2Do Might Be The Best Task Manager Ever [Review]

Eli Milchman ()

2Do Might Be The Best Task Manager Ever [Review]

It’s taken me 20 years to finally find a task manager I’m happy with. No variation in any PDA I’ve used has passed muster: either they’ve lacked features, or suffered from confusing interfaces, or both — and I’d inevitably end up abandoning them for a simpler system. Then I started playing around with 2Do from developer Guided Ways Technologies. Search over.

What makes 2Do great is that it miraculously seems to make everyone happy. OCD types will quite possibly explode with joy at the endless supply of options for organizing tasks; highlights include iCal-compatible calendar-based organization, user-created tags, super-flexible options for repeating tasks, a focus-filter and an alert function with the option to email alerts. Seriously, the app has a bazillion options for task searching, sharing, sorting, alerting and a whole bunch of other verbs — far too many to list here.

Just-throw-the-clothes-on-the-floor types, on the other hand, can simply record a voice message and append whatever extra details they want onto the task. Or whatever. The app manages to pull off a brilliant balance of flexibility and depth — every aspect of 2Do is loaded with options, but in a way that encourages perfect personalization for each user. Topping off 2Do’s list of triumphs is an interface that’s intuitive, pretty — and yes, highly customizable.

Newly-released version 2.0 adds assorted improvements like a location-aware feature, so the app can remind you to fix that creaky door the next time you visit grandma.

Hiccups? The app has crashed on occasion, which of course wipes out any task being created at the time (a royal pain for those who’re very thorough about filling in fields when creating a task) — but it’s infrequent enough to be a very minor problem.

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2Do is normally $7, but the app is on sale for just $4 for what the developer says is a limited time. There’s a try-before-you-buy version if you’re still unsure — then grab the full app before the price goes back up.

A beautifully crafted task manager for serious and casual users alike.

Rating: ★★★★★

Cult of Mac Black Turtleneck rating system:
5: Insanely Great! • 4: Steve Approves • 3: Needs Work • 2: Sugared Water • 1: Dogsh*t frosting

22 comments »

About the author

Eli Milchman

When he was eight, Eli Milchman came home from frolicking in the Veld one day and was given an Atari 400. Since then, his fascination with technology has made him an intrepid early adopter of whatever charming new contraption crosses his path — which explains why he's Cult of Mac's technology editor. He calls San Francisco home, where he works as a journalist and photographer. Eli has contributed to the pages of Wired.com and BIKE Magazine, among others. Hang with him on Twitter.

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Posted in iPhone Apps, Reviews |

  • http://www.gridironmeanderings.com WalrusCP

    2DO is one of my top five favorite iPhone apps (1PW, Instapaper, Reeder, and Camera+ being the others). Glad you discovered it, too.

    • barus

      Hi Walrus,

      I have tried the 2do. It has good UI. but, I always had the sync issue. I found ListAppy.
      It’s interface is not as cool as 2do. though, serves the purpose. I like the companion desktop version too. Perfect for my need! Give a try http://samurasolutions.com

  • http://www.paythegame.net somian

    I have the app but I almost never use it due to the lack of Mobile me sync.

    What’s the point of such an app if the TO Dos don’t sync with the ToDos on my macbook?

    Can’t wait for a real to-do-app from apple which is just done right without the 3rd party syncing services or manual sync etc.

  • Killian Bell

    Completely agree with you in this one, Eli. I’ve been using 2Do for a long while and I’m yet to find another to-do app that’s as good. Great review!

  • http://www.grinningidiot.com JAYnLA

    Um…. your ‘guided ways’ link takes us to an Islamic website.

  • PCKid

    I’ve tried a few of these but keep going back to Evernote. Only because it replicates on my iPad, iPhone, Desktop and Web. None of the others do. In the car when I think of something I just create a quick voice mail and when I get home or to the office just update.

  • Kelly

    I’ve tried them all and believe it or not, I really prefer Epic Win. I’m serious!

  • Jujolone

    Your unguided “guided” ways goes to an Islamic website. Wake up Eli!

  • http://www.paythegame.net Somian

    The islamic
    Website IS the homepage of the folks who
    Make the app…

  • Tom

    @somian “What’s the point of such an app if the TO Dos don’t sync with the ToDos on my macbook?”

    The app syncs with iCal, albeit manually, over Wi-Fi. You install a helper app from their website: http://www.2doapp.com/en/2Do/downloads.html

    “Can’t wait for a real to-do-app from apple which is just done right without the 3rd party syncing services or manual sync etc.”

    You’ve been waiting over 3 years now… maybe it’s time to give up?

  • Belgian

    The “Islamic website” is of the company who makes this superb application. Who cares if they are islamic?
    …
    A happy atheist

  • turim

    I have his app and I think it lacks a few features.
    First, there is no way to sync to Google Calendar.
    Second, when creating an event you set a date ahead to do something, but when I e.g. go to a fair from September 16th to the 19th, that is not possible to insert, only the 16th… not good!

  • Jujolone

    Dear Belgian aka Happy atheist,
    you can easily drop the double-commas THAT is an Islamic website which makes Islamic propaganda (please check the Latin origin of this word before making any claims of neutrality). On top of all that, there is NO trace of the app Eli mentioned in his entry. Where IS 2Do? What damn has 2Do with Islam? They do not accept donations but like to make monies from your dhimmitude.

  • Ken Cohen

    The correct URL is 2doapp.com.

    The developer is Guided Ways Technology Inc.

  • Jujolone

    Yes, Ken Cohen … the very same people.

  • Janne

    @Jujolone: So, what exactly is your beef? That the people who wrote the website are muslims? And that they have apparently created apps that are related to Islam? So, what exactly is wrong with that? Are you suspicious towards all those people who have created apps about Christianity? Or who happen to be Christians?

    In fact, they even have a FAQ-entry about this:

    http://www.guidedways.com/kb/article-375.html

    It seems to me that you think that since the developers are muslim, and they have bunch of Islam-related stuff in their website, they are some kind of militant islamists? I think you could use this:

    http://www.thinkgeek.com/books/humor/8e6c/images/2070/

  • http://binaryclock.wordpress.com Matt Rhinesmith

    I personally use Nubi Do, which has a ton of features and actually acts like I expect it to. I got it as a FreeAppADay free app, and I think it’s still free. To sum it up, I see no reason to buy 2do.

  • John

    After reading all the above comments, it just seems like another todo app. Try Toodledo. It’s free, is a great GTD app, runs via any web browser, there’s a free app that runs on any iPhone and sync is automatic between all devices .

  • Eli Milchman

    There seems to be some confusion over the developer’s website.

    The site linked to in the review is, as far as I can tell, the developer’s main site. There’s also a mini-site dedicated to the app itself:

    http://www.2doapp.com/en/2Do

    I erred with the name though; the correct name of the developer is Guided Ways Technologies, not Guided Ways. The error has been corrected.

  • Dutch

    “After reading all the above comments, it just seems like another todo app.”
    - You should download the lite version and test it. It’s absolutely not ‘just another todo app’.

    “you can easily drop the double-commas THAT is an Islamic website which makes Islamic propaganda”
    - You’re a freak, seriously. There’s is nothing in the app that refers to Islam. The creators are muslims, but so what… you’re afraid of muslims because you think they’re terrorists. But guess what; you’re wrong. Islam has nothing to do with terrorism. Installing 2Do will not destroy your iPhone. You should lock yourself up…

  • http://www.53Z.org Zachary Milon

    really nice post, i read it all its good informative knowledge

  • http://willardo.com Xiomara Farmar

    Good job!