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43Folders.com is Merlin Mann’s website about finding the time and attention to do your best creative work.

Three OS X Timers

I know I’m not the only timer nerd here — check out three Mac-friendly ways to time your activities and make sure you stay on track.

ProdMe - Dashboard - Status

Looking forward to trying this, but the DL link appears to be temporarily overwhelmed.

Clock chimes return to Mac OS X! ProdMe replicates this greatly-missed feature from Mac OS 9, and also provides two additional modes for repeating audio alerts. In addition to traditional clock chimes, ProdMe also provides the option to play a sound at any time interval, using any of the available alert sounds. Great for anyone who finds that time tends to slip away faster than expected.

Features:

  • Chimes can be set at either arbitrary time intervals or synchronized with the clock (like traditional clock chimes).
  • Multiple copies of the widget can be open at once, with independent settings for each copy.
  • Choice of five different background colors.
  • Honors 12-hour or 24-hour time format (as specified in the International system preferences).

Konfabulator - Gallery - TenPlusTwo

Haven’t tried this one yet either (don’t use Konfabulator, myself), but I’m a fan of its inspiration:

Can’t stop procrastinating? Force yourself to work for 10 minutes, then force yourself to take a 2 minute break. Repeat.

Leave this countdown timer running, and it changes colors and plays sounds to indicate what you should be doing.


Minuteur 4.3 - MacUpdate

Finally, in other timer news, my own timer of choice, Minuteur, just keeps on adding great little tweaks. From the version 4.3 update notes:

  • Add fullscreen mode.
  • Add Dock menu.
  • Add dynamic Dock icon.
  • The ruler contextual menu is now editable.

Fullscreen mode is pretty sweet if you want to run a timed dash but not let the allure of your Mac distract you. Just creates a big old black screen with the time counting down. Very cool.

And don’t forget — Minuteur’s got tons of neat little affordances to control the timer, so be sure to read the “About Minuteur” section for instructions.


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Jesse Grosjean's picture

I'm the author of Clockwork...

I’m the author of Clockwork another timer that you might like. Two things that make it different are applescript support and a plugin architecture. Thanks for taking a look.

jmgriff's picture

Personally I like Pester. You...

Personally I like Pester. You can set multiple alarms and give each a custom message that pops up when the timer counts to 0 … (“You’re dinner is ready”, “Thats 30 minutes work done, well done!” etc etc) ;)

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/9589

thomas's picture

I'd also like to humbly...

I’d also like to humbly suggest the web based “Time Tracker”.

http://www.formassembly.com/time-tracker/

It’s really simple and well designed with bunches of yummy web2.0 goodness. It doesn’t include alarms per se, but it’s good way to keep track of how much time you’re spending on any given project.

Jack's picture

I used to be a...

I used to be a huge fan of the Timer Action for Quicksilver until it was broken in the later builds :(

Ericka Menchen Trevino's picture

Thanks for the heads up...

Thanks for the heads up on the fullscreen mode of Minuteur. I really appreciate fullscreen mode in MacJourna & I wish more apps offered fullscreen.

Woofer's picture

I like Time Out (http://www.dejal.com/timeout/)....

I like Time Out (http://www.dejal.com/timeout/). It gently nudges me into micro-breaks of 15 seconds, or one 10-minute break every hour — and it’s configurable. The screen grows dim, long enough for a few deep breaths, stretches… or a cup of tea.

Matthew M. Boedicker's picture

Minuteur is great for doing...

Minuteur is great for doing laundry if you live in a building with a shared laundry room.

Britt Scharringhausen's picture

Tea Timer is a nice,...

Tea Timer is a nice, teeny-tiny, super-simple timer. You can set it as a count-down timer or an alarm clock, and it displays the time remaining in the Dock icon. When it goes off, it pops up a window and plays the chimes from Big Ben.

Phil B's picture

All very nice, but can...

All very nice, but can anyone recommend any good equivalents for PC (Win XP) or even PalmOs 5? Some of us don’t get to use Macs….

George Garrett's picture

There's a very nice shareware...

There’s a very nice shareware ($5) countdown timer/stopwatch called WatchIt. It is easier to use than Minuteur, and stays on your screen no matter what else you are running.

About Merlin Mann

Merlin Mann's picture

Bio

Merlin Mann is an independent writer, speaker, and broadcaster. He’s best known for being the guy who started the website you’re reading right now. He lives in San Francisco, does lots of public speaking, and helps make cool things like You Look Nice Today. Also? He looks like this, answers questions, and has something like a life.

The best thing Merlin’s ever written is a short essay called, “Better.”

 
EXPLORE 43Folders THE GOOD STUFF

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The Podcast Feed

Inbox Zero

The original 43 Folders series looking at the skills, tools, and attitude needed to empty your email inbox — and then keep it that way. Don’t miss the free video of Merlin’s Inbox Zero presentation.

Making Time

3-part series on attention management for artists and makers. Read Bad Correspondence, The Job You Think You Have, and One Clear Line.