Microsoft Aims to Woo Wunderlist Users With Overhauled 'To Do' App

[MacRumors]

Microsoft has unveiled its new-look To Do app. First launched in 2017, the productivity app came along two years after the company acquired Wunderlist, but only now does it resemble a like-for-like replacement offering feature parity with the long-running cloud-based task management service. Announcing To Do v2.0, Microsoft had this to say:

When Wunderlist became part of the Microsoft family, our mission was to bring the delightful, simple, and elegant daily task experience and build it into Microsoft's intelligent, interconnected, and security-centric ecosystem to create a new app--Microsoft To Do. Today, we're unveiling the new version of To Do, which includes a fresh new design, access from wherever you are, and more integration with Microsoft apps and services.

The most obvious visual similarity is that To Do now supports background images - and even includes the Berlin TV tower image that longtime Wunderlist users will be familiar with. Every list can be given its own background image, and Microsoft says it has reduced the list header size and added new color theme customization options, with a dark mode for iOS and Mac coming soon.

Otherwise, it looks like business as usual for Wunderlist fans. The app features subtasks, recurring tasks, prioritized tasks, reminders and due dates, file attachments, and notes. Lists can also be grouped, shared with other people, and assigned.

There's a personalized daily planner feature called My Day that refreshes daily and features smart suggestions for tasks. And of course, all lists sync across devices, allowing users to stay organized at work, home, or on the go. Finally, there's deeper integration with Microsoft 365 apps and services like Microsoft Planner, linking to Microsoft-hosted email accounts like Outlook, Hotmail, and Live, and Cortana and Amazon Echo support.

We're excited to unveil what we've been working on here at the Wunderlist offices--our new app @MicrosoftToDo has a fresh look! Find out more about the new To Do. https://t.co/zjDHLeiGq7 pic.twitter.com/iqJmBeuJM3 - Wunderlist (@Wunderlist) September 9, 2019

Users without a Microsoft account can register with their existing email address. Once they sign in, the option to import tasks from Wunderlist is displayed, and it can also be found in Settings. Microsoft To Do is a free download for iPhone and iPad available from the App Store. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Microsoft Aims to Woo Wunderlist Users With Overhauled 'To Do' App

 

[BrettArchibald]

The most obvious visual similarity is that To Do now supports background images... Every list can be given its own background image...

Is this something important that people require in a to-do app?

 

[69Mustang]

Is this something important that people require in a to-do app?

Pretty sure it's just one of those extra things that's used to differentiate their app from the other to-do apps. Some users will like and use it. Others won't and won't. Not really sure why you emphasized important and require. They sure didn't.

 

[martyjmclean]

Wunderlist was great, but I have no interest in To-do. I'd love to use Things but cannot justify $80 for the Mac version.

 

[BrettArchibald]

Pretty sure it's just one of those extra things that's used to differentiate their app from the other to-do apps. Some users will like and use it. Others won't and won't. Not really sure why you emphasized important and require. They sure didn't.

Well, it was the first thing mentioned in the list of changes.
And besides, I didn't emphasise anything – I was asking if it was important to other people. It was a genuine question on what other people think. To me, personally, something like this is so minor that I'd expect to see it mentioned at the bottom of the list of changes, if at all.

 

[maflynn]

Is this something important that people require in a to-do app?

Yes, my work requires managing 30+ servers, various enterprise applications and security for the servers and also applications. I have frequently have a complex set of multilayered tasks. While I don't have this app, this seems right up my ally.

 

[NoFace1006]

I used to use Wunderlist but stopped using it when Microsoft took over. When the To-Do app came out it was quite basic and lacking in features, but with this release it seems to have come along. Despite my aversion to all things Microsoft I may give this a try. As for the backgrounds, I like them. I find that a new desktop wallpaper each day helps me to stay motivated, looking at the same old thing doesn't work for me. So having the ability to change backgrounds in the app is quite appealing.

 

[nicho]

Yes, my work requires managing 30+ servers, various enterprise applications and security. I have frequently have a complex set of multilayered tasks. While I don't have this app, this seems right up my ally.

I'm intrigued how the background images help in that respect, rather than the subtasks, the prioritised tasks, the due dates or the attachments.

 

[Palliser]

I still prefer ToDoist over either of these

 

[kafka27]

I'll never use a cloud based app. They use/sale all info about you.

 

[jonnysods]

I'd enjoy trying another to do app besides Reminders - the issue is integration. I can't use Siri to add new reminders on other apps.

 

[BrettArchibald]

Yes, my work requires managing 30+ servers, various enterprise applications and security for the servers and also applications. I have frequently have a complex set of multilayered tasks. While I don't have this app, this seems right up my ally.

And having a background image helps with this??

 

[frou]

Things 3 was in danger of being vapourware, but since it eventually came out, it's just had ludicrously good UI design compared to the competition. I guess that's the level you can reach with an app exclusive to Apple platforms and not having to simultaneously worry about recreating the same thing in Android/Windows/Web versions.

 

[NeXTCube]

And having a background image helps with this??

I think the poster wasn't directly answering the question, but...I think that you could use different background images as a quick visual cue as to which to-do list you were viewing, without having to actually read (or even see) the title at the top of the screen. Other than that, the feature is really just cosmetic, but it is an improvement over the plain backgrounds in the previous revision of Microsoft To-Do.

My big gripe is that it's taken MS more than two years - with the Wunderlist team in-house - to basically re-create Wunderlist, while Wunderlist itself stagnated. It's completely unclear to me what value Microsoft has added (since Wunderlist already integrated with Microsoft online accounts, etc.).

 

[NaimNut]

I’ve subscribed to Todoist, bought Thinks 3 (too slow and quirky) for both MacOS and iOS and tried Reminders. MS ToDo is the real deal for personal use. When I flag my email in Apple Mail in iOS or MacOS the email shows up in MS ToDo with a link back to the original email. Awesome

I work this way with my business Gmail account and the reason I no longer pay/use Todoist.

The only thing missing, unless I’ve missed the feature, is for the task to show up and be able to be manipulated in my calenders like I can do with Gmail and Google Task

I’m using MS ToDo with a paid MS Outlook Account set up as MS Exchange on my Mac