More UI suggestions
Flora Vern
Like other people, I think the menu popup would need improvement. I basically like te Timelime version a lot more. It was nicer and integrated with the overall look of the app. You could probably start from there in terms of design, keeping the search bar on top of everything, and add a possibility to switch between all tasks and a recent tasks view. Then use the old bottom part (dark) to print the three counters (time today, this week and under/overtime). The old icons at the bottom were perfect and I don't think text is needed, as it clutters the interface.
Niko Krämer
The problem with the Timelime version was that two different panels drop down from the status item in the menubar: A scrollable list of all Tasks on left-click and a menu of recent Tasks on right-click. I think this is confusing, and Apple doesn't encourage a right-click action on the menu bar. Also, a right-click doesn't trigger when the mouse pointer is at the very top of the menu bar.
So I came up with this solution:
Keep the most common actions in the menu bar panel: Starting a recently used Task or searching for a Task to start it, assigning a running timer to a different Task, timer corrections, undo/redo, add note, …
For this, I chose the look of a regular macOS Menu, so it blends in with other things in the menubar.
For other things that used to be in the Timelime menu bar panel, there is now something I call "Task List". You can reach it from the bottom of the menubar menu or by clicking on the "Show Task List" button in the Main Window's status bar. There you can start timers, add tasks, reorder tasks, see total times of Tasks, etc.
Does this make sense?
Flora Vern
Niko Krämer: I hadn't even noticed that right-click menu on Timelime (after over 8 years). Probably hit it inadvertently a few times and wondered what was wrong, but I never used it. Still, I am not sure the macOS menu bar style approach works from a UI standpoint. It does not look great because at some point you need to add a lot of data (task names) that completely break the uncluttered 2-3 words normal menu items, and buttons (search bar and at the bottom) that really break the whole macOS style. And what with the centred items and the grey elements which are nowhere to be found in macOS? None of my menu bar items actually uses the macOS menu style, except the default system stuff. And even then, the “date/time” menu item opens the notifications panel and the switch-icon-thingie opens a non-text menu. I don't think having a personality is bad. You app does have one.
95% of the app is the menu, so it might as well be eye candy :). To me, the current design is a deal breaker, I would much rather stay with Timelime because it looks harmonious and smooth… The new menu feels very utilitarian and cold, and it does not integrate all that well in the macOS style: you need some clutter because there is a lot of data, and that is against everything the macOS style stands for.
From a Timelime-like perspective, you could replace the left & right click thing with a button somewhere: I think people tend to prefer one view or the other, but I would doubt that many people use both consistently, especially with a search bar handy.
But, that's just my two cents :)
Flora Vern
PS: I clicked somewhere and lost the search bar forever it seems… any way to get it back?
PS 2: I didn't find the show task list or how to get the task list in the menu bar. I know you can always open the main window, but I have so many different tasks that I find it easier to navigate them by name than by last used. The search bar isn't very practical because you need to reset it (and remember what you called the tasks). Guess my word as an academic is a bit scattered across a ton of things.
Tomás Martínez
Niko Krämer: At first I was confused because the Task List was not in the menu bar. I took me a long time to find it. After reading your explanation the change makes sense to me. Once I have used it for a while I even like better the colorful new design. And you're right, I use all the time the Recent Task List in the menu bar and just occasionally the Task List.
Flora Vern
Niko Krämer: I agree, using colours for tasks and under/overtime is definitely great :)
Niko Krämer
Flora Vern: The search bar will appear if you type while the menu is open. Then you can click the "+" button, and the search bar will be permanently visible again.
If the menu is wide enough, it will show a button each for showing the "Main Window" and "Task List". If not, there is just one button that will show either, depending on which has been used last.
I understand that the new approach takes some time to get used to, especially since you have been using Timelime for more than 8 years. But please give it a chance:) And in general, nothing is set in stone and can be changed and/or improved.
Flora Vern
Niko Krämer: Here is a visual of what I was thinking. With or without the top left button to revert to list of tasks view, if that must be lost to oblivion (I do understand the logic of having it only in the main window, although I did find it more practical).
Instead of what's on the picture, it could also have no arrow / triangle on top, and a single colour to it (basic menu colour without the dark top / bottom), with a left aligned search bar that blends into the window, signalled only by the placeholder text and perhaps a soft divider. It would then look a lot like a (coloured) standard menu item with just some add-ons at the bottom, actually. But you don't need all of the centred items, the heavy grey bars, nor the bulky text at the bottom. They do not look macOS anyway :)
Niko Krämer
Flora Vern: Just wanted to let you know that the latest update to Timeframe brings back this feature! In Settings > MenuBar, you can set which one shows when left/right clicking on the status item!