If you search for “list” in the App Store, you’ll find dozens of apps designed to create to-do lists, grocery shopping lists and even Christmas lists. While list applications that cater to a specific need can be useful, having one app that handles all your lists will not only save you money, but save your poor thumbs from clicking and tapping to and from multiple apps.
ListBook is a simple list management app that makes it easy to create multiple lists and tasks, thanks to the beautiful interface and familiar functionality. Plus, the ability to filter completed tasks, color code tasks and display an icon badge count for remaining tasks will let you mange your lists quickly. Let’s find out more after the jump.
Creating & Navigating Lists
Upon startup, ListBook greets you with your first list, aptly named “MyFirstList.” From here, you can edit or create a new list via the controls on the bottom navigation bar, which should seem familiar to users of the iPhone’s built-in Safari app. Tapping the overlapping rounded rectangles button (known as the “lists button” from here on) or pinching-in on the screen will cause the current list to shrink in size and the interface displays two new options. Similar to the Safari app, the lists button also displays a number depicting the number of created lists.
Tap the plus sign to add a task or item, or tap the bottom right button (or pinch) to edit or create lists.
Editing a list is done by tapping the “Settings” tab at the bottom of a list. In the settings menu, you can edit the list’s name and whether you want to show a badge count on the app icon (if you have more than one list created, you can delete a list by tapping the “Delete” button). Adding a new list is just as simple. Tap the “New List” button in the top navigation bar and a new screen will appear, prompting you to enter a list name and select whether you want a badge count to be displayed. Once you’re finished, click “Done” and you’re immediately taken to your new list so you can start adding tasks.
Navigation between lists is a joy in ListBook.
Navigating from one list to another list is a visually appealing and fundamentally pleasing experience. To do so, tap the the lower right button again (or pinch-in) and all created lists will display in the same manner multiple pages are displayed in the Safari app. Scroll over to your desired list, tap it, and you’re there. For my money, it’s the best way to navigate any app with multiple screens.
Adding Tasks
Once you’ve finished creating your list, you’ll need to add tasks, which is done by tapping the plus button in the top navigation bar. The “add task” screen allows you to enter as many characters as you desire, but the first line is used as the task’s name when displayed on the list screen and the additional lines of text will display as a sub-entry.
Additional text will display below the task name.
You can categorize your tasks by color by tapping the white swatch icon displayed on the top right of the notebook paper background. A menu will animate open and display options to color code your task by red, green and blue. While additional colors would be beneficial, enough options are available to categorize tasks in whichever method you see fit.
Color categorization helps you organize your tasks as needed.
While entering a new task is simple in ListBook, the process for creating multiple tasks is what makes it one of the better list management applications. While you’re still on the “add task” screen, tap the plus icon in the top navigation bar, and your created task will be saved. From here, you’ll be prompted to start the process over again and can enter as many tasks as needed.
Managing Tasks
Arguably the most important feature in any task management app is the method used to manage your lists, which is where ListBook both shines and falters. Once a task is completed, tap the blank circle to the right of a task’s bar and a checkmark icon appears. In addition, the task’s opacity decreases, which is the best feature of the app.
Completed tasks will decrease in opacity, allowing you to easily identify which taks still need completing.
Most list management apps simply add a checkmark icon to indicate a completed task (or strike-through the task’s text), but decreasing the opacity helps you quickly identify tasks that still need completing, versus tasks that are completed. This feature is also present in Today Todo (another visually creative list management app), but goes one step further by moving completed tasks to the bottom of the list, which would be a useful feature in ListBook. Another handy visual tool is the ability display or not display completed tasks, which is done by tapping the circle icon in the bottom navigation bar.
The checkmark in the circle indicates that checked tasks are not displaying.
Deleting tasks is done in three ways:
- Dragging horizontally on a task bar and tapping the “Delete” button
- Tapping the “Edit” button on the top left navigation bar, followed by tapping the red circle icon next to a task and tapping the delete button
- Tapping the menu icon in the bottom navigation bar and tapping “Delete All” in the pop-up menu
The pop-up menu also allows you to check all or uncheck all tasks. However the ability to delete only checked tasks is a glaring omission by NoIdentity. If you need to re-organize your tasks, tap the edit button and drag a task via the three lines icon, displayed on the right side of the task bar.
Conclusion
ListBook is a simple and elegant app that delivers most of the features you need for managing multiple lists, without being too complex. Creating and editing new lists and tasks are done in very few steps, and managing your task list is snap. Add on the beautiful interface, and ListBook blows away many of the dime store list management apps you’ll find in the App Store.
My only issue with ListBook is the method used to delete tasks. If you need to delete one or two tasks, then it’s nice and simple. However, if you need to delete nine tasks on a list with twelve tasks in total, you’ll spend more time than desired deleting each task individually. Also, the ability to schedule reminders for your tasks is a feature that is sorely missing, and one that will hopefully be added in a future update.
ListBook is a real testament to the iPhone’s ease-of-use, and at a price that is much lower than most high quality list management apps, it is a must download for anyone who needs to create and manage lists as easily as possible.
Update: The Loop’s Jim Dalrymple says this isn’t happening. Frankly, we at TUAW are more inclined to believe Jim than some hit-or-miss random site who has “been right in the past” — a distant past. As always, we’ll let you know when real invites are sent out to a real event.
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