Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Features, Internet Tools, iPhone
3 ways to get things done with your iPhone
Getting Things Done is David Allen's system of personal productivity; a deceptively simple process of collecting information, deciding what it is, identifying what needs to be done and then doing it (we've written about GTD quite a bit).Geeks like me love it because the hardware and/or software used to achieve these goals can be whatever we like. The most important thing is what David calls the "ubiquitous capture tool," or "a way to write things down." You've got your iPhone with you where ever you go, so why not use it?
This post explores 3 ways to get things done with your iPhone, namely, iNozbe, iDo and Backpack.
iNozbe
The mobile companion to Nozbe offers all the features of its bigger sibling. After logging in, your presented with six lists under two headings. The first, "Your Lists," holds Next Actions, Projects and Contexts. Below that is "Create New," holding New Action, New Project and New Context. Navigation is speedy on Wi-Fi and not much different over EDGE.
Adding a new item to your inbox is easy. From the main page, click Projects then Inbox. The cursor is placed into a text field and the iPhone's keyboard pops up. Finally, click New Action and you've got it. Of course, the drawback is that you're limited by your keyboard speed, but that's unavoidable.
To process your inbox, select any action in your inbox and click Edit, choose a context, estimate the time needed, set a due date and assign that action to a project. Everything is done via drop-down menus, so it's quicker than typing.
You can add a "star" to urgent actions so they stand out. Contexts and projects are customizable, and you can even select a tiny icon to represent each. Best of all, once an item has been processed, it disappears from Inbox, just as it should.
Completed actions are easily marked Done (they turn a light grey) or deleted entirely.
Here's where it gets a bit labor-intensive. Doing a weekly review with iNozbe requires a LOT of clicking around. This isn't really the developer's fault, of course, as you're just navigating web pages, but it gets tiresome.
The pros of iNozbe include speed, appearance (it looks like a native iPhone application), price (free) and accessibility. Since it's online, your stuff is available to you anywhere. Finally, iNozbe has a "full sized" sibling in Nozbe.com, for when you're away from your iPhone.
The cons include all of that keyboard typing. Yes, I know there's no other way to get info into an iPhone, but it slows me down. Also, the weekly review is best left to nozbe.com.
Overall, it's a very nice way to get things done with an iPhone.
iDo
iDo by pmade is another great web-based solution. The functionality is similar to that of iNozbe, but it looks better (see above). Here's how it works.
When you first log in, you'll be prompted to create a new project. From there, tap "New Task," add a name, due date, (via a slick pop-up calendar) and any notes. Finally, assign that task to a project.
Here's where iDo gets good. Everything is color-coded. Actions with due dates go from green to red. Other elements - like the Done button, Edit button, etc. - are color coded as well, so you can recognize them instantly. It's very nice to use.
The pros of iDo include interface elements that are recognizable at a glance, and snappy response. Cons include the price ($6US/mo), and lack of a full-sized desktop companion. You can use the iPod-optimized site on a Mac, of course, but the UI looks kind of odd on such a large screen.
Backpack
Backpack by 37Signals wasn't designed specifically for use with GTD, but it works as one beautifully. When you create a new page, you can use it for any purpose at all. I've created an Inbox page, context pages and project pages.
iBackpack is a simple bit of CSS which, when added to the top of a Backpack page, forces it to display beautifully on an iPhone.
New items can be added either by typing directly onto the page, or via email. Each Backpack page has a unique email address. Anything sent to that address gets posted to its page. So, when I receive mail on the iPhone that I want to keep track of, I simply forward it to the appropriate Backpack page.
Mark actions as done by tapping them and touch a trash can icon to delete completely.
The pros of Backpack include the total customizability, email forwarding and a full-sized desktop companion.
Cons include pricing (the free package is limited, and paid accounts range from $5US/mo. to $14US/mo) and the fact that it requires a bit more elbow grease to be used as GTD system. Still, it's my favorite of the three.
There you have it: Three GTD solutions for the iPhone. None of them are perfect. The iPhone is really limited as a true GTD tool. You've got to rely on optimized websites, input is limited to the keyboard and there's no way to sync with a desktop application. Still, we encourage you to give these options a try. While you're at it, pick up the GTD iPhone wallpaper.
No go forth and be productive!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Andrew Wickliffe said 8:50PM on 1-06-2008
I find it interesting--following the link to David Allen's site--that the guru is basically Stephen Tobolowsky from Sneakers. Complete with snorts
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Evan David Light said 9:41PM on 1-06-2008
What about OmniFocus and it's web app?
http://rubyforge.org/projects/omnifocus-ui/
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Jason said 10:33PM on 1-06-2008
I wish Apple could just give us their amazing old Newton Notes app.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Newton#Notes (screenshot & description) Nothing could be better, especially on a small screen, for organizing thoughts, priorities, sub-tasks, errands, To Do's, shopping lists, etc. Everyone should be demanding this. If they'd ever used Newton Notes, they would be.
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Zeke said 10:33PM on 1-06-2008
iNozbe looks really good to me.... But the free version only lets you manage 5 projects at a time. Any free or pay once (not montly) alternatives that don't try to upsell you like crazy?
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scott.cropper said 10:51PM on 1-06-2008
Remember the Milk (http://www.rememberthemilk.com/services/) blows all of these away. It has a very nice iPhone interface, Gmail / Google Gears Support , add tasks via Twitter, share tasks with others, reminders via SMS/email/IM and more. Some of the features require a pro account but it costs less than .07 cents a day ($25 a year).
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Dann said 11:42PM on 1-06-2008
ive been looking for a non web based app that i can sync with my desktop. suggestions? anything out there?
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EJ said 11:41PM on 1-06-2008
Thanks for the overview. I have to sheepishly admit that I'm using the very basic Notes app for my GTD trusted system. I like the interfaces for the other systems, but I don't like the idea of being reliant on an internet connection (especially the Edge network, which is fine in some areas and unusable in others in Metro Detroit) or, frankly, an upstart internet company's server and business viability. I can't wait to see what these developers will come up with once Apple releases the SDK.
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Joe Maller said 12:20AM on 1-07-2008
All I want at Macworld is to finally get iPhone Notes to sync with Leopard's Notes. And a To Do application that integrates with Leopard's system To Do system.
Ok, that's not nearly all, but I really wish either of those were visible in the leaked 1.1.3 videos.
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Ptone said 12:57AM on 1-07-2008
Another one worth checking out is Toodledo - not strict GTD (no next action view) but contexts:
Free with the pro account only $15 a year
http://www.toodledo.com
-P
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Joid said 3:19AM on 1-07-2008
I go with Dann.
I think the succes of getting things done lies in the opportunity of reminding you. So only your iPhone/webapp isn't enough. A combination with the desktop is essential or at least very much welcome.
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Ras said 6:35AM on 1-07-2008
I'm not a fan of web applications to process my GTD, simply because you have to be online to work on them. I tried Google Notebook and RTM, but how the hell I can use them (clear my mind) when I'm offline with my IPhone !!!?. I'm currently satisfied with Things Beta at http://culturedcode.com/things, it has everything I want. I hope the developers add a sync option to my IPhone, and then it will be a "Kick Ass" GTD app for me. As for work I use the old fashion notebook and email my self to add actions in Things Beta.
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Dave said 9:01AM on 1-07-2008
Just a "Me Too" for Things, if it were released for the iPhone and would sync with my desktop, I think I'd have to buy it (the phone, and the app).
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sixo said 10:16AM on 1-07-2008
I've tried most of these and have found vitalist to be the best for me. It has a nice iPhone interface and tons of iGTD features.
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sixo said 10:18AM on 1-07-2008
sorry, the URL for vitalist is: www.vitalist.com (i thought this comment thing would let me use html tags... hehe)
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Omni said 3:49PM on 1-07-2008
Hmmm.....Interesting
bookmarked @
http://www.livbit.com
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Edward Patel said 6:26PM on 1-07-2008
I use this little low-tech "ubiquitous capture tool" solution
http://www.memention.com/mylists/
Though it was hard to find a small and nice pen to accompany it :)
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bhavesh patel said 12:12AM on 1-08-2008
i've tried a handful of these .... so far it's a toss up between nozbe and vitalist for me. my fiancee likes remember the milk. the big drawback to Vitalist is that it doesn't truly support the next action feature the way that nozbe does. Back when I tried Nozbe, I wasn't as interested since I could email tasks to it. Apparently, that has been added, so it may be time to go back. They both have nice iphone interfaces.
obviously, if you don't have a net connection, you can't really use it..hopefully the SDK release will bring one of these to a more local solution that is synced online
with the ability to email tasks, though, it's at least somewhat feasable to at least enter tasks when you're on the subway or something so that your thought can be captured.
I used to use Backpackit with my Blackberry to email tasks. Problem with backpackit is that you can't easily move tasks around or create projects.
Vitalist, FWIW, will email you a reminder every day so that at least that's on your iphone when you don't have a connection. Nozbe might do this too
www.nozbe.com
www.vitalist.com
www.rememberthemilk.com
www.backpackit.com
Bhavesh
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ral67 said 8:06AM on 1-09-2008
great suggestions - keep them coming
I too wish for a native App that doesnt requite EDGE
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Spencer said 4:45PM on 1-17-2008
iDo is $6. That's it. Not per month. Just $6. I have paid for it and it's a pretty nice interface. I wish there was an easier way to access the notes portion, but it's pretty good. Not as good as a local app, but pretty good. Plus they are quick to provide help if needed.
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