New Clear Launch MegaThread

[StevensonKC]

Hello! I am using Clear on my iPad. I no longer have the ability to move items from one list to another. When I am in a list, usually all of my other lists appear on the left side of the screen. That way, I can drag an item from the list I am in and move it to a different list. I believe this is truly the biggest differentiator with your product. When I am in a particular list, I no longer see all of my lists on the left side of my screen. I checked my settings but do not see where I can change this back. Am I missing this setting or has this feature been removed?

[phillryu]

Hey, yeah unfortunately no more sidebar on iPad – we have quite limited resources and have to be careful about how quickly we take on bespoke designs and codebases for multiple platforms etc. again to develop and maintain. So for the time being until we can get there, the iPad is basically the iPhone app but bigger, and supporting the iPad’s multitasking views.

I will note you are able to drag and drop items between lists, and the batch drag at least should be helpful in cases for you.

• To drag and drop into another list, first pick up the items, then with other hand (or same hand’s thumb if you’re ambitious) tap near the bottom/center of Clear’s screen to back out. Then you can drop the item(s) off in another list. Or hover for a couple seconds over one to spring-load into it to drop off more precisely.

• To batch drag, first tap/hold an item to pick it up, then with other hand you can tap other items to add them to the pile.

This is now possible on iPhone as well, which hadn’t previously supported dragging items between lists.

There are some other iPad specific tweaks we are interested in supporting in the future too, like keyboard shortcuts support and multi-window support, that are possible maybe late this year. The multi-window support could enable you to open Clear into lists, then open a list into a separate window, pick up the items there, and drag them into another list etc.

[jorgesilv]

I was super happy to see Clear back on the the AppStore because Clear 1 was probably my favorite app when I was using it. Unfortunately I stopped using it when it was “discontinued” and I started using the iOS Reminders app.
When Clear 2 came out I immediately started using it again and whatta joy!! That ended when I realized there’s no iCloud syncing… That’s a deal breaker for me
With the Reminders app I’m using it on the iPhone, iPad and Mac and it synchronizes between devices… And that’s something I cannot live without anymore! I would be fine without a Mac sync, but between iOS devices… come on…

I haven’t lost my faith in Clear and the proof of that is me taking the time to write this. I’ll keep the app on my devices and hope for an update with iCloud syncing.

[phillryu]

It will loom in our roadmap / top requests. But yeah we really had to bite this off one piece at a time. (Honestly in the 1.x we took on sync and other platforms too early! It really burned us out after taking like almost 2 years to build.)

The hope is the new iOS foundation is a good enough modern reboot to rebuild the business to sustaining levels + start reaching a new generation. I am really glad to hear you found the iPhone experience a joy, that’s what we need to build our beachhead on.

I think we’ll be able to make it like 1.5x even more delightful and useful on iPhone over the next year of updates and see where that takes us.

And then hopefully when we get to sync again someday we will be able to deliver this kind of a leap forward for that side too.

[orangeround]

I really think your statement highlights the biggest issue a lot of people are having with the update.

Thank you.

Many people prefer ios and Apple’s ecosystem because of its syncing capabilities. And for the current version of the app to not have this feature, it’s hard to integrate the app as a functional tool especially when compared to Apple’s own offerings.

[phillryu]

I agree many people today expect sync, and this will hamper some adoption of the new iPhone (well iPad too but no sync) Clear.

However consider that vs. the competition, Clear can now credibly pitch that it is:
• The most generous and free to use
• The simplest, and most beautiful app
• The most fluent todo app, proven with ten+ years of use of its trademark gestures etc.
• The most personalizable todo app, or even straight up app! out there
• The most fun productivity app

I guess our overall strategy here with this reboot after the tons of work making this new foundation / design etc. is, try to stay nimble for year one with iPhone and establish a sustaining indie business and beachhead leaning into our strengths vs. rounding out our weakness compared to competition.

(There is at least early signs the business pivot and totally optional shop cosmetics is working.)

So with updates we hope to both further satisfy our iPhone listers who love Clear vs. the others in ways other todo apps can’t, and further differentiate us compellingly from the competition. And connect with a new generation in this way, with these unique and intriguing/fresh selling points that the competition cannot match and now completely free to fall in love with.

I am starting to become more and more optimistic that we can make this happen, and then be on MUCH firmer ground to build sync in a lasting and sustaining way, where we can support it properly moving forward. No subscription for it either presuming the shop’s success can sustain or grow if we’re able to connect with new fans.

Finally I will note… from the best we can tell, we did lose a meaningful amount of you through this transition. But it does appear to be about 10% of the hardcore daily base… which sucks but is also roughly in line with the minority who used syncing heavily. (+ some data loss people we couldn’t rescue + some people who still are incredibly upset over the redesign and ditched over that.)

My guess as to why Clear had relatively low syncing users (or proportion that demands it) is some combination of:

a) its downloads (and upfront sales/business with unfortunate implications) were extremely front loaded in its first year and launch when it began iPhone only, maybe this is the big one

b) it had other unique hooks and appeal that drew people in vs. competition, and sometimes even ‘casual’ people who don’t usually search for productivity apps. this uniqueness also makes it harder to replace or substitute. so it depends how much you get out of Clear’s more unique take vs. require of syncing.

c) it was always designed for iPhone first, and actually in meaningful ways to be usable and feel fluent despite me still hating typing on my phone. (Hence the bigger font sizes, 1.0 even limited to a single row of text etc.)

d) syncing was never as reliable as it should be, and would regularly break down for many people etc. probably driving them away over the years

I hope to win some of that 10% back over the next year or two, but also, I do think the 90% who are largely loving the new version + it being much more welcoming now to new people + some great updates on our part could be enough to begin reaching a whole new generation of listers through the year. Fingers crossed.

[Lab]

My apologies for the multiple posts….

When I first crossed paths with the Clear app, it was the legacy version. What differentiated this app from all the others was:

1. Very simple!
2. I was able to create multiple lists personalized to what tasks or issues happening in my life, at that moment.
3. Unlike all the other list apps out there, creating a list or single task was not work! I could create a very detailed list in seconds, without having to put in dates, color of the sky that day, or my shoe size, as required by other apps. It was simple! That’s what was so attractive about it!
4. The app did not consume a lot of horsepower on my phone or tablet.
5. Being in charge of a large department, I would share lists with coworkers at the drop of a hat. Assignments and outlines were just one click away! It worked and was very efficient!

Kuddo’s!

While I might offend some here, please hear me out….

So many colleagues that I recommended the app to said “Wow! Thank you! This is so simple to use!” They really appreciated it.

While being able to change colors, fonts, rewards, and whatever else is novel, it detracts from what was so great about the legacy app. While all the cute stuff is flashy, it sacrifices what was so great about the functionality of the app. I know that is likely an unpopular opinion, but I have been thanked by many people and departments for recommending such a simple and great app.

Now before you write me off as being a krummudgin , would it be possible to have a tiered app where the basic version at the lower cost be the legacy type app i.e. simple with few of the frillies, with other tiered levels for those who want more customization of colors, rewards, etc?

Just trying to thread the needle of us minimalists and those looking for more.

Thank you for considering the feedback!

[phillryu]

I’m not sure exactly what form it will take but I am thinking about how to make the rewards or personalization side a little more targeted to the people into them. I do feel like it’s a little overwhelming for new people at the start right now, especially once they navigate to the ‘home’ level and there’s a lot of doors they can open. So we will be doing some cleanup of some kind.