Suggestions for tool(s) to meet my requirements (offline use and Android)?

[jvoloudakis]

Hi everyone,

I'm a longtime lurker here, and appreciate all the great advice. I recently started a new job and I'm using that as an opportunity to try and integrate GTD more fully into my daily workflow. I have spent a good amount of time researching alternative tools that meet my platforms of choice and my requirements for access to data, and I'm really not coming up with great options. I was hoping someone might have some thoughts.

In terms of platforms, I have an android phone (T-Mobile is the only carrier that works in my house, so no iPhone option for me) and a choice of a PC or Mac laptop, though I prefer the Mac.

In terms of my usage, I am a consulting executive, and am often on the road (6-10 flights per week isn't uncommon), so I need something that will give me access to my data when no Internet is available, such as on an airplane, or in a backwoods town with no cellular data service. Sitting on a plane is a great time to go through and process my inbox uninterrupted. Given that requirement, web-centric tools like ToodleDo won't cut it for me, unless there is a way to sync them to an offline client that I haven't found. Likewise, given my steady travel and the frequency of my visits to client sites where I can't easily get network access for my PC, I'd prefer to have something that syncs to my phone rather than just using a desktop client.

My ideal setup would be OmniFocus and it's iPhone app. Since I can't get an iPhone and since there is annoyingly no Android client that can sync with OmniFocus, I need something else. I guess I could get an iPad or a Touch to use this way, but I already have a Macbook Air, so the marginal usefulness of the iPad is limited, and since I have the Android, I don't really need the Touch.

So far, I've seen the following options:
1) Continue using OmniFocus on my MacBook, and give up on the ability to sync to my phone until someone comes up with a way to connect OF and Android. I could also use a secondary inbox through an Android tool to capture when I'm not in front of my laptop, though manually entering them later into OF sounds like a pain.

2) Use a tool like Evernote, which while not designed for GTD, seems to be able to support it. It has a desktop client, an Android client, and both work offline. Is anyone using this as their primary tool?

3) Try and hack something together like a combination of Outlook, ToodleDo, and an Android App that can sync to that.

4) Try a lesser known tool like Koi which currently has both Windows and Mac desktop clients, says it is built to support GTD, and claims on their website that an Android app is 'weeks away'. Does anyone else have any experience with this one?

Any and all advice appreciated.

-John

 

[johnaohman]

Try Got to Do for Android

I suggest this only with one word of caution. It syncs with ToodleDo, items reside on the phone independently, and sync well.

the word of caution is related to your travel. if you cross time zones, tasks created in Got to Do from different time zones have difficulty with the correct due date when you return to your home time zone.

 

[jvoloudakis]

Thanks. I'll take a closer look at that option. There are actually 4-5 android programs I've found, including Got to Do, DueToday, and the beta of Pocket Informant, that work this way. I was hoping to find an offline tool for the PC/Mac as well, as it's a lot easier to sit down and process on a full-sized screen, but since it doesn't look like there are a lot of choices, this may be the way to go.

I appreciate the feedback.

-John

 

[TesTeq]

Todo.txt Touch

You may also try Todo.txt Touch by Gina Trapani. It stores all your lists in the Dropbox text file.

 

[bishblaize]

May or may not suit you, but this is what I have.

Onenote on desktop in the office, and on the laptop. Notebooks are synced via dropbox so they all stay up to date. I can work on the laptop without internet access, then when I do get a connection it syncs it silently. If I handwrite it and think I'll ever need it again I scan it on, or snap it with my phone, then stick the image in OneNote. If Im working on a file, say a report, that goes in OneNote too.

For my Android I use MobileNoter, which is a really excellent OneNote app. It reads off line and can sync via the internet if you like. the android is a version behind the iphone app so its read only for now, but that should change shortly. That said I wouldnt do data inputting via my phone, its just good to have my lists and files available. I can, for example, read a report I was working on.

This suits my needs - everything available via phone, laptop or desktop. Syncs when online but continues to work offline. Automatically backs up all my stuff, both online and on my other computers.

You are however committed to a Microsoft working environment.

 

[davemerrill]

Got to Do development disrupted

Unfortunately, the the developer of Got to Do said recently that he no longer has the time to work on it. Existing purchased apps should continue to work, but it will be withdrawn from the Android Market shortly. Personally, I'd also be worried that future changes to ToodleDo or to android itself may cause problems.

He's looking for some way that the program can continue (open source, collaboration with ToodleDo, etc), but as of now that looks to me like an awful big unknown to bank on, especially if you're not already committed to it.

Details here:
http://gottodoapp.wordpress.com/

FIWI, I ran into this post looking for something similar this morning, and ActionComplete looks pretty good to me, though I haven't actually tried it yet. I don't have the need for offline laptop use though; figure I'll either have net, or work on my droid. If cost is a factor, be aware that both the web and android versions have paid upgrades that you may or may not need.

Dave

 

[PaulK]

Toodledo + PocketInformant

I already had my next actions in Toodledo (previously sync with Nokia phone via Nuevasync), so now use PocketInformant on Android. It provides offline 'tasks', can easily filter by context and has built-in sync to Toodledo. It also provides a view of Android calendar(s) but I tend to use that less.

 

[syrex314]

I use Android Shuffle, which can be synced with Tracks... but I have found myself keeping only the context-based action lists on my phone, and a projects list in a text file on my computer.

All I really need to have with me all the time are those action lists -- the projects list still gets reviewed on a weekly basis (when I'm disciplined enough to actually do a weekly review).

 

[clango]

Outlook, Toodledo and Ultimate To Do list

Actually I need to work with Outlook at work. Originally I used the task and actions organization as learnt here by the Outlook guide set-up. But for me is too complex and not enough quick.

So now basically I use Outlook for the email and when I need to capture the email I forward it to my Toodledo Account. Then I sync it with Ultimate To Do list. I arrived at ltimate To Do only today, but it seem greater and better than Got To Do I used before. Truly I felt disappointed about the behaviour of the developer of Got To Do

 

[PaulK]

Toodledo + Pocket Informant

Gives the offline view and easy to update on web app. I use very limited fields on Toodledo - just due date (if relevant), Context and Notes.

 

[developPEOPLE]

Check out GQueues

While it is cloud-based, the offline functionality on my Android phone works great. Then, I just use online when in the office. I'm a consultant too. It is very easy & intuitive to use and set-up. I've customized it for my GTD application and share to-do's with my assistant and Finance Manager through it as well. Love it.
Good luck!
Sharon

 

[AJS]

While it is cloud-based, the offline functionality on my Android phone works great. Then, I just use online when in the office. I'm a consultant too. It is very easy & intuitive to use and set-up. I've customized it for my GTD application and share to-do's with my assistant and Finance Manager through it as well. Love it.
Good luck!
Sharon

Been using GQueues for about a month now. It syncs beautifully with GCal and has a ton of useful features. I particularly like the Google extension and the drag and drop facility which makes it very fast and low overhead.

Shame about the garish colours though. The UI looks like a an experiment from the 70's gone wrong. Personally I don't like the Android offline feature much. There is no home button so you have to fire up the browser to get it running. Too many steps if you need quick access - which on a mobile you usually do.