WinXPSP 3 installed ok after I realised it was a two stage process.

The skin looks very amateurish, is too big on the screen , and as to operating the prog is just plain awful. Could not find a help file to tell you how to either.

Why not have a button "add new task " and another button " save task " ? You have to fiddle around right clicking everything and pressing enter , not very intuitive at all. Go back to the drawing board and as I always say get a child to try and operate it . A good prog just works without the need of a help file.

There is also some bug on the start menu , team viz is there , but on mouse over nothing appears, to start the prog. So have to go to prog folder to start on double clicking the tomato.

@25 Klacey, hovering over the task only gives me the option to move the task to another day or close the task. Nothing to start the timer.

@28, to someone who has a great sense of focus and few interruptions in life this may not appeal to you. To someone whose work zone is filled with interruptions, distractions, and a huge to-do list of many little things, this timer helps us get past the feeling of "too much to do, how do pick just one." So many times I start a task, get interrupted with another task, and then again, and I loose where I am. This tool SHOULD help me pick up where I left off. Unfortunately, it has no pause function, and isn't very easy to use, so it did not meet expectations.

I think a comment should be required to give EITHER a thumbs up or thumbs down. It's not that difficult, people! What value do authors get from providing free software and not getting feedback? Why should they continue to give it to us if we can't help them in return? It's not here just for us to glom on to and then disappear like a thief in the night! So, if you can't make a comment, don't give it the finger!

Hang on!
One should always read the readme file til the last line:
To extend the (sync) service to 1 year click the bottom-right "Extend service" icon in TeamViz and fill in the code received in the readme.txt file!

Downloaded also the iphone app to sync with this desktop version. In the setting it is stated that sync will expire in 1 month unless you pay for it.

This GOTD seems to be the free version or some kind of down-stripped pro version.

Free version is including one month of sync; pro version sold for $23.88 has one year of sync included.

Hi I always read comments as well as look at thumbs up and down before i download the giveaway application. I don't post often but I just can't see why there is so many thumbs down for this app yet there is quite a few positive comments.

come on thumbs down people don't be a chicken and hide!! I think if a thumbs down is posted there needs to be a reason why that person did it. It can put people of installing a very good piece of software.Not just this one I'm talking in general.

For goodness sake no game playing, you are offered free software with limitations so respect it, look if you don't like then post a comment rather than clicking on thumbs up or down.

There have said my piece will go back to lurking mode!

This upload , made the only one advantage......I've bought this :
Pomodoro timer

Best regards, and many greetings to all.

adam

Seriously...You need a "system" to tell you to focus on your work and don't get distracted? No, you don't.

My personal favorite:
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/download/Procrastinators-Clock,0301-7760.html

“Never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well".
--From: "More Maxims of Mark”
― Mark Twain

“If it weren't for the last minute, nothing would get done.”
― Rita Mae Brown

“Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.”
― Henry David Thoreau, Walden and Other Writings

My simple pomodoro technique: http://blog.clarity.fm/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/pomodoro.jpeg

I've been hearing about this method for a while and am happy for the chance to try this version for free. Thanks, GOTD and developers.

The file downloaded and installed with no problems on my Win7 system. Everything seems to be running smoothly and as expected so far. I like that I can change the duration for tasks and breaks.

Ali, hover over the task and you'll see the icon to click to start the timer. The mini timer pops up when you minimize, that's the default. If you want to change that, click "Settings" in the lower left. To stop the mini timer, click the button in the upper right hand corner.

@13 Adriaan - pomo d'oro - Italian - Golden Apple

I think this concept is wonderful, especially if you have a touch of OCD.. or have difficulty concentrating on one thing at a time. I don't need the electronic form since I have a decent timer.. it's more concept! Check out the tutorial posted earlier from someone here. Sometimes the simple things are the most effective. Kudos to the creator of the pomodoro technique!

Can't help agreeing with Ali #19 -- seems a good idea, but for the life of me I can't figure out how to even START the programme. I tried to add just one task, but after typing it in, there was no "save" button or anything -- forget about finding a timer!

The fact that there is absolutely NO help file or tab with FAQs is a major oversight, and seems to be rendering this programme useless -- to me, at least.

My fallback position, as many of us here, is to refer to Giovanni's posting for the usual helpful free alternatives.... TeamViz, why don't you at least put some instructions SOMEWHERE....? If you spend so much time trying to figure out how to make the programme WORK, you are going to end up going back to your standard way of wasting time -- procrastination....

I don't know about you guys, but I don't really care about this software. It's the Egg Timer I want. Those are tough to get, and they're like three or four dollars.

I think this timer has a time limit, and I can see why. Timer technology is changing by the minute. I don't know how they keep up. They really need you to pay once a year to ensure there's enough money for all that new research and development. Yes, I realize they're standing on the back of Francesco Cirillo, the creator of the Pomodoro technique, but the Pomodoro technique has been time-tested. It's difficult to improve on perfection.

Well, TeamViz says that time's up; I think I'll take a break.

I find this tool, while the concept is great, incredibly tricky to figure out. I figured out how to add tasks to the lists, but not how to start the timer... then somehow the timer popped up when I tabbed out, but then after starting it I couldn't figure out how to tell it I completed something without closing the whole program. No directions on how to use it properly but its not as simple as I hoped it would be. :(

Sorry, I don't buy this so-called Pomodoro technique.

The name of software should be called productivity timer and in the readme file also include statement that the program will not open automatically or better yet have the programmer to write a code that will open the program automatically to start the install. Also the extend service key only makes the program free until November 2014 shouldn’t it be free indefinite but with no free upgrades?

I have a previous Pomodoro program installed (either free or lite, I'm not sure).
My Questions,

1. Will I have to uninstall my earlier version to install this one.

2. What happens after the year? Does the program stop working or can I just not update? Wil I lose my files?

Thanks
J>

Basic objective info on the Pomodoro Technique here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique

However the Teamviz site starts off: "Organize and Plan with GTD methodology, and give the advantages of Pomodoro,"

Info on GTD: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getting_Things_Done

Long story short, both are methods that folks can try to use to try & be more productive if/when you're faced with lots of different tasks that all seem to be competing for your time & energy. Since we're all different these sorts of techniques might help some people while others go: "What...?" & just move on. ;)

As the TeamViz name & pricing structure suggests -- and as NYB notes in comments -- the design focus seems more on project mgmt. I guess that makes sense too since both Wikipedia articles state that this stuff should be done, or tracked may be a better word, manually, as in without software.

---

Duncan (#7) writes: " If you’re like me and either have a lot of big tasks that get away from you, or like to put off things “until tomorrow”, this program may help."

Or as I've found, you get very good at making very nice, detailed lists, then realize that you could have spent the same amount of time actually doing that stuff. :)

Many bosses love this sort of thing since it's a low effort way of tracking their employees' activities -- not the quality of work, but the quantity. The VA for example pays their claims processors bonuses based on quantity, so as a direct effect or result, more difficult, more time consuming claims are pushed to the side, ignored. But they're part of the gov -- in a real biz it can lead to things like widely despised tech support causing decreased sales.

@ #3 kstock and others. If you go to http://www.teamviz.com/pricing-plan/), you will see that they have a funny selling policy. At the top the price for the Pro version is split into monthly fees of $ 1.99, at the bottom it's a 1 year license without automatic renewal, what I personally do not like at all, but it's definitely not a GAOTD restriction. On the other hand TeamViz offers a always free Lite version (without data backup and sync).

I have a time management technique. I fill my coffee mug in the morning, then over and over throughout the day.

Pretty soon I have regular break periods, refilling the mug, and - well, you know what!

DISCLAIMER: This is not a review. It's a joke.:)

Pomodoro, italian, origin = French "pomme d"amour" = tomato.

For those of you interested in the technique a free book is available at the following link:-
http://pomodorotechnique.com/download/pdf/ThePomodoroTechnique_v1-3.pdf

I've been fortunate as I have been able to do nearly 7 years of higher education in three different disciplines, I enjoyed them all and never needed incentive to get the work done.

My real failing is in the day-to-day drudgery of work and would probably spend more time messing with this technique in an effort to avoid doing it.

A great alternative for task management that includes a Pomodoro timer and much more: https://kanbanflow.com
No need to download or install, it's a web application. Uses a unique and simple system to manage tasks (To do, do today, in progress & done). Possible to share tasks (collaborate), sub-tasks, statistics etc.

ok, i dont like this version. It asks me to sign up to use it. I'm not comfortable with cloud database so i'm uninstalling this version. Hope i will still have 2.1.

I have the version 2.1 and use it daily. I like it! My issue: closing the application doesn't "minimized". Instead, it just completely closes. Otherwise, i like it.

Is the GOTD today is Pomodoro Professional version or something that is not the pro version-lite ?
If it is the Pro version, would be subject to 1 year time limit ?

Installed and activated fine on Windows XP 32bits. Today's giveaway isn't a bad little time management app. It's great for those of us who like to procrastinate a little too much.

Basically, this is a task management program that gives you the option of creating categories and make to do lists underneath them. You can assign the 25 minute rule to the tasks to help motivate you to do them. I.e., it can help break down heavy tasks into smaller and more manageable todo's and give you a time frame to do them in.

There are other free programs out there available for both the Mac and PC that does roughly the same thing Pomodoros does. I doubt I'd ever shell out the 23.88 dollars the authors want for the program. Although it's a handy little tool, I just don't feel it's worth the price.

Seeing it's free, I gave it a shot. I doubt I'd renew it unless it was given away again free, but I don't see why there's so many thumbs down.

Bottom line: If you're like me and either have a lot of big tasks that get away from you, or like to put off things "until tomorrow", this program may help. If not, you can safely pass on today's giveaway!

Ok I extend a bit.

TeamWiz is the neatest, prettiest Pomodoro Application on the market. The free version is nearly as good as the paying one.
Pretty, but not very usefull or usable. Too much like just a project management software.
I tested many of these apps, and my personnal choice IS xortime.
You have to read the pomodoro technique manifest (http://pomodorotechnique.com/) to use this kind of applciations efficiently.
It works very well for me.
Cheerz

The Pomodoro Technique is a nice TIME MANAGEMENT method, created by an ITALIAN man like me named Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s, to increase people's productivity.

And I can ensure you it's not a stupid thing to play around with, since it's now practiced by professional teams and individuals around the world on a daily basis.

If you, like me, believe in the PARETO RULE (80/20), according to which 80% of our daily efforts achieves just 20% of the results (and viceversa), then this technique is definitely one of the best method to match such a rule.In fact the main goal here is to identify those 20% of activities bringing you 80% of results, multiplying job satisfaction and life enjoyment.

So the question is: can we afford to waste 80% of our time doing the wrong things every day? What if we could focus our efforts only on the 20% that makes a difference, rather than the 80% of our rotine activities?

Here you can find what this technique is about:

http://www.pomodorotechnique.com

But 24 bucks?? Come on....

BEST FREE ALTERNATIVES

* Three Of The Best Free Pomodoro Productivity Apps
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/3-free-pomodoro-productivity-apps

* (PORTABLE) Tomighty
http://www.tomighty.org

Personally, to increase my productivity, I prefer another (FREE of course) smarter approach....

https://trello.com
https://www.wunderlist.com/en

http://www.taskcoach.org/features.html
https://timegt.com/

How about you dudes?

My 0.00002 cents for today's giveaway....

@KStock: never mind, the giveaway can be rescheduled again next year.

The "extended service" offered with this package only lasts for one year. Is this normal for a package on Giveaway of the Day?

No need to own this useless software. Everybody's cellphone also can be used as an alarm.

THE best (fres) pomodoro technique software : xortime (http://www.xoring.com/)