Historically, I've always loved both the PalmOS To-Do application and the integration that went on in the Psion Series 3 Agenda application for the to-do lists in that suite. I've strong views on how a To-Do app should function, built around the twin ideas of "speed" and "complexity".
There's the idea that if you have to wait too long to get your ideas into any system or to find them again when you need to reference them, then the system has failed. But at the same time there needs to be complexity, such as categories, priorities and dates due, to make a system that actually works. As often commented in reviews, the built in Symbian application doesn't really cut the mustard. It never did on the first device, the Nokia 7650, and it's still lacking. At least for me.
So can 2Do deliver a task manager to satisfy me? The short answer is not yet... but if it wants to, a later version could.
The interface packs in a lot of information, but for me the important section is the ribbon down the left, where I can sort multiple to-do lists on a tab basis. Much like a web browser, it's easy to shift between them with a tap of the finger, and then scroll through everything on the list.
In addition to these category tabs, there are three extra tabs, to show "all" tasks, to show tasks due "today" and tasks that are "done". These are at the very top, and should prove useful as your to-do list builds up on the device, to help zero in on what's needed. That's if, of course, you're putting in everything you need to do into 2Do - any time-management app (and 2Do is arguably in that definition) needs a certain amount of dedication so you know that everything you need is in the application.
That's why a fast input system is needed, and 2Do (especially on the keyboard-equipped E7 used for reviewing here) is up for that. Just hit the '+' symbol, tap in the text and you can go from there. Of course, you can add in more details, and thankfully the touch screen buttons (to select which project tab, for example) means it doesn't take much beyond the text input to get some colour around the content.
I also like that there are different types of entry - the straightforward 'to-do' item is the most popular one, but you also have 'checklist' (a simple checkbox list that shows up as one line, but expands out to be as long as is needed) and 'project' (which is essentially a to-do list embedded inside your to-do list, although you can't add another project inside a project, all you get is one level of nesting).
In the bundle of details you can add, you have the option to match up a to-do item with an existing contact, but this seems to slow the app to a crawl and doesn't talk directly to the built in address book on the
That's probably one of the biggest flaws in 2Do, the lack of integration to Symbian. 2Do essentially creates its own space, living in the application on the phone and not talking to Contacts, Calendar or even the Symbian alarm server. Given that this app has been running on other platforms for some time, this would probably need a ground-up redesign to the code, as opposed to the polished port that is on offer here.
Something else that is not offered (yet?) by 2Do is a Sync option. On the iOS version, for example, this allows syncing to MobileMe, Outlook, Toodledo or iCal. Sync is very important on a mobile device because the data needs to come out, not only to cover for a lost or stolen smartphone but also to give confidence that if things don't go well then you can move on and take the hard-entered data to another
It's disappointing, because I want to love 2Do. The interface has everything I would want in a to-do application, with just enough to fiddle with in the settings to keep me happy but not make it scary for someone else. There's a certain style to the graphics and spot colours, and it makes you want to use it. If a To-do list could be "sexy" then this is the quiet minx in the corner.
Yet it's missing a few things upstairs that would make it look like a PIM Veronica Lake. The lack of sync is a huge mis-step, and I'm surprised they launched without it. More awkward is the occasional crash and slowing down of the code - all things that can be tweaked over time if there is interest and a strong user base. I could live with either the missing sync or the stability issues and wait it out, but not both. So I'll watch out for updates to 2Do, and come to terms that yet again I still don't have anything as downright useful as Psion Agenda in a modern device.
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