Syncing Google Tasks with iPhone
Part 3 - Syncing Tasks with iPhone
There really is no native application on the iPhone for a task listing. I have personally used ToodleDo for over a year and also understand that RTM (Remember the Milk) is an excellent task manager. However, when I started to really use Google Apps (this works for gmail users also) I wanted to be able to sync my Google Apps tasks and not have to log into a third party for task management.
There are a couple of reasons for this... I have enough internet accounts and passwords, I would like to incorporate as many aspects of time management into one vendor as possible, and I can live with the limited functionality of Google Tasks. Some of you may need a more robust task manager than Google provides, I hope that as with all things Google the tasks interface continues to evolve and improve.
In all fairness Google does provide their own iPhone app to allow access to most of their online apps. It is available from the iTunes store here. It works for both Google apps and Gmail users. The disadvantage to this method is you must have a iPhone signal to view and update Tasks. It is not a true sync.
I decided on GeeTasksPro. I had to break from my rule of free, the app costs $5.99 for Google Apps users. There is a non-pro version available for Gmail users, available here, for $2.99. There is no subscription requirement, there is no third-party server. The iPhone app simply provides a much better interface to Google Tasks than Safari does on the iPhone. The pro edition also supports SSL encryption.
Some of the benefits according to the developer:
- View your Gmail tasks with native iPhone interface.
- Mark your tasks as complete or incomplete, edit description and set due date.
- More screen space than the web site, sometimes a lot more!
- Works both offline and online - be secure in your knowledge that even if network lets you down you will get your things done.
- Become recognized as a reliable person - when GeeTasks is always in your pocket you will always remember to fulfill your promises. You can even promise more than before AND feel better about being able to deliver.
- Offline/manual sync mode - ideal for iPod Touch or those with a limited data plan
- No need for expensive subscription service like some other Tasks applications - all that's required is a free Gmail account from Google
- Share tasks with your spouse by using the same Gmail account
- Nested tasks for complex situations
Set up is incredibly simply. Simply download and install GeeTasks, enter your Google user name and Password. You're Done. That simple.
Next Blog...How to sync Notes with Google Docs. Apple seems to be ignoring the notes application. Granted you can always email yourself...that was Apple's excuse for no MMS originally, and yes that does work...but wouldn't you like to be able to sync your notes with Google Docs?
