Google gives Gmail users a to-do list

Google's new Tasks feature lets Gmail users create to-do lists.

(Credit: Google)

Google has added a to-do list to Gmail to help users be more productive.

When the new Tasks feature is enabled, a box shows up on top of the Gmail window. In it, users can add, reorder, and delete tasks. It's also possible to assign a due date to each action and even convert e-mails into tasks.

The feature--announced Monday on a company blog--will also run outside of the e-mail program. Adding items is as simple as clicking on a vacant part of the box and typing.

This may sound like a rehash of the many Post-It Note-like programs popular in the mid-'90s, but because most of us have morphed into e-mail junkies, this list is constantly in our face, reminding of things we wanted to get done.

Since e-mail is where and how many of us get things done, both in our personal and professional life, why not add a list of things that we may not be able to get done via e-mail, such as a reminder to make dinner reservations?

To enable Tasks, go to Settings in the upper right of the Gmail window and click the Labs tab. Click Enable next to the Tasks selection, click Save Changes. After refreshing Gmail, a Tasks link will appear under the Contacts link. Just click that Tasks link and you are ready to be productive.

[Hep Cat]

It'd be nice if the iPhone worked with Google's calendaring API vis a vis Exchange.

[loose_screw]

Thanks for the info.

[RickyFr]

This needs a lot work. As an example, it appears you can set a task due date but not a time. Also, the Task window needs to be much better. Maybe the next version or the version after that will be better. It is a start, not much more.

[Hunnter2k3]

>As an example, it appears you can set a task due date but not a time
Some people don't need exact-time deadlines, but there is no time at all from what i see (just looked at it), thats not exactly a helpful thing to do Task Team...

But i totally agree on the interface, needs some slight work done to it.

I shall certainly use this since i am in Gmail quite often.

[dragonbite]

This will be great, when there is a Thunderbird extension for it. One more step towards providing a free, online Exchange-like system for non-Outlook users (Thunderbird, Evolution, kPIM, etc.)