The big connection…

I have blogged about Toodledo in the past, I think it is a great web based To Do application. Problem is that it is a web app.

I love the application THINGS, by cultured code: http://www.culturedcode.com/things/. [updated] Although this is an alpha product, and the complete feature list has yet to be announces, the problems I have with THINGS right now is that it is not usable on the iPhone, and doesn’t sync with .Mac, so I can’t have to do management across multiple computers. Perhaps these features will be implement in the BETA or final release, but as far as an alpha product, it is simple, clean, intuitive, and just plain-old good looking.

Since the iPhone lacks simple to do management, I have been constantly searching for something that works on the iPhone. Well today, I went back to Toodledo, and they now have an iPhone optimized web page (www.toodledo.com/slim/), along with many other features, that have pulled a lot of my loose end communications outlets together…

1) Simple iPhone Page:
I know the safari browser makes mobile browsing easy from the palm of your hand, but sometimes, it is a little cumbersome trying to zoom and swipe around a long list of links, like a to do manager. So, a simplified touch friendly page makes this to do manager tops on my list again. It even has a nice looking web clip icon (crucial for staying on my iPhone’s home screen).

2) New Views:
No longer is toodledo relegated to a long list of tasks, now you can view them by folder, due date, tags, your hot list, goals, and recently complete.

3) Connections:
This is where it all comes together. Connections. Since my last visit to Toodledo, they have expanded this area immensely.

TWITTER:
You can now add and view tasks via Twitter. I just started using Twitter, but can see how using this to add TO DOs could be useful.

JOTT:
You can now add tasks via Jott. I love Jott. Driving along, need to remember to do something, call the 800# and speak. In the past, I have had my jotts just emailed to me, now I can have them added to my Toodledo list.

iCAL & GOOGLE CALENDAR:
No matter what calendar you use, you can now have your tasks appear on your calendar. iCal can then sync back to the iPhone for viewing of tasks due each day.

FIREFOX:
FireFox Add-ons are new to me. But now I can have the Toodledo list as a side bar, and also add a link for a quick-add to my To Do list. Surf a page, remember something to do, add it. Easy.

RSS:
Just another way to view your list of tasks

SMS/EMAIL REMINDERS:
Now you can get reminders sent a specific times prior to your deadlines.

All of these features allow you to add/modify and check off tasks from many different applications and communication services.

Now there is never an excuse to not get something done, or at least know it needs to be done.

Check it out.

Twitter

So I started using Twitter.

I listen to a lot of podcasts, mostly tech podcasts, I am a geek, remember? And most of the tech-geeks on these podcasts talk about Twitter. So, I had an account set up from ages ago, I thought I’d give it a try.

Right now, I am twittering, or is it tweeting, to 2 people. Some random person I don’t know, and George Nemeth from Brewed Fresh Daily (Hi, George!). So I am basically tweeting to them.

I am following three people: George, Andy Ihnatko from the Chicago Sun Times, and Merlin Mann from 43folders.com.

Twitter, for those who don’t know, is an easy channel to push out information about what you are doing at the moment. There is no back-and-forth that SMS or IM allows. This is just a vehicle for putting out info like: “@the coffee shop having the best mocha ever”; or “sitting on my couch watching Lost”; etc…

You follow other Twitterers (or Twits? Tweets?), and other people follow you.

When you post that you just saw George Clooney at Starbucks, it is posted to the feed. When a fellow tweeter posts that they just bought a new iPhone, you see it on the feed.

I think if you get a good group of interesting people together who use the service regularly, it can be an interesting way of communication, without the, well, communication.

If you want to give Twitter a try, visit http://www.twitter.com. You can find me at http://www.twitter.com/alphabet/

Application Test: MarsEdit

Today I am testing a new application (to me) on the Mac: MarsEdit.

This is a standalone app that lets you add new posts to a blog.

The blog set up was simple. Give it a title, type in the address. It then prompts you for your username and password.

Voila!

All your posts appear in a simple list, kind of like email.

In the post window, all insert code is blue, to help when locating or editing.

When you are done you can Preview. Add media. Or save a a draft.

Click the Options button and your list of categories are available, or you can add new categories.

This post was posted by using MarsEdit.

MarsEdit can be found at: http://www.red-sweater.com/marsedit/

If you blog a lot, or are looking for simple way to add posts without having to connect to the internet, then MarsEdits $30 price tag is well worth it.

My name is Chris, and I am a geek.

I am no longer in denial.

I am a geek.

And a Mac fan boy.

I realized I was a geek when I got all “geeked” about the iPhone. Now that I have one, my inner geek is coming out. If you haven’t played with one, don’t. Seeing one in action, or touching one could lead to wireless contract cancellation, and a trip to your local Apple store.

The true realization was the fact that I am excited—yes, excited—about receiving the new Mac OS X 10.5. I am excited over a new operating system. Now that is the sign of a geek. I pre-ordered my copy (what kind of person pre-orders an operating system? A geek.). And I am expecting it at any moment.

UPDATE: Apple didn’t include my company name on the label, so the package was not delivered. Hopefully, FedEx will redeliver with the updated address…

So there, I have come clean. I am a geek.

Toodledo

Looking for an online task list manager?

I have been playing around with a few, and right now I am locked on to Toodledo. It is easy to add new tasks, create job or category folders. Everything is listed on 1 page, no need to click on tabs, or menu links. You can have it email your “hot list” every morning. And you can print out a task list booklet so you have a paper version of what you need to get done.

So far, I have gotten more done, and feel a little bit more organized thanks to Toodledo.