Apptisan #026 — Talking with Minizones’s Creator: The App That Reached No. 2 on App Store Paid Charts Lets You Easily View Multiple Time Zones from Your Menu Bar
For our 26th edition, we’re thrilled to feature Sambruce a product designer from Malaysia who leads a product design stream at an edtech company, boasting over a decade of UI/UX design experience.
Name: Minizones
Developer / Team: Sambruce Joseph
Platforms: macOS
Read this newsletter issue in Chinese (中文) .
Please describe your product.
Minizones is a lightweight, seamless time zone tracking app for remote workers, and global teams. It allows users to easily view multiple time zones right from their Mac menubar, making it perfect for those who frequently collaborate across regions. The app’s main features include customizable time zones, quick time zone slider, and flag icons for easy identification. With its simple interface and minimal setup, Minizones lets users always stay on top of time zones without cluttering their workspace. Its innovative approach transforms a tedious task into a smooth part of daily routines.
Was there a pivotal moment that inspired your product’s creation?
The inspiration for Minizones came from my personal struggle with managing meetings across multiple time zones. As someone who fully works in a remote team, I found existing apps either too complex or lacking in usability. The “aha” moment struck when I realized the power of simplicity — a time zone tracker that could live unobtrusively in the menu bar and display just the information I needed at a glance. This streamlined approach is what led to the creation of Minizones.
What makes your product unique compared to others in the market?
What sets Minizones apart is its simplicity and user-centric design. While other time zone apps offer more complicated features, Minizones focuses on ease of use and quick access.
Users can customize the list by renaming time zones, and even choosing custom emojis for better visual cues. Its minimalistic design means it doesn’t interrupt workflow, and it delivers the right amount of information — not too little, not too much. This balance makes it stand out in a market often filled with over-complicated tools.
How have you marketed your product, and what key lessons have you learned?
For Minizones, I focused on organic marketing strategies, primarily leveraging social media platforms like LinkedIn and Reddit. I was super stoked to get so much positive response from these networks. One key lesson I’ve learned is that authenticity and relatability resonate with people; subtle, non-promotional messaging often performs better than direct advertising.
I also found that showing how the app solves real-world problems, rather than just listing features, greatly boosts engagement.
What has been some memorable feedback since your product’s release?
One of my most memorable feedback came from a user in Reddit. They gave a wonderful feedback to make the timezone names customizable to so that they could name it to something personal like “Dad” with a beer emoji. This sparked an idea where the app would be useful not just for office environments but can be expanded for family and friends who are staying on a different timezones. I immediately worked on this feature on a weekend and pushed an update. It was super satisfying.
Are there any products out there that you feel deserve more recognition?
One other minimal app which has become my daily use is the Today menu bar app by the one and only OG of MacApps, Sindre Sorhus. This app helps me see and join all my daily meetings right from the menubar, just like Minizones.
Are there any creators you admire? What outstanding qualities have you observed in them?
Adam Lyttle is someone I admire for his app-building journey. He builds and sells mobile apps. He has created over 50+ apps so far. His new YouTube channel is also very authentic and insightful on tips and tricks to create, market and sell app.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you envision for the future.
I’m Sambruce Joseph, a designer with over a decade of experience in UI/UX. Currently, I’m a lead product designer at an ed-tech company while also building a suite of apps at nights. My goal is to continue developing minimalistic, user-focused tools that enhance productivity. Most of the apps I build are to scratch my own itch but turns out that a lot of people are experiencing the same problems.
You can follow my journey and latest updates on my LinkedIn or Twitter accounts.
About Apptisan
Apptisan is a portmanteau of “application” and “artisan”, signifying “a weekly exploration into the world of apps and the passionate artisans who create them.” Each issue is a conversation with global creators, aiming to uncover and present intriguing products to a wider audience.
For those who prefer Chinese, you can subscribe via Quail. Creators interested in featuring their products are encouraged to submit them through our form, and we’ll be in touch promptly.
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