Disappointing "updates" - Asana & Todoist

Posted by Ken
Sep 22, 2015 at 05:01 AM

I logged into both Asana and Todoist this weekend and was greeted with links to blog posts about their new updates. Often times, these companies release minor updates with little to no notice, and they do so as bugs are usually addressed. So, when they announced their new updates in blog posts, I assumed that there were major changes, especially for Todoist as they do not blog nearly as much as the folks at Asana. After reading the announcements and looking at the programs, all I can say is that I am very underwhelmed. Todoist claims they spent a year on this update, and the major “improvements” are a new logo, new fonts, and new check boxes that are now circular like radio buttons.

It took a year to accomplish this, really? I somewhat understand the need to keep products fresh to attract new users, but it seems like many of the larger web-based software companies are obsessed with window dressing features and changes these days. I would really like to know their game plan, because they certainly are catching flack in their blog post comment sections from paying users. I cannot count the number of users who took them to task for violating basic UI standards by turning check boxes into circles that resemble radio buttons. Is this the best that we can expect from companies like this? It seems like fashion and form have completely trumped function in the world of web-based software. Todoist has upgraded its logo every four years and is now on its third iteration, but they still have key features missing from their software that have been requested for years. Am I just “old school” and being unreasonable to think that providing customers with a good product is the driver to success, or am I just not understanding how to succeed in the world of web-based software today?

—Ken