(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.)
Google is the greatest company in the world. I wish I worked there. Until I do, I'm going to keep pointing out small mistakes they make in their otherwise amazing software.
Exactly! I am trying to move off MS-Outlook into the cloud, but Google's task app is terribly weak. Each task should have an area for notes or a log. I use this extensively for things like paying bills. The notes are great for keeping track of exceptions.
ReplyDeleteRight now I have Calendar entries in Google Calendar to remind me to pay bills, rent.... but they're not quite the same as check boxes. They don't have the right ability to remind me until I do it and track it after it's done.
ReplyDeleteAlso I keep rocking back and forth between having all my daily events in Calendar, or deleting them all, because they pile up and don't act as checkboxes and go away. (also I'd like to see charts for things like when I floss my teeth, clean the kitchen, walk the dog, basic tracking stuff to help with improvement. Baseball stats for everything. Sabermetrics for all!)
(Thanks for the comment, Steve! Glad to hear somebody else out there wants Google Tasks to be more than it is. I'm sure Google is working on it. In Google We Trust.)