Todo.ly apart from its strange name, was one of the first applications available in the Chrome web store. Yes, this is a chrome browser application, which you can install for free, create a shortcut to your desktop and login by using your Google or Yahoo account credentials.
As a task manager, Todo.ly is cute and plain. The available functionality is pretty basic for the time being –it works great for a plain task manager of course- , with the developer team is still working on expanding it.
The application uses some GTD principles in its filters section. You can have your Inbox, in which all unfiled items will be stored by default, actions for today and next actions, which unfortunately are listed based on due date.
There are no separate entities for contexts and projects, just a project section in which you can apparently add your contexts or other lists with two pleasant surprises. You can create hierarchies for projects by dragging them, and you can select an icon from a set of 15 for each of your projects so they’re more easy to be located.
Killer features:
- Clean and simplified interface
GTD mode: Contexts and projects as projects, inbox, next actions by a due date near today.
Weaknesses:
- No custom filtering yet
- No Next filter customization (items shown as N/A when due date is near)
- Almost no user settings
- Lots of functionality is missing to use it as a complete GTD system
Supported elements: Actions, projects, due dates, priorities, inbox and trash, upcoming (pro) sharing feature
Supported services: API
Mobile access: Forthcoming versions of iPhone and Android.
Cost: Free for now.
Conclusion : Obviously, the development team of Todo.ly rushed to release a very basic version of their application upon the opening of the chrome web store. That makes this review a temporary view of the work done so far, since a big part of basic functionality like mobile access, searching, customizing and printing is missing. Apart from that the team stated on their blog that 13000 tasks were created just in a week. Not so bad for a simple task manager!
We’ll be back for more then…