Ken Case

Ken Case

@kcase.bsky.social

CEO of the Omni Group, a small software company based in Seattle. (We make OmniFocus, OmniGraffle, OmniOutliner, OmniPlan, OmniWeb, etc.) I'm currently more active over on Mastodon at <https://mastodon.social/@kcase/>.

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Ken Case
@kcase.bsky.social

Hi, all! If you're reading this, chances are you already know who a bit about who I am and who we are at the Omni Group. But you might not, or you might be interested in learning a little more. In any case, this seems like a good opportunity to reintroduce myself and our small team based in Seattle!

Ken Case reposted

Podfeet
@podfeet.bsky.social

In one of the nerdier episodes, I teach you how to use VisiCalc because @kcase.bsky.social taught me, @eddietonkoi@mastodon.social brings a tiny tip, and @adamengst.bsky.social talks about better route planning with an EV. www.podfeet.com/blog/2026/07... #Spreadsheets

podfeet.comNC #1107 iMac as Display with AirPlay, VisiCalc with Ken Case, Adam Engst on Route Planning in EVs - Podfeet PodcastsHi, this is Allison Sheridan of the NosillaCast Apple Podcast, hosted at Podfeet.com, a technology geek podcast with an EVER so slight Apple bias. Today is Sunday, July 26, 2026, and this is show numb...

Ken Case reposted

Podfeet
@podfeet.bsky.social

Please enjoy me on this deeply nerdy adventure learning to use the very first spreadsheet, VisiCalc, with the help of @kcase.bsky.social of the Omni Group. www.podfeet.com/blog/2026/07... #Spreadsheets

podfeet.comLearning VisiCalc with Ken Case - Podfeet PodcastsSteve and Ken With Rainbow Shirts In my look back on Macstock X, I ended by saying that it’s the people that make this conference so special. One of my favorite people I got to hang out with this year...
Ken Case
@kcase.bsky.social

In early 1985, Henry Nussbacher sent a letter to all Bitnet contacts calling for admins to hunt down and destroy every chat server because a dozen users actively chatting could bring file transfers to a halt—file transfers being the primary purpose of the network.

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Ken Case
@kcase.bsky.social

Ultimately, with NSFNet expanding in '88 and commercial ISPs emerging in '89, we had more network and computing available than ever—just not on the IBM mainframes hosting Bitnet.

Ken Case
@kcase.bsky.social

Jarkko Oikarinen took inspiration from Bitnet's Relay and built the Internet Relay Chat (irc) for Unix. It was a little slow to take off, and has had its own drama (with net splits, etc.), but anyone with a Unix system can run their own server—and as a result, some 36+ years later it's still around.

Ken Case
@kcase.bsky.social

In early 1985, Henry Nussbacher sent a letter to all Bitnet contacts calling for admins to hunt down and destroy every chat server because a dozen users actively chatting could bring file transfers to a halt—file transfers being the primary purpose of the network.

View full thread
Ken Case
@kcase.bsky.social

At the 1987 Spring NETCON, Jeff Kell gave a presentation on Relay where he concluded "Relay is on the verge of collapse. […] It is no longer due to network load. It is only marginally due to CPU load. It is due to the users."

Ken Case
@kcase.bsky.social

In early 1985, Henry Nussbacher sent a letter to all Bitnet contacts calling for admins to hunt down and destroy every chat server because a dozen users actively chatting could bring file transfers to a halt—file transfers being the primary purpose of the network.

View full thread
Ken Case
@kcase.bsky.social

So focus turned towards reducing CPU usage. Eric Thomas (who went on to create LISTSERV for automating mailing list signups) got involved and helped make Relay more efficient, converting some core routines from Rexx scripts to assembly.

Ken Case
@kcase.bsky.social

Of course, the user base just kept growing: by the summer of 1986 we were seeing 150 users, straining systems again. Signup restrictions were added, etc., but the users just kept coming, with a crop of new students joining the chat in the fall.

Ken Case
@kcase.bsky.social

In early 1985, Henry Nussbacher sent a letter to all Bitnet contacts calling for admins to hunt down and destroy every chat server because a dozen users actively chatting could bring file transfers to a halt—file transfers being the primary purpose of the network.

View full thread
Ken Case
@kcase.bsky.social

Through August we started seeing as many as 20 users chatting on relay at the same time. By the end of 1985, we were averaging daily peaks of 50 users or so, sometimes reaching 80.

Ken Case
@kcase.bsky.social

This started taking up way too much CPU on some of the servers (like Bitnic), so they shut it down for days at a time. But while not running a local relay reduced CPU load, it placed more burden on the network again: users didn't stop chatting, they would just find a more distant relay to use.

Ken Case
@kcase.bsky.social

In early 1985, Henry Nussbacher sent a letter to all Bitnet contacts calling for admins to hunt down and destroy every chat server because a dozen users actively chatting could bring file transfers to a halt—file transfers being the primary purpose of the network.

Ken Case
@kcase.bsky.social

Jeff Kell realized that the problem wasn't chatting itself, but redundant traffic from independent connections. So he built the first Relay chat system. I got involved in August, setting up the 10th relay server and contributing code.

Ken Case reposted

OmniOutliner
@omnioutliner.omnigroup.com

Introducing OmniOutliner 6! Modernized, beautiful outlining with new Dynamic Themes, shareable Omni Links, Apple Intelligence automation, and more. Available for Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Vision Pro. Your thoughts, in order. www.omnigroup.com/blog/introdu...

omnigroup.comIntroducing OmniOutliner 6 - The Omni GroupIntroducing OmniOutliner 6! Modernized, beautiful outlining with new Dynamic Themes, shareable Omni Links, Apple Intelligence automation, and more. Available for Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Vision Pr...
Ken Case
@kcase.bsky.social

We're thrilled to share that the next version of OmniOutliner is nearly ready as a universal app for Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Vision Pro, and that we're making test builds available to anyone who wants to help make sure we haven't overlooked anything. www.omnigroup.com/blog/testing...

omnigroup.comTesting the next OmniOutliner - The Omni GroupGreat things often begin as outlines. Whether you're a writer or a student, an attorney or a software developer, outlines can help clarify and develop ideas and concepts. We're thrilled to share that ...

Ken Case reposted

Relay
@relay.fm

Mac Power Users 804: From NeXT to Liquid Glass, with Ken Case Ken Case is the CEO at The Omni Group and has been developing for Apple platforms for decades. He shares with Stephen and David how he got his start in technology, what Apple gear he uses, his approach to cu... http://relay.fm/mpu/804

relay.fmMac Power Users #804: From NeXT to Liquid Glass, with Ken Case - RelayKen Case is the CEO at The Omni Group and has been developing for Apple platforms for decades. He shares with Stephen and David how he got his start in technology, what Apple gear he uses, his approach to customer communication, and his thoughts on WWDC.
Ken Case
@kcase.bsky.social

Had a fun conversation on this week's Mac Power Users with @ismh86.net and @macsparky.bsky.social, ranging from punched cards and Apple ][ in the '70s through developing for NeXT in the '90s to considering how to tastefully use Liquid Glass in the present. Hope folks enjoy! bsky.app/profile/rela...

Relay@relay.fm

Mac Power Users 804: From NeXT to Liquid Glass, with Ken Case Ken Case is the CEO at The Omni Group and has been developing for Apple platforms for decades. He shares with Stephen and David how he got his start in technology, what Apple gear he uses, his approach to cu... http://relay.fm/mpu/804

relay.fmMac Power Users #804: From NeXT to Liquid Glass, with Ken Case - RelayKen Case is the CEO at The Omni Group and has been developing for Apple platforms for decades. He shares with Stephen and David how he got his start in technology, what Apple gear he uses, his approach to customer communication, and his thoughts on WWDC.

Ken Case reposted

Peter Ramsing
@peter.coffee

I totally missed the new keyboard shortcuts in #OmniFocus until a tip told me. Mark Flagged/Unflagged (F) Edit Title (E) Edit Note (N) Edit Project (P) Edit Tags (T) Edit Due (D) Edit Defer Until (Shift-D) Edit Repeat (R) Edit Estimated Duration (Shift-T) support.omnigroup.com/documentatio...

support.omnigroup.comsupport.omnigroup.comThis chapter gathers the commands and shortcuts found throughout OmniFocus into a single reference.
OmniFocus@omnifocus.omnigroup.com

With improved Shortcuts actions for automation, enhanced integration in Spotlight results, Tips to reveal the hidden power of OmniFocus, and new Mac appearance options… OmniFocus 4.5 is here to help you focus, and will look good doing it!

Ken Case
@kcase.bsky.social

OmniFocus 4 shipped one year ago today! 4.0 brought a unified, approachable, modern, customizable interface to the app on all its native platforms. Which of the major updates since then has been your favorite? [1/2]

Ken Case
@kcase.bsky.social

- 4.1 — brought the app to Apple Vision Pro - 4.2 — added new perspective rules like "has date in range" - 4.3 — support for device Focus Filters - 4.4 — lock screen controls, tinted home screen, Apple Watch double-tap - 4.5 — powerful new Shortcuts, Genmoji, Mac appearance customization [2/2]

Ken Case
@kcase.bsky.social

I find it sad that our industry has trained so many people to expect that a free trial is going to automatically convert into some sort of payment when the trial ends, unless they somehow cancel the trial. (In all of our apps at @omnigroup.com, the trial simply ends.)

Ken Case
@kcase.bsky.social

We also shipped an OmniFocus 4.4.3 update yesterday! It has a number of improvements, but one of the most notable is improved sync times on Apple Watch: • Sync — Apple Watch app will no longer attempt any database maintenance tasks, reducing sync times.

Ken Case
@kcase.bsky.social

Not to rest on our laurels, today's test build of OmniFocus 4.5 introduces new and updated Shortcuts actions across Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro; Genmoji; improvements to Omni Automation; and Mac support for custom fonts and a black background.

Ken Case reposted

OmniFocus
@omnifocus.omnigroup.com

OmniFocus is a finalist for #AppStoreAwards Mac App of the Year! When we built OmniFocus 4 with Apple’s new SwiftUI technologies, our goal was to make the app approachable and easy to use. We're thrilled Apple has named us an award finalist for "fostering focus with simplified task management"!

Ken Case@kcase.bsky.social

What a wonderful bit of news to wake up to! This morning the App Store announced the finalists for the Apple #AppStoreAwards for the best apps and games. For Mac App of the Year, they wrote: "OmniFocus 4, for fostering focus with simplified task management." www.omnigroup.com/blog/apple-n...