Since early releases of ClearContext, we’ve always had a significant group of passionate users who are also fans of productivity systems like Getting Things Done and Total Workday Control. We’ve had a special build customized for our TWC users for a while. We’re now pleased to announce the release of ClearContext Pro v5.4, which includes some much-requested features to better support our GTD users as well.
GTD users and other users who organize their tasks using special Outlook categories can download a GTD setup guide for ClearContext with detailed setup instructions. Here’s a quick overview of some key features to help GTD users stay organized with ClearContext:
Context Categories – You can now manage your tasks based on either categories or projects. Select a category view on the ClearContext Summary Dashboard to display a count of tasks and appointments by context category in the dashboard, highlighting due and overdue categories. Context categories are denoted by a special character in front of the category name (i.e. @Calls, !Next, *Phone).
Category Dashboards – Double-click a context category on the Dashboard to open it in the Detail tab (formerly the Project tab). This will show all tasks and appointments with the assigned category. Add new tasks to the category using the Add Task function on the detail dashboard and ClearContext will automatically append the current context category to the task.
Next Actions - Right click tasks in the Dashboard or Organizer to mark them as Next Actions. A small arrow will appear next to those items you have identified as Next and a category of !Next will be assigned to the task. Use the Next Action filter on your task list in the Dashboard to see only those tasks marked !Next.
More details on these and other GTD-related features can be found in the GTD setup guide.
The v5.4 upgrade is complimentary for registered v5 customers, registered v5-TWC users and active Connect members. Download here.
GTD and Getting Things Done are registered trademarks of David Allen & Company. ClearContext Corporation is not affiliated with David Allen & Company in any manner.
This week we’re very excited to release the next major evolution of ClearContext. We’ve always been focused on helping people take control of their inbox with simple and powerful email management tools. With ClearContext v5.1, we’ve built on that to make it just as easy to stay on top of all your tasks and projects too.
What’s new in 5.1?
In ClearContext Pro v5.1, the ClearContext Dashboard window has been replaced with a sidebar inside the Outlook inbox that brings many task and project features to the forefront of the product. For more extensive task management, we’ve also added a powerful Task Organizer to review and edit tasks in bulk. Here’s a quick overview of the new Sidebar and Task Organizer functionality:
ClearContext Sidebar – Dashboard
View the status of projects due now, active projects, or find any project
Pin your most important projects for quick access to them
Easily edit or create new tasks right in the sidebar
View tasks filtered by date/category/priority/etc
ClearContext Sidebar – Project Tabs
Jump to the associated email folder for any project
Add free-form notes (for call logs, reminders, etc) to projects
View and create/edit project tasks
View associated files and contacts
Easily move/rename projects
Task Organizer
Launch from menu/toolbar or sidebar Manage Tasks buttons
Change due dates on tasks in bulk
Manage and view tasks by project, category, priority, etc
Review completed or pending tasks
When the ClearContext sidebar is closed, a Task Reminder window will pop up when you have several overdue tasks.
Here’s a clip of the new features in action:
We look forward to hearing your feedback on all of the new functionality so we can continue to make it even better for you!
New customers can purchase v5 here. Registered ClearContext Pro v4 users can purchase an upgrade to v5 here. Purchase now and you’ll also receive a free upgrade to our upcoming v5.2 release focused on comprehensive automated filing to process your newsletters, notifications, and other bulk email, plus even more task and project management features!
Our previous blog post was about the backlog of messages many of us start off with in the new year. Well, we’re here to help with that! We’d like to see everyone to start the new year by letting the new ClearContext v5 help them take control of their inbox. And we’d love for you to help us spread the word!
Through the end of January, we’re giving away a ClearContext Pro license every day. There are multiple ways to enter the drawing, such as following us on twitter or facebook, or tweeting about ClearContext. And we appreciate everyone who has already supported us – you are all eligible as well! In addition to licenses to new users, we’re also giving away upgrades, ClearContext Connect subscriptions, and other prizes to people who are already ClearContext users! Click here for more details on how to participate.
Thanks so much for your support and helping us spread the word about ClearContext to all of your friends and colleagues who could use a little help getting their inbox under control!
We are pleased to announce that ClearContext v5 has been released to production!
ClearContext v5 is about making the things you do in email simpler, faster, and smarter. You’ll fly through your email and project management thanks to advancements including:
Smart one-click filing and suggestions to file messages and create projects faster than ever before
A new prioritization system that highlights email from known senders and VIPs using categories, flags, or color-coded views
Support for simultaneous multiple computer operation
Preliminary support for Outlook 2010 beta users (x86 only – Office 2010 64 bit support pending)
Read more about v5 here. We’ll have new videos and tutorials for v5 coming soon!
New customers can purchase v5 here. Registered ClearContext Pro users can purchase an upgrade to v5 for here. Purchase now and you’ll also receive free upgrades to these upcoming releases:
v5.1 – improved project management and dashboard capabilities, with a new flexible project dashboard UI integrated even more tightly into Outlook
v5.2 – comprehensive automated filing to process your newsletters, notifications, and other bulk email with express setup and reporting capabilities
The release candidate for ClearContext v5.0 is now available for download here. For more info about changes and new features in v5, see this post. We’ve addressed much of the beta feedback; updates have been posted in the beta forum.
Our official 5.0 production release will follow shortly, including updated user guide and other documentation and information on upgrading. We’ll be making more in-depth posts about 5.0 features in the coming weeks, as well as letting you know about the new features planned for the 5.1 and 5.2 releases. Stay tuned to the blog for all the latest info!
ClearContext Connect Members: Installing v5 will start a 30-day v5 Professional trial. You will be emailed your v5 Pro license shortly.
ClearContext v5 is currently in beta testing, with final release coming soon. This release makes ClearContext’s email management features faster, more automated, and more intuitive so it’s even easier for users to stay in control of their inbox. Here are some of the key differences you’ll find between ClearContext v4 and v5.0.
Filing
One of the biggest changes in v5 is an intelligent one-click filing system and project selector. The File Msg button on the toolbar now displays either the name of the project folder assigned to this conversation or a smart one-click filing suggestion (indicated by a question mark ) for new conversation threads. Open the project selector ( ) for additional filing suggestions or to quickly search for any folder across all your mail files.
Views and Prioritization
In place of ClearContext’s old inbox views, v5 uses categories to indicate important messages. ClearContext marks messages from your important contacts as “CC-VIP” and messages in threads you’ve participated in or from contacts you know as “CC-OK.” Customize category name and color in options or configure ClearContext to mark important messages with flags or Outlook priority. This lets you quickly scan and identify your most important messages. We’ve also provided three optional color-coded views using these priority indicator categories.
More Supported Configurations
Many of our customers run Outlook on multiple PCs. ClearContext v5 includes support to run ClearContext on each of those machines, keeping track of filing and prioritization information across them all. v5 also provides preliminary support for Outlook 2010 (Technical Preview – x86 only). Additionally, ClearContext v5 now provides filing support to unlimited Outlook mail files.
Features Not Included in v5.0
A few v4 features no longer exist in v5.0. FolderContext has been removed, as most pro users prefer to use Project Dashboards to view that information. FolderContext will be redesigned for the v5.1 release. Alerts and custom Notification Managers have also been removed in v5.0. Those two features will be redesigned for v5.2.
More to Come
v5.0 is just the beginning of the next generation of ClearContext. Our v5.0 release focuses on streamlining inbox management. Version 5.1 is dedicated to improving project management and dashboard capabilities. And 5.2 will focus on improvements to AutoAssign and related features. See our blog for the v5 product roadmap.
We hope the new features in ClearContext v5 make it an even more useful and seamless part of improving your Outlook and email experience. To preview v5, download the beta test version here. Post all feedback and issues in the beta section of our User Forums.
All v4 purchases made after August 1, 2009 and all ClearContext Connect subscribers will receive a complimentary upgrade to v5. This upgrade is available for all ClearContext customers, including the TWC/MYN powered edition of ClearContext Pro.
A frequent feature request is to improve the accuracy of message conversation threading. In v4 and earlier, ClearContext uses subject name to link messages together. In v5 ClearContext will use Outlook’s conversation ID (when available) for threading. For those of you on mail servers that utilize this ID, the result will be smarter, more accurate conversation threading. Subject-based threading will be used in cases where the ID is not available, most notably when receiving mail from some webmail services outside of Exchange.
Multiple Mail File Support
In v5 we are removing the filing limitation of one primary and one secondary mail file. ClearContext will recognize all of your open mail files, allowing filing to all open PSTs.
Office 2010
Office 2010 support will include full ribbon functionality in the explorer (Inbox) and adaptation of custom UI elements (Dashboard, Scorecard, etc.). A test version with Office 2010 32bit support will be available in Q4. We plan to implement 64bit support in a future release, timing TBD.
Streamlined Features
We are removing some features in v5 to simplify the interface, improve performance and focus on our core capabilities. In particular:
Conversation Priority will no longer be supported. Messages will still be automatically prioritized as they are received, but we will no longer support marking individual threads as important.
Alerts will be removed in v5.0. Pending feedback, we may bring this feature back in another form for a future 5.x release.
Improved Infrastructure\Performance
Many of the changes we have previously discussed result in improved performance. In particular, startup is faster, folders open more quickly, and message conflicts are minimized. With this improved infrastructure, the product will better support multiple machine use and mobile device access and we will be on track to expand beyond Exchange and POP support in future ClearContext releases.
v5.x
The changes we have discussed so far are all in our initial v5.0 release. Future v5.x releases will include an overhaul of the project management features in the Dashboard, improved statistics and measurement and much more. Keep an eye on the blog for future detail.
All v4 purchases made after August 1, 2009 and all ClearContext Connect subscribers will receive a complimentary upgrade to v5. If you haven’t already signed up for the v5 beta, send an email to beta at clearcontext dot com. The beta schedule isn’t finalized yet, but we will let you know when a download is available.
We have rolled out a few new features in ClearContext Online over the last few weeks – Percentiles, Sharing and new Groups.
Percentiles
Want to see how your email usage compares with the rest of the ClearContext community? Percentiles have been added to your home and group pages, giving a clearer context for average received, average sent, and response time. Check out my user page to see this feature in action. While there, compare your stats to mine.
Sharing
Quickly share your individual stats with others via email, facebook or twitter. Share from the upper right hand corner of your home page in ClearContext Online. If you haven’t previously logged in, click Compare Your Stats Online from the Scorecard in Outlook. See more information on getting started with ClearContext Online.
“’These companies and offerings exemplify the types of products breaking new ground in the fight against Information Overload,’ said Jonathan B. Spira, Basex' CEO and Chief Analyst, who will present the awards.”
We received the award for providing innovative tools that control the Inbox, aggregate project information and reduce information overload. Other recipients include Microsoft, Nordic River, Xerox and Xobni.
It is extremely rewarding to see our hard work recognized!
GTD users and other users who organize their tasks using special Outlook categories can download a GTD setup guide for ClearContext with detailed setup instructions. Here’s a quick overview of some key features to help GTD users stay organized with ClearContext:
The v5.4 upgrade is complimentary for registered v5 customers, registered v5-TWC users and active Connect members. Download here.
ClearContext Sidebar – Dashboard
One of the biggest changes in v5 is an intelligent one-click filing system and project selector. The File Msg button on the toolbar now displays either the name of the project folder assigned to this conversation or a smart one-click filing suggestion (indicated by a question mark 
In place of ClearContext’s old inbox views, v5 uses categories to indicate important messages. ClearContext marks messages from your important contacts as “CC-VIP” and messages in threads you’ve participated in or from contacts you know as “CC-OK.” Customize category name and color in options or configure ClearContext to mark important messages with flags or Outlook priority. This lets you quickly scan and identify your most important messages. We’ve also provided three optional color-coded views using these priority indicator categories. 
Many of our customers run Outlook on multiple PCs. ClearContext v5 includes support to run ClearContext on each of those machines, keeping track of filing and prioritization information across them all. v5 also provides preliminary support for Outlook 2010 (Technical Preview – x86 only). Additionally, ClearContext v5 now provides filing support to unlimited Outlook mail files.
