Omni Group CEO, Ken Case, and Product Manager, Ainsley Bourque Olson, discuss the exciting new features of OmniFocus 4, such as the customizable Fluid outline, interactive widgets, standalone Apple Watch app, and enhanced VoiceOver compatibility. They also highlight the use of SwiftUI and the collaborative TestFlight experience in the development. OmniFocus 4 offers a seamless and consistent experience for users across different Apple platforms.
OmniFocus 4 strikes a balance between approachability and power, providing an enhanced user experience for both newcomers and existing users.
The use of SwiftUI in OmniFocus 4 allows for a consistent and familiar app across all Apple platforms, delivering a seamless and fluid user experience.
Deep dives
Approachability and Retaining Power in Omni Focus 4
The development of Omni Focus 4 aimed to make the app more approachable for newcomers while retaining the power that existing users appreciate. The team wanted to ensure that new users found it easier to get started and navigate the app, but also wanted to preserve the advanced capabilities that set Omni Focus apart from simple reminders apps. By striking a balance between approachability and power, the team sought to create the best of both worlds for all users.
Test Flight Experience and User Feedback
Omni Focus 4 went through an extensive test flight experience, with separate iOS and Mac test flights that received valuable feedback from engaged users. The team was able to reach the test flight capacity limit imposed by Apple and received helpful input from participants. The unique test flight experience allowed them to compare it to previous iterations, leveraging Apple's tools and engaging testers in testing beta builds for the new version.
Building a Universal Experience Across Platforms
Omni Focus 4 focused on delivering a consistent user experience across all Apple platforms. By leveraging SwiftUI, the team was able to share code and design elements between devices, making the app more consistent and familiar for users. They brought the best features and design elements from each platform to the others, creating a more seamless and fluid user experience. The ability to preserve hierarchy in forecast and the introduction of interactive widgets were among the new features that enhanced the universal experience.
Exciting Developments and Future Plans
The Omni Focus 4 development cycle brought exciting new features and improvements to the app. Some of the highlighted features include customizable fluid outlines, reordering tasks and events in forecast, flexible custom perspectives, interactive widgets, and a standalone watch app. The team aimed to provide a universal experience and a seamless upgrade process, allowing users to run Omni Focus 3 and 4 side by side and to preserve their existing workflows. The release also marked the availability of cross-platform licenses, enabling users to access Omni Focus on all their devices with a single purchase or subscription.
In this special episode of The Omni Show, we celebrate the launch of OmniFocus 4 with Omni Group CEO, Ken Case, and Product Manager, Ainsley Bourque Olson. We delve into the exciting new features and improvements of OmniFocus 4, with its more approachable interface for new users while retaining the powerful capabilities our existing customers love.
This episode highlights the unique achievements of the OmniFocus 4 development cycle, including its innovative use of Apple's SwiftUI and the collaborative TestFlight experience. Key new features such as the customizable Fluid outline, interactive widgets, a standalone Apple Watch app, and enhanced VoiceOver compatibility are discussed. We also explore the universality of OmniFocus 4 across different Apple platforms, offering a seamless and consistent experience for users.