Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Google Tasks - Why so Lame?

(first of all, in blogger, I had to tab forever to get down here from the title box.  maybe you could make it tab once from Title box to typing box?  Some of us still use the keyboard, eh?  you know, that thing I'm typing on?)


It seems like task taking is the core of any programming problem or GTD system.  So why wouldn't Google, the home of task taking and programming solutions have a better task program than Google Tasks?

The main feature missing is the ability to create a daily checklist of repeating tasks (or any repeating tasks), but what I'm really looking for is an easy way to database and checklist the daily activities that I do anyway, but would like to keep track of, see on a calendar, see a chart and a graph of and do monthly, weekly and yearly totals on.  (Sure, google, you could put this data in a google spreadsheet and impress me by showing me the charts in a web display version of google apps)

Yes.  I'm talking about tracking my flossing and teeth brushing.  Shopping, toenail clipping, haircuts, other tasks that people have to schedule and do every couple of weeks or daily (goddamn you must have a lot of toenails, or they must grow really fast, sheesh) that would be better remembered if placed on a repeating calendared checklist that could remind you as a group, not one at a time and keep track of all your minor tasks.

Google could be my personal assistant if it really wanted to be.  (and I think deep down it secretly does...)


TL;DR: Google Tasks should have repeating tasks and a daily, weekly, monthly task scheduling and track system linked to a database, charts and graphs in Google Docs.

Update: It now seems like you can create a subtask by pressing TAB.  At least it's something in the right direction.  (of course it could have been there all the time, and I'm only now discovering it by accident.  A better help system, more like a video game that gives you tips and tricks based upon your skill level could eliminate this information gap.  Knowing the difference whether to explain tasks to the user or to provide keyboard shortcuts is the difference between providing useful information and being annoying.)

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

New Google Menu makes Google Search harder to use



The new google menu makes it easier to find google services, but harder to use google.  It's fascinating.

The main problem is changing your search category.  Changing from Web to Maps or News now takes two clicks and a slide down a menu.  It's much more difficult than just clicking on the links at the top. (Docs also has this drop down problem, where it takes two clicks to create a document, instead of just having buttons)

This reminds me of when they removed the second search box from the bottom of the page.  Makes it harder to refine your search.  Assumes they always get it right the first time, and often forces me to page back to the top of the page to search again.

Google is getting worse at Search, but better at other things.  Good idea?

Additionally you can't edit the google menu, so it's really annoying.  It also doesn't seem like it's dynamic, that is to say it's not loading my most used apps, just the ones they think I should have.

There's also a trap when you go to Youtube.  Because the Youtube logo doesn't have a drop down google menu in it (at least not yet).

I'm testing the google bar thanks to a lifehacker, which I found via google search.