Focus User Reviews

Meaningful Things GmbH & Co. KG

Top reviews

Most RecentHighest RatedLowest Rated

Helps me complete homework both earlier and more efficiently

I started using this a few months and it is extremely useful for help with my schoolwork. The times for each each focus and break can be easily changed meaning that I could change the timings to the recommended amount my school suggest I spend on work. Having a visual countdown gives me motivation to try and complete the work before the timer is up and also motivates me as I know a break is coming. The fact that it also has a long break feature every so often means that sessions whilst trying to complete work are a lot more structured and I am therefore a lot more efficient than I would be if I just sat down at my desk and said “now do my homework”! Extremely effective even if you don’t buy the premium!

Show less

EwanGubb

6 years ago

Works, but could be better

Overall this app functions well. However, the alarm tone options are limited and none of them are very good. Would be better if it could access the ring tones that are stored on the device.

Allen9000

6 years ago

It would be awesome if it didn’t crash 20 times a day

I use this app to study in med school as i don’t really know how to take breaks and at first it really helped me a lot. Now it has gotten more and more annoying that every time (E-V-E-R-Y T-I-M-E!) i get a notification on my ipad that my session has ended and I go into the app it crashes and i have to reopen it. Also i downloaded it on my iphone and computer so when i take breaks i can stand and use my phone to know when the break has ended, but to say that the syncing of time between devices is glitchy would be an understatement. And i bought a whole year subscription so now im stuck with all of this😡.

Edit: changing rating to 1 star because of the passive aggressiveness of the person responding to the reviews.

And its not my end as i got friends with the same app and same problem so it seems like a software problem.

Show less

jvrjulio

6 years ago

Response from developer

Has been fixed. Hope you've graduated successfully and thanks for your help finding this problem! Best, Jan.

Works like a charm

I am getting so much more done than before I started using this app. For me, it helps with my procrastination. You can do just about anything for 25 minutes, right??? And after you get started, you just want to keep going until the job gets done!! Yippee..this is working for me!

HappyinMaine

6 years ago

Alarm doesn’t work but nice design.

I really like how simple and clean this app is. However, the timer never used the alarm sound. I had sound turned on, my volume up, etc. I closed out of the app, restarted my phone, turned my phone on silent and back and nothing worked. I even tried using the ticking hoping that would allow the timer to alert - never did.I consistently worked past 25 mins and way over each 5 min break. I wish the sound alert worked and this would get more stars from me.

Show less

Deerizz

6 years ago

Watch app looks great, but is unreliable

My primary use case for this app is on my Watch. I rely on it to tap when it’s time to take a break, or when my break is done. However, it fails to consistently do this – sometimes I get the tap as expected, other times I’m working away and realizing that it’s been much more than 25 minutes, why didn’t it tell me? When I look, sometimes the complication is waiting for me to respond, other times it’s counting time *up* instead of down!

Also, “Sessions Until Long Break” has been consistently off by one. I have it set to 4, but it actually takes 5 sessions before I get a long break. (Does it start counting from zero internally? I’ve just tried setting it to 3 to see what happens.)

The Watch complications look fantastic, and I *really* want to love this app. But I can’t depend on it to consistently tell me when time is up, or correctly identify when my long break starts.

Show less

GB13😎

6 years ago

Response from developer

Hi, I just want to let you know that we've released a brand-new Apple Watch app for Focus! We feel that Focus on the Watch is now so much better. Let us know what you think! Best, - Jan ______ Thanks for your review. We’ll look into these issues. In the meantime, we have some tips and tricks that should solve most of the problems you’re describing. Please get in touch: support@meaningful-things.com. Thanks! Best, Jan

Good, Watch App has some bugs

Very good overall, some crashes and buggy behaviour with app and complications on Series 4 Watch.

Annoyeduser1011

6 years ago

Response from developer

Hi, I just want to let you know that there is a completely new Watch app for Focus out now! Best wishes, - Kerstin

Useful but why a subscription?

I understand the need for continued support but other similar or even more useful apps work without structure. I don’t mind paying a one time price for an app. I would pay 10-12 dollars for this at a one time purchase price. Maybe add a subscription for an optional monthly donation on top of that.

Other apps exist that more or less do the same job, with stats and all, for a sub 3 dollar one time charge. I’m giving this one a try with those but I feel like I’m starting off on the wrong foot already with Focus.

Show less

Eddie E. R.

6 years ago

Response from developer

Hi Eddie, while I can kind of understand your initial skepticism, let me lay out while there is no alternative for us and why a comparison with cheaper apps does not quite sit right. First, we don’t want to put an app out there that will unevitably be abandoned because we run out of money. Usually, you buy an app for a price and expect updates and new features down the road. That’s not how it works and since we have ongoing costs new users would have to pay for you. Our rent is not a one time price, our salary is not paid once but we work on Focus every day. It’s obvious why so many apps apps are no longer maintained. We have a higher standards. We want to make the best pomodoro app: wold-class Sync on all devices with support for the latest iOS and iPhones and iPads etc. for years to come. This means we need ongoing funding. But you’ll get the best possible value for your money. Not some cheap sh**. If you don’t need that and other apps are ok for you, that’s also fine. And to Be honest, paying $3,33 a month (by paying yearly) it’s not really that much for a tool that makes you more productive and saves you time at the end of the day that you can spend on other things. Essentially a coffee once a month. If you have further questions, just let me know: hello@masterbuilders.io. Best, Jan

Dark mode IAPs: an accessibility perspective

For photosensitive users, dark modes aren't just an aesthetics choice. For these users, especially those looking at their devices all day, dark modes aren't just about being pretty. Dark modes are fundamentally required to make the app useable at all.

Dark modes are an *accessibility* feature. They make the app useable in the same way that AssistiveTouch or VoiceOver do. Would you charge more for accessibility features? No. That would be terrible. Dark mode is an accessibility feature in exactly the same way other features are. Night Shift, True Tone, and the lesser known Reduce White Point aren't enough for some users: dark modes are the only way for them to use apps they can look at for hours at a time.

Furthermore, some users have "floaters" in their vision caused by fluids shifting in their eyes. They cannot comfortably use black on white UIs as a result. Dark modes are the main way users with these floaters can interact with their devices.

All that said: I realise that app developers need to make money. That's fine, really! I work as a developer myself. I understand. But charging for an accessibility feature is the wrong way to do it. I'd be happier making a *donation*, and getting nothing, than I am having to pay to configure the app to be useable in a way that doesn't cause me eyestrain and discomfort.

Dark mode is an accessibility feature. I shouldn't have to pay to make the app accessible.

Show less

Anahata108

6 years ago

Use This App Every Day

I tried a number of Pomodoro timer apps across my phone and Apple Watch. They were all pretty good on the phone. Some had a little more functionality than others including premium services. The big issue was with the watch part of the app. I wanted the watch and phone apps to sync and I wanted to have the watch as the main controller while working. I work from home and often don’t know where my phone is during the day but the watch is always strapped on. With Focus the session modifications are managed on the phone. Once they’re set up the sessions can be controlled solely on the watch. I had questions about a couple things and emailed the developer. He was very responsive and helpful. So far I haven’t purchased the premium product but plan on buying it soon.

Show less

kmj3535