Forthcoming app very bare-bones, gesture-centric

UK-based RealMac Software, known for titles like Rapidweaver and Little Snapper, will be releasing a new to-do app in the next few weeks called Clear. The app is a collaboration with MacHeist organizer Phill Ryu, engineer Milen Dzhumerov and artist David Lanham, and puts an iPhone-centric, gesture-oriented but minimalist spin on the idea of a to-do list, focusing on visual design rather than excessive features.

The centerpiece of the app is a good example of its artistic simplicity: a list of to-dos, fading from red at the top (most urgent) to yellow at the bottom. Users can swipe to the left to delete tasks (the opposite of how deleting is normally accessed in lists), or swipe right to mark them done (unbeknownst to most users, swiping left normally has the same effect as swiping right in a list view). Users can pinch anywhere or "pull down" to create a new task, drag the task up or down to reassign priority, and scroll to see older to-dos if any. A typical screen will show up to eight tasks, and the app supports multiple lists.

The website for the app is accepting e-mail addresses of those who want to be notified when the app goes on sale. System requirements and pricing have not yet been announced, but the company has hinted that it is also considering an iPad version.

by MacNN Staff