Tasks. We love to hate them. For the most part we don’t usually get all our tasks done because we never write them all down and keep them intact. It’s easy to not write them down because when you are busy, it all seems very overwhelming. However, when you finally do get them all listed and organized, it’s amazing how much you can get accomplished. Here, we show you 6 effective ways to manage your tasks and make use of your iPad to do it.
There are many things the iPad is good at doing. One of them is distracting your time in multiple ways. Games, Email, Internet, etc. These are all ways to consume your time and keep you less productive! Well, Email could be considered productive but that’s always debatable. Somewhere lurking in the back of your mind, however, are all of the tasks you need to accomplish. It’s overwhelming.
You know you need to take care of things but not sure where to start. Start here. Look over our iPad task management apps and realize that the best thing you can do is find one which fits your needs, get it, and start using it. You will feel 100% better once you get your first task list made.
iPad Task Management Apps
Task management sounds like a big “task” but it really isn’t. What it really means is writing down the things you need to get done. Then, you can organize them and start working on them. That’s really all there is to it. Here are 6 apps that can get you organized and productive with very little effort.
Task Cards
Here is a great place to start. Task cards claims to be the easiest task management app for the iPad. It uses virtual index cards to organize tasks on a desktop and then it provides tools to organize them. The interface actually looks like a wooden desktop with white cards. You can then place cards on the table and label them. For example, you might have a label called “Important” or “Urgent” and then you tap on the card and start listing your important or urgent tasks.
It’s pretty easy to see what you have to do when looking at your tasks in this way. At first, I was a little skeptical of the entire app but once I actually used it, then it all came clear. It really is a great way to organize the most basic of tasks. Plus it’s enjoyable. Here are some of the features you get with Task Cards:
- Ability to add due dates and recurring tasks
- Priorities
- Search, Notes, and Sorting
- Shows completed tasks on the back of each card
In general, this app is liked very well by your peers. The only complaints so far are that you cannot email the cards or assign tasks to others. This is a basic iPad task management app that lends itself well to simple tasks and to-do’s. If you are looking to keep things simple then this is a great place to start.
OmniFocus
Hardly any discussion about iPad task management would be complete without mentioning Omnifocus. We did a review of Omnifocus here. It is for the serious person when it comes to tasks. Not only is it the most expensive iPad task manager ($39.99) but it is also the most complete and in-depth. Omnifocus combines task management with the functionality of a desktop app. It comes with flexible viewing options, location-aware task lists, on-the-fly task entry with voice notes and image attachments. It is a serious task management app.
You can use it as a stand alone app or you can also use it in-sync with the desktop Mac version or iPhone version. Here are just a few of the many features you will get with Omnifocus:
- Quick entry for fast, easy task capture
- Task inbox to store items for future processing
- Detailed task options like start due dates, repeating schedules, and audio note and photo attachments
- Organize tasks into projects and folders
- Subtasks and cloud sync
- Forecasts of the weekly and daily views
Ominfocus gets great reviews on a consistent basis. The only complains users have are with the price and the fact that you cannot drag and drop tasks. Other than that, it consistently gets 5 stars. You will really want to make sure you are serious about task management with this app because it is a little more costly but well worth it.
Tisk Task
Here is a welcome addition to the iPad task management app set. Tisk Task is a powerful, flexible and elegant task management application that is also sleek and offers an amazing range of features.
This very simple iPad task management app allows you to create lists that you can populate with tasks. It’s a very simple idea but it gets the job done! The interface looks just like sheets of paper so you feel like you have a real list to keep you organized. There are also three “smart lists”: Today, Tomorrow, and Overdue. These lists are populated based on the dates you enter in.
Beyond the smart lists, you can create your own lists and tasks which include priorities, notes, and due dates. Users really like this app for it’s interface and simplicity. Most people generally agree that it’s like Task Cards which is to say it is best for simple lists and to-do’s. No major complaints with the app. It’s pretty much “What you see is what you get”. The only complaints some users have are that it is difficult to delete tasks and find your way around.
Things for iPad
Much like Omnifocus, Things is an iPad task management app that is a bit more costly($19.99) but it comes with the perfect set of task management features. Things is a beautifully focused and amazingly intuitive task manager. While other task managers are fairly difficult to use, Things claims to be the most simple.
The strength behind Things is the design. It is so nicely laid out and designed with its beautiful pad of paper and task lists off to the side. It’s like email but in task list form! Things really does make it super easy to manage your to-dos, notes, due dates, and projects of any kind. It comes with smart lists and a really nice scheduling feature which I have not seen in other task management apps.
Things was recently updated which brought with it some nice features. It added better search functionality, TextExpander support, improved task entry, logging, and speed improvements.
Things is a great app but it also has its shortcomings. Users complain mostly about the price and a few other irritations. There is no way to sync up with a PC, no way to back up your tasks, no way to email a full task list. The majority of complaints are actually from loyal users that already purchased the iPhone version and have to buy the iPad version.
Taska for iPad
Here is a great and welcome addition to the iPad task management solutions. Taska is a well-thought out and very nicely designed task manager app. It offers refined and easy-to-use features which are quite amazing for this little app. One of the best features you get is the drag and drop task management feature.
The developers obviously thought a lot about how to make this a really good task manager.
Where the other iPad task managers have shortcomings, Taska fills those gaps. It is so nice and easy to use, with the drag-and-drop and the email sharing features. The other nice aspect of this app is that it’s all presented in a very easy to use way. There is nothing confusing here.
The only complaints with this app so far are the syncing issues between the iPad and iPhone version and some users complain that it is almost too simple. If you are looking for a good iPad task manager that is not quite Ominifocus but gets the job done, this is a good one to start with.
Toodledo for iPad
Well, if you can’t find any of the above apps interesting then this one should do the trick. Toodledo is not only one of the top rated iPad task management apps, it happens to also be perfectly priced for the number of features you get. It is a powerful task and note manager for both the iPhone and iPad. Another great feature is that you can sync it with Toodledo.com (one of the most popular online task managers).
Toodledo is flexible. You can use it as a traditional task manager or you can completely design your own system. This means you can keep things simple and add more complexity as you need it.
It was hard to find any significant complaints with this app. Users have rated it high due to it’s set of features and ability to customize. For the price of a Latte, you get your entire life organized!
So there are 6 iPad task management apps that will all help you stay organized and in-sync. It only takes a few minutes to get them set up and then you are well on your way. Once you do get one you like, make sure to use it each day and make sure to write everything down you can, even if it does not seem like a task it may end up being one and at least you got it off your mind.
What are your favorite task management apps?
The list would not be “complete” without Pocket Informant HD
http://itunes.apple.com/app/pocket-informant-hd-calendar/id380732176?ign-mpt=uo%3D5
Hi Sack!
Thanks for the reminder….I should have done “7 ways to accomplish anything”
Hi,
that’s my favorite: Informant HD. The combination of tasks with the calendar entries is for me the important point. The only thing missing for me on an iPad is the possibility to create a task from an email.
I was using Taska up until a few weeks ago. I decided to start using Manager mostly because I liked the interface–now I’m in the middle of deciding which one of the two meets my needs the best.
Whatever you choose, though, I’ve been impressed with the task manager apps on the iPad.
Hey thanks for the comment! Yes, I was going to cover Manager – but – I kind of wanted to leave that one for a full review all by itself…it does seem very effective and I liked the Interface as well.
If you’d like a tool for managing your time and projects, you can use this web-application inspired by David Allen’s GTD:
Gtdagenda.com
You can use it to manage and prioritize your goals, projects and tasks, set next actions and contexts, use checklists, schedules and a calendar.
Comes with a mobile version too, and with an Android app.
Just wondering if there’s an app that would allow you to include a time estimate to do something per task so you can fit them in your dayily schedule (like the pomodoro method)
Hi Joost! Welcome to TCGeeks!
I think the closest I have seen to any app that allows for time management is Pocket Informant HD. It uses the Getting Things Done method of task scheduling, or the GTD method. I did not see any iPad apps that use the pomodoro method specifically – other than some ebooks that talk about it, which really isn’t much help
I know this will probably be a silly question that has already been answered in your reviews… But I am wondering if there is an App that I can go between my Iphone and Ipad? As in, Say My sister gave my son his medicine at 3:00 and She put that info onto her Iphone, when I arrive at home she can put all the information onto my Ipad. We both have Iphones and I have an Ipad that I want all of his information on but need to take it with me to work.. If you have any suggestions I would aapreciate it:)
Hi Rachel – not a silly question at all. In fact I think a lot of people do this and honestly I do that as well. I have my iPhone with me all the time and then sometimes I want to use an app that will be seen and used on both devices. Here are two suggestions that you might find useful. One is Evernote. This is a free app for both the iPhone and iPad. It allows you to keep notes on things and then you sign up for the free online account (www.evernote.com) and it all syncs together. It’s more for notes and reminders. The other solution is more of “tasks”. If you go to http://www.toodledo.com you can get a FREE account and start entering reminders, tasks, and todo’s. Then, you can get a ton of apps for both the iPhone and iPad that recognize toodledo! This means, everything is in sync all of the time. One app I can think of is called “Toodledo” and when you get it for the iPad ($1.99) you can also get it free on the iPhone! I hope this helped?
Thanks! This was a question I was going to ask as well.
Thanks Shane, it did help. I am downloading Toodledo now.
Hey Shane, have you done a review of Manage yet? I really like the look and feel of Manage, but I have not found that it would sync with anything on my phone or on my laptop.
Like Rachel above, I like being able to see my task lists on my Android phone, my iPad and my laptop – a PC. I’m about to replace my laptop with an Macbook Pro or an iMac. Right now, the only thing that I’ve found that I can use to sync tasks on all three of my devices is Google Tasks, but I really like the look and fee of Manage.
Manage is nice and when I first saw it I nearly reviewed it, but, then I saw some not so favorable comments and decided to wait.
The thing I do is use Toodledo for tasks. As I was saying above, it’s the perfect service because I can enter to-do’s online and then it syncs with tons of apps that support Toodledo (and many of them do). So it’s like a one stop shop for Tasks. Plus, it’s free.
Have you ever used it?
I have not used it before. I’ve tried using Evernote (alone) as a Task Manager, but it has no organization. I’ve tried Spring Pad, but it almost had too many features that I didn’t use and seemed somewhat cumbersome. I even tried Remember the Milk, but at the time was just getting started on Android and really didn’t want to spend any money on an app that I wasn’t sure about. So, I settled for Google Tasks because all of my email and calendars are in Google Apps. There aren’t many features, but it keeps all of my stuff in one place and easy to access from my Android phone or my laptop.
Now that I’ve got an iPad, I’m having to rethink it alllllllll over again!!!
Do you have a recommendation of Android apps that sync with Toodledo?
The Adroid area is not one I’m “up on” yet…I’m just now starting to explore their apps and am very impressed so far – do you use android exclusively for your phone?
Yes I do use Android exclusively for my phone…at least for now.
I am with T-Mobile and LOVE their service…the only reason I would switch from T-Mobile would be for the iPhone…now with my iPad, I don’t think it would be THAT necessary to have an iPhone.
My Android phone is about 6 months old…so I’m at least sticking with android for another 18 months.
Hey Shane,
Which Toodledo app do you use on your iPad and on your iPhone?
Hi There Darryl,
I actually use this one:
http://itunes.apple.com/app/toodledo-to-do-list/id292755387?mt=8
it’s called Toodledo – To Do List!
I was wondering if there is any sleeves that are made to use with the smart cover. Like the neoprene or rubber ones that they have for the iphones.
Hi Nancy
Actually. Yes, there are definitely a few. I recently tried one out and it was pretty darn good. Here’s the entire list of just sleeves:
iPad 2 Sleeve
Also I am having trouble viewing videos that are posted on my friend’s facebook wall as well as news clips…do you have any recommendations please?
Are those videos perhaps Flash Videos nancy?
Yes it says this device doesn’t support adobe flash.
Hi Nancy. There is an app you can get that let’s you watch flash on your iPad
It’s called skyfire. Just do a search in the app store and this is exactly what you will need
I guess it would be a skin instead of a sleeve…I want to protect the back from scratches.
Ahhhhh….Ok…here are some of the skins…not many yet…but some
iPad 2 Skin
I have a smartpad and would like to have a skin to use with it. Not having much luck finding this…may just be too soon. Thanks for this site, it is a big help!
I downloaded eprint and it found my wifi canon printer but will not print. I paid for it and don’t know if I am doing something wrong with the settings or if it is just the app but no luck here. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Hi Nancy,
I went and looked around a little and that app is definitely having some issue they hope to address – - are you trying to use AirPrint?
No…I don’t think so anyway! I am new at this. I just bought and downloaded eprint and can’t get it to wor my canon is a wifi printer.
Thank you for this great list of apps.
My favorite app is Facetasks – for iPad and iPhone.
http://itunes.com/apps/mobilissimo/facetasks
Facetasks is not just another task manager: this is about getting things done with people,
with your own contacts and yourself. Just assign, edit, prioritize, transfer, check
and delete any task to your friends, colleagues, family, etc.
As a sales manager, I’m tracking all actions for my prospects/customers
by picking them in the contact list.
I just loved the FaceTasks app… started using it instantly. Its so simple yet so useful. Thanks Tom!
Hi Shane,
It’s been while since you wrote this article… Have you developed any new opinions or ideas about the apps available now?
I’m looking to purchase a simple but effective task/project app for the iPad that isn’t priced too high. I have used the trial version of ‘Things for Mac’ (and I liked it), but given the negatives I’m not willing to spend $20 getting the iPad version. How do you rate the iPad versions of 2Do (Guided Ways) and ToDo (Appigo)?
Thanks for the advice in advance. Cheers, TJ.
Hi Shane, could I add another to your excellent list. I’d been looking for one cloud-based app, with a relatively simple interface that could work on my iPad, PC, and ideally, an Android phone. And last night I stumbled across one that does all of them. And an added bonus, it’s completely free. It’s called Wunderlist, and all the apps can be downloaded from http://www.6wunderkinder.com/wunderlist/.
And I’ve used all three today, and so far, so good!
Hi Shane,
Is there a good task manager that will schedule the task as an appointment in a calendar, preferably, the calendar in Outlook 2003 or Google calendar?
Joseph
I could add an even better free iPad app for a company called Taskwise (www.taskwise.com) it would be beneficial to sign up for an account first, but i believe u dont have too; the syncing ability to its web based task management software also sets it apart from the rest
I think Priorities for iPad should make the list!
I am looking for a task manager that also has pop up or alarm reminders for the tasks on the lists. With ADD, I need something to pop up with a little advanced warning. I often forget to look at my tasks list, and this makes me miss the tasks I wrote down so I wouldn’t forget them. Is there anything that does this on the Ipad? I have Gmail also. Thanks!
Thanks for this selection.
You should try Beesy which is an effective task manager app. From your notes, this app generates automatically ToDo lists. It’s really surprising.
http://www.beesapps.com/beesy-ipad-to-do/
Great post!
Meslie
I started using Doit.im Pro and I have checked many pages and forums to see what people advice to use.
You should try Doit.im, it has many positive sights and it also has a reminder : http://doit.im/, i really love it!
If you wish to get a Pro version for free you need to hurry to submit your ideas: http://enblog.doit.im/post/29101777326/doit-im-pro-contest
Hi, I was using my podcast today, and was playing faster like you are rewinding a video tape. Is there anyway you can help me solve the problem.
using the ipad is there a way to prepare and send email, or, is there an apppropriate app that works?
Nice list of useful tools, no doubt about it.
I’ve been spending the past half year developing a task manager for iPad because I needed a tool that supports some of the thoughts behind personal kanban.
The result is http://kanbana.com/ipad and can be found in appStore here: http://bit.ly/VmAsYn
I know that there are many task boards out there but my focus is to create something is very simple with a look and feel that should be all about visualizing your content and nothing else.
The most important benefit should be to gain clarity and balance your workload so that you don’t get stressed out but instead have a steady feeling of progress.
Please tell me what you think
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Hello
I am looking for a similar apps for i phone and i pad that does things like Outlook.
For example a lot of tasks are generate by emails.
I also need a lot of follow-up on different actions or task and I want to go under my contact to see all my conversation and tasks with that contact
is it possible !!!
please help
Hiya Darryl,
Is there an Ipad task manager (free) app that can schedule downloads please? I am using Download Lite for my downloading needs but I could really use a simple task scheduler so that it can sync and automatically download files at preset times.
Thanks very much.
Regards
Bent
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