What the heck?
Like others, I was surprised to see a once-great timer app completely change into something else with no warning. Originally it was the Focus Keeper app, and now it’s a garbage app that wants your data.
Nice idea but very buggy
I like the idea of this app and the features, but it would be nice if it worked a bit better.
The active notifications banner stays wide so I can’t see the clock or battery indicator whenever a block period is going.
The block scheduling also just doesn’t work reliably. I just had to play with the settings on a block to get the app to notice that it was scheduled and actually activate it.
It’s also weird to market a nice simple, bug-free pomodoro timer app (which attracted lots of appropriately great reviews) and then suddenly replace it on everyone’s devices with this really heavy, kind of invasive app with paid features. I actually like what “Pond” is going for but… kinda skeevy tbh.
And buggy.
The active notifications banner stays wide so I can’t see the clock or battery indicator whenever a block period is going.
The block scheduling also just doesn’t work reliably. I just had to play with the settings on a block to get the app to notice that it was scheduled and actually activate it.
It’s also weird to market a nice simple, bug-free pomodoro timer app (which attracted lots of appropriately great reviews) and then suddenly replace it on everyone’s devices with this really heavy, kind of invasive app with paid features. I actually like what “Pond” is going for but… kinda skeevy tbh.
And buggy.
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App changed fundamentally
This used to be a pomodoro timer and is now a spyware app (asked for screen time access?!?!).
It Works
my apps are blocked regularly, i like the haikus and pop culture etc “do something else!” pop ups on blocked apps
the focus timer still works lovely, i’ve been a fan for a while. i actually got the focus timer because it didn’t list “in-app purchases”. adding the subscription when focus timer updated to pond was almost a deal breaker but i gave the free version a shot. it’s not perfect, but it gets the job done. i’ve been looking for an app like this for a while so im pleasantly surprised :)
you can create and select block/allow lists when starting a focus session which is great! but i’m not sure how to access the lists otherwise
screen time section says to go to settings to exclude apps from screen time (i’d like to remove my tv remote app), but neither Pond settings nor ios settings allow me the option?
sometimes, unblocking or taking breaks is buggy. also sometimes buggy when the app is not open in the background, but it mostly fixes when you open the app
for the most part, im happy with this app. i’ve started painting and sewing again, and i feel more fulfilled in how im using my time <3
the focus timer still works lovely, i’ve been a fan for a while. i actually got the focus timer because it didn’t list “in-app purchases”. adding the subscription when focus timer updated to pond was almost a deal breaker but i gave the free version a shot. it’s not perfect, but it gets the job done. i’ve been looking for an app like this for a while so im pleasantly surprised :)
you can create and select block/allow lists when starting a focus session which is great! but i’m not sure how to access the lists otherwise
screen time section says to go to settings to exclude apps from screen time (i’d like to remove my tv remote app), but neither Pond settings nor ios settings allow me the option?
sometimes, unblocking or taking breaks is buggy. also sometimes buggy when the app is not open in the background, but it mostly fixes when you open the app
for the most part, im happy with this app. i’ve started painting and sewing again, and i feel more fulfilled in how im using my time <3
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What did you do
This used to be a simple, nonintrusive timer. Now it requires additional access. I don’t need all these stupid bells and whistles - I just want my pomodoro timer
