View Full Version : Pocket PC magazine Best Software Awards 2005 Announced
Ed Hansberry
11-04-2005, 11:15 PM
<a href="http://www.pocketpcmag.com/awards/main.asp">http://www.pocketpcmag.com/awards/main.asp</a><br /><br /><i>"The Best Software Awards helps users select software that best suit their Windows Mobile Pocket PC and Smartphone needs. We do so by honoring companies that produce outstanding software."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2005/20051104-ppcawards.jpg" /><br /><br />A lot of my favorites are winners this year, like Pocket Informant, PocketBible, ListPro, eReader Pro and Fitaly. In fact, there is a ton of similarity in the winners and <a href="http://www.ehansberry.com/pages/pocketpc.html">the list maintained here</a>. ;)
Those results are proof that all they did was read up on handango.
Dining category FFSake! What a load of Cake.
ctitanic
11-05-2005, 01:39 AM
The winners of the Fifth Annual Best Software Awards conducted by Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine (formerly Pocket PC magazine) have been announced at www.pocketpcmag.com/awards. Eighty members of the Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine Board of Experts judged Windows Mobile products in 130 Pocket PC, Smartphone, and Developer categories to determine finalists and winners.
http://www.tweaks2k2.com/images/05winnerbig2.jpg
0X 8)
Paragon
11-05-2005, 01:47 AM
:spam: :lol:
ctitanic
11-05-2005, 01:57 AM
:spam: :lol:
sorry guys but I'm having a big party... I just got the electricity back since Wilma hit us here and this big NEWS!!!!!!
Ed Hansberry
11-05-2005, 01:57 AM
:spam: :lol:
:?:
Paragon
11-05-2005, 02:00 AM
I was refering to ctitanic's subtle post. :)
Paragon
11-05-2005, 02:02 AM
I just got the electricity back
I guess there must have been a power surge. :-)
ctitanic
11-05-2005, 02:04 AM
I just got the electricity back
I guess there must have been a power surge. :-)
yes, and a big one, 11 days without electricity at home and a week at work. :(
Paragon
11-05-2005, 02:06 AM
yes, and a big one, 11 days without electricity at home and a week at work. :(
Ouch!
Congrat's on the win...and now having your power back.
allenalb
11-05-2005, 02:21 AM
:spam: :lol:
sorry guys but I'm having a big party... I just got the electricity back since Wilma hit us here and this big NEWS!!!!!!
where are you from c? i'm in North Lauderdale...
ctitanic
11-05-2005, 02:23 AM
:spam: :lol:
sorry guys but I'm having a big party... I just got the electricity back since Wilma hit us here and this big NEWS!!!!!!
where are you from c? i'm in North Lauderdale...
hollywood.
alex_kac
11-05-2005, 02:31 AM
Welcome to the club :) Again. :)
ctitanic
11-05-2005, 02:34 AM
Welcome to the club :) Again. :)
congratulations Alex!
Ed Hansberry
11-05-2005, 02:44 AM
I was refering to ctitanic's subtle post. :)
Oh, I see that now. When I posted my :?: there was a red X. Not sure if it was something with my PPC or a temporary network issue, but his image wsn't there.
Agreed. :spam: :rotfl:
allenalb
11-05-2005, 03:15 AM
:spam: :lol:
sorry guys but I'm having a big party... I just got the electricity back since Wilma hit us here and this big NEWS!!!!!!
where are you from c? i'm in North Lauderdale...
hollywood.
cool that's where i was born... we got our power back last night, finally...
we should form a SOFL PPC club...
Rob Borek
11-05-2005, 04:22 AM
Those results are proof that all they did was read up on handango.
Dining category FFSake! What a load of Cake.
Umm... each category was judged by a number of judges, then the results compiled to find a winner. Not every judge looks at the same things, or gives equal weight to different features in the programs - which is why there are multiple judges per category.
(Yes, I was on the Board of Experts for the Pocket PC Awards. Yes, I did test each program in the categories I judged.)
Wasgo
11-05-2005, 06:47 AM
I find it weird that Simcity 2000 is still up there. It's not supported anymore and won't even run properly on my iPaq h1945 which isn't that new a PPC.
pocketpcadmirer
11-05-2005, 01:22 PM
Looks like I've same set of softwares as uncle handberry have !! :wink:
SUnny
cuteseal
11-06-2005, 12:42 AM
I don't see why PocketBible from Laridian deserves to win... they haven't released any updates or new feature to their reader program in years. Many feature requests have been ignored - they just seem content to rest on their laurels. I think others which are in active development, such as Olivetree, Esword or even Quickverse deserve to win...
welovejesus
11-06-2005, 04:36 AM
A lot of my favorites are winners this year, like Pocket Informant, PocketBible, ListPro, eReader Pro and Fitaly. In fact, there is a ton of similarity in the winners and the list maintained here (http://www.ehansberry.com/pages/pocketpc.html). ;)
Ed,
Thank you for sharing you list with everyone. Your list has been a deciding factor in many of my PocketPC purchase decisions! :way to go:
welovejesus
11-06-2005, 04:42 AM
ctitanic and Alex,
Glad to see that Pocket PC Magazine results reflect the quality of the software in the winning categories. May the consumers verify the results with their pocket books (as many have...)! 8)
The winner for the Finance category moved me to check apps again and I think SPB Finance is great as every piece of SW they make, but Cash Organizer is still the best BY FAR, just my opinion.
Phillip Dyson
11-07-2005, 04:03 PM
I don't see why PocketBible from Laridian deserves to win... they haven't released any updates or new feature to their reader program in years.
{snip}
It seems to me that the judges (or atleast enough to turn the tide) mostly look at the application it self. I don't know if they have a formal publication of their judging criteria, but it doesn't factor in the company.
Look at WeatherPanel, there are threads in its support forum where people are genuinely concerned for the developer, due to the fact that no one has heard from him in a while. Yet there it is in the PPCMag list.
Ilium Software
11-07-2005, 05:07 PM
We're celebrating here! Cake and cookies are on the way.
And, probably of much more interest to people who aren't in our actual office, we're about to post a "help us celebrate" discount on our site. Use the code DC2XAWARDS from our site to get $8 off any of our products (from our site only) this week.
Many thanks to the judges, as well as to everyone who's given us so much support in purchases, suggestions, publicity and kind words over the last 8 years.
Ellen Craw
Ilium Software
----------------
www.iliumsoft.com
Darius Wey
11-07-2005, 06:37 PM
It seems to me that the judges (or atleast enough to turn the tide) mostly look at the application it self. I don't know if they have a formal publication of their judging criteria, but it doesn't factor in the company.
Look at WeatherPanel, there are threads in its support forum where people are genuinely concerned for the developer, due to the fact that no one has heard from him in a while. Yet there it is in the PPCMag list.
Yes, there are strict voting criteria to follow, and it's a focus on the application itself. The company never plays a part in the decision-making process since that would just introduce an unwanted element of bias. Whether the application is a day old or a year old, it is put head-to-head with the competition, and the one that delivers the best user experience (in features, performance, etc.) is well noted.
In my opinion, those that made the list of finalists and winners are well-deserving of the award. Of course, a big congratulations to them all. :)
Phillip Dyson
11-07-2005, 07:37 PM
In my opinion, those that made the list of finalists and winners are well-deserving of the award. Of course, a big congratulations to them all. :)
I agree. If an application can stay competitive without changing, then thats not an indictment on them. More on the competition I think.
Airscanner
11-07-2005, 07:39 PM
Congratulations ctitanic and all the other winners!
Brad Barnes
Airscanner Mobile Security
Ed Hansberry
11-07-2005, 10:36 PM
Yes, there are strict voting criteria to follow, and it's a focus on the application itself.
And PocketBible is a bit different. The application is good, solid and runs well, but it is nothing without the library and Laridian as a library for their program second to none, and that helps keep it on top year after year. With that program, it is about the content as much the .exe file.
nejosh
11-09-2005, 11:43 PM
I don't see why PocketBible from Laridian deserves to win... they haven't released any updates or new feature to their reader program in years. Many feature requests have been ignored - they just seem content to rest on their laurels. I think others which are in active development, such as Olivetree, Esword or even Quickverse deserve to win...
They just updated it to have VGA graphics back in May. That was a great new feature IMHO! :D
Josh
Hal Goldstein
11-11-2005, 08:34 PM
Thanks to Thoughts for this thread and congrats to all Winners, Finalists, and Nominees. Just to briefly reiterate the philosphy of the awards and why it is structured the way it is: The purpose of these awards are to (1) to guide users to the best software in as many distinct and useful categories as possible and (2) acknowledge the incredible efforts of developers, often only one or a few people, who create this software for all of us. (These are not awards for innovation or most improvements, although we have considered adding this as a separate contest).
If the product is still sold, but hasn't been upgraded in three years, and is still the best in its category, that is what counts.
As a magazine, much of our revenue comes from advertisers, without whom there wouldn't be a magazine. That is one of the reasons we chose the format. No one who judges in the awards works for us That way advertisers can't influence the results. (Minor exception a few of the judges have done short spurts of contract work for us).
The other part of our thinking is that we try to gather as many truly qualified judges as possible. That way subjectivity in a certain sense is factored out, or more accurately ballanced. On average we had over 10 judges per category. With so many judges, we feel the accuracy of the awards increases.
Finally, if you scroll towards the bottom of www.pocketpcmag.com/awards you will see the conditions each expert agreed to judge.
Hal Goldstein
Publisher
Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine (formerly Pocket PC magazine)
[email protected]
Congratulations Alex, Charlie, and Ellen! (Sorry if I missed anyone here).
Hal, I read your post and while the criteria are admirable, aren't even you surprised occasionally at at least a few of the winners?
I'm not talking about favorites winning or not - that's a personal thing with everyone, of course.
But every year there are always a few that make you go, "Hmmm...." while scratching your head! :)
Edit: I should clarify a few things: I think that those developers who have posted here are more than deserving and I don't want anyone to think I meant them! And actually, I'm thinking not just of the winners, but a lot of finalists that made me go, "Hmmm...".
Hal Goldstein
11-12-2005, 01:49 PM
Congratulations Alex, Charlie, and Ellen! (Sorry if I missed anyone here).
Hal, I read your post and while the criteria are admirable, aren't even you surprised occasionally at at least a few of the winners?
Sure, I am surprised at times. Definitely anomolies occur -- I am probably aware more than anyone. The system certainly isn't perfect or fullproof. Having said that each year we learn and tweak the system. I feel this year, by far, was the most valid so far, starting with the foundation -- doing a good job getting the nominees right. This year the judges were much more active in helping us with the nominees.
Airscanner
11-14-2005, 03:41 PM
Well done, Hal! I can only imagine what a big job the awards are to manage.
Brad Barnes
sofene
11-16-2005, 03:51 PM
Thanks to Thoughts for this thread and congrats to all Winners, Finalists, and Nominees. Just to briefly reiterate the philosphy of the awards and why it is structured the way it is: The purpose of these awards are to (1) to guide users to the best software in as many distinct and useful categories as possible and (2) acknowledge the incredible efforts of developers, often only one or a few people, who create this software for all of us. (These are not awards for innovation or most improvements, although we have considered adding this as a separate contest).
If the product is still sold, but hasn't been upgraded in three years, and is still the best in its category, that is what counts.
As a magazine, much of our revenue comes from advertisers, without whom there wouldn't be a magazine. That is one of the reasons we chose the format. No one who judges in the awards works for us That way advertisers can't influence the results. (Minor exception a few of the judges have done short spurts of contract work for us).
The other part of our thinking is that we try to gather as many truly qualified judges as possible. That way subjectivity in a certain sense is factored out, or more accurately ballanced. On average we had over 10 judges per category. With so many judges, we feel the accuracy of the awards increases.
Finally, if you scroll towards the bottom of www.pocketpcmag.com/awards you will see the conditions each expert agreed to judge.
Hal Goldstein
Publisher
Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine (formerly Pocket PC magazine)
[email protected] I take it then that free software do not qualify? Otherwise how come Mdict and WordNet in the dictionary category and Total Commander in the File Manager catagory did not get any mention? These are very solid apps and easily beat those that are winners or finalists (my opinion). Or is it that someone did not nominate them?
Hal Goldstein
11-19-2005, 02:15 PM
<Do I take it then that free software do not qualify? Otherwise how come Mdict and WordNet in the dictionary category and Total Commander in the File Manager catagory did not get any mention? These are very solid apps and easily beat those that are winners or finalists (my opinion). Or is it that someone did not nominate them?>
Total Commander (one my favorites) was a finalist.
The Core Pocket Media Player is free and won the video category.
I searched our nominations/finalist/winners page http://www.pocketpcmag.com/awards/category_all_2005.asp and didn't find the dictionary products. Be sure to use the form found at www.pocketpcmag.com/awards to suggest those products for nomination next year.
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