Office 365 – the beginning

Few days ago I won a year subscription for an Office 365, and I would like to review for you.

All previously products don’t have any major changes between themselves (mainly it was only design changes), in this version of product (Office 365 or Office 2013), programs get synchronise with SkyDrive I think it’s best major update at all, as for me it’s very helpful tool because I really hate pen drives, so when I’m at university and I’m working on a report at some kind of laboratory and then I come back to home, I can turn on my PC and every document, every change is uploaded to my SkyDrive and it’s visible at my menu in Word, Excel etc. also you have access to offline last version of document.

word_menu

Additionaly you can install your product at 5 computers, so it seems be good option. Unfortunately I think subscriptions in that kind of products have advantage and some disadvantage. The most disadvantage it that Office 365 cost 430 PLN ~ 138 USD, and if we compare to Office Professional for Home Users 599 PLN ~ 190 USD. I think Office 365 should be more cheaper, because, be realistic who use Office just for a month or two ?!. There is also two more options when you subscribe “O365” you get 60 minutes at Skype and extra 20 GB to your SkyDrive. This is bull’s eye!

There is one more product form Office that I like to use – Outlook. When you need really good tool for your mailbox it’s very good choose and you should work with OneNote, I really recommend you OneNote to simple TODO list I wrote an article about it.

Excel – good option when you have to compute a large number of record (at one laboratory I have to do some calculations on a Fourier series it was simple and quick than doing on paper and pen. Excel is good also if you plan your budget or diet list – then simply convert to OneNote and you can go with your Windows Phone to shopping, because WP has got preinstalled office.

In conclusion O365 is great option because you get 5 licenses (but one account) so every copy of this installation will be attached to your account, so remind this if you want share someone your copy!

Make your own GTD!

GTD – Getting Things Done. Let me make mod for it ;). CGTD – (clear getting things done)
When I was starting with GTD, and managing my time methods. I have read full of articles about it.
After using these all principals, in a few weeks I came across a problem. Wasting too much time to planning everything, and small amount of tasks was done. (too massive applications, and too many options) – lot of doing, done nothing. Then I decided to simplify everything.

  1. Define you plan TODO list once a week, then just update your progress.
  2. Do it quick! dont use enormous application that just make trash from your plan
  3. USE monotasking! throw away multitasking!
  4. Finally, don’t leave problems/ tasks at the last moment.

First of all, you have to plan your TODO list. You have to know where are you and what you have to do in the next order (it’s very important because you don’t forget about anything). Pick one day in week to create TODO list (for me its Sunday evening) When I am sure that I accomplish everything. (If not just move to next week with the most importance level, but try to don’t have arrears).

Next, you have to use only one app if it’s possible – it can’t take too much time. I am using Microsoft One Note 2013.

mygtd

It’s very simple TODO list but I just know what I have to do, without description, if you need, make long title. Last but not least, focus on one thing, finish it properly. If your head is messed up by ten thing, you fail quickly.

How my TODO list works ? Simple!.Write and DO IT! Without sorting to a categories, marking and all of this s*it. If something goes wrong(it’s understandable), cross it and write to next weekend and your work start over from doing this. I’m using it for three months and I can say that I feel my productivity has increased. It’s mine mod for GTD – CGTD 🙂

Imagine Cup 2013 – Backstage

As many teams starting in imagine cup, there will be also huge numbers of newbe at programming, and I would like to give informations that will be helpful to them.

First, you have to manage your team and tasks, I use trello because it have pith of GTD. Just do it don’t use complicated system, it is not needed.

Second, you have to keep somewhere files of your projects (not only sources) and with help comes bitbucket, there is also github but unfortunately private repo is paid.

The least but not least, when you need sketch something or plan it use these few tools Microsoft Visio. I think it’s the best tool to create model of database, what else ? if there’s need of simple mockup of website or application I recomend you Moqups.

P.S Well, code, code and maybe we will see at St. Petersburg 😉