MyQuire Injects Project Pain Relief

MyQuire is launching an anesthetic for project management at DEMOfall 07. This online tool is designed to provide effective project management capability for all users - not just professionals. There are a score of project tools out there but none that really suit the masses. MyQuire allows users to work the way they naturally do rather than via the constraints and discipline of most tools. This intuitive tool bridges the space between social entertainment and collective productivity. MyQuire provides an inexpensive, compact and powerful tool for projects from birthday parties to corporate conferences.

I talked with MyQuire' CEO and Founder David Steinberg on Friday about his vision and the potential for his service. David basically created MyQuire out of frustration and the "pain" associated with organizing things involving other people. David pointed out that: "Doing projects is an ordeal.  Whether we're trying to complete a professional project or plan a casual weekend getaway with friends, there is pain associated with the entire process." Isn't this the truth? I think I have tested at least 15 project management tools and every single one either had a steep learning curve, a very strict regimen of functions or both. So, project management tools are costly in dollars/time/pain and social or professional networks are not up to the task so far.

David's Main page

S-i-m-p-l-i-c-i-t-y

I had a little trouble getting into MyQuire (I lost the confirmation e-mail) but Alison McNeill of Future-Works just happened to be with MyQuire at their DEMOfall booth and they sent me the "doh" instructions to get in. Brian Solis (Bub.blicio.us) was also kind enough to send us a great shot of David live at DEMO, which I include below. Okay, that was not the simple part - but everything else about MyQuire is pure discoverability. MyQuire has honed down all the best things about more complex project management tools into a UI that virtually explains itself. Users can create a project, assign time-frames and tasks and schedule tasks very fluidly. The chat modules(both online MyQuire and project specific) are highly visible as are the project overview, files, write (editor), calendar and task icon/tabs. The only way to catch most of  this snappy function is with a list, so here goes: 

• My Home - Edit personal info, contacts, view lists of projects, calendar, manage contacts, create projects and groups, invite (drag) contacts to projects/groups, real time chat IM

• My Network - Hover contact icons for details, add friends via MyQuire internal search or external mail, browse projects and groups, view all existing groups and create new ones

• My Projects - View Projects, create new projects with wizard, archive or unarchive completed or inactive projects and see all projects you have created or taken part in

•  My Photos - Store and share photos, upload and view, crop or set as user icon

• My Hard Drive - Personal, secure storage, browseable folder tree with cut and paste, create text files using MyQuire's HTML rich text editor

• My Calendar - Create events, move events, edit events, send events, set reminders, receive notifications (instantly cool), track attendees, synchronize your calendar with others you use including Outlook

• My Tasks - Keep track of tasks, add tasks, track and mark tasks, edit and view

• My Messages - Send/receive requests, accept friend requests from standard email account, message internal and external contacts, click on contact icons to visit full profiles

Essentially, MyQuire is a streamlined - no fat version of Web Office. QuireMeeting is also in the coming upgrade as are many other features. The version currently in use has been in beta for some months, and though powerful - nothing compared to what is coming according to David. In fact the newer version is being revealed at DEMO but will not be available until later this year.

My beginnings showing one IM and early projects 

A project in progress 

Conclusion

The folks at MyQuire have been extremely helpful and this service is as I have expressed it - the one I would use (will). If you are a project manager and can afford the most advanced service available, then MyQuire is probably not exactly what you need. However, the rest of us will feel right at home with Web 2.0 tools, discoverability and universal simplicity on MyQuire. The addition of QuireMeeting will greatly enhance the scope of MyQuire, but I would suggest some form of screen or video presentation with the same slim-line feel. MyQuire is not rocket science, but the developer has built a sleek little race car for the common man.

CEO David Steinberg at DEMOfall 07 - Courtesy Brian Solis (Bub.blicio.us )