Clear-ly, A Digital To-Do List

RealMac has created a desktop and iOS to-do list app called Clear that is simple and easy to use. I have tried just about every to-do app I can find and this one seems simple and not too annoying. I have had a couple to-do apps I had to delete because I couldn’t get them to stop yelling at me.This app never seems to yell or alert so you’ll have to open the app to see your list.

I downloaded the iOS version and it works really well. The quick tutorial makes most of the gestures intuitive before you know it. The only difficulty I had was squeezing a list closed to reveal the group list view if a list only had two items in it. If you intend to just use one big laundry list, then there should be no issues. Its very quick and easy to add, move, delete or check-off items. If you need timed alerts or repeating alerts you’ll need to use a different app.

The NORAD color view is nice: things at the top of the list are marked in red and then they fade to orange and yellow but it doesn’t seem to ever fade to green or blue. I guess its always at a  state of alert.

It appears that by using iCloud you can sync lists between the desktop Clear app and your iOS device. At $9.99 for the desktop app though, I am a bit hesitant.

Currently, I use SimpleNote on my iOS devices with Notational Velocity on my laptop which is a free list/text solution but slightly limited. A full “premium” version of SimpleNote is $19.99/year. SimpleNote and Notational Velocity act as more of a text receptacle than a list-maker and I would say the same thing about Evernote as well. Clear is definitely a DO THIS task list-maker rather than a great big catch-all.

The iOS version of Clear is $1.99 and the desktop app is $9.99.

Link Love: This Should Keep You Busy For Awhile

Pens and Ink

penciltalk.org.scribbler.1
image via Pencil Talk

Pencils

Lettering sketch in pencil by Baileyamon (via Instagram)
Lettering sketch in pencil by Baileyamon (via Instagram)

Tools and Topics

@erikmarinovich has a huge pencil (via jessicahische on Instagram)
@erikmarinovich has a huge pencil (via jessicahische on Instagram)

End of the year diary buzz

myMoleskine gallery image
Planner photo by Sarah Hinrichs

I posted some halfway point images of notebooks and diaries earlier is year but this end-of-year image on the Moleskine myMoleskine gallery is a delight to see. This is a well-loved and fully-utilized planner.

Do you keep a daily paper record, be it notebook or planner or do you plan to do so in 2013? Send a photo of your well-loved book or planner and I’ll post them here.

Ask The Desk: Adjustable Pencil Sharpener

DUX adjustable brass pencil sharpener

Today’s question comes from Victoria at Paper & Type:

Most sharpeners I’ve come across sharpen to a depth/length of about 3/4″ to 1″. I’m looking for one that sharpens closer to just 1/2″. Am I making sense, & might you happen to know of one? I’d appreciate if you could point me in the right direction!

She was specifically asking about electric sharpeners but the only adjustable-depth sharpener that I am know is the Stad T’Gaal from Japan. The only other sharpener I could find on my exhaustive search with the rare DUX adjustable brass sharpener which is stunning but unfortunately out of stock everywhere I looked. The last-known stockist was Kaufmann Mercantile at a cost of $19.90.

Stad T'Gaal adjustable pencil sharpener

The Stad T’Gaal may not be as elegant as the DUX but it is infinitely useable and only $6.25 at JetPens. Each number on the dial indicates a different pencil length from a short stubby tip to a very long point. Its also available in a variety of candy-colors. I have an earlier model which seems to have vanished so I need to order a new one. The same sharpener is available from Holbein via Dick Blick or other art supply shops. Its a bit more pricey at $13.46. Bill Brandon wrote a review of the T’Gaal on Pencil Revolution which demonstrates its flexibility.

T'Gaal point comparison

I do use a Alvin/DUX inkwell desk sharpener which sharpens to a slightly shorter point than the average sharpener and is a bit more accessible than the brass adjustable. I reviewed the inkwell sharpener several years ago on Pencil Revolution as well.

KUM long-point sharpener

Other options are the KUM long-point sharpener if what you want is the longest point possible. The sharpener is designed to be a two-step process, first sharpening the wood casing then refining the point. Pretty much any pencil sharpener that uses the KUM blades will be a good sharpener, especially if it includes replacement blades or fits the standard replacement blade size.

Hope this helped!

Practice the fine art of LetterFu

LetterFu foldable letter

Feel like dropping a quick note to a friend or loved one using a lovely stamp and those friendly folks at the post office? Then check out the downloadable templates at LetterFu that let you print out a foldable paper letter/envelope. Learn how to fold a standard letter-sized or A4 sheet into an envelope and start sending those missives! Several styles are available and LetterFu encourages you to create your own designs as well. Write on!

Gift Guide? No, Let’s call it my Wish List

I know everyone wants to see a holiday gift guide but there are so many out there right now… its just a sea of them. There are so many great gift ideas at Discover Paper and so many other places that I feel like I’d be redundant.  So I thought I’d mix it up and show you some of the goodies on my wish list this year.

  1. Wooden envelope templates from Paper Pastries $15-$20
  2. TWSBI Mini fountain pen from Goulet Pens $50
  3. Decole Old Desk Sticky Notes from Japanese Gift Market $8.50
  4. Staedtler Pencil Holder from Jet Pens $29.50
  5. Koh-i-noor Magic marble erasers from Amazon.co.uk £1.25
  6. Letter Opener from Izola $20
  7. E+M 5.5mm wooden pencil lead holder with sharpener base from JetPens $30
  8. Supplies canvas zipper case from Izola $28
  9. Wood textured notebooks from Site NYC $14 each for 6×8.5″
  10. E+M Fluorescent Pencil Leads from Jet Pens Pack of 6 for $9.50

What’s on your wish list?