EasyTask Manager 2.0 “syncs” with iPhone
EasyTask 2.0 has been released, bringing a range of new features and bugfixes to this “mid-range” Getting Thing Done (GTD) app.
Hawk Wings has posted on EasyTask Manager before.
The changelog for the new version seems promising:
- New 3-panel Preview. View and edit tasks faster.
- Tasks can have system wide alarms (Leopard only).
- Quick add system wide hot-key allows to add new tasks from any application (option+apple+right arrow key).
- Improved Online Sync (fix various bugs with some tasks not syncing).
- Automatic realtime sync with iCal / Calendar store in Leopard so tasks are visible in Apple Mail and emails can be converted to tasks. (Leopard only. Tiger syncs with iCal but users need to click Sync button).
- Added option to sync using Projects instead of Contexts as Calendars (Leopard only).
- New Outline look.
- Fix problem with Online Sync and firewalls.
But what caught my eye was the claim on the developer’s web site 
that it can “Sync with the iPhone”.
This turns out to be only half-true (if that). It doesn’t sync with the iPhone at all. What happens is that app syncs up to an online interface accessible through an iPhone.
It’s not a beautiful interface, but will get the job done. However, when you mark a task as completed on the iPhone you are greeted with the screen on the right:
Hmmmm…. This is not the key to a seamless GTD workflow.
If you are looking for a solid GTD workflow that involves an iPhone, Remember the Milk remains a much better solution (although the launch of the 3G iPhone promises lots of new apps, like OmniFocus for the iPhone ).
(UPDATE: According to TUAW Remember the Milk has just won the 2008 Apple Design Award for best iPhone web app.)
With its much more polished iPhone interface (pictured), Dashboard widget , Quicksilver action and whatnot , it’s the best iPhone solution currently around.
The Republic of Geektopia (see all its RTM posts ) and David Chartier have both written fine posts on how they Get Things Done with Remember the Milk and its tools which I won’t repeat here.
I should point out, that in order to use the iPhone interface, you need to puchase a “pro” subscription (USD 25 a year) to Remember The Milk.
See too Bruce McKenzie’s fine post on Getting Things Done using an iPhone.
I’m torn about EasyTask Manager. On the one hand, it presents a fine mid-priced (USD 19.99), mid-featured GTD framework.
On the other, with Things and OmniFocus and others powering ahead, it’s simply falling too far behind the pack. Harsh but, I think, fair.
Check it out for yourself from the developer’s web site .
Similar Posts:
- EasyTask Manager for getting things done
- Remember the Milk: An online To Do list service
- Zimbra gets friendly with Safari 3.0, CalDAV, iPhone
- Getting Things Done with Leopard Mail
- Actiontastic 0.9 gets iCal sync support
Tags: getting things done, gtd, iCal, not apple mail, not mail.app, Productivity, quicksilver, Remember the Milk, RTM, widget
June 13th, 2008 at 1:11 am
I wasn’t aware of this one—looked interesting until I read your line about sync being online :-(
But competition for the likes of OmniFocus and Things can only be good, as it will keep them on their toes and strive others to aim for the “best of breed” crown too!
Thanks for noticing my GTD with Mac/iPhone post, although I’ve just realized it might not make as much sense if people aren’t familiar my earlier post Using faux Contacts for GTD on the iPhone first:
http://www.bioneural.net/2008/04/24/using-faux-contacts-for-gtd-on-the-iphone/
I think I’ll need to make this a bit clearer in the article..
June 13th, 2008 at 2:27 am
Hey Tim,
Thanks for taking a look at EasyTask.
The iPhone web interface is actually being replace with a native iPhone app. Ready to go. Just waiting for Apple :-)
June 13th, 2008 at 2:31 am
Seeing that RTM already has location tags, indexed to Google Maps, I hope they are poised to take full advantage of Core Location. I know Omnifocus is. It could be a killer GTD feature…automatic context lists…
June 13th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
[...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptIf you are looking for a solid GTD workflow that involves an iPhone, Remember the Milk remains a much better solution (although the launch of the 3G iPhone promises lots of new apps, like OmniFocus for the iPhone ). … [...]
June 14th, 2008 at 12:06 am
btw, Culturde Code is also preparing for the iPhone with Things Touch, see their Things TOuch blog post: http://culturedcode.com/things/blog/2008/06/a-phone-an-ipod-an-internet-communicator-and-a-full-featured-task-manager.html
June 15th, 2008 at 9:45 am
@Jose, Rolf — Thanks for letting me know about the upcoming iPhone interface. I’ll look forward to seeing how it works.
June 16th, 2008 at 3:43 am
Rolf, you beat me to it! Things Touch is definitely the ticket.
Although OmniFocus for iPhone looks great, OmniFocus (for the mac) is convoluted and ugly. I used it for months and really tried to like it, but could not. Things (and soon, Things Touch) are the answer for me.