# 2021 **Complete Platform Transformation** - Taskade V4 launches with modern interface and powerful features, preparing the foundation for AI integration and eventual Genesis. > *"2021 was the year we rebuilt everything from the ground up. Taskade V4 wasn't just a redesign - it was preparation for what we knew was coming: the age of AI. Every pixel, every interaction, every feature was designed to be a foundation for intelligence to flourish."* *** ## 🎨 The V4 Revolution The complete platform transformation that created the modern, scalable foundation necessary for AI agents and Genesis applications. ## December 2021 ### 🎈 December 31, 2021 — Virtual Background & New Wallpapers **🚀 Highlights:** * **🎥 Virtual Background** - Enhanced video chat with virtual backgrounds * **🎨 New Wallpapers** - Latest project wallpaper collection * **➕ Add Block Anywhere** - Insert blocks at any position * **📱 iPad/Tablet Redesign** - Improved mobile experience **✨ Other Improvements:** Subspaces renamed to Folders, performance improvements, bug fixes. *** ### 🏞 November 30, 2021 — Project Background & Sidebar **🚀 Highlights:** * **🏞️ Project Backgrounds** - Full-page wallpapers returned by popular demand * **📂 Project Sidebar** - Quick navigation between projects and spaces * **😊 Insert Emoji** - Type ":" to search and insert emojis * **📋 Enhanced Copy/Paste** - Better text formatting preservation **✨ Other Improvements:** Markdown list formatting in chat, project name changes when copying, due date formatting in emails. *** ### 👍 November 16, 2021 — Task Reactions & My Tasks **🚀 Highlights:** * **😊 Task Reactions** - Add emoji reactions to collaborate on tasks * **✅ My Tasks Upgrade** - Automatic due date tasks, filter by creator/assignee * **💻 Desktop App Upgrade** - Updated Mac, PC, and Linux applications * **🔍 Enhanced Search** - Support for @mentions and #hashtags **✨ Other Improvements:** Multi-select keyboard shortcuts, task sorting by mentions/hashtags, tutorial improvements. *** ### ☁️ October 28, 2021 — Cloud Upload & Custom Repeating **🚀 Highlights:** * **☁️ Cloud Integration** - Upload from Google Drive, Dropbox, Instagram, Box * **🔁 Custom Repeating Tasks** - Select custom intervals by day, week, month, year * **🎨 Project Banners** - Customizable banners or focus mode * **💻 Desktop Improvements** - Tabs reopen automatically, window position memory **✨ Other Improvements:** Default templates for empty workspaces, workspace sidebar toggle, performance fixes. *** ### ⏱️ October 12, 2021 — Timer Addon & New Kanban **🚀 Highlights:** * **⏱️ Countdown Timer** - Add timers to urgent tasks for time management * **📋 New Kanban Board** - Improved drag-n-drop and keyboard shortcuts * **📅 Bulk Due Dates** - Add due dates to multiple tasks simultaneously * **☁️ Cloud File Upload** - Upload from Google Drive and Dropbox **✨ Other Improvements:** New templates in project creator, autoscroll in Board view, keyboard shortcut improvements. *** ### 📱 September 21, 2021 — Widgets, Zoom, Resize Chat **🚀 Highlights:** * **📱 Mobile Widgets** - Display My Tasks, Recent, Starred Projects on home screen * **🔍 Zoom for Mindmap/Org Chart** - Easily zoom in and out for better visualization * **📹 Resizable Chat** - Resize chat panel for enlarged video calls * **📄 Export to PDF** - Additional PDF export options **✨ Other Improvements:** Desktop UI improvements, mobile offline editing, autocomplete hashtags on mobile, keyboard shortcuts for zoom. *** ### 💰 August 31, 2021 — New Editor Layout & Free Credits **🚀 Highlights:** * **🖥️ New Editor Layout** - Instant view switching with hidden chat option * **💰 Earn Free Credits** - $10 credits for every person you invite * **📄 Export to PDF** - Convert projects to PDF format instantly * **🗂️ Enhanced My Tasks** - Project and workspace references included **✨ Other Improvements:** Drag to move around Board/Mindmap/Org Chart, disable backgrounds per project, large emojis in chat. *** ### 📥 August 16, 2021 — Import Markdown & Sort Project **🚀 Highlights:** * **📥 Import Markdown** - Import .md files directly into Taskade projects * **📊 Sort Project** - Sort entire projects by completion, alphabetical, or due date * **📝 Add Notes** - Add notes below tasks with Shift+Enter shortcut * **➕ Enhanced Task Creation** - Add tasks above or below existing tasks **✨ Other Improvements:** Mobile copy/move tasks, additional language support, hardware keyboard support, search by assignee. *** ### 📚 July 26, 2021 — Version History & Autocomplete Tags **🚀 Highlights:** * **📚 Version History** - Recover deleted data from previous project versions * **#️⃣ Autocomplete Tags** - Type # to select or create tags instantly * **📝 Markdown in Chat/Comments** - Full markdown support for conversations * **📊 Desktop Improvements** - Project icons in tabs, keyboard shortcuts **✨ Other Improvements:** Folded blocks auto-unfold with attachments, Add Block menu options, improved search results. *** ### 🎨 July 13, 2021 — V4 Layout & Highlight Colors **🚀 Highlights:** * **🖥️ Taskade V4 Layout** - Major workspace redesign for unified collaboration * **📁 Drag to Upload** - Drag and drop files directly onto tasks * **🎨 48 Highlight Colors** - New color palette for better task organization * **🎥 Virtual Backgrounds** - Video conferencing with virtual background support **✨ Other Improvements:** Embed support for Invision/Whimsical/Vimeo/Typeform, alphabetical task sorting, improved copy/paste. *** ### 🎥 June 29, 2021 — Embed YouTube, Loom, Figma **🚀 Highlights:** * **🎥 Content Embedding** - Embed YouTube, Loom, Figma, and more platforms * **👁️ Instant Preview** - Preview embedded content without leaving projects * **📱 Video Improvements** - Video thumbnails and player for MOV/MP4 files * **📊 Server Status** - Live server status page and feedback portal **✨ Other Improvements:** Video preview thumbnails, feedback portal launch, performance improvements. *** ### 📦 June 20, 2021 — Move Tasks & Bulk Assign **🚀 Highlights:** * **📦 Move Tasks** - Move and copy tasks across any workspace * **👥 Bulk Assign** - Multi-select tasks and assign to team members * **📊 Sort Sub-Tasks** - Sort by completion status and due dates * **📱 Mobile Updates** - My Tasks shortcut, Checker role support **✨ Other Improvements:** Workspace due date sorting, improved keyboard interface, performance fixes. *** ### ✅ June 10, 2021 — Checker Role & Copy Tasks **🚀 Highlights:** * **✅ Checker Role** - New permission level for checking/unchecking items only * **📋 Copy Tasks Across Projects** - Copy tasks to any workspace or subspace * **⌨️ Keyboard Shortcuts for Add-ons** - Quick access to due dates, assign, comment, files * **👥 Enhanced Invites** - Invite all workspace members to subspaces **✨ Other Improvements:** Screen sharing improvements (30 FPS), URL hyperlink tooltips, custom templates workflow updates. *** ### 📊 May 27, 2021 — Task Views & Workspace Sorting **🚀 Highlights:** * **✅ Complete Tasks in Task Views** - Check off tasks in My Tasks and workspace Tasks tab * **📅 Sort by Due Date** - Sort workspace projects by due dates * **🖼️ Project Icons in Browser Tabs** - Visual project identification in browser tabs * **📱 Desktop Updates** - Performance improvements and deep-linking **✨ Other Improvements:** Multi-select improvements, project history styling, Google Calendar integration fixes, emoji support in comments. *** ### 📝 May 13, 2021 — Project History & Video Chat **🚀 Highlights:** * **📝 Project History** - View all changes made by team members with jump-to functionality * **🎥 Enhanced Video Chat** - Improved conferencing and screen sharing experience * **💬 Better Comments** - Support for longer comments and replies * **📱 Mobile Improvements** - Better performance and stability **✨ Other Improvements:** Jump to edited items in project history, faster video chat, improved comment legibility. *** ### 🖨️ May 2, 2021 — Export Project & Check All Tasks **🚀 Highlights:** * **🖨️ Export Projects** - Export as image, plaintext, and markdown across all views * **✅ Check All Tasks** - Check nested tasks with single click (⌘+Shift+Enter) * **🖼️ Export Images** - Support for exporting boards and mindmaps as images * **📧 Email Attachments** - Include exports in presentations and emails **✨ Other Improvements:** Project deletion fixes, dark mode highlight legibility, real-time syncing improvements. *** ### 📊 April 19, 2021 — Org Chart & Mobile Updates **🚀 Highlights:** * **📊 Updated Org Chart View** - Better legibility and task breakdown capabilities * **📱 Mobile App Updates** - iOS/Android support for start times and custom intervals * **💻 Desktop App Updates** - Apple M1 and Windows support improvements * **🎯 Enhanced Editor** - Add-on menu accessibility and task management **✨ Other Improvements:** Multi-select task deletion, list hierarchy guidelines, workspace payment management, multiple project owners. *** ### 📅 March 31, 2021 — 2-Way Google Calendar Sync **🚀 Highlights:** * **📅 2-Way Google Calendar Sync** - Full integration with Google Calendar * **⏰ Task Start Time** - Add start and end times to tasks * **🔁 Custom Recurring Intervals** - More flexible repeating task options * **📱 Calendar Integration** - Events appear in Taskade Calendar automatically **✨ Other Improvements:** Real-time @mention updates, text formatting preservation, improved focus management, file attachments to empty tasks. *** ### ⚡ March 8, 2021 — Action View & Workspace Emoji **🚀 Highlights:** * **⚡ Updated Action View** - Enhanced table view for due dates and assignments * **😊 Workspace Emojis** - Custom icons for workspaces and subspaces * **🛣️ Workspace Roadmap** - Improved project reordering and date management * **📱 Mobile Emojis** - Add emojis to projects on mobile devices **✨ Other Improvements:** MP4 video playback, multiple file uploads, Apple M1 laptop support, performance improvements. *** ### 😊 January 18, 2021 — Project Emoji & Calendar Formatting **🚀 Highlights:** * **😊 Project Emoji Icons** - Customizable emoji icons for each project * **📅 Calendar Formatting** - Start week on Monday or any day * **🎨 Visual Improvements** - Better project organization and identification * **⚙️ Settings Enhancements** - More calendar customization options **✨ Other Improvements:** Calendar view customization, project visual identity improvements. *** ## Earlier 2021 Updates For additional 2021 updates including foundation features and major redesigns, visit our [blog archive](https://www.taskade.com/blog/updates). *** ## 🎨 The Modern Foundation **2021's Essential Contributions to Genesis:** The year everything was rebuilt for the future: * **🖥️ V4 Architecture** - Modern, scalable interface designed for AI integration * **📱 Multi-Platform Excellence** - Unified experience across all devices and platforms * **💬 Rich Communication** - Video, chat, markdown, and multimedia collaboration * **🎨 Visual Workflows** - Flexible views and customization for diverse work styles This comprehensive redesign created the stable, modern platform that could support AI agents, autonomous workflows, and eventually the Genesis framework. *** **Next in the Genesis Timeline:** [2022 AI & Automation](https://docs.taskade.com/docs/updates-and-timeline/changelog/2022) - Think in Tasks, Not Prompts **Previous Era:** [2020 Remote Collaboration](https://docs.taskade.com/docs/updates-and-timeline/changelog/2020) - Essential Infrastructure for Distributed Teams [*Return to The Genesis Timeline*](https://docs.taskade.com/docs/updates-and-timeline/changelog)