Geekzone Reviews eWallet 4.0

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?ContentId=3065' target='_blank'>http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.a...?ContentId=3065</a><br /><br /></div>Fast on the heels of eWallet 4.0's <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=265427">release</a> comes Mauricio's review of it. (I'm now convinced Mauricio doesn't sleep. ;)) If you want to know more detail about eWallet's new features and its record-level synchronization tools, you should certainly check it out. I've installed it and it was a snap to set up record-level sync (although I haven't tested it extensively).<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20040720-eWalletReview.jpg" /><br /><br /><i>"This version shows how a software already best in its category can get better. Ilium Software's eWallet, the secure (128bit key RC4 encryption) password and sensitive information keeper program for Windows Mobile Pocket PC, Smartphone, Windows based PC and Palm OS gets a new version with nested categories, unlimited categories (Palm) and record level synchronisation (Windows Mobile) and we think they're worth the upgrade. To start, eWallet, even in its previous versions, is one of the few true multi-platform software available for handhelds. I first used eWallet a few years ago, when I bought my second Palm device, at that time a 3COM Palm Pilot 5000 (yes, I had one before it, the US Robotics Pilot). The software already had versions available on the handheld and the desktop, with Hotsync providing record level synchronisation. Since then, and after a few handhelds, I've moved to the Windows Mobile world, and the first software to be added to my library was eWallet. When I bought a Windows Mobile Smartphone, eWallet was again the first software to be installed on my new device."</i>

[dhettel]

Hmm Is it just me? But if I take a sound file and "Insert Sound..." to my wallet on the PocketPC, then check "Play Sound Whenever This Card is Opened" Then SyncPro the sound file is removed from the wallet? So it is no longer possible to embed a sound file in a wallet? You must link to an external file?

I see this as a step backward. :cry:

[Janak Parekh]

I believe SyncPro doesn't support sounds or graphics (at least, yet) -- you need to use full-file sync for that.

--janak

[dhettel]

I believe SyncPro doesn't support sounds or graphics (at least, yet) -- you need to use full-file sync for that.

--janak

Sorry but that does not compute to me. If I *embed* a file in a wallet, it should become part of the wallet. The *wallet* increases by the size of the file and the overhead needed. That has been what embedded means in the past. I have a choice to *embed* or *link* IMHO either *embed* should not be allowed when a file is SyncPro, or it should be supported.

I would respectfully suggest this is not something that is not supported, but rather a design decision to strip such files. But one that over rides my choice to embed. Why give me a choice if I can not invoke it?

[Janak Parekh]

Sorry but that does not compute to me.
SyncPro doesn't treat a wallet as a file, but rather as a collection of records, and reconciles and synchronizes them individually. I agree it's lacking, but it's their first pass at per-record sync.

--janak

[dma1965]

SyncPro is way too slow for me, and it has hung my activesync more than once. I went back to the full file method. The nesting categories feature, however, is well worth the upgrade, in my opinion.

[dhettel]

I'm using Wi-Fi not an USB connection. Speed is not a problem that way for me. Also I have not had any problems with hanging my system. And I really like that I can sync a file on a storage card with SyncPro. But breaking my wallet, just leaves things more complicated to me. Luckily I'm not adding sound and pictures everyday.

[nz0eBoy]

One of the advantages of being based in NZ is that we are working while the American continent is asleep, so I suppose Mauricio is working through the night :wink:

I guess he wanted to get this out since he gets married shortly and is planning on taking a break for a short while.

On Topic: The UI of eWallet has never impressed me that much. I am just evaluating the wallet alternatives at the moment and so far FlewWallet is impressing me with it's UI the most.

I know if seems superficiail but I don't want my 'pretty' OS with Spb Plus dragged down by a not so pretty application UI. I haven't installed eWallet 4.0 yet anyone got any commenst on the UI in this version.

[MerlinAZ]

I've been using both demos for Flexwallet and eWallet(since yesterday). I think I like eWallet a little better at this point. D1's wallet wont be out until the end of the summer at the earliest(I emailed them).

There's no way to make a comparison without trying them. That's why it is nice to have free trials.
Don't knock the programs until you try them--These are major upgrades since the last versions released last summer.

[freitasm]

One of the advantages of being based in NZ is that we are working while the American continent is asleep, so I suppose Mauricio is working through the night :wink:

I guess he wanted to get this out since he gets married shortly and is planning on taking a break for a short while.


Pretty much :wink:

The thing is that I've got the software a few days before the release, so that I could have the review ready by 8am on the day. I had other reviews coming out in the next week or so, but I had to put this one in the front of the queue, to get the deadline.

And yes, I'm getting married, and should be skiing in the South Island by this time next week. But I'll have the laptop and the GPRS card with us :oops:

[Zack Mahdavi]

Gee, I REALLY want to upgrade right now. However, I'm in sort of a dilemma. I purchased eWallet back in February (which is two months before the fee upgrade date of April 12th). However, in late April (April 30th), I purchased the desktop conduit...

So, the question is, should I pay the $17 now to get the eWallet 4.0 Professional upgrade, or should I wait two weeks for my upgrade email and only pay $10?

Hmm..... I'm scratching my head right now.

[buckyg]

Don't forget the subscriber discount, it works for the upgrade!

[tourdewolf]

This program looks interesting but I wonder (especially with the desktop version) am I forever tirf to flexwallet? is there a way to export the data to a common file csv, txt, wbk, etc. for a failsafe backup? I searched their website but didn't see it addressed.

[ctmagnus]

This program looks interesting but I wonder (especially with the desktop version) am I forever tirf to flexwallet? is there a way to export the data to a common file csv, txt, wbk, etc. for a failsafe backup? I searched their website but didn't see it addressed.

Most wallet programs don't allow exporting to a common format like you mention. :( I know there's at least one that does iirc but I can't remember anything about it atm, other than it's open source.

[Ilium Software]

This program looks interesting but I wonder (especially with the desktop version) am I forever tirf to flexwallet? is there a way to export the data to a common file csv, txt, wbk, etc. for a failsafe backup? I searched their website but didn't see it addressed.

The Windows PC version allows the wallet to be exported to a text file.

We've just released a beta version of a new eWallet Import Tool.
We're looking for people to help us test it.
If you're interested, you can get it at
http://www.iliumsoft.com/site/ew/ewi_beta.htm