Figures 1, 2, & 3: Things' Lists view, Scheduled list, and Someday list
Cultured Code, the developers behind Things for Mac, gave us a copy of Things for the iPhone and iPod touch to review. The best way to understand the functionality of this robust to-do and task management system is to watch the video on Cultured Code's website that provides one with a nice walkthrough of the key features of the application. The application allows you to quickly add tasks by simply hitting the + button in the bottom left corner of the app, tasks can be scheduled and filed in any of the pre-loaded lists (Inbox, Today, Next, Scheduled, Someday), and tasks can also be added to projects, which are groups of tasks related to a larger goal. All completed tasks are automatically tracked in Things' Logbook.
Figures 4, 5, & 6: About Page, Settings, and Badge Count options
Things does exactly what it claims to do: provides a flexible and easy to use task management system that gets out of your way and lets you get things done. You can easily create a rather robust fully-tagged checklist driven project with detailed notes and information and exacting due dates. You can also quickly add simple one off tasks with little details and no real schedule besides Today, Next, and Someday, if you like.
Figure 7, 8, & 9: Moving a to-do item, creating a new basic To Do, and creating a To Do with all the available details.
Unfortunately, Things doesn't yet have any sort of alarm functionality or push notifications built in (the feature is expected in a future release according to the Cultured Code blog), so the application currently needs to be launched daily to be used effectively, and won't yet do a good job of nagging the reluctant amongst you into getting things done.
While the application has won a few awards, has a long list of strong reviews, clearly does well what it claims to do, and has a large following of users who love using it based on their love of the application's desktop counterpart, the app really feels like an iPhone 2.0 OS app since it lacks the Push notification capabilities of OS 3.0. Also, priced at $9.99 in an App Store crowded with to-do applications, Things may not be the best solution for some users, especially those who are only looking for a simple and quick to-do manager. However, if you are already a long-time user of Things for Mac, Things for iPhone syncs wirelessly with the desktop version over WiFi.
Obsessable Recommendation
Unless you're a hard and fast GTD wizard who is interested in Things Desktop and wants an iPhone app that integrates with your desktop experience, we cannot really recommend spending $9.99 on a task management system that lacks push notifications at this point. A quick search through the App Store turned up Things' major competitor, Appigo, who offer Todo lite, a free application that does basic task management and includes push notifications.
Overall Rating: 6 out of 10.
Apple iPhone will finally multitask with OS 4.0
Comments (4)
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Victor Agreda Jr (9:52 AM on Thu Aug 20, 2009)
I have to say, Todo is an amazing app. It syncs with your Mac (using a freely downloadable Mac client from Appigo), and it ties in with Toodledo or Remember the Milk. It's incredibly flexible, offering a variety of lists to choose from, and there's even a hack to sync with the Hit List via iCal.
Smith
(1:47 AM on Fri Aug 21, 2009)
Rather watch on a laptop with a much better screen. A viewer would most likely be on WIFI anyways , not streaming on ATT`s lousy network. No "app" needed and better quality.
Thanks smith
Pete
(7:26 PM on Sun Jan 31, 2010)
Thing is really powerful indeed. However, you may at times find it too long-winded. How often do you need to tag your tasks? You don't want your to-do app to actually take away your time that could have been spent actually getting things done.
Try Todew - a task management app that won't waste your time!
You can see the screencast here: http://somaticcontact.com/todew
iTunes App Store link: http://bit.ly/dn2DBo
An update and a free lite version are coming soon (Submitted to the App Store, awaiting approval by Apple)
Nataly (5:28 AM on Mon Feb 8, 2010)
I didn't know it is so easy to plan with its help. You know this option changes everything for me. As for me I try to manage my life and time. I found nice books in time management at the rapidshare SE http://rapidpedia.com . Well, if you read anything of this kind I believe you know that it is very important to plan your every day. It is not very convenient to do it with a writing-pad as very often you have to make some changes. Wow, I believe I need it. It will help me a lot.