Cheddar, the simple to-do list app by our friend Sam Soffes has finally come to the Mac. We reviewed Cheddar for iOS about a month ago, so today I’d like to give you some insight into Cheddar for Mac’s public beta.
There are a lot of things that need more work, but overall, I’m super happy with how it’s coming along so far. It was really important to me while planning Cheddar for Mac that it was actually a Mac app. I wanted it to feel like a Mac app instead of some silly hybrid app that doesn’t work that well. I’m really excited to say Cheddar for Mac is fully native.
Interface
Cheddar has a beautifully minimalist interface, reminiscent of an orange creamsicle. Sam was able to use Gotham as the app’s font which gives it a premium feel, setting it apart from other Mac and iOS apps. Not to mention, it looks gorgeous on the Retina MacBook Pro.
There is full screen mode integration, but it feels strange to use it with this kind of app on a 13 inch display.
I only have one major gripe with the UI. The red, yellow, and green buttons (or traffic lights) clash heavily with the orange shade used as the background for the top bar chrome.
Functionality
Just like in the iOS version of Cheddar, all you have to do is type what you want to do and hit enter. You can also add hashtags to your to-dos and customize them with Markdown.
Creating lists on the Mac also works the same way as it does on iOS, but you have to go to the menu bar or use a keyboard shortcut to do so.
Syncing
What’s the point of a to-do list app in 2012 if it doesn’t have cloud syncing abilities? Cheddar doesn’t just sync your to-dos, it syncs them at lightning speed. Using the app on multiple devices is perfectly seamless. Just add a task on one device, and it’s on all the others instantly.
Conclusion
The app is exactly what you’d expect if you’re already a Cheddar user. If you’re using Apple’s default reminders app, Cheddar is a more than worthy contender to consider. With a beautiful interface and syncing across all your Apple devices (an Android version is coming, eventually), Cheddar is now better than ever. If you have Cheddar Plus, you can (and should) start using Cheddar for Mac beta today. Once the app is released, anyone with a Cheddar account can use it for free.
