A feature I never thought I would use

We often get requests for new features. They are sometimes features we personally do not really think are important, but we keep track of them over time and if there is enough demand we will add it to the product (as long as it fits with the direction we want the product to go). We recently added a feature to the Windows version that fits that description.

The request was for a periodic alert to remind users to verify what they were tracking with the timer. The thought was that often people forget to start the timer or to change the timer when they changed what they were working on. While I understood this would increase the accuracy of the time tracking, I just couldn't see myself ever using it. To be 'nagged' all day about what I was working on was just not I wanted from my time tracking tool. However, since enough of our customers did not feel the same way, it was added as an optional feature.

During this beta cycle I am using most features whether I want to or not. The timer alert, as it has come to be called, has really impressed me. It could have been added as just a message box to remind the user to check what they are doing. But that was not how it was implemented. I won't go into specific, but the implementation melds the alert with the recent and favorite lists, plus configuration options to create an unobtrusive feature I find very useful. Coupled with the user option to Display time entry when starting timer, this feature drastically reduces the interruption when starting a forgotten timer.

If you would like to see this or any of the other new features in version 3.0, sign up to participate in the beta program. Even though we are nearly release, we still appreciate involved beta testers.