DIRECTIVE REVIEW: REMINDER APP DESIGNED WITH HOME AND AUTO NEEDS IN MIND

Although I love Fantastical ( go.macworld. com/fnts), there are tasks on my to-do lists that would be better served by a different kind of app. Reminders for recurring household and automotive maintenance chores like changing furnace filters, having the septic tank pumped, or scheduling annual eye exams and dental cleanings are just a few of the important services that are easy to be overlooked when intermixed with unrelated one-time tasks.

These are exactly the type of reminders Directive ( go.macworld.com/ drtv) was created for. Free to download and use for up to ten maintenance tasks on Mac, iphone, and ipad, the app comes

preconfigured with more than 30 of the most common, repetitive chores faced by those who own a home or automobile.

Directive can’t perform the actual task for you, but it’s easy to add new tasks, customize the name, assign a category (home, office, etc.), note when the maintenance was last completed, and set the frequency of the task in just a few clicks. You can even add details specific to each task—great for remembering which size furnace filter you need to buy, or what your car’s proper tire pressure should be.

Directive also allows assigning oneclick actions to each task. These can be used to reorder parts on Amazon (or another online store), initiate a call to the doctor’s office or service center, and find the nearest location based on task name. While you can add custom categories and details, only nine actions are available in the current version.

PRO PLAN

Directive displays upcoming tasks as a list sorted by next due date. Overdue tasks appear in red under Due Soon, along with those that fall within the range set in preferences: Due in One Week, Two

Directive makes it easy to keep track of recurring maintenance tasks that would otherwise clutter up your to-do list app. (Mac version shown here.)

Mark as complete, postpone to a later date, or use onetap actions to reorder parts and schedule service when it comes due. (iphone version shown here.)