iOS: Using a timer while you work can help you remember to stay on task, remember to take breaks, and is essential to the Pomodoro productivity technique. If you use a timer during the day and have an iPhone or iPad nearby that's doing nothing while you work, try the Minimalist Timer. It's free, it's lightweight, and you won't get stressed out looking at it as it ticks down.
Minimalist Timer, as the name implies, has a simple UI. There's a large dial in the center of the screen, and you can tap and "turn" the dial to set the timer. One full turn is 60 minutes, and you can keep turning to set the timer for whatever you need, whether you're using it to work, or you just want to remember to take the roast out of the oven. There are a few quick setting buttons: a plus and minus on either side of the dial let you quickly add or subtract an hour, and buttons on the bottom let you add one, five, or sixty minutes to the current timer setting.
The app's settings allow you to set the alarm sound, vibrate instead of (or in addition to) beeping, auto-start the timer as soon as you set it, hide the controls so you get a truly minimal view, and more. The app is completely free (although ad-supported, you can kill the ads via $0.99 in-app purchase), and definitely the least distracting but most functional timer you'll ever use. Give it a try and let us know what you think in the discussions below.
Minimalist TImer | iTunes App Store