Google tasks is a simple but powerful little task manager. I’ve started using it more and wanted to create a separate application to run it from so I don’t always have to fire up a browser to access it. Here’s what you need to know to do the same thing (and there are a couple of ways to do it!).

The first thing you need to know is the actual web address for the Google tasks:

https://mail.google.com/tasks/ig

Firefox and Chrome can both create standalone applications from websites (basically where a stripped down version of the browser opens the website in a window without all navigation stuff at the top – it looks like a program running from your computer).

Firefox

Navigate to the address above in Firefox and under the “tools” menu choose “Convert Website to Application”. Bam! There ya go. If you don’t want to bother firing up a browser you can open up Prism (if you’ve installed it) and use the address above. You’ll have to sign into Google the first time it opens, but from then on you’ll be good to go!

Oh, to install Prism use this command:

sudo apt-get install prism

Chrome

Navigate to the Google Tasks address above in your Chrome browser and then click on the “Control” button to the left of the browser address bar (directly left of the “tool” button) – the top option is the one you want: “Create Application Shortcuts…” This is really nice because it gives you the option of chosing to create it on your desktop or in the menu (or both).

In the end, I think Prism is a little bit of a lighter load on the system than the Chrome application, but it’s your call. There are various other ways to access Google Tasks, some of which can be found here.