[Tfug] TODO list manager (and a phone question)

Tue Mar 4 01:49:43 MST 2014

On Mon, Mar 03, 2014 at 11:27:56AM -0700, Angus Scott-Fleming wrote:
>> But, for Todo data, I still don't have all the parts.  At least, I am as yet
>> unaware of the needed toolchain.  I know Google has some sort of Todo
>> management utility on the web, but I don't know how widespread support for it
>> is outside the Google-sphere.  Again, my needs are relatively simple, I just
>> need a way to add tasks under varying categories.  The ability to add a more
>> extensive description in addition to the task title would be a plus.
>
>GTasks is available for Android, and there are iOS interfaces for Google
>Tasks.

Wow, this looks to be exactly what I was looking for, and with loads of
features, too.

Because of severe memory constraints, I try to avoid anything that requires
the browser on Android, and instead I lean heavily towards job-specific apps
as long as they aren't super bloated.

I've got a Droid 3.  It's been a very good phone, but its single biggest
weakness is a lack of RAM.  The Droid 4 was released mere seconds after I got
my 3 and the devices are quite similar except that they gave the 4 enough
RAM.

>There are desktop implementations which use various browsers as interfaces.  
>This one works fine in Firefox:

I don't mind needing to use a browser as a requirement on the desktop side
since I know it will always run at an acceptable speed.  Whenever I need to
access my calendar (when I'm using my PC/laptop) I always do it via the web
interface.

But... for the todo list... I'm not sure.  I rather like having an easy to use
console program.  Nearly all of the tasks I define need little more than a
category and a title.  That small amount of data means that a standard
console/terminal has enough room to display the information.

I'll have to look around to see if there's a decent Google Tasks console
tool.  And, if I choose to start using Google Tasks, I can always write that
portion myself and wouldn't need to write the web and Android portions.

>    Reader Evan writes in with his simple guide to putting Gmail Tasks into a 
>    desktop application, using the built-in application shortcuts feature in 
>    the Google Chrome browser-simply navigate to 

I'm a Firefox guy, so programs that need Chrome features are out, but I always
have a browser open on one of my X desktops so a simple bookmark is entirely
sufficient.

I suspect I will go the GTasks route rather than writing it myself... even if
only because it's the path of least resistance.

On the other hand, I've always preferred a) a FOSS program over a closed one,
and b) keeping my data on a machine I control.  Obviously, these aren't
unbreakable rules as Google has all of my calendar data on their servers.

And, as I mentioned in the original message, this problem presents a good
excuse to finally learn Android programming.  I think we can all agree that
Palm OS isn't going to magically reappear.  :)

Since we're on (sort of) the topic of Android, I might as well ask:

My Droid 3 continues to show its age despite my valiant efforts to free up
more RAM.  So, I'm going to need a new phone relatively soon.  I believe under
my current phone contract I'm eligible for a new phone in May.

Before the Droid 3 I had a Droid 1.  The pattern here is my insistance on
having a physical keyboard, preferrably a slide-out KB so the screen size
doesn't take a hit because the KB is on the device front.  Unfortunately, the
available selection of phones with physical keyboards has decreased
dramatically over the past couple of years.

A couple of months back, in a lucky accident, I came across some rumors that a
Droid 5 was under development.  I've heard precious little about it since
then, though, and now that Google has shed itself of Motorola Mobile, I have
no idea what the fate of the Droid line will be.

If you wanted an Android phone with a physical keyboard, what device would you
get?  The Droid 4 is still available, but compared to current phones its specs
are *way* out of date.

A different, but acceptable, solution is an add-on slider KB.  I elways
thought this was a good idea, but I never thought any company had actually
made one until I just came across:

  http://www.boxwave.com/samsung-galaxy-s4-cases-and-covers/keyboard-buddy-samsung-galaxy-s4-case/bwpdd/pkz-zmgm/

It's a slim case for a Galaxy S4 that includes a backlit slideout keyboard.
It's only a four-row keyboard and isn't as nice as the five-row keyboard on my
Droid 3, but I'm stoked it even exists at all.  It also expands the phone
models that I can choose from.  This particular KB connects via Bluetooth and
says it has eight hours of usage on a charge.  Not being integrated means
extra steps and hassles, but at least it's an option.

-- 
--John Gruenenfelder    Systems Manager, MKS Imaging Technology, LLC.
Try Weasel Reader for PalmOS  --  http://weaselreader.org
"This is the most fun I've had without being drenched in the blood
of my enemies!"
        --Sam of Sam & Max
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