It's not clear why Google doesn't treat
Google Tasks as a standalone service: it's integrated with Gmail, Google Calendar, there's an iGoogle gadget and a mobile version, but no standalone interface. The most recent update is that
the iGoogle gadget has a canvas view that's displayed when you maximize the gadget.
The gadget lets you create multiple lists, use the toolbar to clear completed tasks or to reorder tasks, sort the tasks by due date and view a list of the completed tasks.
If you don't want to use iGoogle, the URL of the canvas view is
https://mail.google.com/tasks/canvas. Bookmark the page and pretend it's the standalone version of Google Tasks.
Here's the full list of Google Tasks interfaces:
https://mail.google.com/tasks/m - mobile version
https://mail.google.com/tasks/android - Android version
https://mail.google.com/tasks/iphone - iPhone version
https://mail.google.com/tasks/ig - iGoogle gadget
https://mail.google.com/tasks/canvas - iGoogle gadget in canvas view
(replace /tasks/ with /tasks/a/your_domain/ for the Google Apps versions).
Andrew said on October 21, 2009 4:36 AM PDT:
I'm just surprised they've designed Tasks rather than buying Remember The Milk, which already feels a lot like a Google service and integrates pretty well into GMail and Google Calendar (in some places, better so than Google Tasks does).
Bram said on October 21, 2009 4:51 AM PDT:
I completely agree with Andrew above. RTM is still the better option for Google integration. And until Google Tasks has recurring tasks and the ability to set SMS reminders, I won't consider it.
Tom said on October 21, 2009 5:11 AM PDT:
I agree with the above posters about RTM. Google seems to be getting there with baby steps. They've integrated Tasks into Calendar, but not as the primary - so no SMS reminders yet.
One other feature I'm waiting for is integrating tasks into Google Sync. Exchange provides for it - they just have to turn it on.
cgull said on October 21, 2009 5:11 AM PDT:
I agree with the standalone concept it is nice. I hope they soon add a "Tasks" button in Google Toolbar, so we don't have to remember the link.
You can also create a stand alone Application for Tasks on the desktop with the "Control the Currant Page " function in the Chrome Browser.The icon for it is a cool check mark on the desktop.
said on October 21, 2009 5:30 AM PDT:
Thanks for this! I use Tasks a lot and now I've placed this on my Bookmarklets bar in Chrome and it even self-generates a nice check mark icon! Awesome.
said on October 21, 2009 5:40 AM PDT:
Yet another superb tip I've picked up from here. Thanks.
ben said on October 21, 2009 6:02 AM PDT:
Still no discrete URL for each task list? Once this happens, I can start doing a ton of cool things with tasks. Good work nonetheless and thanks.
said on October 21, 2009 6:07 AM PDT:
I disagree with the Remember The Milk. Yes, RTM has a ton more features, but Google Tasks is so much nicer a user-interface experience for adding and editing events, that I highly prefer Tasks over RTM. I'm excited there's a fullscreen version now!
said on October 21, 2009 6:44 AM PDT:
RTM has features but not a good interface. Google Tasks is missing lots of features, but has an okay interface. I much prefer
GQueues which has a really nice interface AND a good set of features. You login with your gmail account so you don't have to sign up for anything (like RTM). It intergrates/syncs with Google Calendar, supports recurring tasks, SMS reminders, sharing tasks and has an iGoogle gadget (full screen too).
Yuriy said on October 21, 2009 6:58 AM PDT:
Here is a screenshot of possible new Google Tasks:
http://innovative-strategies.blogspot.com/2009/10/google-tests-new-task-list.html
Liking the new canvas view - but I have to wonder... why the big gap down the right hand side - lots of space - hope it's not reserved for ads
Chris said on October 21, 2009 7:54 AM PDT:
This is a nice feature.
said on October 21, 2009 8:32 AM PDT:
I was initially a Remember the Milk user, but had a bunch of issues with its Gmail widget slowing down or crashing my browser at one point that I gave up on it and started using Google Tasks, but as others have mentioned, the lack of an alert functionality is a major disadvantage. Sadly, I've taken to setting temporary Events in Google Calendar as a substitute for Tasks, so I can use the notification ability, which is really what I would think Tasks was intended to avoid.
I'm sure RTM has resolved the widget issue, but until they're part of the Google fold, I doubt they'll resolve the problems related to the changing functionality in Gmail that messes up their widget for fairly long periods of time.
Bram said on October 21, 2009 10:31 AM PDT:
Wow, I had not heard of Gqueues until now, and it looks amazing. I've been using RTM for years now, and Gqueues is the first task manager that integrates as well as Google and does things like recurring tasks. I need to explore it more.
I agree.Gqueues is very impressive,but I'm surprised that Google does not advertise it. I never heard of it until today
Krys said on October 21, 2009 3:55 PM PDT:
Noob question: how exactly is the link to the apps running in full screen? https://mail.google.com/tasks/a/your_domain/
Edwards80 said on October 21, 2009 5:36 PM PDT:
Anybody having trouble getting this to work with google apps. The link shown just shows the google apps help screen :(
cytoplasm said on October 21, 2009 5:39 PM PDT:
Doesn't seem to work with domains. It redirects me to the Tasks Help page.
Horusofoz said on October 21, 2009 7:09 PM PDT:
Thanks for this. Been trying to work out how to do this for ages.
board tc said on October 22, 2009 7:18 AM PDT:
I wish there was a way to import a list of tasks.
What needs to happen so that google-tasks team will fix the bug that doesn't allow tasks from other lists then the "main list" to show up in the calendar ?
I tried reporting this bug in any place I could, and until now didn't get a reply from someone saying:
"Yes. Bug. we'll fix it during the next X weeks"
Thanks,
Tal
jayre said on October 26, 2009 9:41 AM PDT:
is there are way to get it in Google Desktop?
said on October 26, 2009 12:26 PM PDT:
this is great, but my hope is that it will eventually sync with ical, and rectify the stunningly stupid lack of a task manager on the iphone/ipod touch. you can't always be online.
said on October 31, 2009 6:09 AM PDT:
Until and if google tasks grows up, GQueues is an excellent alternative. It integrates with the calendar, has reminders etc. Not perfect but far better than the litte task offering from google
Aditya said on November 7, 2009 5:16 AM PDT:
Thanks a lot Alex. This one is very helpful tip.
said on January 26, 2010 11:42 PM PDT:
FYI GQueues is not a Google product. "While GQueues attempts to offer seamless integration with several Google products, it is not owned or developed by Google." http://www.gqueues.com/about
said on February 10, 2010 7:20 AM PDT:
You also have this url: https://mail.google.com/tasks/ig
