Where's the task management category killer?

Where's the task management category killer?(blog.ativiti.com)

9 points by dwhittemore 17 years ago | 15 comments

aneesh 17 years ago |

It's a much more hands-off approach to getting things done, but RescueTime has been awesome. Simply seeing how you actually spend your (computer) time might just be enough to make you more productive.

callmeed 17 years ago | |

agreed. I love RT

dnewcome 17 years ago |

Ativiti looks cool, but in this article they say that the user shouldn't have to do anything differently, yet they call themselves a `platform'. I haven't actually tried the app, so maybe it isn't fair to say, but if I see `platform' I usually think of complex all-encompassing products that require some integration.

I think one of the reasons that there are so many apps that could be considered task management apps is that everyone has different ideas on what task management is. Also, there is some value in having local task items that are available in the tools that you already have at your disposal, ie Outlook. For us (shameless plug: http://www.ubernote.com), we wanted to have task lists inline in notes where we already had data, so we added the feature. Add one more app to the list....

Good luck with Ativiti

dmix 17 years ago |

Omnifocus on Leopard autosyncing with my iPod Touch is the killer app for me.

I have tried about 5 different apps, index cards, notebooks, etc but nothing has integrated into my life as easily as this (I already carry my iPod everywhere). Although it is expensive.

dwhittemore 17 years ago | |

Omnifocus is definitely one of the best task apps out there. The UI is fantastic.

Have you ever wanted to use it for collaborative tasks?

dmix 17 years ago | | |

No not yet.

I plan on implementing a GTD workflow soon. I'm using it mostly for daily to-do lists and managing projects.

hugh 17 years ago |

I don't think there can be a category killer, because I don't think task management is a problem which can, in general, be solved with software.

Some people will find a solution which works for them, which fits in with their particular style of working, but for me at least these kinds of things require too much maintenance to actually compete with my current ad-hoc memory-based and almost certainly horribly inefficient system of doing things.

randomwalker 17 years ago |

Yeah, this is an important question. I currently use rememberthemilk but I feel there is a potential to do far more. I discussed this recently (my interest is more about things outside the office than inside it): http://arvindn.livejournal.com/89794.html The commenters there had some good suggestions as well.

Hutzpah 17 years ago |

Emacs Org Mode. (Everything else is for sissies (ok, kidding))

sharkbrainguy 17 years ago | |

Emacs Org Mode actually is really good.

It would be better if there were more reader/writers for it (because it essentially is a file format) so that I could interact with normal people (who don't use emacs).

Hutzpah 17 years ago | | |

- it has iCal, LaTeX, HTML export - you can customize the rules for these - you can write your own (rudimentary "plugin architecture")

callmeed 17 years ago |

the category killer exists ... it's called "notebook + pen"

jd 17 years ago | |

That is great, but it doesn't work well for teams. Paper also attracts coffee stains, so you tend to write a new list every other day. Gets tedious quickly.

I really think a good software solution is the way to go. (Disclaimer: my startup is working on one)

wheels 17 years ago | | |

Hint: I prefer a real desktop app for this sort of thing. If there were a cross-platform app with a decent interface that we could use for managing team to-dos I'd be in love. :-)