Why image analysis?

Not every to-do lives in an email. Shopping notes, whiteboard photos, screenshots, labels, or even a photo of your desk can contain actionable tasks.

How it works

1. On-device first: TaskMaker tries to recognize text in the image using Apple Vision (OCR).
2. Optional OpenAI step: If no useful text is found locally, TaskMaker asks (unless you already consented) whether the image may be sent to OpenAI.
3. Scene → tasks fallback: If OCR doesn’t yield useful tasks, TaskMaker can derive tasks from the scene context (e.g. “messy desk” → “clean desk”).

Ways to import (iOS & macOS)

• iOS: Take photo (saved to Photos), select file, clipboard, share sheet.
• macOS: From Photos, select file, drag & drop, clipboard.

Data minimization & consent

• Before upload, images are downscaled to a maximum edge length of 2048 px (aspect ratio preserved).
• Sending images to OpenAI requires separate consent (toggle in the privacy dialog).

For details, see the Privacy Policy.

My day starts early. A cup of tea in hand, commuting to work, about 30 minutes of otherwise unused time. I used to try to remember my tasks or type them quickly into my phone. It rarely worked well.

Now I do it differently.

During my commute, I simply speak everything that comes to mind: tasks, reminders, loose thoughts. I use a small, high-quality recording device designed by a Swedish design studio. It feels a bit like a modern tape recorder. One button, excellent audio quality, no distractions. I talk freely, without structure or pressure.

By the time I arrive, everything is “on tape”.

From spoken thoughts to real to-dos

Once I’m at my desk, I open TaskMaker. I drop the WAV file into the app, or select it manually. That’s it.

TaskMaker automatically turns the audio into structured tasks:

• clear to-dos
• detected due dates
• additional notes

These tasks are saved directly into Apple Reminders. That’s where I manage my tasks anyway, because they sync effortlessly across all my devices – iPhone, Mac, iPad. Wherever I am, my task list is always up to date.

Within seconds, I have my task list for the day — without typing a single line.

Why this works so well

This workflow has become a real productivity hack for me:

• Capture tasks by voice when your mind is still fresh
• Automatically create tasks instead of managing them manually
• Rely on Apple Reminders, thanks to seamless cross-device syncing
• Start the day structured, the moment you arrive

Especially in the morning, this makes a huge difference. Tea, clear thoughts, and a ready-to-go task list.

Conclusion

Sometimes productivity isn’t about complex systems, but about simple routines.

Speaking your tasks during your commute, letting them be analyzed automatically, and starting the day with a clear plan — it doesn’t get much easier.