I've tried lots of different to-do list methods over the years. From notepads to scraps of paper and my palm to magnets on the fridge, I've made to-do lists just about anywhere.

The only problem with paper and fridge magnets is that they don't go with me. Paper gets easily lost and fridge magnets, well, they are stuck to the fridge. The same can't be said for my palm, which, while always accessible, has the unfortunate habit of its contents being washed or rubbed off.

When I got my iPhone a year ago, I tried out a bunch of to-do list manager applications. They all worked as expected, but in the end, they were just digital versions of my old lists. Always accessible, but that's about it.

Not too long ago I discovered Task Ave., a to-do list (okay, task manager) application that is location-aware. That means I'm able to add items to a list, pick its location and when I get close to that location, Task Ave. reminds me.

Task Ave. is perfect for errands, of which I always have loads. With kids counting to 100 over and over again in the backseat of our van, music playing in the speakers and a tired baby crying in his car seat, there's often a lot going on around me. So, I forget stuff. Important stuff that, at times, can't afford to be forgotten.

With Task Ave., I've now got the means by which to easily stay on top of my to-do lists. It's truly a brilliant little app.

Did I mention that Task Ave. was made in Canada?

Never forget the office donuts again.

Comments

Thanks for the kind words, Geof! I'm really glad Task Ave. has proven useful for you. If you have any ideas/suggestions for the app, we'd love to hear them!

Brian Gilham on February 11, 2011

You mean it works well in a small place like Whitehorse?

Carole on February 12, 2011

Brian, no problem. Task Ave. is an amazing little app.

Carole, yep, works great and I've yet to come across a location in Whitehorse that the iPhone GPS can't find.

Geof Harries on February 12, 2011

That looks like a really handy app. If I had an iPhone, I would install it right away. Do they have an Android version yet?

James M on February 12, 2011

James, I don't know if an Android version is in the cards. You may want to check their blog for updates, in case that changes.

Geof Harries on February 13, 2011

Two questions. Can your wife add items to your list? And if so, how many times a week do you get: don't forget to pick up the steak and beer on your way home?

Also, does having the proximity stuff cause the GPS to be always on and does it clobber your battery?

OK last one, can I add stuff to your list like "You are near Tim Hortons, I'll take a double-double and a bagel"

Michael Johnson on February 13, 2011

What if a task could be tagged to a person? If you both have location-aware devices, you bump into them at the grocery store and your phone would remind you, "Hey! You've got to talk to this person about X." Now THAT would be cool.

Anthony on February 13, 2011

@James: Sorry, no Android version yet. It's something we're considering but probably won't be devoting time to in the immediate future. You aren't the only one asking, however!

@Michael: It won't be in our next update, but the ability to share tasks with friends/family/etc. is in the works. Stay tuned!

As for the GPS issue: We offer two modes. One keeps the GPS active while draining your battery faster, the other saves battery life at the risk of potentially being less accurate (it varies by location). We've found that most people in urban areas can use "Save battery life" mode without problems.

We aren't looking at actively tracking another person's location -- but it's certainly an interesting suggestion!

@Anthony: That's a really good idea. I'm not sure it fits what we're trying to go with Task Ave. but we'll certainly keep it in mind.

Brian Gilham on February 14, 2011

Subvert

Navigation

Blog

Most commented

Managing the chaos with Task Ave.

Comments