Does my ideal iOS reminder app exist?
June 30, 2013 10:09 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for specific functionality from a task reminder app. I'd like to be able to schedule regular chores and tasks at specific intervals, but have the next reminder time be automatically updated at the time I complete the task.
For example, I'd like to be able to set "vacuum floors" at weekly intervals, starting on July 1. If I put this in a calendar app, I'll automatically get reminders on July 1, 8, 15, etc. What I'd like instead is a running list of the "most overdue" items. On July 2, if I haven't vacuumed the floors yet, that item will be somewhere near the top of the list (depending on what else is overdue). If I finally do the task on July 3, it will set automatically schedule the next instance of this task on July 10. Ideally, I'd like to see all the tasks that I've scheduled in one big list, sorted by how overdue (or how soon due, if none are overdue), so that I can pick from the top few items in the list to decide what to do next.
Does this app exist?
For example, I'd like to be able to set "vacuum floors" at weekly intervals, starting on July 1. If I put this in a calendar app, I'll automatically get reminders on July 1, 8, 15, etc. What I'd like instead is a running list of the "most overdue" items. On July 2, if I haven't vacuumed the floors yet, that item will be somewhere near the top of the list (depending on what else is overdue). If I finally do the task on July 3, it will set automatically schedule the next instance of this task on July 10. Ideally, I'd like to see all the tasks that I've scheduled in one big list, sorted by how overdue (or how soon due, if none are overdue), so that I can pick from the top few items in the list to decide what to do next.
Does this app exist?
Best answer: I use an app called Due for exactly this. It also has timers and a mac app that it can sync to. Recommended.
posted by Happy Dave at 11:46 AM on June 30, 2013
posted by Happy Dave at 11:46 AM on June 30, 2013
Best answer: The To Do app I currently use, 2Do, does this. When you set up a task's repeat options you can specify that sets up the date of the repeat entry based on the completion date rather than the scheduled date, and the sorting options for viewing tasks allow you to show the oldest/most overdue task first.
One point to bear in mind is that 2Do only displays one instance of a repeating to do at a time: when you check it off as done, it'll then create the next entry in sequence. This means that if you set up a task that repeats every fortnight and you're looking at a date-ordered list of tasks to come you won't see an instance of that task every fortnight: you'll see one instance - the currently due/overdue one that's up next. This is the way I like my to do lists, but some people prefer to see an instance of every repeated to do in advance; 2Do wouldn't be for them.
(Pocket Informant - a combined calendar/task/address book application that I used for a while before I switched to 2Do - also has these two features, but as I haven't used Pocket Informant for a while and they've now split the product line into a cheap edition called Pocket Informant Go and a more expensive variant called Pocket Informant Pro, you might want to double-check which version still supports those features before making a purchase.)
posted by thebeard at 12:01 PM on June 30, 2013
One point to bear in mind is that 2Do only displays one instance of a repeating to do at a time: when you check it off as done, it'll then create the next entry in sequence. This means that if you set up a task that repeats every fortnight and you're looking at a date-ordered list of tasks to come you won't see an instance of that task every fortnight: you'll see one instance - the currently due/overdue one that's up next. This is the way I like my to do lists, but some people prefer to see an instance of every repeated to do in advance; 2Do wouldn't be for them.
(Pocket Informant - a combined calendar/task/address book application that I used for a while before I switched to 2Do - also has these two features, but as I haven't used Pocket Informant for a while and they've now split the product line into a cheap edition called Pocket Informant Go and a more expensive variant called Pocket Informant Pro, you might want to double-check which version still supports those features before making a purchase.)
posted by thebeard at 12:01 PM on June 30, 2013
Response by poster: I thought Due might work, but it was unclear if it had this specific feature. Thanks for the tips so far!
posted by RobotNinja at 12:53 PM on June 30, 2013
posted by RobotNinja at 12:53 PM on June 30, 2013
I have long used this app: Time Flies. I don't use the reminders, though I should. But you can use it to set the time you vacuumed the floors and then later see how long it was since you last did it. Changed sheets, washed car etc. But it does have reminders and should work as you request.
posted by Fortnight Bender at 1:04 PM on June 30, 2013
posted by Fortnight Bender at 1:04 PM on June 30, 2013
Eh, looks like the app I mentioned requires you to reset the reminder each time you log that you done the task. Might not be what you want...
posted by Fortnight Bender at 1:33 PM on June 30, 2013
posted by Fortnight Bender at 1:33 PM on June 30, 2013
I use Alarmed from Yoctoville. It allows you to set up repeating events every x days, weeks or months and you can specify it should repeat from the date scheduled or the date completed. It can also do 1st Monday of every month or certain days of the week (like every monday, wednesday and Friday) it shows events in the order when they were due (no other priority options). There is also a one button to delay an event by an hour or day etc.
Bonus: 4.5 stars and free!
posted by metahawk at 7:05 PM on June 30, 2013
Bonus: 4.5 stars and free!
posted by metahawk at 7:05 PM on June 30, 2013
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posted by backwards guitar at 11:00 AM on June 30, 2013