With native iPhone apps over shadowing Safari web apps since the App Store first launched, web apps had since received lesser attention. Before you decide that native iPhone apps are the way to go, think about how web apps are spared from going through dreaded App Store approval procedure before you can get your app updated with new features and bug fixes.

Lots of people have this notion that Safari web apps can only function with an internet connection. This is not true. Since Safari 4.0 for the iPhone was introduced, Mobile Safari supports HTML5 client side storage specification. Meaning web apps can store data on the client side (on your iPhone) and also store files like CSS, javascript, images into the iPhone’s cache.

Checklist

Checklist is a classic example of an offline web application that lets you get things out of your head by creating a quick to do list.

If you’re looking for an extremely simple to do list app, look no further.

Probable Uses

How I see Checklist can be really useful is when you’re packing your stuff to go on a holiday trip. I can see myself entering stuff like, slippers, cap, 5 t-shirts, chargers, toothbrush, shaver etc, you get the idea.

Because Checklist loads everything offline, you can use it at lightning speed. Pack one thing, launch, check it off, until everything is packed for your trip.

You can also use it for groceries. Doing groceries tonight? Launch the app, quickly enter the list of items to buy. Check them off at the super market, no need to wait for the internet to slow you down.

Maybe even write your goals and resolutions for the new year.

Conclusion

The thing is, Checklist is free, incredibly simple and fast, works in Airplane mode. Perfect for quick to do lists anywhere anytime.

Visit the site – http://miniapps.co.uk
Web app URL for iPhone Safari – http://miniapps.co.uk/checklist

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I’ve just got an opportunity to review a spanking new to-do iPhone app, thanks to Nick from Spiffing Apps. This app will be out in the App Store next Monday is now available at the App Store. But now, I want to share with you my experience with this lovely iPhone app.

The Laid-Back Todo List

We have seen way too many feature packed ‘to-do’ lists apps on the App Store. Having lots of functions in an app of this genre works for some people but there are also people I know who cannot be bothered with the GTD system, the hassle of syncing with a desktop counterpart, sub grouping tasks and so on.

This group of people only need something as simple as a “pencil and paper” type of system. Only needing a place to quickly pen what they need to do.

Put Things Off fulfills this beautifully with a cute wooden interface coupled with subtle sounds to compliment the experience. Using this is a joy, it kinda makes me feel happy using it, mainly due to the light hearted design.

Launching The App

Launching the app greets you with a wooden background and the name of the app.

I am not a fan of splash screens as most of them I’ve seen are outright ugly and inconsistent with the app itself.

This one makes me a little more forgiving because of its consistency and it’s lovely laid back design.

Interface And Function

Using the app is extremely straightforward. Can’t get any simpler than that:

Tap the ‘+’ icon and add your tasks right away! Whatever you have added lands in your Inbox, ready for you to file to other boxes of different context.

There are only 3 boxes for you to file your tasks:

1. Today (tasks you need to complete today)
2. Put Off (tasks you will complete later)
3. Done (completed tasks)

Very straightforward and logical. This simple way of organizing tasks gets you up to speed very quickly. It doesn’t force you to learn and adjust to complicated systems.

Navigating Around

Navigating to other sections is only a matter of taping on the other boxes at the bottom.

You can move your tasks around or delete them as you wish.

Once you’re done with any tasks, just tap the “tick” icon.

Price

This app will require $2.99 to own. I must say the price is directly proportional to its feature set, definitely reasonable for its concept, design and execution.

Watch The Video!

The above images probably won’t do much justice to the actual usage of the app itself, so i suggest you end off by watching this cute video featuring the app. Once again, this app will be out in the app store next Monday. Stay tuned!

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As you might already know, Google recently gave GTD fans some lovin’ by optimizing Google’s “Tasks” for iPhone and Android. (read more from Google’s Blog)

Wouldn’t it be nice if you can also run Google Tasks on your Mac as a menu bar item with the same sleek interface you see on the iPhone or Android?

If you had read my previous post on the “Fluid” app, you’ll know by now how you can turn web apps into a native desktop app. Using Fluid with Google Tasks means a free GTD native desktop app on your Mac that syncs with the cloud.

Here’s how:

1) Download Fluid app

2) Install and launch Fluid

Type in this URL in the URL field - http://mail.google.com/tasks/iphone

Type any name you want in the Name field.

Create the app!

3) Convert to MenuExtra SSB

Go to the Google Tasks menu after you have successfully created the app, select “Convert to MenuExtra SSB…” to put Google Tasks on your menu bar.

Now you have Google Tasks natively on your Mac as a menu bar item!

By the way, this tip is also possible with other web apps, especially if they have an iPhone optimized version:

Remember The Milk

Digg

Have fun!

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First of all, this might not make many fans of Things very happy, I’m referring to those who had already bought Things as their GTD application (including myself). If you don’t want to feel the tinge of regret, navigate away from this page, otherwise read on to discover this great app with me.

The Hit List is a to-do list application that works very much like Things except with a few more perks. If you’re a shortcut fan, loving the keyboard more than the mouse, you’re in luck.

The app comes with a slew of keyboard shortcuts you can use. Entering a new to-do item means hitting the “return” key. Set priority of the item by pressing 1 through 9. Spacebar to mark the task complete. Set context or tag by pressing “@” or “/” key. Hitting “T” to set an item as “Today”. These are only a few of them.

The Hit List offers almost everything you would expect from Things, and here’s more:

Drag and Drop Files

Essentially, dragging and dropping files into your items creates an alias to the original file, double clicking opens the file. You can also add notes along side it.

Time your tasks with a Timer

Never imagined this on a GTD application. Start timing your task by hitting “b” on your keyboard. A lovely counter timer will appear timing the time taken to complete your task.

Create Tabs

The Hit List lets you create and delete tabs based on your most important or frequently used list.

Create Sub Lists

Create sub lists by hitting “tab” after creating an item. The previous item before you hit tab will become the main item for the rest of the sub list. Marking the “main” list item as done will mark all the sub items as done although you can also mark as done the individual sub items.

Lovely Chime

This might not be a core feature, but marking an item as done sparks a lovely chime that makes you feel even better about getting a task done.

Sync with iCal

I love the ability to sync ALL my list respectively with ALL my iCal calendars! Something that you can’t expect from Things, maybe not yet? I think this feature is the most important to me.

Sync with iPhone

This feature is still in the works. Once the native iPhone app is done, The Hit List will certainly attract more GTD fans on top of its elegance, ease of use and functionality.

The Hit List is still in beta, there’s still some kinks to be sort out, for example when I create an item on the app, the item immediately syncs with my iCal, when I try to delete the item, it doesn’t let me unless I delete the item from iCal first.

Otherwise, a Things and Omnifocus killer?

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If you’ve been a fan of Things, a very awesome GTD application by Cultured Code, you must be anxiously waiting it to get out of beta. It’s 7 more days before you can finally get the very first 1.0 version, but hey, there’s a 1.0 release candidate to download immediately!

Things is a to-do list app for Mac, simple and elegant while not achieved at the expense of powerful features. I have been using Things since it’s beta and it’s one of the apps I can’t live without. With Things, you can look at all the stuff you need to accomplish today at “Today”, schedule your to-do lists and have them show up at “Today” when the time is up, group to-dos by Projects/Areas, tag your to-dos, include notes in your to-dos etc.

If you have an idea but not sure which category to put your to-do in, put it in the “Inbox” first and sort it later. There’s also a “Someday” box where all the task that you wish to accomplish some other day will appear.

Things 1.0 cost $49.99 to own, you can get 20% off if you enter this coupon code THINGSPRESALE20. Code is valid through January 15th, 2009. You can buy Things today even before it’s release, I know I’m sure gonna get one copy!

iPhone App ($9.99 from the app store)

Things also comes with an iPhone app (separate purchase from the app store @ $9.99), with all the functionality of the Things desktop app. You can sync both apps through WI-FI.

Syncing Things between 2 or more Macs

One thing Things is lacking is the ability to sync all your to-dos between 2 Macs, but this is still possible with a little bit of manual work. If you have more than 2 Macs, or would like to sync Things between your home and work computer, here’s some tutorials on how to get this done. Please note that these tutorials are not officially documented or supported by Cultured Code. But I have tried it and it works.

1. Sync via Mobile Me
2. Sync via DropBox
3. Sync via SVN (with Applescript)
4. Sync via WebDAV

Sync tutorial sources via ars technica

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