Recently came across an interesting article in PC Mag title ‘Cloud Computing: Google vs. Microsoft‘ where the author Samara Lynn makes a good point that Google is moving fast to capture the small business market for its cloud services. I am extremely optimistic about Google becoming the cloud leader and happy that DeskAway is looking at even a much deeper integration with Google services and products.

In addition to all the points mentioned in the article, it will be clearly a game of positioning. After all, what do you think of when I say….

Microsoft……….windows, installing software
Salesforce………CRM

and Google……….web software.

See, who the winner is going to be.

The more choices the more confusion. In our quest to simplify everything, today, we are resting out the $10 Personal plan for all new accounts. Existing users will still be able to upgrade or downgrade to the Personal Plan at anytime. The new plans look like this on our revamped pricing page:

This is the first time we have made change to our pricing plans since 2007. Again, this change will not affect existing account owners.

If you are suffering from a lack of new idea stimulation or creativity then maybe it is your gadgets and the amount of time you spend multi-tasking to blame. If you are waiting in the doctor’s clinic, instead of whipping your phone and starting to see what you have missed on Twitter, why not give your brain the rest it deserves and instead maybe flip through a travel magazine? In today’s always-online digital world, I even observe myself getting so immersed with technology and getting news online that I often forget that I need to stop and give my brain a little rest. Every small moment is filled with checking social networks, emails or reading saved articles on my Instapaper account. This article is an eye-opener…

The technology makes the tiniest windows of time entertaining, and potentially productive. But scientists point to an unanticipated side effect: when people keep their brains busy with digital input, they are forfeiting downtime that could allow them to better learn and remember information, or come up with new ideas.

Read the entire NYTimes article - Digital Devices Deprive Brain of Needed Downtime

Simply put, project templates are re-usable portions of a project (milestones, task lists, tasks, doc templates) that can be used in creating other similar types of projects. Something like a ‘project clone’. Ever had a process that you follow and wish you did not have to type it out everytime you made a new project? Templates will help you save time and get you more process-driven.

Here is a quick update on new fixes and feature updates for making project templates more powerful and better looking:

1. The Task List description is now saved into the new template.

2. Open Task lists and recurring tasks are being recognized when the template is created.

3. Milestone and tasks ordering is preserved in the new template.

4. Milestone and task dates are also now saved to the new template

5. Hence, if we save dates (as in point #4) we need to shift them according to the project start and end dates. Here is an example of how your dates will shift when a new template is created out of a Project ABC that starts on August 1st and has a task that starts on Aug 3rd and ends on Aug 10th.

After creating the template and loading the template into a new Project XYZ (starting on Oct. 1st) the dates of the Task A will be:

Start on Oct 3rd
Due on Oct 10th

6. Updated UI of the template listing page.

7. Some other small bugs and fixes.

To learn more about project templates click here.

We are listening. Do keep the feedback coming

BaseEscape is a tool that we developed in order to facilitate smooth transfer of your data from your Basecamp account to DeskAway. Below are the fixes and updates we carried out this week from the feedback we recieved from users.

1. Error checking to see if the imported xml file is valid.

2. Fixed a caching issue that would not allow users to upload the xml file if an error was found while parsing the file.

3. Basecamp retains data in their system (which is available in your exported xml file) for deleted users - time sheet entries, messages, milestones and/or task lists. BaseEscape is now importing this data and will disable the deleted user in your DeskAway account. This way you will know what milestone was assigned to Rita, who no longer can access the system.

4. Fix div tag displays after importing.

5. Better error messages to help you understand why your import didn’t work.

6. Fixing of milestone progress status which somtimes showed “(0% complete: 0/0 Task, 0/0 Issue)”.

7. Free plans cannot see the BaseEscape link. BaseEscape is only allowed for Personal, Professional, Plus or Power plans.

8. Some other small bugs and fixes.

To learn more about BaseEscape click here.