iPhone User? Google Adds a Task to Your To-Do List
Google has just released Tasks for both iPhone and Android platforms, allowing users to create and manage task lists on the go, organized by groups. This feature is incredibly easy to use and highly beneficial—especially if you don’t already rely on another dedicated or integrated system.
If Gmail is your default email provider, simply activate Tasks in your Gmail account, and your phone will automatically sync with your existing list, centralizing your activities. Additionally, a gadget version is available for iGoogle, which also syncs with your phone.
The Evolution of Task Management
Among the world’s leading productivity tools is an advanced technology known as paper. Many top corporations and active internet users have adopted paper as a method of organizing their daily lives. When they think of something they need to do, they write it down and keep that piece of paper with them.
While some advances have been made in paper’s effectiveness—like sticky notes that attach to monitors—paper remains a leading task management technology.
When we set out to build Tasks (now in Gmail Labs), our goal was to improve upon paper. We focused on making editing fast and simple—almost as easy as using paper. However, many Googlers still found themselves using paper to track their tasks.
The Advantages of Paper
Paper has several popular features:
- Easy Editing: Cross out with a pen and write something new.
- Works Offline: You can read paper even when your PC is not connected to the internet.
- Mobile: Fold paper and stick it in your pocket.
- Instant Boot Up: Just pull paper out of your pocket—no loading time required.
The Limitations of Paper
However, paper does have its limitations:
- Limited Availability: You don’t always have a pad of paper with you.
- Not Ubiquitous: If you leave a piece of paper in one pair of jeans, you can’t access it from another.
- Difficult to Organize: It can quickly turn into a mess on your desk.
Introducing Tasks on Mobile
To address these issues, we made Tasks available on your phone with a version optimized for small screens. Starting today, you can manage your task list from your iPhone or Android device, and access it from any XHTML-enabled phone. Just go to gmail.com/tasks from your phone’s browser and log in. If you already use Tasks in Gmail Labs, you’ll see the same task list that’s always in sync.
We focused on making it super easy and fast to update your Gmail task list—you can add new tasks and check off completed ones, no matter where you are.
Many Googlers have shared that with this new mobile UI, they’ve finally ditched the paper task management they never really liked but couldn’t beat. We’re eager to hear your thoughts and how this compares to paper, so try it out and [let us know]