Software I'd Like Someone To Write | SimpleProductivityBlog.com

Software I’d Like Someone To Write

Posted on October 29, 2009 by LJ

Photo by angermann

I’m currently looking at shifting my platform for productivity and information away from Palm and onto something else. This means I am spending time researching replacements to applications I use. It also means I do quite a bit of “if there were only an application that would…” Here are my top 5 list of software I would love to see written.

The Bookstore/Library Browser

I love reading and books. I will spend time at the bookstore, browsing for books I think I would like. I note the titles, and when I get home, I try to get these books from the library. But sometimes the library doesn’t have the book, and other times I lose my notes.

An ideal application would be one that scanned the ISBN number on a bookstore book, looked it up at my local library, and if it was there, put a hold on it. Otherwise it would notify me that if I wanted to read it, I need to buy it.

No-Think Sync

Maybe I’ve got unrealistic expectations. I don’t know. I do know I have a plethora of electronic devices. Keeping the information synchronized between all of them is a hassle.

Multiple pieces of software I would like to be able to have one “master” point of information for contacts, to dos and calendar items, and without my having to fiddle with settings and file layouts, or remembering to run various software. Just one click and everything would end up where it needs to be.

Menu Planner

I like cooking, and I like making interesting food that tastes good (these two do not always go together in my kitchen). However, being a working mom, this often takes a lot of time.

I would love an application that would keep track of what was in my pantry and freezer, find good recipes to deal with them, plan out menus and then output shopping lists. It would be even better if the shopping lists would automatically transmit to a local grocery store, where I could then pick up my groceries, and it would all be there.

Housework List

Flylady tried to do this with her zone cleaning. You break your house into zones, and you designate a part of the calendar month to each zone. During those times, you complete a list of tasks in that zone.

That’s fine and well, but what if your house doesn’t lend itself to standard zones? An example: Zone 3 is designated as the bathroom and one other room. I have two full baths. Do I do the master bath with the master bedroom or with the other bath? And four other rooms fall into the “other” category. If I follow the scheduled, I go four months between cleanings of my daughter’s room.

A fabulous application would help figure out a balanced load of tasks based on the structure of your home, and email a list of tasks to be done during that week. You’d have an equal rotation of tasks, and nothing would get left behind.

Holiday Scheduler

Our holidays are crazy. We celebrate in so many ways, with so many things to do. The hard part is not in the major planning, but in the little details. Like being reminded to take the butter out of the freezer so that it is ready to make cookies. Or setting aside time to work on a craft project.

A great application would take all the non-major activities, along with my schedule, and put out a calendar/to-do list of things I needed to do so that these details would fall through the cracks. Having a cookie exchange? It would tell me to make cookies the day before. And it would tell me to take the butter out of the freezer the day before that.

Maybe someday there will be software to do all this. And maybe someday I’ll get a blue talking pony.