Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Qbserve VS Touch Bar Timer

Compare Qbserve VS Touch Bar Timer and see what are their differences

Qbserve logo Qbserve

Freelance time tracking, invoicing, and productivity improvement

Touch Bar Timer logo Touch Bar Timer

A little stopwatch for your Mac's touch bar
  • Qbserve Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30

Mac time tracker that tracks both productivity and work hours automatically by intelligently observing active sites and apps.

  • Touch Bar Timer Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-03-10

Qbserve features and specs

  • Automatic Time Tracking
    Qbserve automatically tracks the time you spend on various activities, eliminating the need for manual time entry.
  • Detailed Reports
    The application provides detailed reports and statistics that help you understand how you invest your time.
  • Customizable Tracking
    Users can customize what activities and applications are tracked, allowing for more personalized data collection.
  • Focus on Privacy
    Data is stored locally on your device, minimizing privacy concerns related to cloud storage.
  • Productivity Goals
    Qbserve allows you to set productivity goals to help track and improve your efficiency.
  • Distraction Detection
    The software can detect and log distracting activities, helping users identify time-wasting habits.
  • No Subscription Fee
    Qbserve has a one-time purchase model instead of a recurring subscription fee, which may be more cost-effective in the long run.

Possible disadvantages of Qbserve

  • MacOS Only
    Qbserve is only available for macOS, limiting its use for those who use different operating systems like Windows or Linux.
  • Initial Learning Curve
    The application has a range of features that may require a learning period for new users to fully utilize.
  • Cost
    While there is no subscription fee, the one-time purchase price might be considered high for some users, especially those who are unsure if they'll get value from it.
  • Limited Integration
    Qbserve doesn't integrate directly with as many third-party applications as some other time-tracking tools, which might limit its utility for some users.
  • No Mobile Version
    Lack of a mobile version means you can’t track your time on-the-go effectively.

Touch Bar Timer features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    The Touch Bar Timer offers an easy-to-use interface that integrates directly into the MacBook's Touch Bar, allowing users to set timers quickly without needing to access additional software.
  • Convenience
    By utilizing the Touch Bar, it provides a seamless and convenient way to manage timers during multitasking, freeing up screen space and keeping the focus on other tasks.
  • Quick Access
    Having the timer accessible via the Touch Bar allows for instant access and control, making it ideal for users who need to frequently set or adjust timers.

Possible disadvantages of Touch Bar Timer

  • Limited Functionality
    The app may offer basic timer functions, which may not be sufficient for users looking for more advanced features such as multiple timers or customizable alerts.
  • Compatibility
    The reliance on the MacBook's Touch Bar means it's only available to users with compatible MacBook models, excluding those with other devices.
  • Dependency on Touch Bar
    As the tool is reliant on the Touch Bar, any potential hardware issues or futuristic discontinuation of the Touch Bar could affect the app's usability.

Analysis of Qbserve

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Qbserve is highly regarded by users for its ease of use, intuitive interface, and comprehensive tracking features. It is deemed a valuable tool for those who want to enhance their productivity by recognizing time-wasting habits and focusing more on productive tasks.

Why this product is good

  • Qbserve is an automatic time-tracking application designed to help users increase productivity by monitoring activities on their computer. It provides real-time feedback on how time is spent, including detailed reports and productivity scores. The application is particularly useful for freelancers, remote workers, and anyone who wishes to cultivate better time management habits.

Recommended for

  • Freelancers looking to track billable hours
  • Remote workers aiming to manage their time efficiently
  • Individuals seeking to improve productivity and time management
  • People who want an automatic and non-intrusive way to monitor computer activity

Qbserve videos

Weekly tip #2 - Qbserve

More videos:

  • Review - 5 Mac Apps of the Month | Qbserve, PDFElement 6, GIF Brewery 3, Camtasia & Unclutter

Touch Bar Timer videos

No Touch Bar Timer videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Qbserve and Touch Bar Timer)
Time Tracking
86 86%
14% 14
Productivity
69 69%
31% 31
Invoicing
100 100%
0% 0
Project Management
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Qbserve seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 11 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Qbserve mentions (11)

  • Show HN: I quit my job and made an automatic time tracker
    - Ability to bucket (or discard) my time AFK. Useful if it was a client call. Good luck on your product! I'm sure you can bring additional innovations to the space. [https://qotoqot.com/qbserve/]. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Show HN: Rem: Remember Everything (open source)
    Somebody else pointed out RescueTime, but if keeping it local is a priority, I recommend Qbserve, which I've been using (mostly passively in the background) for a few years now. [0] https://qotoqot.com/qbserve/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Is there anything you’ve found immensely helpful in grad school?
    One of the hardest things for me about grad school (that I'm still struggling with!) is figuring out how to schedule my own day when I have few external things keeping my day in shape for me. it's been really helpful just to have the data of how much time I usually spend on things/what I've done that day... I can see where all my time is going lmao and readjust as needed. I use toggl track in conjunction with... Source: over 1 year ago
  • Is there any other app who tracks time automatically by monitoring every app, document, and website ?
    Is https://qotoqot.com/qbserve/ actually doing this ? I can't seem to figure out if it tracks individual files inside apps. Source: over 2 years ago
  • What are your strategies for a productive writing session?
    An unconventional, and somewhat uncomfortable bit of discipline: I used Qbserve (for mac), which is an automatic time tracker. I taught it which websites were productive (/r/LaTeX, StackExchange, and ArXiV.org) and which were not (/r/GradSchool etc lol). It notified me when I was spending too much time not being productive, and also notified me when I had done "enough". Source: over 2 years ago
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Touch Bar Timer mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Touch Bar Timer yet. Tracking of Touch Bar Timer recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Qbserve and Touch Bar Timer, you can also consider the following products

Toggl - Toggl is an online time tracking tool. It features 1-click time tracking and helps you see where your time goes. Free and paid versions are available.

Chronograph.io - Cloud synchronized stopwatches and timers.

RescueTime - Time management software that shows you how you spend your time & provides tools to help you be more productive.

My TouchBar My Rules (MTMR) - Customize your touch bar as you want it

Harvest - Simple time tracking, fast online invoicing, and powerful reporting software. Simplify employee timesheets and billing. Get started for free.

ClemStation Hide My Bar - Never hit the Touch Bar by accident again.