diff --git a/AndroidManifest.xml b/AndroidManifest.xml
index ee31a4daf..6b81fc5d0 100644
--- a/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@
                 <category android:name="android.intent.category.HOME" />
             </intent-filter>
         </activity>
+        
+        <!-- Activity that lets users log in to sync providers -->
+        <activity android:name=".activities.SyncLoginActivity"/>
 
         <!-- Activity that lets users edit app preferences -->
         <activity android:name=".activities.EditPreferences"/>
diff --git a/res/layout/sync_login.xml b/res/layout/sync_login.xml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..150a7dee9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/res/layout/sync_login.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<!--
+  ASTRID: Android's Simple Task Recording Dashboard
+ 
+  Copyright (c) 2009 Tim Su
+ 
+  This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+  it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+  the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+  (at your option) any later version.
+ 
+  This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
+  WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY
+  or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License
+  for more details.
+ 
+  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+  with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+  59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
+ 
+-->
+<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+    android:orientation="vertical"
+    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
+    android:layout_height="fill_parent">
+
+    
+    <TextView android:id="@+id/login_label"
+        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
+        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+        android:text="@string/rtm_login_label"
+        style="@style/TextAppearance.TaskList_Task"/>
+
+    <LinearLayout 
+        android:orientation="horizontal"
+        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
+        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+        android:paddingTop="5dip"
+        android:baselineAligned="false">
+        
+        <Button android:id="@+id/done"
+            android:layout_width="fill_parent"
+            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+            android:layout_weight="1"
+            android:text="@string/done_label"
+        />
+        
+        <Button android:id="@+id/cancel"
+            android:layout_width="fill_parent"
+            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+            android:layout_weight="1"
+            android:text="@android:string/cancel"
+        />
+        
+    </LinearLayout>
+        
+	<WebView android:id="@+id/browser"
+        android:layout_weight="1"
+        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
+        android:layout_height="wrap_content"/>
+        
+</LinearLayout>
diff --git a/res/values/strings.xml b/res/values/strings.xml
index 0ebe95ebe..c58acecb3 100644
--- a/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -175,9 +175,9 @@
         
         <!-- labels -->
         <string name="name_label">Summary</string>
-        <string name="name_hint">Task Description</string>
         <string name="importance_label">How Important is it?</string>
         <string name="tags_label">Tags:</string>
+        <string name="tag_hint">Tag</string>
         
         <string name="estimatedDuration_label">How Long Will it Take?</string>
         <string name="elapsedDuration_label">Time Already Spent on Task</string>
@@ -267,11 +267,6 @@ If you don\'t want to see the new task right after you complete the old one, you
         <string name="sync_bgwifi_title">Auto-Sync Wifi Only</string>
         <string name="sync_bgwifi_desc">If set, auto-sync only happens when Wifi is active</string>
         <string name="sync_error">Sync Error! Sorry for the inconvenience! Error:</string>
-        <string name="sync_auth_request">
-In order to synchronize, please log in to your %s account and authorize Astrid to read your data.
-\n\n
-When finished, restart Astrid.
-        </string>
         <string name="sync_upgrade_v99">
 Astrid 2.7 now performs synchronization with RTM in the background. You will 
 be directed to the preferences page to configure how often you want this to
@@ -296,9 +291,14 @@ occur (it is a minor drain on battery).
         <string name="sync_progress_remote">Reading Remote Data</string>
         <string name="sync_progress_rxlist">Reading List: %s</string>
         <string name="sync_progress_repeating">Synchronizing Repeating Task</string>
-        <string name="sync_progress_localtx">Sending Task: %s</string>
+        <string name="sync_progress_localtx">Transmitting: %s</string>
         <string name="sync_progress_localdel">Locally Deleted Tasks</string>
-        <string name="sync_progress_remotetx">Receiving Task: %s</string>
+        <string name="sync_progress_remotetx">Receiving: %s</string>
+        
+        <string name="rtm_login_label">Please Log In to RTM...</string>
+        <string name="rtm_login_error">
+Sorry, there was an error verifying your login. Please let us know about this error: 
+        </string>
         
        
     <!-- Dialog Boxes -->  
@@ -307,6 +307,7 @@ occur (it is a minor drain on battery).
         <string name="updating">Updating List...</string>
         <string name="information_title">Information</string>
         <string name="question_title">Question</string>
+        <string name="done_label">Done</string>
         <string name="notify_yes">View Task</string>
         <string name="notify_done">Already Done!</string>
         <string name="notify_snooze">Snooze</string>
diff --git a/src/com/timsu/astrid/activities/SyncLoginActivity.java b/src/com/timsu/astrid/activities/SyncLoginActivity.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b2f444503
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/com/timsu/astrid/activities/SyncLoginActivity.java
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+/*
+ * ASTRID: Android's Simple Task Recording Dashboard
+ *
+ * Copyright (c) 2009 Tim Su
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
+ * WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY
+ * or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License
+ * for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+ * with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+ * 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
+ */
+package com.timsu.astrid.activities;
+
+import android.app.Activity;
+import android.os.Bundle;
+import android.os.Handler;
+import android.view.View;
+import android.view.View.OnClickListener;
+import android.webkit.WebView;
+import android.webkit.WebViewClient;
+import android.widget.Button;
+import android.widget.TextView;
+
+import com.timsu.astrid.R;
+import com.timsu.astrid.utilities.Constants;
+
+/**
+ * This activity displays a <code>WebView</code> that allows users to log in to the
+ * synchronization provider requested. A callback method determines whether
+ * their login was successful and therefore whether to dismiss the dialog.
+ *
+ * @author timsu
+ *
+ */
+public class SyncLoginActivity extends Activity {
+
+    // --- bundle arguments
+
+    /**
+     * URL to display
+     */
+    public static final String URL_TOKEN   = "u";
+
+    /**
+     * Resource for the label to display at the top of the screen
+     */
+    public static final String LABEL_TOKEN = "l";
+
+    // --- callback
+
+    /** Callback interface */
+    public interface SyncLoginCallback {
+        /**
+         * Verifies whether the user's login attempt was successful. Will be
+         * called off of the UI thread, use the handler to post messages.
+         *
+         * @return true if activity should be dismissed, false otherwise
+         */
+        public boolean verifyLogin(Handler handler);
+    }
+
+    private static SyncLoginCallback callback = null;
+
+    /** Sets callback method */
+    public static void setCallback(SyncLoginCallback newCallback) {
+        callback = newCallback;
+    }
+
+    // --- ui initialization
+
+    @Override
+    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
+        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
+        setContentView(R.layout.sync_login);
+
+        String urlParam = getIntent().getStringExtra(URL_TOKEN);
+        int labelParam = getIntent().getIntExtra(LABEL_TOKEN, 0);
+
+        TextView label = (TextView)findViewById(R.id.login_label);
+        WebView webView = (WebView)findViewById(R.id.browser);
+        Button done = (Button)findViewById(R.id.done);
+        Button cancel = (Button)findViewById(R.id.cancel);
+
+        if(labelParam != 0)
+            label.setText(labelParam);
+
+        webView.setWebViewClient(new WebViewClient() {
+            @Override
+            public boolean shouldOverrideUrlLoading(WebView view, String url) {
+                view.loadUrl(url);
+                return true;
+            }
+        });
+        webView.getSettings().setJavaScriptEnabled(true);
+        webView.getSettings().setSavePassword(false);
+        webView.getSettings().setSupportZoom(false);
+        webView.loadUrl(urlParam);
+
+        final Handler handler = new Handler();
+        done.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
+            @Override
+            public void onClick(View v) {
+                if(callback == null) {
+                    finish();
+                    return;
+                }
+
+                new Thread(new Runnable() {
+                    @Override
+                    public void run() {
+                        boolean result = callback.verifyLogin(handler);
+                        if(result) {
+                            setResult(Constants.RESULT_SYNCHRONIZE);
+                            finish();
+                        }
+                    }
+                }).start();
+            }
+        });
+
+        cancel.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
+            @Override
+            public void onClick(View v) {
+                setResult(RESULT_CANCELED);
+                finish();
+            }
+        });
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/com/timsu/astrid/activities/SyncPreferences.java b/src/com/timsu/astrid/activities/SyncPreferences.java
index 243babec7..8c2bc8a77 100644
--- a/src/com/timsu/astrid/activities/SyncPreferences.java
+++ b/src/com/timsu/astrid/activities/SyncPreferences.java
@@ -77,6 +77,8 @@ public class SyncPreferences extends PreferenceActivity {
                     public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog,
                             int which) {
                         Synchronizer.clearUserData(SyncPreferences.this);
+                        // force a synchronization if sync preference is still set
+                        rtmSyncPreference = false;
                     }
                 }, null);
             }
diff --git a/src/com/timsu/astrid/activities/TaskListAdapter.java b/src/com/timsu/astrid/activities/TaskListAdapter.java
index 7681583b5..6f021f9ca 100644
--- a/src/com/timsu/astrid/activities/TaskListAdapter.java
+++ b/src/com/timsu/astrid/activities/TaskListAdapter.java
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ package com.timsu.astrid.activities;
 
 import java.text.Format;
 import java.text.SimpleDateFormat;
-import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Date;
 import java.util.List;
 
@@ -93,7 +92,7 @@ public class TaskListAdapter extends ArrayAdapter<TaskModelForList> {
     private static Format alarmFormat = null;
 
     private final Activity activity;
-    private ArrayList<TaskModelForList> objects;
+    private List<TaskModelForList> objects;
     private int resource;
     private LayoutInflater inflater;
     private TaskListAdapterHooks hooks;
@@ -111,7 +110,7 @@ public class TaskListAdapter extends ArrayAdapter<TaskModelForList> {
      *
      */
     public interface TaskListAdapterHooks {
-        ArrayList<TaskModelForList> getTaskArray();
+        List<TaskModelForList> getTaskArray();
         String getTagsFor(TaskModelForList task);
         TaskController taskController();
         TagController tagController();
@@ -133,7 +132,7 @@ public class TaskListAdapter extends ArrayAdapter<TaskModelForList> {
      * @param hooks
      */
     public TaskListAdapter(Activity activity, int resource,
-            ArrayList<TaskModelForList> objects, TaskListAdapterHooks hooks) {
+            List<TaskModelForList> objects, TaskListAdapterHooks hooks) {
         super(activity, resource, objects);
 
         inflater = (LayoutInflater)activity.getSystemService(
diff --git a/src/com/timsu/astrid/activities/TaskListSubActivity.java b/src/com/timsu/astrid/activities/TaskListSubActivity.java
index 517542064..5dccddaf2 100644
--- a/src/com/timsu/astrid/activities/TaskListSubActivity.java
+++ b/src/com/timsu/astrid/activities/TaskListSubActivity.java
@@ -18,14 +18,13 @@
  * 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
  */
 package com.timsu.astrid.activities;
-import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.Comparator;
 import java.util.Date;
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.Iterator;
 import java.util.LinkedList;
-import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Random;
 
 import android.app.AlertDialog;
@@ -138,8 +137,8 @@ public class TaskListSubActivity extends SubActivity {
 
     // other instance variables
     static class TaskListContext {
-        Map<TagIdentifier, TagModelForView> tagMap;
-        ArrayList<TaskModelForList> taskArray;
+        HashMap<TagIdentifier, TagModelForView> tagMap;
+        List<TaskModelForList> taskArray;
         HashMap<Long, TaskModelForList> tasksById;
         HashMap<TaskModelForList, String> taskTags;
         TaskModelForList selectedTask = null;
@@ -504,7 +503,8 @@ public class TaskListSubActivity extends SubActivity {
                     tasksCursor = getTaskController().getActiveTaskListCursor();
             }
             startManagingCursor(tasksCursor);
-            context.taskArray = getTaskController().createTaskListFromCursor(tasksCursor);
+            context.taskArray = Collections.synchronizedList(getTaskController().
+                    createTaskListFromCursor(tasksCursor));
 
             // read tags and apply filters
             context.tagMap = getTagController().getAllTagsAsMap();
@@ -650,7 +650,7 @@ public class TaskListSubActivity extends SubActivity {
     class TaskListHooks implements TaskListAdapterHooks {
 
         private HashMap<TaskModelForList, String> myTaskTags;
-        private ArrayList<TaskModelForList> myTaskArray;
+        private List<TaskModelForList> myTaskArray;
 
         public TaskListHooks() {
             this.myTaskTags = context.taskTags;
@@ -665,7 +665,7 @@ public class TaskListSubActivity extends SubActivity {
             return myTaskTags.get(task);
         }
 
-        public ArrayList<TaskModelForList> getTaskArray() {
+        public List<TaskModelForList> getTaskArray() {
             return myTaskArray;
         }
 
diff --git a/src/com/timsu/astrid/sync/RTMSyncProvider.java b/src/com/timsu/astrid/sync/RTMSyncProvider.java
index c20b5a67e..e2c80fb1c 100644
--- a/src/com/timsu/astrid/sync/RTMSyncProvider.java
+++ b/src/com/timsu/astrid/sync/RTMSyncProvider.java
@@ -28,10 +28,9 @@ import java.util.StringTokenizer;
 import java.util.Map.Entry;
 
 import android.content.Context;
-import android.content.DialogInterface;
 import android.content.Intent;
 import android.content.res.Resources;
-import android.net.Uri;
+import android.os.Handler;
 import android.util.Log;
 
 import com.mdt.rtm.ApplicationInfo;
@@ -48,7 +47,8 @@ import com.mdt.rtm.data.RtmTasks;
 import com.mdt.rtm.data.RtmAuth.Perms;
 import com.mdt.rtm.data.RtmTask.Priority;
 import com.timsu.astrid.R;
-import com.timsu.astrid.activities.TaskList;
+import com.timsu.astrid.activities.SyncLoginActivity;
+import com.timsu.astrid.activities.SyncLoginActivity.SyncLoginCallback;
 import com.timsu.astrid.data.enums.Importance;
 import com.timsu.astrid.data.sync.SyncMapping;
 import com.timsu.astrid.data.tag.TagController;
@@ -93,6 +93,8 @@ public class RTMSyncProvider extends SynchronizationProvider {
 
     /** Perform authentication with RTM. Will open the SyncBrowser if necessary */
     private void authenticate(final Context context) {
+        final Resources r = context.getResources();
+
         try {
             String apiKey = "bd9883b3384a21ead17501da38bb1e68";
             String sharedSecret = "a19b2a020345219b";
@@ -130,17 +132,40 @@ public class RTMSyncProvider extends SynchronizationProvider {
                         apiKey, sharedSecret, appName));
                 final String url = rtmService.beginAuthorization(Perms.delete);
                 progressDialog.dismiss();
-                Resources r = context.getResources();
-                DialogUtilities.okCancelDialog(context,
-                        r.getString(R.string.sync_auth_request, "RTM"),
-                        new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {
-                    public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int which) {
-                        TaskList.synchronizeNow = true;
-                        Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW,
-                                Uri.parse(url));
-                        context.startActivity(intent);
+
+                Intent intent = new Intent(context, SyncLoginActivity.class);
+                SyncLoginActivity.setCallback(new SyncLoginCallback() {
+                    @Override
+                    public boolean verifyLogin(final Handler syncLoginHandler) {
+                        if(rtmService == null) {
+                            Log.e("rtmsync", "Error: sync login activity displayed with no service!");
+                            return true;
+                        }
+
+                        try {
+                            String token = rtmService.completeAuthorization();
+                            Log.w("astrid", "got RTM token: " + token);
+                            Preferences.setSyncRTMToken(context, token);
+                            return true;
+                        } catch (final Exception e) {
+                            // didn't work
+
+                            syncLoginHandler.post(new Runnable() {
+                                @Override
+                                public void run() {
+                                    DialogUtilities.okDialog(context,
+                                            r.getString(R.string.rtm_login_error) +
+                                            " " + e.getMessage(), null);
+                                }
+                            });
+
+                            return false;
+                        }
                     }
-                }, null);
+                });
+                intent.putExtra(SyncLoginActivity.URL_TOKEN, url);
+                intent.putExtra(SyncLoginActivity.LABEL_TOKEN, R.string.rtm_login_label);
+                context.startActivity(intent);
 
             } else {
                 performSync(context);