Pocket Informant 3.01 released

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.pocketinformant.com">http://www.pocketinformant.com</a><br /><br />Less than a month ago, Pocket Informant 3.0 was released, a complete rewrite of one of the most popular Pocket PC applications ever released. Over the weekend, 3.01 was finalized and released. There were a number of bug fixes and quite a few new features too.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketinformant.com/img/screen03.gif" /><br /><br />Just a <i>few</i> of the new features:<br />•Drag and Drop in Week View - just drag an appointment or task to a new day and change its date and time <br />•Birthday and Anniversary Dates gathered from the Contacts database <br />•ABC Tab in the Contacts view for quick access to contacts. Unique user interface improves the use of this tab <br />•Summary Dialogs are available for appointments, tasks, and contacts and are on by default <br />•Double tap on the Calendar View (CAV) tab and the view will maximize to use up all horizontal space. <br />•Use the Calendar button to cycle through calendar views (very useful with the above mentioned CAV Maximize feature) <br />•Task Sorting in Calendar <br />•More Task options in Calendar <br />•Category Filtering in Task Priority Manager <br />•Optional System Tray icon

[mhowie]

PI 3.01 is clearly the finest PIM available for the Pocket PC. Agenda Fusion copied the bulk of PI's 2.x release, added a couple of other features, and has marketed it quite well as a viable alternative.

With the release of PI 3.01, however, the bar has been raised so high, it will take the competition some time to recover and begin the process of copying/catching up.

PI 3.01 is fast, and really adds to one's productivity if used to its fullest capability. It appears to be "bug-less" for the most part and I dare say claiming its right as the best PIM for a PDA of all-time (Datebk4 users might debate this point).

[CESkins]

PI 3.01 is clearly the finest PIM available for the Pocket PC. Agenda Fusion copied the bulk of PI's 2.x release, added a couple of other features, and has marketed it quite well as a viable alternative

More PIM bashing. :( If we want to start pointing fingers, both AF and PI ripped off many of their ideas from Datebook and ActionNames for the Palm PDAs (which in my opinion are still the best of their class). I think we need to let both PI and AF evolve and agree that they are both great PIMS and neither will appeal to everyone. Competition is a good thing. It helps keeps prices competitive or would you rather pay the $80-90 for Pocket On-Schedule which is the closest thing in the PocketPC world to a full-fledged Outlook 2000/2K2 equivalent. ;)

[Ed Hansberry]

More PIM bashing. :( If we want to start pointing fingers, {snip}

No... no pointing fingers. To each his own. I recommeneded a co-worker try PI3 and AF4 and he chose AF4 after a few days. Recommended both to a friend, tried both and went back to the default PIM apps. :D

Just trying to keep people up to date. Normally wouldn't bother for a .01 update but there were quite a few new features.

[ChrisW]

I experienced a minor glitch after installing the updated PI; hopefully this note will help a few others avoid my headache.

After installation my hard buttons no longer functioned. After clicking, I got a message like "Can't find "Start" program". Upon seeing this I realized that the installer hadn't asked me (as I think it did in the past) if I wanted to assign PI to the hard buttons.

The solution is easy enough. Go to Settings | Buttons and re-select the corresponding PI functions. They'll appear to be identical, but something must have changed.

[Ed Hansberry]

After installation my hard buttons no longer functioned. After clicking, I got a message like "Can't find "Start" program". Upon seeing this I realized that the installer hadn't asked me (as I think it did in the past) if I wanted to assign PI to the hard buttons.

The new installer on the device doesn't ask per se, it just has two check boxes at the top of the opening dialog. It is possible your's weren't checked, though mine were. I always uncheck them since I only like my Calendar button reassigned. I don't want Recorder or Contacts switched.

[mhowie]

PI 3.01 is clearly the finest PIM available for the Pocket PC. Agenda Fusion copied the bulk of PI's 2.x release, added a couple of other features, and has marketed it quite well as a viable alternative

More PIM bashing. :(

Sorry you feel this way, but are you questioning the veracity of my earlier statement-- especially as it relates to the UI and overall feel?

I noted that Datebk4 users might argue, and as a former Datebk4 user, I must confess that I long for the day to see PI integrate a few of the remaining missing Datebk4 features into its own feature-set.

Respectfully,

[CESkins]

Sorry you feel this way, but are you questioning the veracity of my earlier statement-- especially as it relates to the UI and overall feel?

Short of D1 actually admitting to reverse engineering PI to create AF, how would I or anyone know with 100% accuracy that AF is a rip off of PI. There are only so many ways to display calendar info without it becoming difficult to decipher and unusable. Besides, just to prove that a piece of software is "novel" are we now expecting developers to create UI's and functionality radically different from anything that preceded. Software developers (MS, Adobe, Macromedia, etc.) utilize ideas that the competition developed and expand on them. MS made billions doing just that and we as PocPC users benefit from the integration of the best features the competition has to offer w/the best features native to the PocPC platform (whether it comes through MS or 3rd party developers). The UI for AF and PI is not the most important thing if you ask me but rather the underlying code. If D1 ripped off PI's code and then just added to it to create AF, I could rationalize the finger pointing. However, there is no evidence that I know of that this is the case. The development of PI's new user interface and functinality was driven by beta user input and Alex's creativity/programming skills....a lot of D1's AF feature set is also being driven by user input. I would like to add that some of the users of PI also have AF on their machine and are actually looking to get a product that gives the best of both worlds. Doesn't suprise me that two products would look similar and share similar feature sets initially when the same set of hard core users are the ones driving the UI development and integration of features. Like I said before...let's stop pointing fingers and give these two developers the input they need to make these the 2 best PIMs on the market (so I can retire the built-in PIM once and for all). :)

[mhowie]

Even if your first sentence were true, admission would never occur. I was certainly not alleging that code was copied, but rather the fact that after I downloaded AF and utilized for a couple of days, I found little that differentiated it between its predecessor--from a content and UI standpoint. Most of the program was eerily similar to PI. That said, the Icon Manager, however, was a nice feature for the PC.

From a performance standpoint though, it was terrible compared to PI on my iPAQ and then my HP568, and I just could not withstand the delays I was experiencing--it was impacting my productivity.

As I said, however, the marketing of the product is well done and there seems to be a group of individuals who will rabidly defend the product against all comers to the death.

Those of us without a financial incentive in either product (or any PIM, for that matter), simply want the best program available. As Ed pointed out earlier, a simple trial between the two latest releases should provide ample evidence concerning which one is the better PIM-- assuming one wants to improve productivity and organization.

BTW, if you haven't retired the built-in PIM yet, something is very, very wrong! :)

[Ed Hansberry]

Even if your first sentence were true, admission would never occur.

ENOUGH!

I already asked nicely once. Drop it or take it to private messaging.

[mhowie]

Ed,

Feel free to email me if you have a problem. Your condescending attitude is unappreciated. If this forum does not condone the exchange of civil ideas and opinions, then just say so and simply delete the offending posts.

Sheesh...

Thanks,

[Jason Dunn]

If this forum does not condone the exchange of civil ideas and opinions


You have to remember that the Pocket PC community is very small - I know both Alex and John, the respective authors of each program, and to accuse one of ripping the other off is not civil in any fashion, regardless of how "nicely" you phrase it. You could say that you prefer one over the other without insulting either author. Something to keep in mind. :wink:

[Kre]

Request...

YEARLY VIEW! YEARLY VIEW! YEARLY VIEW! YEARLY VIEW!!!!!!!!

[Ed Hansberry]

Request...

YEARLY VIEW! YEARLY VIEW! YEARLY VIEW! YEARLY VIEW!!!!!!!!

:lol: I too am waiting on that one.

[Kilmerr]

Getting a CalendarView (0x004e) terminated abnormally by an exception error msg when you click on a blank day in the monthly calendar view. And I too, vote for yearly view. Seems a rather odd omission. :roll:

[Ed Hansberry]

Getting a CalendarView (0x004e) terminated abnormally by an exception error msg when you click on a blank day in the monthly calendar view. And I too, vote for yearly view. Seems a rather odd omission. :roll:

I'd shoot Alex an email on the exception. I am tapping all over the place in Month View and getting no errors. Took me a few minutes to actually find a "blank" day. :lol:

[Kre]

And I too, vote for yearly view. Seems a rather odd omission. :roll:


Yeah, quite. Ive been mentioning this to them for over a year. I just hope we dont have to wait until version ten to see it implemented. Ive never understood why they dont think its important, or why they seem as if theyre so resistant to including it. Ive encountered the same response to the creators of Agenda. It must just be beyond the limits of their programming abilities. :roll:

[Ed Hansberry]

Yeah, quite. Ive been mentioning this to them for over a year. I just hope we dont have to wait until version ten to see it implemented. Ive never understood why they dont think its important, or why they seem as if theyre so resistant to including it. Ive encountered the same response to the creators of Agenda. It must just be beyond the limits of their programming abilities. :roll:

Well, I'd fork over $10 for you to write a Year View calendar. I am sure it is not beyond your programming abilities. :roll:

pssstttt.. hey guys... ever consider it is a matter of priority? MV/WV/AV/TV/CV seems much higher up on the food chain than does YV, and both PI and AF have one developer that also does other projects and pretty much 100% of the tech support for their apps. Think before being so critical of how others do their job.

[Kre]

Ed, I can understand if you feel the need to be a public defender of these developers, because after all, theyre working hard to bring great products to market. But many of us are programmers as well... its not safe to assume we`re all on the other side of the fence. Many of us have the same insights you do. And no one is being critical here. Im just pokin a little fun. Thats why I had the rolling eyes after the last line of my comment. I know its not beyond their abilities, I just want to see this implemented, as many of us do. But who is to say what is priority and what isnt? After all, whats important to me, isnt to someone else, and visa versa. To be honest, to me, a year is plenty of time to implement such a simple feature, regardless of what someone has going on. After all, we`re all busy, are we not? But then again, I wouldnt expect everyone to agree with this.

The response Ive received from these developers is not that they didnt have time. If that were the case, they wouldnt be able to develop at all. But rather, they just didnt show much, if any, interest in this particular feature. And thats a shame, because they both have great products, and this would be a great addition to many of us.

[Ed Hansberry]

To be honest, to me, a year is plenty of time to implement such a simple feature, regardless of what someone has going on. After all, we`re all busy, are we not?
$10, right here. Just give me your paypal account and a link.

[Kre]

$10, right here. Just give me your paypal account and a link.


LOL, well, Ill tell you, Ed, Ive got a better idea. Why dont you direct your ten bucks to Alex. After all, he`s the developer. :)

[Doug Raeburn]

Ed, I can understand if you feel the need to be a public defender of these developers, because after all, theyre working hard to bring great products to market. But many of us are programmers as well... its not safe to assume we`re all on the other side of the fence. Many of us have the same insights you do. And no one is being critical here. Im just pokin a little fun. Thats why I had the rolling eyes after the last line of my comment. I know its not beyond their abilities, I just want to see this implemented, as many of us do. But who is to say what is priority and what isnt? After all, whats important to me, isnt to someone else, and visa versa. To be honest, to me, a year is plenty of time to implement such a simple feature, regardless of what someone has going on. After all, we`re all busy, are we not? But then again, I wouldnt expect everyone to agree with this.

The response Ive received from these developers is not that they didnt have time. If that were the case, they wouldnt be able to develop at all. But rather, they just didnt show much, if any, interest in this particular feature. And thats a shame, because they both have great products, and this would be a great addition to many of us.


It's a matter of priorities, pure and simple. When they responded that they didn't have time, that didn't mean they didn't have time to develop at all. It meant that they didn't have time to devote to your request when they had higher priorities to address.

I don't deny that a year view might be handy, although it's not a high priority for me... there are quite a few other enhancements that I'd like to see first. I see most of the requests that John Psuik gets for Agenda Fusion, and the truth of the matter is that a year view has not been among the top requests. The volume of requests that John receives asking for this feature or that feature to be added is mind boggling, and it just isn't possible for him to "get right on it" every time someone thinks he or she has "the killer suggestion". In many cases, it isn't possible (or even necessarily desirable) for him to get on it at all. You may be a programmer, but that fact doesn't put you in the position to understand the nature and volume of the specific requests that John receives, not to mention the demands on his time. I can't speak for Alex, but I'm sure the situation is pretty much the same for him. Your statement that "a year is plenty of time" seems to be based on some highly debatable assumptions.

[Kre]

:roll: Look, Im not trying to get into a big debate about who has the most insight into these developers scheduling details. Im sure a lot of people have some great insights into this and that, but one person takes what I said out of context, and then this whole stupid debate ensues. All I was saying is that its frustrating not to have this feature incorporated, and that I hope they include it soon, because for me, it IS important. Thats all.

[Ed Hansberry]

Im sure a lot of people have some great insights into this and that, but one person takes what I said out of context, and then this whole stupid debate ensues.
First you said:
It must just be beyond the limits of their programming abilities.
then,

The response Ive received from these developers is not that they didnt have time. If that were the case, they wouldnt be able to develop at all. But rather, they just didnt show much, if any, interest in this particular feature.
then,
many of us are programmers as well... its not safe to assume we`re all on the other side of the fence. Many of us have the same insights you do
then,
The response Ive received from these developers is not that they didnt have time. If that were the case, they wouldnt be able to develop at all. But rather, they just didnt show much, if any, interest in this particular feature.

So, what exactly was taken out of context? You have said they are incapable, uninterested, unwilling and lying about time constraints. Then you tell us you are a programmer and have been complaining about this for a year now.
Ive been mentioning this to them for over a year.
Don't you have the time or skill? In that year you could have done it. Plenty of time, because to say you don't have the time, "you wouldn't be able to develop at all." You must not be as interested in this YV as you claim. :roll:

[Kre]

So, what exactly was taken out of context? You have said they are incapable, uninterested, unwilling and lying about time constraints. Then you tell us you are a programmer and have been complaining about this for a year now.

Don't you have the time or skill? In that year you could have done it. Plenty of time, because to say you don't have the time, "you wouldn't be able to develop at all." You must not be as interested in this YV as you claim. :roll:


:lol: This is ridiculous. Look Ed, Im not sure what exactly ruffled your feathers so much here. My comment about it being beyond their programming abilities wasnt directed to you, so why did you get so defensive? That comment was meant as a joke. OK? A joke, Ed. I never suggested that I thought they were truly incapable. This is what you took out of context.

Secondly, I did say they seemed uninterested and unwilling. But I never suggested you took that out of context. OK?

Third, I NEVER suggested that they were lying about ANYTHING. Suggesting I said this, shows once again, youre taking something I said out of context.

Forth, I havent complained to anyone. I merely made suggestions. That is all.

And fifth, this is not about my programming abilities. It never was. I dont have to prove myself to you or anyone else to make a point. Besides, why would I work on somebody elses project?

It was you who suggested they may not have time to work on a YV. I merely countered with the idea that its not that they dont have time, but that they dont want to devote the time they DO have to incorporating a YV, but rather other things. Do you understand?

Can you accept this, or do you want to continue insisting that you know more about whats going on inside my own head than I do?

Dont just jump to conclusions by thinking that every time you perceive a comment to be an insult, it automatically is. My comment was not intended to be so, and only I can know this for sure since Im the one that wrote it. You know as well as the rest of us how things can be misinterpreted on the net. I have tried to be honest during all of this while guarding my intentions, but if you insist on winning this debate and having the last stinging words at the expense of what is true, then Ill just have to leave you and anyone else who thinks they can interpret me better than myself, to your own devices.

[Kre]

Oh yes, one last thing. Using your words I say...



Even if your first sentence were true, admission would never occur.


ENOUGH!

Drop it or take it to private messaging.