, secure it, and make sure my site(s) and programs work as they should. For a person who has never done this before, it was a daunting challenge… but I still did it and I’m pretty proud I did.

Who: I moved from an MDDHosting shared server (they are awesome, BTW) to a TinyVZ VPS.

When: The site was down, as some of you may know, for about a week or two while I procrastinated setting up the VPS. I’m still tweaking the server, but I finished the migration and the site was live about a week ago.

Where: The VPS server is located in Kansas City. I think that this is a great location for a server because it is right smack in the middle of the US. It has decent speeds to EU and Asia, unlike the East coast or West coast. AAAAANNNNDDD… it’s cheap. Server in Kansas City tend to be cheaper than those in more expensive areas (Chicago, New York City, LA).

Why: I can tell you that it was NOT because I didn’t like my previous host. MDDHosting is a top notch, but I wanted something I could have more control over and I also wanted to learn how to manage a linux box, and that’s why I switched.

I don’t really know when the next post will be. This year is insane, and with SATs coming up and all these projects and tests and whatnot, I can’t give an ETA. This blog isn’t really my top priority right now.

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Mac VS PC; Which will it be?

Some people claim that PCs are superior while others will exclaim that Macs are the cream of the crop. Can they both be right? No, but is one better than the other? Nope. It’s all a matter of personal preference.

A lot of people grew up with PCs. When they came across a Mac, everything was new and confusing for them, almost always causing them not to like Macs. This is a lot of the times the reason why PC users don’t like Macs. Of course, a lot of them won’t admit this, but they same exact things go for a lot of Mac users as well. They’ve grown up with Macs and aren’t used to PCs and find them difficult to use, therefore inferior.

I’ve grown up with both. They are both good in their own ways and fall short in others. It really depends what you use your computer for. For hardcore gaming and business work, a PC might fit your needs better. For designers and students, Macs could work better for you.

I like Macs better, and here’s why…

  • A more intuitive and less buggy user interface. Sometimes Windows will screw up on me or just take a long time to do something. Macs tend not to do this. It’s just… smooth.
  • Better integration between hardware and software. Both the hardware and software are made by the same company, allowing for a unity that just isn’t available with Windows computers.
  • Programs. GarageBand, iMovie, and iPhoto aren’t available on Windows computers. I actually use those programs.
  • There are other reasons, but they are slipping my mind right now.

What do you use and why?

 

 

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New competition

Every so often, a new competitor will emerge in your market with something better than what you have and will steal business from you. Sometimes it may be the new ice cream shop down the road, sometimes it may be Google. Whatever it is, you’re loosing business because of it. So, what are you going to do?

What you shouldn’t do is nothing. The situation won’t get any better if you leave it alone. You need to take action for the sake of your business.

There are a few things you can do:

  1. New marketing techniques. Think of some new, creative way to market to potential customers that the competitors haven’t taken full advantage of yet. Come up with a creative marketing campaign that would take the focus away from your competitors. Be creative.
  2. New Products. Come out with something that is better/cooler than your competition. Find something that would set you apart from your competition; offer something your competitors don’t offer.
  3. Niche Markets. If the new competition is especially fierce, than you can resort to niche markets. Find a niche within your market and focus on catering to that.
These are only a few ways to deal with new competition. I’m sure there are more, but this is a good starting place. Good luck!
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Is TV bad for you?

People love to watch TV. It’s a great way to wind down after work/school or on a lazy Saturday. Some people have questioned whether it is unhealthy to watch TV, and with good reason. After all, staring at an flat, illuminated device pumping out noise couldn’t be good for you… or maybe it isn’t that bad. Let’s discuss and find a conclusion!

Why is TV bad?

First off, it’s physically not good for you. You are sitting on a couch and watching a screen that might be emitting radiation and frying your brain. Although some mothers say, “Stop watching that dang TV, it’s frying your brain,” or something of the sort, they usually are talking about the content you are watching. But, that statement partially holds true on a physical level. As described in the link above, some screens have the tendency to emit possible dangerous radiation. I’m sure no one wants that.

Also, some may argue that the stuff people watch on TV is figuratively rotting their brains. Shows like “Jersey Shore” and “Family Guy” inadvertently teach people bad lessons of morality and social conduct. For this exact reason, it is especially important for children not to watch these types of shows.

Why is TV not so bad after all?

If taken in moderation, TV is a great way to wind down. Also, TV time might also be quality family time for some. Not to mention that there is no shortage of educational TV programs out there. TV is also a good source for news and exercise shows.

Conclusion

TV can be both good and bad, depending on how it is used. If you watch it too much and you watch crap, than the effects most likely won’t be one that is desired… and vise versa. So, TV is only bad for you if you use it in a certain way (the same can be said for most things).

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Natural Disasters, Percentages, and Life

If you watch The Science Channel too much, you will become depressed. It’s a simple fact of life.

Why do I say this? Killer volcanoes, killer wales, killer lakes, killer meteors, etc. Everything kills. There are so many ways for the natural world to turn on us. This would upset the normal soul, but, for some reason, it doesn’t upset me at all. In fact, I find it really cool… and it’s partially the reason why I love to watch The Science Channel. I have no idea why I like watching outlandish disaster scenarios that will probably never happen within my lifetime, but they are entertaining.

Besides the entertainment factor, they do put life in perspective. You could die at any moment; your life is dispensable. The thing is, though, the chance of a giant meteor hitting the earth during your lifetime is very small. It’s safe to say that it will never happen to you. But, there are so many random ways that you could die. All these percentage add up until it becomes more threatening.

It is kind of depressing, but it is a fact of life. Live life to it’s fullest and keep in mind that every day could be your last.

P.S. Yes, killer lakes do exist.

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Are smart phones making us stupid?

No, they are not. Smart phones aren’t making us any smarter either. Here’s why:

Smart phones are meant to expedite every day tasks. They make you faster, not smarter or more stupid. For example, smart phones–by their design–autocorrect your words. Although it does eliminate careless spelling mistakes, it doesn’t take away the need to spell correctly. It just makes typing faster and more efficient.

Some argue that these smart phones allow us to read more than we would have without them. And they are right; access to magazines, newspapers, books, blogs, and websites are at our fingertips. I read a recent statistic (where I read it has slipped my mind) stating that teens and young adults are reading 3 times as much as the previous generation is.

Others will argue that smart phones are taking away time from more productive activities. In essence, this is true, but smart phones are designed to HELP in doing tasks faster so you have more time to do productive activities.

What I’m basically getting at is smart phones aren’t making you any smarter or stupider… if used correctly. They aren’t meant to be attached to you 24/7. They are designed as a helping tool and should be used as so.