time management

Waste less time online with a Chrome extension

I read once that Jonathan Franzen writes his novels using an old laptop because it does not have a wireless antenna. He also took the extra precaution of gluing an Ethernet jack into the Ethernet port and then clipping the cable so that there was no way -- wired or wirelessly -- he could access the Internet while writing.

Knowing Franzen needed to take such measures to stay focused made me feel a little better about myself and my time-wasting ways on the Internet. If you need some assistance staying on point (and off Facebook) during the workday, WasteNoTime could … Read more

Freeware Friday: Concert guides for Android

The concert season is finally upon us! Summer is a popular time to head out, soak up the sun, and, of course, plan concert trips to see your favorite bands and singers. Whether you're into Bieber or Jagger, these apps will help you track events and schedule concerts to see your faves perform.

OnTour On Tour lets you discover new artists and track concerts as well as read band bios. The app will generate a list of concert tour dates and events based on your interests and existing music files. The interface has an easy-to-use design; swipe left and … Read more

Powerful Web-based time tracking

TimeTrex is an interesting Web-based, modular, multiplatform payroll and employee time management system. Employees can keep track of their time at the office, at home, and on the road, even from their cell phones. TimeTrex Standard Edition is free and includes the open-source Payroll Module, the Employee Scheduling Module, and the Time and Attendance Module.

TimeTrex's On-Site client is a substantial download, nearly 56 MB, including the Apache database software. The setup process involves installing the client and then setting up the software via a Web-based process, chiefly initializing our database. We entered our company's information as well … Read more

Simple time management the Pomodoro way

Technology is distracting, there's no doubt about it. Instead of allowing electronic gadgets to draw your attention away from more important activities in your workday, use them to sharpen your focus.

Many time management methods require a multiday symposium to master. A simple alternative is Francesco Cirillo's Pomodoro Technique, which is named after the 25-minute kitchen timer in the shape of a tomato Cirillo used to maintain his focus while studying in college in Rome.

In 25 minutes, you can learn most of what there is to know about the straightforward Pomodoro approach to time management. The free … Read more

Two low-cost apps keep your business humming

Whoever said "time is money" probably didn't work for the government. Still, as with most cliches, there's more than a little truth in that well-worn axiom.

One way businesses can save time is by using templates for standard forms, letters, and other documents. Another way is by tracking how workers are spending their time to identify operations they can perform more efficiently, as well as to improve the accuracy of time billing to clients.

Two programs that can help organizations enhance their efficiency are the $130 All-Business-Documents from InforDesk and NesterSoft's $50 WorkTime time-tracking application.… Read more

Three productivity-enhancing Firefox add-ons

About a year ago Google Chrome became the first browser I open each day to check the daily news, e-mail, and social networks. It's just faster, plain and simple. But Firefox remains the browser I use for work because of the many productivity-boosting add-ons that have been released for the program.

Recently I've been using three Firefox extensions to help me get more work done in less time: one removes all the extraneous material from Web pages to show only the main content, another monitors the amount of time I spend on work-related and non-work-related sites, and the … Read more

Right on time

Keeping track of the time spent on different projects can be the bane of the freelancer's existence. HourGuard Time Sheet is a great option for writers, designers, attorneys, consultants, and other people who bill by the hour to both track their time and create invoices.

The program's interface is plain and intuitive. A few buttons across the top give you access to the program's major features. A pane on the left displays a list of tasks that you have created. To track your time, simply click the task you're about to start on and then click … Read more

OmniFocus for iPad: Sunny with a chance of productivity

OmniFocus for iPad ( available in the App Store for $39.99) packs a powerful productivity punch, landing right on the jaw of your time management needs. And for a cool $40, it better. Suffice it to say, The Omni Group broke the mold when they created OmniFocus for iPad. I mean that literally. They didn't simply stick to the look they had already cultivated in their Mac application and they didn't just enhance their iPhone App to make it iPad-compatible.

OmniFocus for iPad is a totally new beast with some new, unique features that are really fantastic. Right … Read more

Buggy call to prayer

The Athan Software reminds users of the five daily Islamic calls to prayer. Although the program is nicely designed, it has some functional problems that made it difficult to use.

The program's interface is intuitive, with its functions arranged neatly with buttons. We had no trouble figuring out how to configure the program; everything was quite obvious. The program's built-in Help file gives a clear explanation of its features, but unfortunately, it offered no troubleshooting tips for when things don't go as planned.

The problem that we encountered was with defining our location. The program has a … Read more