Google Tasks on iOS

Hey Denis,

I just recently purchased GeeTasks so that I could access my google tasks offline (which is the reason I'm sure most people purchase your app). I've been liking it so far, but I have a few requests.

1. Tighter UI integration. I've read through the comments and I realize that this isn't necessarily your specialty but I just wanted to add my 2 bits about creating an aesthetically pleasing app. I would love the addition of some kind of "edit" button where I could rearrange, and delete tasks. I've created a mock-up since pictures are fun.

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/4301/mockupg.jpg

I tried to use Apple UI elements to create a more integrated look. Now, I have absolutely no experience with this kind of thing (other than my ability to use photoshop) so I really can't say how feasible any of that is. But it doesn't hurt to dream.

2. Calendar view for choosing task due date. I was glad to see that you added the better date support at the top of the "date picker", but that could be improved or a calendar (similar to what the Google desktop version uses) would be super. It would help users to quickly add tasks, as the current method of guessing and checking which date next Wednesday (for example) is, takes just a few seconds longer.

3. Ability to tweak how date is shown. Right now it displays the date under the task in the form yy-mm-dd I would love the option for it to show "Wed - Nov 25" instead. I understand I can get something similar by choosing to display "Group: Date" but in that mode half of my screen real estate is taken up by those grey date bars, since I generally only have 1 or 2 things on my list per day. Just an option would be appreciated. (I also realize this is where notes are shown… but I never attach notes…)

4. Ability to view nested tasks in a sorting method other than "none". The second reason I purchased this app was so that I could sort my tasks by date, but this breaks the nested task functionality. This isn't a huge issue since I don't often use nested tasks but I would still appreciate it.

That's all I can think of after one day. I think the $2.99 I paid for this app is justified if you can continue to provide useful updates and are interested in creating a better experience for your users. iDevice users are becoming very greedy expecting great apps to be priced for less than a dollar, but I don't think that can really create a very sustainable environment for developers.

Looking forward to what you have to say,

Derek.

1. I am working on the Edit button that allows to manually re-arrange tasks (reorder and indent). This requires hefty behind-the-scene changes so it's taking some time. It will look exactly like your first screen-shot.

The standard checkboxes are not available through standard means from Apple, although some people used Photoshop to extract them. I will try them out when I get a chance. One problem there is that I need a set of checkmarks and chckboxes in different colors - today read means that task was changed but not update to Google's servers, while green means it has been updated. It's important to communicate to the user that what he sees in GeeTasks is out of sync with what he sees in Google Tasks and that he needs to tap "sync" to bring the two in harmony.

I might move the sync button down as part of larger re-arrangement of the title bar. However, I will keep the "add new tasks" at the top - it matches Google's web site behavior and when you start typing letter appear exactly where you have tapped your finger which is very intuitive. I am also trying to save space in the bottom bar because there will be tons of things that will need to add there later, so anything that can be moved out of there is.

2. I have explored alternative calendar arrangement and put some pieces of code down to keyboard. I don't like the current control myself and all I need to do is find time to make it better. It will look like iPhone's standard calendar.

3. The way the date is shown is the shortest possible form in current locale. I see why you want this but I'm not sure how to make it so without adding a button or a setting (which I don't want to do). I'll add this to my to-do list, and I will likely revisit this when I get around to another problem: some people prefer larger fonts and easier to read things, while some prefer to have more tasks per screen. I might make two modes and make it so that the former will have more verbose date, while the latter will keep the dense version.

4. Right now it works exactly the way Google Tasks works. How do you propose this would work if both parent and child task have different due dates? Or do you only want to sort the top-level tasks and keep child tasks attached no matter what?

Fair enough. Though… an "advanced setting" tab never hurts. ;)

Also, here's a new psd with 6 items: red, green and grey checks, and red, green and grey checkboxes:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/i2mzkej1ywx/rgecheck.psd

I am totally in agreement with the grey check idea. I think grey really conveys a "non-synced" state more more obviously than the current colors.

I am excited about the future of this app.

Hey Denis,

No worries, priorities first.
I am not a designer, just a student who's been playing with Photoshop for too many years.

-Derek