Backpack is 37Signals's latest project — a Web-based personal information manager that makes it easy to create projects, break them down into steps, and then track each step. Because it's Web-based, it's well suited to communicating and collaborating with other people, sharing tasks and status-messages, The whole thing syndicates as XML, streaming updates into your RSS reader or to your phone. It synchs with iCal and thence to your handheld PIM. (If this sounds familiar, it may be that you've tried out 37Signals's Basecamp, a brilliant project-management app that bears many similarities to this, but it much more industrial-strength and less suited to individual users)
I'm pretty conservative about trying out new productivity tools. I run pretty close to flat-out in my daily life, without a lot of room for tools that fail or take a lot of learning. That said, Backpack looks like the kind of tool that's worth trying — something that might genuinely solve some of the problems I face trying to cram everything into a day.
Plan a personal/business trip Keep track of what your competitors are doing Plan a home improvement project Collaborate on a new business idea Keep track of houses you're considering buying Gather information for a research project Keep a list of gift ideas for friends and family Brainstorm product/company names Build a list of recommended restaurants, and plenty more…
