What were the updates in 2024?

Community Discussion
1

Hi everyone :),

I am about to renew my yearly license for a tool I’ve been using instead of RescueTime over last year. I would like to review change done to RescueTime over 2024. Can I find a summary anywhere? Most recent update on RescueTime Blog is from October 2023

2

Hi Peter,

Thanks for reaching out! Apologies for not sharing updates more frequently here - we’ll be better about that going forward. We’ve had two major priorities in 2024:

1. Completing the Major Development Milestones for Timesheets
After releasing Timesheets in beta last year, we focused on several significant improvements, including:

  • Adding a Client-Project-Task hierarchy
  • Building a reporting interface
  • Adding team management and reporting
  • Integrating Timesheets projects with Focus Sessions
  • Enhancing the auto-suggestion feature
  • Improving usability (e.g., day finalization, comment support, hiding/unhiding timeline activities, etc.)

2. Unifying the RescueTime Experience
As we discussed before, in 2021, we released a new version of RescueTime to simplify the user experience. While there were many positive changes, especially on the technical side, we heard from users that some key features of the traditional experience were missing, like advanced reporting and data trends. In 2024, we started to combine the best aspects of the traditional RescueTime with the modern version (desktop assistant, universal Focus Sessions, modern web experience). So far, in 2024 we have:

  • Opened up the traditional Time Analytics dashboard and reports for newer RescueTime users (accessible via the mode menu next to the logo)
  • Built a new Goals and Alerts interface, including the addition of Timesheet project goals
  • Updated the Windows desktop assistant for better handling of closing and minimizing
  • Fixed the desktop assistant issues related to unnecessary sounds
  • Improved the cross-device Focus Session experience, so starting a Focus Session on desktop will block apps on iOS
  • Updated our logo :slight_smile:

And coming soon…

  • Streamlining the Focus Session start process into a single screen

Our team remains super motivated and working hard every day to enhance your experience. We’re committed to helping our community stay protected from the constant distractions and focus on the work that matters.

Expect a more formal update with these details and future roadmap plans to hit your inbox soon.

Thanks for sticking with us, our team appreciates it! Please reach out if you have any other questions…

JP

1 Like
3

@jpmyers Thanks for comprehensive answer and all work you are doing. You should def. share more as all of this is looks great!

I will def. reconsider rescue-time soon especially after. Streamlining the Focus Session, which was one of my bigger issues last year.

Chers

4

Hi, Thanks for the update. I always love RT, and bringing the two interfaces into one is perfect.

I just have a question. The new iOS update will also let you merge activity from the phone to the laptop app?

Because I am unable to view any of my phone activity in the website dashboard.

Thanks for the help.

Best.

5

Hello! Unfortunately, we cannot bring phone app usage into the web/desktop app. Apple’s mobile app rules prohibit this. Our iOS app does have an activity tab, so you can see your screen time on various iOS apps - but that data has to stay on your iOS device.

Thanks!

JP

6

Thanks, JP,

I understand, and I wrote on the Apple’s community forum (Request for Assistance with Screen Time D… - Apple Community) to raise the attention a little about this issue.

Best.

7

Thanks for taking the time to do that! If they ever do open it up, we could definitely do some cool things with the data for our users.

Appreciate it!

JP

8

Your welcome.

For now, I am using the StayFree app, which I can sync between multiple devices.

Maybe the RT team could create something similar and bypass the Apple’s policies.

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Best.