Moleskine Actions (Free) by Moleskine is the complement app to Moleskine Timepage, a reasonably respectable digital planner app that we're followers of right here at AppAdvice. Should you're in search of a to-do app that's just like one thing like Issues 3, however just like the aesthetic of Moleskine apps, then Actions may very well be for you. But it surely's not with out some flaws of its personal.
I used to think about myself a productiveness nut, at all times attempting out the newest to-do record app on the App Retailer, or discovering different strategies to turn out to be extra productive. However that's form of stopped, no less than within the to-do record division. I've settled with Issues 3 because it got here out, as a result of I like the straightforward design and have set. And whereas my go-to calendar app continues to be Fantastical, Timepage was a detailed second for me since I'm a giant Moleskine fan — I used to write down of their paper journals. So naturally, once I noticed Moleskine Actions on the App Retailer this week, I used to be intrigued and needed to give it a shot. Sadly, I'm upset.
App Feels Like
App Feels Like
App Feels Like
Free
Timepage
Moleskine S.r.l.
$9.99
Issues 3
Cultured Code GmbH & Co. KG
$4.99
Fantastical 2 for iPhone
Flexibits Inc.
As a fan of Timepage, I like Actions' aesthetic, as a result of it falls beneath the identical design. It's a easy, clear design that focuses on a clutter-free life-style. You merely have your Schedule and Logbook of accomplished actions. Your lists are all organized the way you need them, and they are often color-coded for straightforward reference. The Motion Playing cards are strong coloured rectangles with rounded corners that look nice, and Actions showcases a fundamental sans serif typeface that wraps up the fashionable look. There's the default Mild theme, in addition to Darkish, and you’ll have it swap robotically relying on time. There are clean animations as you transition from one view to a different, and even creating motion playing cards and transferring them round is fluid. Once more, Moleskine is aware of how you can make a product look elegant and up to date.
Should you use Timepage, you then'll be glad to know that Actions integrates fairly seamlessly with Timepage. You possibly can shortly throw an Motion from Actions into Timepage, and vice versa. Each Timepage and Actions additionally use Moleskine's subscription-based mannequin although, which begins at $1.99 a month or $11.99 yearly ($1 a month). Whenever you join an account, it robotically begins a 7-day trial. Should you select to not proceed, each Timepage and Actions will likely be read-only mode. That is relatively unlucky, however no less than the trial offers you a style of what the whole lot's like so you may make your determination.
Whenever you first launch Actions, there's a quick tutorial that exhibits you the fundamentals. It's fairly closely gesture-based, although you get used to issues after a couple of moments as a result of it's pretty intuitive.
After the tutorial, you'll see your Schedule. This pulls information out of your iOS calendar to show present and upcoming appointments and occasions in your timeline in an inventory fashion. Should you faucet on the checkmark on the backside, or swipe from the display screen edge, you'll see the Logbook, which exhibits accomplished duties.
However how do you add duties? First, you'll wish to create some Lists, which you’ll entry by tapping on the cardboard icon within the backside proper nook. Then click on the plus button to make a brand new record, which requires a reputation and you then get a vigorous transition to paint bubbles, the place you decide the record colour (will be modified at any time). When you make your decisions, the record is saved and you can begin including actions on to it.
You possibly can add actions straight in an inventory or from the Schedule view. Should you select the latter, you'll want to select the record so as to add it to whenever you create it. All Motion playing cards may also have notes added to them, if wanted.
Actions understands pure language enter, although it's not as superior as Fantastical's engine. This implies you're in a position to kind in one thing like "Publish standing report each second Friday" and Actions robotically takes care of the scheduling, reminders, and notifications. Or you are able to do one thing easy, like "Deposit paycheck each different week" or "Purchase hen by Friday" and Actions handles it.
Nonetheless, I'm aggravated at the truth that Actions' pure language enter doesn’t perceive the whole lot, not like Fantastical and different apps. It doesn't perceive once I put issues like "on 2/28" or "on the finish of each month," after which simply defaults to immediately for these actions. For one thing that claims to know pure language, I'm seeing extra fails than successes.
One other factor I've observed is a bizarre textual content glitch. If I kind one thing and make a typo, I wish to simply faucet on the delete key and return to repair my error. A couple of occasions I've performed this, the final letter of the phrase I'm modifying stays on the finish, regardless that I'm pretty sure I positioned the cursor after it. It's a small glitch, nevertheless it's driving me bonkers.
To finish an motion, simply swipe right-to-left. A swipe in the wrong way helps you to schedule it. If an merchandise is within the logbook, you may swipe right-to-left to mark it as incomplete, or left-to-right to delete it for good.
Motion playing cards will also be moved across the schedule simply by drag-and-drop. There's additionally good haptic suggestions as you shuffle issues round, which I like.
For many who like to make use of Siri for voice activated instructions, Actions has help for that. Nonetheless, I attempted it out and it doesn't appear to work too properly. One of many issues you may say is "Create an inventory known as no matter in Actions." After I tried this, first Siri created it in Reminders as a result of I didn't intensify the 's' in Actions onerous sufficient. Then it made the record however saved the "in" on the finish of the record title. I've by no means gotten together with Siri for voice instructions, because it by no means appears to know the phrases I'm saying, so I don't see the Siri integration in Actions very helpful for me anyway.
Moleskine Actions is a brand new to-do app that enhances Timepage.
The Good
The Good
Actions has a beautiful design that’s elegant and trendy. Like Timepage, it appears nice, and the number of colours means you may customise it to your liking and make it pop. The navigation is fairly respectable and intuitive sufficient for most individuals. You possibly can create as many lists as wanted, and the combination with Timepage is good. And whereas it's not good, the pure language enter is helpful for sure issues.
The Unhealthy
The Unhealthy
Sadly, there's extra I dislike about Actions than like. First, I'm not a giant fan of the subscription mannequin for each Moleskine apps. Truthfully, I'm uninterested in the whole lot turning into one other month-to-month or annual subscription fee, as a result of there are many different choices which are viable with out having to pay to make use of it each month (like Issues 3 and Fantastical for me).
I discovered the navigation system to be a bit clunky at occasions. I feel with the ability to swipe wherever, not simply from the sides of the display screen, to navigate between Logbook and Schedule must be an possibility. I imply, so long as you're not swiping an Motion card, there shouldn't be a problem.
The pure language enter wants lots of work to be as much as par with different apps like Fantastical. It ought to acknowledge issues like "on 3/30" or "on the finish of each month," as I really feel that is naturally how folks converse. It doesn't translate into Actions, and I discovered it stunning.
Different small issues, just like the textual content glitch and Siri instructions, additionally want work. With all the present issues the app has, I can't justify paying a subscription price to make use of it each month. Not less than I used to be ready to make use of the trial to find that it isn't for me.
The decision
The decision
As a fan of Timepage earlier than, I hoped to love Actions. However loads has modified since I final used Timepage, apparently, and I can safely say that I'm not a fan. Whereas Actions appears nice and has good integration with Timepage, I agree with others in the truth that this could have been added into Timepage itself, and never be a standalone app. In spite of everything, Fantastical is ready to deal with each scheduling and reminders, why not Timepage?
For now, I’ll stick to my present system. However hey, if you wish to give Actions and Timepage a shot, no less than the 7-day trial helps you to get a style earlier than committing.
Moleskine Actions is offered on the App Retailer as a common obtain in your iPhone and iPad without spending a dime. There may be an in-app buy for a Moleskine account that begins at $1.99 a month.
