October 21, 2009

Fullscreen Google Tasks

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).
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42 comments:

  1. AnonymousOctober 21, 2009 at 4:36 AM

    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).

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownOctober 21, 2009 at 4:51 AM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownOctober 21, 2009 at 5:11 AM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  4. ChrisOctober 21, 2009 at 5:11 AM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  5. al October 21, 2009 at 5:19 AM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousOctober 21, 2009 at 5:30 AM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Mark BOctober 21, 2009 at 5:40 AM

    Yet another superb tip I've picked up from here. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  8. UnknownOctober 21, 2009 at 6:02 AM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousOctober 21, 2009 at 6:07 AM

    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!

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousOctober 21, 2009 at 6:44 AM

    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).

    ReplyDelete
  11. UnknownOctober 21, 2009 at 6:58 AM

    Here is a screenshot of possible new Google Tasks:
    http://innovative-strategies.blogspot.com/2009/10/google-tests-new-task-list.html

    ReplyDelete
  12. paddockcottageOctober 21, 2009 at 7:26 AM

    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

    ReplyDelete
  13. ChrisOctober 21, 2009 at 7:54 AM

    This is a nice feature.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Nelson YeeOctober 21, 2009 at 8:32 AM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  15. UnknownOctober 21, 2009 at 10:31 AM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  16. al October 21, 2009 at 3:50 PM

    I agree.Gqueues is very impressive,but I'm surprised that Google does not advertise it. I never heard of it until today

    ReplyDelete
  17. UnknownOctober 21, 2009 at 3:55 PM

    Noob question: how exactly is the link to the apps running in full screen? https://mail.google.com/tasks/a/your_domain/

    ReplyDelete
  18. Edwards80October 21, 2009 at 5:36 PM

    Anybody having trouble getting this to work with google apps. The link shown just shows the google apps help screen :(

    ReplyDelete
  19. The ProtsleyOctober 21, 2009 at 5:39 PM

    Doesn't seem to work with domains. It redirects me to the Tasks Help page.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Jeff SmithOctober 21, 2009 at 7:09 PM

    Thanks for this. Been trying to work out how to do this for ages.

    ReplyDelete
  21. weight lossOctober 21, 2009 at 10:42 PM

    Good review, thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Artem PereverzevOctober 22, 2009 at 1:18 AM

    The canvas view was exactly what I was looking for yesterday :) Thanks, Alex!

    ReplyDelete
  23. board tcOctober 22, 2009 at 7:18 AM

    I wish there was a way to import a list of tasks.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Tal GaliliOctober 22, 2009 at 12:12 PM

    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

    ReplyDelete
  25. theSuperStarOctober 24, 2009 at 6:52 AM

    I agree with Bram.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Jason VermetteOctober 26, 2009 at 9:41 AM

    is there are way to get it in Google Desktop?

    ReplyDelete
  27. AnonymousOctober 26, 2009 at 12:26 PM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  28. AnonymousOctober 31, 2009 at 6:09 AM

    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

    ReplyDelete
  29. AdityaNovember 7, 2009 at 5:16 AM

    Thanks a lot Alex. This one is very helpful tip.

    ReplyDelete
  30. AnonymousJanuary 26, 2010 at 11:42 PM

    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

    ReplyDelete
  31. AnonymousFebruary 10, 2010 at 7:20 AM

    You also have this url: https://mail.google.com/tasks/ig

    ReplyDelete
  32. Todd LohenryJuly 31, 2010 at 6:06 PM

    This doesn't work for domains. Have an update?

    ReplyDelete
  33. UnknownSeptember 22, 2010 at 4:04 PM

    Yes Google! Please buy GQueues!

    ReplyDelete
  34. MomentaiDecember 17, 2010 at 9:29 AM

    Liking the new canvas view on my personal Gmail account, but is it available with the Google Apps domain?

    ReplyDelete
  35. adamJanuary 28, 2011 at 10:29 AM

    >>replace /tasks/ with /tasks/a/your_domain/ for the Google Apps versions).

    Does this still work? I can't seem to have it function.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Jay CastilloJanuary 16, 2012 at 5:29 AM

    Finally! been searching for a working link to the Google tasks canvas. Thank you so much for posting this!

    Why does google hide this view anyway?!

    ReplyDelete
  37. AnonymousJanuary 19, 2012 at 3:53 PM

    https://mail.google.com/tasks/canvas doesnt work anymore :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alex ChituJanuary 19, 2012 at 4:24 PM

      It works for me.

      Delete
    2. kaoruAngelOctober 4, 2012 at 2:23 PM

      Same for me (just loaded it up 1 min ago), and from the looks of it, it's gonna be quite an excellent solution.

      Delete
  38. UnknownMarch 7, 2012 at 12:27 PM

    I just put canvas view on my Windows/Chrome machine at work. Got Google Tasks on my iPhone. Now I can't wait to put it on my MacBook Pro at home. Hope it all continues to work.

    ReplyDelete
  39. UnknownApril 19, 2012 at 4:09 AM

    I work a lot on field, many times without connection of any kind.
    I still looking for a little tool to help keep the task synchronized

    Regards

    ReplyDelete
  40. cwormMarch 14, 2013 at 1:30 AM

    As CarLost said above, it would be great if the synchronization was not stupid. When I write something in the phone app without network connection and then later do a sync, then the phone apps' content will be overwritten/deleted with the online content. >:(

    ReplyDelete

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