WebIS Money: New, Shiny, FREE (With Purchase)

[Pat Logsdon]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pocketinformant.com/p_money.php' target='_blank'>http://www.pocketinformant.com/p_money.php</a><br /><br /></div><i>"WebIS Money is an innovative entry-level finance application for the Pocket PC. Its purpose is to be simple, easy to use, and accurate for basic checkbook activities. Version 1.0 provides all of that and more. It does all the basics including multiple accounts, categorized transactions and transaction reconciliation as well as more advanced functions like Pie charts and Bar charts of your expenses. Furthermore, you can import and export your Quicken© data via QIF files to keep your information up to date with a desktop finance app. For example, you can enter transactions during the day and then import them into your finance app at the end of day."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/logsdon_20040715_webismoney.gif" /><br /><br />I like things that are free. 11th car wash free? Punch my card, good sir. Third scoop free? Load up my cone, Baskin-Robbins. Free, good lookin' Money Manager with purchase of Pocket Informant? Yes, please! I've been using this for the last several days, and I have to say that I'm impressed. The UI and graphics are top-notch, it doesn't take up much program memory, and it's <i>fast</i>. I'd like to see the number of required taps per entry reduced, but hey, it's a 1.0 free release. <br /><br />If you don't own Pocket Informant, you can pick up WebIS Money for a <a href="http://www.handango.com/brainstore//PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&jid=67X5D5ED57679BE954389366AFA5FD8A&platformId=2&productType=2&productId=125973&sectionId=0&catalog=30">trifling $5</a> at Handango. [Affiliate] Has anyone tried this? How do you think it stacks up against Cash Organizer 2004 Deluxe, Pocket Quicken, Mastersoft Money, etc.?

[Zack Mahdavi]

I'll be writing a review on this soon, but here are my initial impressions:

1) This program has a lot of potential. It has a very nice looking interface and great reporting features.
2) There are some "essential" missing features. For example, a default category list is not provided. You have to create your own categories from scratch.
3) There's also a few interface quirks. For example, you can't use a standard input method to jot down a payment or a date. Instead, you have to use the on screen calendar and keypad.

WebIS intends on developing this program further, so I'm sure we'll see the small problems ironed out. As an SPB Finance user, I can see how WebIS is going to be making the competition sweat.. :)

[ctmagnus]

I downloaded this yesterday 8) and I'm getting ready to install it now. I'll try to report back my findings.

[jt3]

I use Ilium Software's "Keep Track" for my checkbook register, and I love it. Does anyone know how this program stacks up against that one?

[Jacob]

2) There are some "essential" missing features. For example, a default category list is not provided. You have to create your own categories from scratch.

This is somewhat irritating, but it can import categories from a QIF file.

It looks good - except there's no budgetting!! The graphing is good, but no option to just choose this month in some graphical views.

[alex_kac]

Budgeting is the #2 priority on our list for 2.0. That's all I can say. Oh, and the budgeting should be one of the most powerful of any app - desktop or PPC. At least if the person speccing it has anything to do with it (not me...who hates budgets).

[pkbdeb]

Do you know if it handles multiple currencies?

[Techtoys]

The feature I really need is fully predictive spending analysis.

Basically, whenever I reach for my charge card, I need the iPaq to chime loudly and say 'No!'... :wink:

A link into the automatic doors on most stores to stop them opening for me would be good too.

[LightMan]

I'd love to have a go at it, but there is no trial? :roll:

[jsnielsen]

Well, I have to say, I was a bit annoyed by the release of Money 1.0 ;) Just a few days before, I'd bought SPB Finance, and until now, I haven't been using any of the really advanced features, so I think I would've just used WebIS' product and waited for the 2.0. Since I own both Mail and PI, it wouldn't have cost me a thing :|

Anyway, I think it has lots of potential. I don't mind the lack of default categories, I always delete them all and do my own anyway.

What I WOULD like to see, are these features:

- Budgeting
- Text on the buttons. It can be quite confusing to use a program with only graphical representation of its functions. You spend a lot of time going "hmm, wonder what this button does ?!?".
- Support for currency. E.g. I'm Danish, so I enter my values in DKK. But I often buy software through Handango or PocketGear. What would be real nice is either online support for current currency values. So you always have a current value of currency. Or, you choose which currency the value entered is in, and it converts to your local currency, based on a value you enter yourself.

Other than that, I think it's a real nice app. I tried exporting my data from spb finance to a qif file yesterday, and then imported it into Money.

Well... it imported it allright... but the data were kinda f00ked up ;) Completely wrong values all over.

I'm looking forward to 2.0, and to check the improvements :)

[pkbdeb]

- Support for currency. E.g. I'm Danish, so I enter my values in DKK. But I often buy software through Handango or PocketGear. What would be real nice is either online support for current currency values. So you always have a current value of currency. Or, you choose which currency the value entered is in, and it converts to your local currency, based on a value you enter yourself.



So it does not have support for multiple currencies? :?:

[jsnielsen]

So it does not have support for multiple currencies? :?:

Sorry, didnt' mean it like that. It probably does, haven't checked.

What I meant was: Automatic calculation of values, from currency to currency. Not just listing that "this software cost you $7.99". But actually convert the price to DKK, and deduct the amount, according to whatever daily value a given currency has.

Am I clear, or am I making nonsense ? ;)

[Zack Mahdavi]

I'd love to have a go at it, but there is no trial? :roll:

Nope, I guess not. It's really meant as more of a "pre-release." Version 2 will have more features and we will all have to pay for it, according to their website.

[pkbdeb]

To those of you who already have your copy: Do you know if you can have one cash account in Euros, one in USD, a bank account in Swiss Francs etc. In other words, does the software handle multiple accounts in different currencies? :?:

[lmtuxinc]

Please tell us that it will be able to sync with microsoft money !
spb said they were going to have a version that did, and never bothered to put one out.

[Zack Mahdavi]

To those of you who already have your copy: Do you know if you can have one cash account in Euros, one in USD, a bank account in Swiss Francs etc. In other words, does the software handle multiple accounts in different currencies? :?:

I don't believe there is a way to handle multiple currencies. If there is, I haven't found it yet. :)

[Zack Mahdavi]

Please tell us that it will be able to sync with microsoft money !
spb said they were going to have a version that did, and never bothered to put one out.

I emailed SPB about a month ago regarding this, and they told me it's still in development. So it doesn't look like the entire project will be canned; I'm betting it will be released with the next major version of SPB Finance.

Either way, it would be VERY nice to have MS Money synchronization support for WebIS Money, especially since this program is trying to be more of a "satellite" to your actual finance program rather than a replacement.

[pkbdeb]

I don't believe there is a way to handle multiple currencies. If there is, I haven't found it yet. :)

Thanks! I guess it may still be worth $5 :D

[Pat Logsdon]

The WebIS Forums (http://www.pocketinformant.com/Forums/index.php?showtopic=4281&hl=money&st=0) provide answers to a few of the questions asked here:

Q:Will it also work with MS Money?

A: It uses QIF files for import/export. QIF is a standard financial file format used by any and all financial apps. So MS Money, Quicken, or anything can import/export QIF files. As for MS Money 2004 - we support the standard QIF format. Not any proprietary .qif or other qif like formats. So I don't know where MS Money 2004 stands on that. We may or may not improve that in the future. I would like to have an automatic way of importing Money/Quicken data files - but considering how proprietary those are and possible DMCA legal issues probably not.

Q: It would be convenient to be able to specify the currency of each account and to be allowed to enter transactions in other currencies and give the exchange rate at the time of the transaction. It would also be nice to transfer money from one account in one currency to another account in another currency, say, from my bank account transfer CHF 300 to an "account" Euro cash as EUR 450.

A: Multiple currency support is in the list, but its been pushed out of the 2.0 release because I have a very strict time table for 2.0 and multiple currencies is a big effort.

[Marcel_Proust]

It's a beauty for $5, and even better, free for me, but I think
it's only worth about that right now.
For the best, the new version of Cash Organizer, is what I use and would recommned.
Spb is the most elegant, but maybe not the most feature filled.

[ScHaX]

Sorry, didnt' mean it like that. It probably does, haven't checked.

What I meant was: Automatic calculation of values, from currency to currency. Not just listing that "this software cost you $7.99". But actually convert the price to DKK, and deduct the amount, according to whatever daily value a given currency has.

Am I clear, or am I making nonsense ? ;)

If your connected to the net you can always use this site, which I always use for converting between SEK (Swedish crowns, though I think you know :wink: ) and dollar: http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic

[ctmagnus]

I tried exporting my data from spb finance to a qif file yesterday, and then imported it into Money.

Well... it imported it allright... but the data were kinda f00ked up ;) Completely wrong values all over.

I tried importing from Quicken. I found that if I delete the first transcation from the import in each account, then I get the correct balance.

[pkbdeb]

"Furthermore, you can import and export your Quicken© data via QIF files to keep your information up to date with a desktop finance app. For example, you can enter transactions during the day and then import them into your finance app at the end of day."



I am having serious problems importing data to MS Money on my desktop. Transactions that I enter in Web IS Money are not exported with categories so when I import them to MS Money I only get date, payee and amount... Am I doing something wrong???

[Zab]

I know fairly old news but i dloaded this today and i LOVE it. So does my wife. Very easy to use and works wonderfully.

[pkbdeb]

Has anyone been successful in exporting to MS Money?