to-do list

Run a quick search for "notepad" on Google Play, and you'll see that there are at least 1,000 apps claiming to fit the bill. The good news is, we've taken the time to show you a few notepads that are absolute must-haves, especially for students just getting back into the groove of school.

Evernote (free) These days, the all-powerful Evernote feels more like a platform than a single, independent app. It has a full menu of companion downloads like Skitch, Evernote Food, and Evernote Hello available, and tons of developers are racing to integrate its … Read more

Any.Do for iOS is like a less colorful version of Clear, but with three important differences: it's free, it supports voice commands, and it integrates with other apps on your iPhone.

When you first launch Any.Do, you will need to create an account using an e-mail address or you can log in via Facebook. Any.Do is also available as a Chrome extension, and your account is synced with any device you have running the app or extension.

When held in portrait mode, you can view by either date or folder. Swipe up from the bottom of … Read more

There are ton of to-do-list and task management options in the iTunes App Store, but a longtime favorite for Android users was just released today for iOS, and it might be just what you're looking for to help you get things done.

Astrid for iPhone is a to-do-list and task management app that keeps the interface simple, but offers social elements that let you share tasks with friends and family in unique ways. You can add friends to shared tasks, for example, so planning a social event is an ideal use for Astrid. The app is organized with four … Read more

Do It (Tomorrow) is a visually stunning, yet minimal to-do list app that makes it easy to plan out arguably the two most important days on the calendar: today and tomorrow. By giving you only enough room to plot your next 48 hours, the app helps you focus on your most pressing tasks at hand.

Essentially a vertically oriented two-page notebook, Do It (Tomorrow) has one page for Today and another for Tomorrow. A simple swipe left or right moves you between the two pages, and with a single tap you can add tasks. You can move tasks up or … Read more

Sometimes the programs we end up liking the best are the ones that aren't particularly innovative or exciting, but that simply do one thing and do it in a commonsense, elegant way. Efficient To-Do List Free Portable is just such a program. This portable application makes it easy to keep track of your tasks and set reminders without adding a bunch of useless bells and whistles.

The program's interface is sleek and intuitive, reminding us of recent versions of Microsoft Office products. In the dialog for creating new tasks you enter a subject, comments, start and due dates, … Read more

Outsource the task of remembering with Springpad, a free app for Android and iOS. Rival to the popular Evernote service, Springpad lets you jot notes, create lists, bookmark items, copy recipes, record voice memos, and so much more, right from your mobile device or desktop browser.

First, create a Springpad account, with which your Springpad mobile app will automatically sync. Once you're logged in on your mobile device, you'll find on your Home screen a My Stuff icon, which aggregates all of your notes, and a Friends Stuff icon, which takes you to shared content. The rest of … Read more

For many moons I've been looking for the perfect to-do list app for my iPhone. For a while I used Producteev, which I likened to Evernote for task management. But you know what? It was overkill.

Ultimately I realized that what I need is not a Web-accessible to-do list or even one that syncs with Outlook (a key consideration last year when I asked CNET readers to name their favorite to-do list app). I need one that lives on my iPhone, offers a simple, logically designed interface, and reminds me when it's time to do something. Period.

Oh, … Read more

As with any classic role-playing-style game, EpicWin ($2.99) gives you experience points in a number of categories that help your character gain skills and move through a mystical world. The difference in this game? You have to complete your own real tasks to advance your character.

While task management and to-do lists are nothing new on the iPhone (see OmniFocus or Things), EpicWin puts a new spin on how you treat your responsibilities that may just cause you to get more done. With so many games geared toward farming computer crops, creating made-up mobs, or killing virtual vampires, EpicWin turns your to-do list into a game with real rewards (and some fun fake ones, too).

Setting up your EpicWin world is pretty easy. In fact, it's the first few tasks (renamed "quests" for this game) you must complete on your list the day you install the App. Those tutorial quests set you up to begin your journey toward tackling your tasks and completing them as your new avatar (choose from three free characters or two you can purchase in-App).

Being a tall, lanky dude, I of course chose the skeleton character for my avatar and began creating quests. The cool part about adding tasks to EpicWin (despite the fact that it does not sync with any current task managers or calendar to-do lists you may have) is that you get to determine each quest's level of Epicness. … Read more

In a Q3 earnings call on Tuesday, Apple said third-quarter profits rose more than 77 percent largely from the success of the iPad and iPhone 4--probably not a big surprise for anyone. But the more shocking announcement (in my eyes) is that Apple set a record for the most Macs they've ever sold in a quarter with 3.47 million.

Obviously, I've always been a big fan of Mac computers, but I guess with the emergence of handheld devices like the iPad, iPod, and iPhone, I figured Apple's desktop and laptop business would not be as strong as it once was. Perhaps all these new iPhone users are deciding to give Apple computers a try. Whatever the case is, I'm glad to hear Mac computers are still selling well.

If you're one of the people who recently picked up a Mac (apparently there are quite a few of you), check out our Mac Starter Kit for some must-have software you can download right away.

If you're an iPhone user, make sure to come back and check out this week's apps, which include a simple free to-do list app and a platform game that challenges you to dig deep into the depths of dangerous mines.… Read more