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Todoist's latest feature helps you better organize upcoming tasks
Upcoming View will be easily accessible in the left navigation right under Today and simply labeled “Upcoming.”
Any.do adds collaboration, sharing features to its to-do app
Productivity-focused app Any.do, which is available on iOS, Android and the web, has gained popularity largely because, well, it helps people get things done. But, with households and businesses being about more than just one particular user, the to-do application knows that catering itself to only a single person per account isn't enough. Accordingly, Any.do is introducing its Team Management and Group Sharing features, allowing you to create, distribute and assign tasks among a number of different people -- with as many as you want, in fact, so long as you have a new Premium account, which costs $5 per month (though right now there's a promo for $3 monthly).
Want amazing to-do lists? Try Any.DO
It seems our lives grow busier and busier as the years go by. Perhaps two of the busiest demographics are college students and mothers (especially the mothers). While I have never been a mother, I have been a college student, and Any.DO was the perfect lifesaver during the craziness of my final semester. This free app is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, and is optimized for iOS 7. Since I am the most absentminded person I know, one thing I learned early on is that I have to write things down the moment I know I intend to do them or else I will forget, and quickly. (This is the same reason why I have arguments with myself over the "Why didn't I put that book back where it belongs?" issue.) Paper is fine, and given that I am one of the few people alive who still likes longhand letters I should be okay with that. And I am. But then, the issue is remembering on which of the multitudinous sheets of paper in my home I wrote my to-do list. Having it right in my pocket at all times is a calming breath of fresh air. It's one less thing I have to do. The app is a beauty for something as simple as making to-do lists. Users have the option of using a black-on-white theme (the default) or changing it to white-on-black. Either one makes the app clean, professional, and visually pleasing. When the app is first opened, the user is greeted by a list with four labels: Today, Tomorrow, Upcoming, and Someday. Tapping the plus sign next to each section will bring up a blank screen where users may either type or speak tasks into that particular section. Of special note is the auto-suggestion feature. Instead of having to laboriously type out the entire phrase, the app uses its highly-detailed array of suggestions to narrow down virtually any task you might be thinking of. Tasks can be organized into Personal and Work folders, but users can make numerous others as well (e.g., Vacation, Medical, Book Club, whatever). You may also view tasks by day, which is the default, or by folder. Especially urgent duties can be written in red text. These and other features (including the ability to take notes on any individual task) can be brought up by tapping the task itself. As tasks are completed, the user may actually cross them out by dragging as finger across the screen. At that point, the task can be removed from the list by pressing the small x next to it. Users who like the look of a list with all duties struck through can leave them be. However, it s important to note that once tasks are completed, shaking the iPhone will delete them from the list. But don't worry, yhey will just retreat to a master list of deleted items which can be accessed via the Preferences feature. Most people will probably delete them, but I had a nice time looking through all the things I had to get done during my final semester of college. In landscape mode, users will find a smaller version of their list displayed next to a monthly calendar, with that articular day opened. From that calendar, one may add tasks to any future date, as well as set reminders, alarms, deadlines, and so forth. Users also have the option of syncing with the Cloud, so their tasks and calendars are uniform across devices. Additionally, lists can be shared between two or more phones so that one may divide and conquer. And for the really hardcore organizers and list-makers, Any.DO even has the option of a Premium account, with highly-customized themes, staff support, location-based reminders (for when you must remember to pick up milk when you leave the dentist's office), and other features. This is on sale as of this writing for US$2.99/month. Now for the really good part: Do you ever feel like you need some kind of congratulatory acknowledgment when you have mastered yet another day's demands? With Any.DO, you can. As important tasks are completed (or all of the tasks in a given day, whichever comes first), users can redeem rewards - like a promo code for US$25 off a hotel room via Travelocity, or even a free two-week Hulu Plus trial. Cleaning the lint trap in the dryer and making sure your car payment is on time was never so rewarding. As we progress further into the twenty-first century, our lives will only grow more complex and intricate with every scientific discovery and technological advance. It's good to know that Any.DO is available to help all of us navigate the needs and wants of every aspect of our lives. With this written, I have one more thing to cross off my list.
Sound off! What apps help you get things done?
For the procrastinators among us, I share your philosophy: Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow? Sadly, the people who sign our paychecks don't really agree; they strongly encourage us to get things done today. Right now! There's a ton of different apps that help manage our to-do lists and claim to make us more productive people. With so many options, how do you choose something that gets you down with GTD? Share your favorite productivity apps in the Engadget forums!
PSA: Astrid task management service shuts down on August 5th
When Astrid was acquired by Yahoo in May, it warned us that its task management service would close within 90 days. Today, it has a more specific date: customers have until August 5th to export any data they can't afford to lose. Astrid suggests alternative services like Any.DO, Sandglaz, Wrike and Wunderlist for those who want to import their tasks and pick up where they left off. The firmer schedule won't ease the pain for Astrid loyalists, but it should prevent any rude surprises in the weeks ahead. Check out Astrid's email to users after the break. [Thanks, Alex]
Task management app / service Astrid is Yahoo's latest acquisition
Under new CEO Marissa Mayer, Yahoo has been working on expanding the services it offers across multiple platforms and its latest move on that front is the acquisition of Astrid. The Astrid Tasks and To-do list app is a popular productivity manager on Android and iOS, particularly notable for its tie-ins with Google Calendar and the ability to assign tasks to others. In a blog post, CEO and co-founder Jon Paris announced the company will be joining Yahoo's mobile team with a goal of "making the world's daily habits more inspiring and entertaining." As for existing users, the service will continue to work as-is for 90 days, and those who have paid for annual subscriptions to add on file storage, backup and more can expect refunds from Yahoo. There will also be a way for users to download all their data, although there aren't any details on that yet. Astrid had received funding from Google Ventures, among others, but as shown by the launch of Google Keep it seems the usual giants in tech will be focusing on in-house ways to offer productivity features.
Daily Update for October 31, 2012
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
TiVo teases long-awaited HD guide upgrades for fall DVR update
When we originally reviewed the TiVo Premiere DVR back in 2010, one of our laments was that its revamped HD guide style didn't cover all of the screens in its menu system, and the issue still existed when we reviewed the XL4 earlier this year. Finally, that's being addressed, as TiVo VP Margret Schmidt has confirmed the upcoming fall update will bring reworked screens for the To Do List, Season Pass Manager and My Shows (for networked DVRs), and tweeted screenshots. Also of note are a number of Comcast areas recently added to the list of places that support Xfinity VOD via TiVo, so check your zip code to be sure. As far as the update goes, as usual, if you'd like to be first on the list to try it out, go ahead and sign up on the Priority list right away.
The Daily Grind: What's on your character's to do list?
There's always something to be doing to advance your character in MMOs, whether it's as grand as epic raiding or as mundane as getting that Litter Bug achievement for cleaning up the in-game park. While some folks simply log in and do whatever their whims dictate, I have a feeling that many of us have elaborate to-do lists that guide our actions. I love doing this with MMOs because it makes me feel like a multitasking genius. Working toward six or seven goals at once generates a tsunami of accomplishment in my soul, and there is nothing quite as satisfying as crossing off tasks from my own list. So what's on your character's to do list today? What goals are you working toward, and how long do you expect them to take? Unleash your inner accountant and show us the details! Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
To-do list manager Clear demoed at Macworld iWorld 2012 (video)
There are tons of to-do list managers in the App Store, so many that you'd need another list manager just to keep track of them. Fortunately, a collaboration between Realmac Software, developer Milen Dzhumerov, and developer Phill Ryu's new studio Impending Inc. has created a to-do list management app that looks like it will make the rest of 'em obsolete. In the video embedded below, you'll see a quick demo of the gesture-driven UI that makes Clear so different from the competition. TUAW App Editor Megan Lavey-Heaton and I spent a few minutes with Realmac Product Manager Nik Fletcher on the floor at Macworld | iWorld 2012, and we have since had the thrill of putting Clear through its paces. While this isn't a review, let's just say that I wish every developer put this much time and attention into making apps that are intuitive and simple to use. Clear should be "shipping soon" at an as-yet undisclosed price. You'll hear about the release of the app as soon as it's in the App Store, and a review will follow close behind.
Daily Mac App: Preflight
Sometimes super simple tasks work best when performed using super simple applications. List making might be one of them. Preflight is a free list-making app that's about as simple as they come. Type your list item in the "new item" box and hit return. Job done. If you want to delete an item from your list, select it and hit backspace. You can rearrange your list through drag-and-drop. The beauty of Preflight is that it's quick to load, create a list and does what it needs to do. However, if you need a bit more complexity, check out one of the myriad of to-do list apps that we've covered on the Daily Mac App including Wunderlist, Producteev and iProcrastinate.
The Daily Grind: What's your end-of-the-year MMO to-do list?
With only a little less than three months left in 2011, it's time to start thinking about what we want to accomplish before 2012's crop of MMOs arrives. Maybe you want to reach level cap in some of 2011's launches like Allods Online or DC Universe Online or dive into the newest shinies like Lord of the Rings Online's Rise of Isengard. Either way, there's a good chance you're completing your goals with one eye on 2012, which looks to be quite a year for the MMO industry. So tell us what your end-of-the-year goals are. Is it something related to completing a current game or some kind of rigorous sleep-deprivation exercise that gets you ready for the launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic, Guild Wars 2, or another anticipated MMO? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Breakfast Topic: This is the game that never ends ...
This Breakfast Topic has been brought to you by Seed, the Aol guest writer program that brings your words to WoW.com. Once I finally reached 80, I felt so accomplished and at the same time so behind. I still had not finished all the Northrend quests and needed to get going on heroic dungeons, maxing my tradeskills and maybe working on some achievements. Now that Cataclysm is coming soon, of course, we all have our bucket lists to be concerned about, as well. Sometimes this becomes frustrating. I love to make myself to-do lists, much like collecting quests in my log -- but even more so, I love crossing things off the list that I have accomplished. With WoW, I always seem to feel like I am just trying to keep up. With more and more things about the game that I discover I want to accomplish, my to-do list grows longer. However, I guess that is inevitable when you play a game "that never ends."
How to get in on the daily Fallen Earth team meetings
If you've been following the post-apocalyptic MMO Fallen Earth at all, you may have noticed that the team isn't afraid to let us in on the progress of the game. We've seen videos of gameplay, held several interviews, developer diaries and the current state of their beta isn't exactly hard to get into. So you may be pleased to hear that the Fallen Earth team is taking this one step further by letting us in on their daily meetings, virtually. Project Manager Colin "Ilkor" Dwan will be providing an inside look into their daily "to do" list and morning meetings via Twitter. Apparently, this will only be going on for the next ten business days, but hopefully it can be something they'll eventually continue throughout the beta process right into launch, this coming September 9th.
Check out Check Off for a simple to do list
Check Off is a free little tool that sits discreetly in your menu bar and pops open with a single click to display a basic to do list. I wasn't a big fan of Tiger's native to do list so I started using this a few months ago and it's been a pretty handy little app. Though it looks like Apple finally got its act together by incorporating a to do list into Mail.app, but I don't think I'll give up Check Off entirely since its bare bones functionality has come in rather handy sometimes.Check Off is mainly for jotting down quick notes on tasks you need to complete so don't expect it to do a lot of heavy lifting. If you just need something to keep you on track or are looking for another way to send a to do list to your iPod, though, then Check Off is just the thing. It's also somewhat tweakable -- you can drag and drop to sort folders, color-code your entries, and attach notes to each to do, if you're so inclined. Version 3.7 has just been released with Leopard compatibility and a few bug fixes.[Thanks Justin!]
To-Do lists get funky with LifeShaker
Okay, I couldn't resist posting about the new to-do list app LifeShaker from Funky Cloud, if only to comment on their clever marketing. This is the first piece of software I can remember to have a movie-style trailer (not just a screencast).LifeShaker is an interesting take on to-do organizing. It presents a 3x3 grid into which you can dump your various goals, action steps and categories. As the name suggests, you can "shake" your grid to re-arrange your goals (presumably as a kind of self-motivation). It's an unusual approach; how effective it might be I can only imagine. In my brief testing, I found the interface to be a bit annoying, requiring excessive use of on-screen buttons for data entry t(instead of just letting me double-click on blank list entries). Still it's worth a look if you're interested in a non-traditional to do list.LifeShaker is $29.00US and requires Mac OS 10.3.9 or higher. A demo is available (points off, however, for the use of an installer).[via MacMinute]
