Most days, when I clock in to start working, I check my calendar to remember what I have to do that day (interviews, calls, meetings and etc.) and then make a to-do list. I used to use GTD app Wunderlist, but lately I feel like my schedule has gotten too erratic for that to sufficiently meet my needs. I’m big on minimizing clutter as much as I can, and I hate to see anything at all, really, on my desktop. Camouflage is hiding all icons and folders during the work day to make the desktop much less visually distracting, and with Unclutter, I think I’ve managed to conquer my to-do list issue and clutter issue in one swoop.
Unclutter is sort of like pants pockets for your desktop. I know it sounds weird, but it is a tiny tab with three slots you pull down from the top menu bar. Unclutter shows what’s currently in your clipboard, has a slot for files you want to temporarily keep at the top of your pile (for quick editing, to email or whatever you need) and it also has a tiny note pad.
Basically, you can put everything you need for a given day, or for a chunk of the day, in one spot. I use it for my to-do list (goodbye, pen-and-paper system!) and it’s out of the way when I don’t need it. If you want, you can keep one of those “pockets” out in the open while you’re working on other projects. That’s your call.
Again, it is only for Macs, and right now it’s only $1.99, having just launched, and that rate will likely expire soon.
David Wolinsky is a freelance writer and a lifelong Chicagoan. In addition to currently serving as an interviewer-writer for Adult Swim, he's also a comedy-writing instructor for Second City. He was the Chicago city editor for The Onion A.V. Club where he provided in-depth daily coverage of this city's bustling arts/entertainment scene for half a decade. His first career aspirations were to be a game-show host.
