WatchMe_2_1_0_main

Version 2.2 on the way…

1
1 week ago

Hello all – I’m currently working on the next release, so I thought I would give you a quick preview of some of the upcoming things I’m working on.

  1. Storing config file(s) in different locations: You will be able to move the config files into a different directory, rather than being shackled to the default location that is used now. I have my beta version storing the config files in my dropbox folder so I can have the WatchMe on my work PC share the timers with WatchMe on my home PC.
  2. Running from a USB stick: By default the application will look for the config files in the same directory as the EXE first. This way you can put the app and it’s configuration files on a USB stick and then use it on different machines.
  3. Countdown Timers: Having the ability to create timers that count down from a set time rather than count up has been a common request for quite a while. I’m still working out the mechanism for this, but it will most likely be a new kind of timer you can add to the interface (just like the current timers). From there you can set the start time and it will count backwards, as opposed to up like the current timers.
Future enhancements (version 2.3 and higher) are hopefully going to include detailed logging of timers and generation of statistical reports (including time sheets).
If you have any comments or ideas about any of the features – feel free to comment on this post.
Thank you for your continued support of WatchMe. Happy timing!
WatchMe_2_1_0_main

Version 2.1.3 Released

0
1 month ago

An update to WatchMe (v 2.1.3) is now available for download. This new version includes the following changes:

  • Added default file names when exporting timer data.
  • The inactivity notification no longer opens a new dialog box every time it fires – only a single dialog box will be displayed no matter how long the timers are inactive. No more closing a bunch of warning windows when you leave the app running over the weekend.
  • Fixed an issue where an “object” error may occur while deleting a timer.
  • Reworked the internal timing code to to improve its precision and efficiency.
  • Added code to not allow tabs to have the same name.
  • Made the hour, minute and seconds controls larger when setting up a timer alert.
Visit the download page to get this latest version. Just copy the new executable over top of your existing WatchMe.exe file.
Apple

Syncing iTunes over WiFi

0
1 month ago

Ever since I updated to the latest iTunes and iOS 5 I’ve been trying to get the WiFi syncing and home sharing to work with no luck. I scoured the Internet and found all  sorts of guesses and theories on what you can do to get it all working.

After hours of trial and error I finally came across the solution that worked for me that no one seems to have mentioned: it appears that (at least for my set-up) the Windows PC running iTunes has to have a WIFI connection and not a direct wired connection to the router. This doesn’t make any sense to me – when my PC is wired to the router directly and the iOS devices (iPhone 3GS, iPad and iPad 2) are connected to my wireless router they are all on the same network (same subnet) and can see each other fine. Why it matters how the PC connects to the wireless router for WiFi syncing is a mystery to me – but hey, it works. Hopefully this may help someone else that’s in the same boat.

Here’s my set-up:

Oh Apple – I love you and yet I hate you.
WatchMe_2_1_0_main

Version 2.1.2 Released

0
2 months ago

A new version of Watchme (ver 2.1.2) has just been released. This new version includes the following new features and fixes:

  • Fixed an issue with the Focus Light not moving down the screen when new timers were added.
  • Increased the maximum text size for a timer note to 10,000 characters.
  • Added the ability to export the timers for the active tab only.
  • Added new keyboard shortcuts (PgUp, Alt – PgUp, PgDn, Alt – PgDn) to increase and decrease the time displayed in a timer. Focus must be in the timer’s textbox for this to work.
Visit the download page to get this latest version. Just copy the new executable over top of your existing WatchMe.exe file and you’re good to go.
Toodledo

Toodledo

2
3 months ago

If you’re looking for a system to help you keep track of work that you have to do, I can’t recommend Toodledo enough. It’s a feature rich web-based task tracking system that can be configured in many different ways – from just a basic task tracking system to a full on implementation of GTD. They also have mobile apps (iPhone, Android, Blackberry and more) that integrate with the website so you can access your task list while you are on the go.

I track all of the things I need to do in this app (both work and personal tasks) and I don’t know how I’d survive without it. Do yourself a favour and check it out.

www.toodledo.com

I’m looking at possibly integrating ToodleDo with WatchMe to allow you to tie timers to tasks and update the timer on a ToodleDo task based on the time collected in WatchMe. If that sounds like something you may be interested in, feel free to add a comment on this post. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

WatchMe_2_1_0_main

Version 2.1.1 of WatchMe Released

0
4 months ago

A new version of Watchme (ver 2.1.1) has been released. This new version includes the following new features and fixes:

  • A new “Minutes” timer format that displays your time in minutes only.
  • New functionality to automatically check for new versions of WatchMe.
  • A fix for the “valid Date Time” error that would occur with different regional settings.
Make sure to visit the download page and get this latest version.

 

 
FireGuy

63 Ways to Stay Focused

0
4 months ago

Check out this list of things you can do to help you stay focused while you work.
http://www.toiletpaperentrepreneur.com/managing-focus/how-to-stay-focused-63-very-focused-ways

 

focuslight_green

How Not to Multitask

0
4 months ago

The work that I do requires me to spend longer periods of time focusing on a single task. The more focused I keep myself (i.e. avoiding distractions), the faster and better the work tends to be. My biggest problem tends to be distractions, either external (people coming to see me) or internal (me finding other shiny objects to look at like new email, small tasks that pop into my head, etc).

I read a short article a little while ago (http://zenhabits.net/how-not-to-multitask-work-simpler-and/) that talks just about this, and how multi-tasking can be a real productivity killer.

After reading this article and others like it, I decided to add the new “Focus Light” feature to WatchMe so that I can get feedback on how focused I actually am. I set my copy of WatchMe up so I allow 4 task switches every 60 minutes (some days I’ll even bump it down to 2 per hour when I want to try to stay really focused). I’ve been running this new feature for a couple of months on a beta copy and it has helped me quite a bit.

This feature certainly doesn’t stop the distractions (stopping distractions is a topic for another time) but it does indicate to me how things have been going, and when I reach for my WatchMe to switch to some other task and see that yellow or red light – it reminds me to try and stay on target.

Here’s to staying in the green…

 

FireGuy

Welcome to Our New Home

0
4 months ago

Well it’s about time! I’ve finally gotten off my butt and set up a new home for Flamebrain Technologies and WatchMe. The old site was falling apart around the edges and getting difficult to manage – so time to step into the 2000s (is that how we refer to this century?) and have something a little more cleaner.

The main focus of this site is to keep you up to date on what’s going on with Flamebrain Technologies, which for the most part is the continued development of the WatchMe timer application. The WatchMe app has really helped me out in my day job, not only for keeping track of the hours I work for costing and billing purposes, but also in gaining a better understanding of how to stay focused. As I read and learn more about how to work efficiently, I will incorporate these various ideas into WatchMe and at the same time I’ll also try to post links to interesting articles on the subject here for you to enjoy.

Now get back to work and don’t forget to start your timer.

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