How do you sync Outlook tasks with iOS 5 Reminders? (PC)

Like many here I have tried and failed to get reminders to work as I want i.e. sync outlook tasks, etc. from my PC to the iphone. Prior to moving to Apple I had Nokias and this was one of the standard feature for many years so when I moved to Apple in April I was surprised not available, and so found the cheap (and good) 'Todo' tool which does what I want. On hearing about the reminders on iOS 5 I thought 'oh well Apple have put Todo out of business' - but I need not have worried! The Reminders tool appears to be useless unless you decide to go the iCloud + exchange server route....!

Apple needs to understand that most customer keep their tasks/calender on their PC - and then back-up/sync to a corporate server (if applicable) and not the other way around! I do sometime worry about how Apple apps designers think people use their 'tools'. Anyway I strongly recommend the 'Todo' app - and no I am not an employee!

That's a real shame. As someone who has never before owned an Apple device I'm really disappointed that it cannor do a proper sync with Outlook tasks - by "proper" I mean into/with the Outlook tasks as set up in Outlook's native mode, not by creating a different iCloud tasks file which doesn't really integrate properly inro Outlook. Well, at least it synchronises properly with calendar, notes and contacts (via iTunes) so I will continue to do that rather than uuse iCloud. Dammit, my pathetic Nokia 6700 candy bar phone was able to sync directly with Outlook tasks (as well as calendar, contacts and notes) and this virtuoso Apple iPhone can't. I'm amazed.

Just use 'Todo'.... it does everything I used to do (for free) onthe Nokia. Like you I miss many of the Nokia features - not least the text tools which are much more intuative...

Thanks Henry - how is Todo sync-ed with Outlook, though?

There is a seperate Appigo app running on the PC that does the sync process outside of itunes over the home network. It asumes that your iphone/ipad is on the same homenetwork as your PC. Setup simple & works well. Frustrating that not a 'freebee' on such an expensive phone, but who am I to critcise progress (or Apple)... 🙂

Thank you I shall give that a try

Well, so much for synchronizing tasks. Good thing I don't use that feature heavily, though I was looking forward to what was promised. I use Outlook 2003 on my personal machine... everything else syncs properly, why not the task list?

Oh well ... guess I'll just open a notes file called "Tasks" and work it that way. Not a big deal but I had expected better than this.

Maybe Apple will fix it in a service pack to iOS5. Apple?

-Max

ICloud - Outlook route. I'm not using exchange server just outlook 2007 & the iCloud. Everything I have now is syncing 2 ways & my 2nd pc also now. I had to tick only the calendar box 1st on the iCloud control panel then close then restart then tick contacts & hey presto the iCloud sync toolbar appearing up top & now tasks & reminders are going both ways.

Henry - does the Appigo app on the PC require Bonjour installed? I don't have that installed but think I may have seen that as a requirement somewhere.

sounds interesting - I may give that another go too. I'll have to sacrifice the ToDo bar in Outlook of course, it seems.

sounds interesting - I may give that another go too. I'll have to sacrifice the ToDo bar in Outlook of course, it seems.

... sorry, identical post unintentional. Maybe someone can remove.

Message was edited by: wilf21

Hi folks,

indeed the is very disappointing.I experienced the same behavior on my iPad 2, where I sync with Outlook 2007.The only thing I can tell, that I use CalDav on my corporate iPhone 4 and sincethe iOS 5 Update, which by the way went like magic I see all my tasks in thereminders App and in iMessage. Never the less I agree that iCloud could not bethe only feasible solution. We need just a check box in iTuns Info Tap and that’sit. I may uses the workaround with Notes.

Rgds

Markus

More shouting into the ether...

I am so sorry I tried this -- followed the instructions, and set iCloud (on the PC and the iPhone) to sync ONLY tasks/reminders.

As I was led to expect from the discussion boards, iCloud created duplicate "iCloud" folders in Tasks, but it also created duplicate "iCloud" calendars even though I did not set the control panel to sync calendars.

What gives, Apple? Another business user here, and I use tasks without Exchange. How hard can it be to add USB sync of Tasks?

And why does installing and configuring iCloud for the limited purpose of syncing to Reminders create and turn on "Work" and "Home" calendars?

MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR FAILS:

1. Still can't sync Tasks

2. iCloud CP makes a mess of my Outlook files without my explicit consent to do so.

Hi again, this is what I saw at Apples Website: http://www.apple.com/ios/features.html

Reminders

better way to do to-dos.

Next time you think to yourself, “Don’t forget to...,” just pull out your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch and jot it down. Reminders lets you organize your life in to-do lists — complete with due dates and locations. Say you need to remember to pick up milk during your next grocery trip. Since Reminders can be location based, you’ll get an alert as soon as you pull into the supermarket parking lot. Reminders also works with iCal, Outlook, and iCloud, so changes you make update automatically on all your devices and calendars.

It says Outlook and iCloud not Outlook via iCloud!

So Apple needs to fix this. Maybe someone can call Apple to ask for it or ooen a Bug.