Apple Reminders in iOS17

Create, Manage, Do

I’m a big fan of Todoist. I’ve been using it for years (apart from a small hiatus when I moved to Things3).

However, when I saw the recent changes to the Apple Reminders app, in iOS17, I thought I’d take another look.

And, wow! There have been some significant updates that make it a real contender to replace Todoist (and save me £48 each year!)

Why use a task manager?

If I don’t write them down, the chances are the tasks won’t get done. I’ve lost count of the times when I said I’d do something then forgot about it.

Task managers also help to prioritise your workload. How important is a task? Is it urgent, or can it be left until ‘someday’?

Good task managers will help you manage this, as well as give you quick and easy ways to get it down in the first place.

Apple Reminders is a powerful and free productivity app that offers a variety of features to help you keep organised and stay on top of your tasks and appointments.

Here are some of the key reasons why Apple Reminders stands out and is considered a great tool for task management:

1. Simplicity and User-friendly Interface: Apple Reminders has a clean and intuitive interface, making it easy to navigate and use. It doesn’t overwhelm you with unnecessary options or features, allowing you to quickly add and manage tasks.

2. Integration with the Apple Ecosystem: As an Apple product, Reminders seamlessly integrates with other built-in apps and services, such as Siri and Apple Watch.

This integration allows for easy synchronisation and ensures you are always up to date with your reminders across multiple devices.

3. Smart Lists and Organisation: Reminders allows you to create multiple lists to categorise your tasks, whether it’s for personal or work-related purposes.

You can also create smart lists that automatically categorise your tasks based on due date, priority, or location, making it easier to focus on what needs to be done.

I also make use of the Templates feature. I have a task that contains 7 sub-tasks that I use frequently. Having a template means they’re all ready to go, and I just need to update the relevant parameters.

4. Notifications and Alarms: The app allows you to set reminders with specific due dates and times. You can also set alarms to ensure you don’t miss any tasks or appointments. Notifications can be received on your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Mac.

5. Siri Integration: One of the standout features of Apple Reminders is its integration with Siri, the voice assistant.

You can dictate tasks directly to Siri, and it will automatically add them to your reminders. This hands-free approach significantly speeds up the process of adding tasks and creating reminders.

It’s great if you’re driving and you suddenly remember something you need to do.

6. Collaboration: Reminders offers collaboration features, allowing you to share lists with others. This is particularly useful for managing tasks and to-do lists with family members, friends, or coworkers.

Everyone can see and update the shared list in real-time, improving coordination and productivity.

Possibly the most common use-case is the Shopping list.

7. Location-Based Reminders: With Apple Reminders, you can set reminders based on your current location.

For example, you can create a reminder to pick up groceries when you’re near a supermarket. The app utilises GPS and geolocation services to ensure you receive relevant notifications based on your whereabouts.

Updates in iOS17

Shopping List When you create a list, you now have the opportunity to select the list type.

Normal or Shopping.

If you select Shopping, Reminders will automatically categories your groceries, making it easier to see what you need, and where it might be within the store.

Apple say that Reminders will learn with you, so it puts items in the correct category over time.

Sections, Lists & Columns Within a list you can now create Sections

For example, I have a Routines list, and within that there are Daily, Weekly and Monthly sections.

When you create a list, you can now opt display it as a list (the default) or display in Columns, which will display the Sections you created, or you can add more columns from this view.

The columns style is ideal for Kanban working, where you can move a task across various statuses.

Interactive Widgets This is a big one.

With these new interactive widgets, rather than click a task to open the app, to then mark as done; you can now mark it as done directly in the widget.

Summary

Apple Reminders is revered for its simplicity, seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem, intuitive organisation, and smart features.

Its compatibility with Siri, collaboration capabilities, and location-based reminders make it an essential tool for efficient task management.

Whether you’re keeping track of personal to-dos or managing complex work projects, Apple Reminders provides a user-friendly and powerful platform to keep you organised and productive.

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