I found Time Card yesterday in a fit of frustration with TimeEdition, a useful little app and my previous favorite. Time Card has every single feature (save one) I need and none that I don’t. The premise is simple: answer the question “what are you working on?” as plain text at the top of the window. Previous chunks of time flow in a chronological list (like Twitter) below. Observe the magic syntax “task for project” and it knows to segregate the results by project. Begin typing and previous results auto-populate.

Leave notes with more specific tasks in the hidden but easily accessible notes field.¹ Any mistakes or oversights are easily corrected via the editing feature. Command-tab between applications and you’ll notice a badge indicating time spent on the current task. It’s thoughtful features like these that I love.

At the end of the day, you can review your time distribution with the slide out pie chart panel or the long term totals view. If there was a way to export data or save a report, this would be the most perfect application I have ever had the privilege of using.

I’m so head-over-heels for Time Card I can hardly contain my excitement. Every interaction is skillfully tailored to my exact needs. I feel giddy using it. Please check out Time Card. It’s absurdly good.

1. Would be great if I could close the notes tab with Command+Enter.

8:53am: Arrive at work.

9 – 9:56am: Coffee first. Knock out a few emails. RSS.

10 – 11am: Ugh, meeting.

11:27am: Meeting ran late. I probably shouldn’t start anything before lunch, right?

12 – 1pm: Lunch.

1:30pm: Another meeting. Remind me which one this is again?

2:03pm: Food coma. Maybe just a little RSSZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

2:48pm: Alright, I really need to start on something.

3:06pm: Oh no, here comes the project manager. Surprise, it’s urgent.

4:27pm: OK, put out that fire.

4:34pm: Man, it’s 4:30 already?

4:52pm: Phone’s ringing. It’s the client. I shouldn’t pick it up. I guess I have to.

4:56pm: Surprise, it’s urgent.

5:47pm: Leave office, having accomplished virtually nothing.

6:30 – 10pm: Dinner. American Idol.

10 – 12am: Finally sit down to get some real work done.

• • •

Sound familiar? “The modern workplace is optimized for interruptions.” As always, 37signals’ Jason Fried tells it like it is.

(via Zeldman and Big Think)

Squad is a text editor with support for chat, syntax highlighting, and the killer feature of opening and saving local files. You’re going to need to pony-up for that last feature, however. It’s $39/month for a five person account with file access. Check out EtherPad for a disposable alternative.

In the collaborative whiteboarding arena, Flock Draw compares favorably with existing free options. It has colors, a smooth UI, responsive performance, and all the features of primitive painting application. Until they address the lack of full-screen mode and ability to save your work, however, it’s just a novelty.