Steve Sharp
07-26-2006, 04:00 PM
<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/sharp-20060704-infoshare-1" /> <br /> <b>Product Category:</b>Utility<br /><b>Manufacturer:</b> <a href="http://www.unwiredsoftware.com//">Unwired Software</a><br /><b>Where to Buy:</b> <a href="http://www.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=20429">PocketGear</a><br /><b>Price:</b> $29.95 USD <br /><b>System Requirements:</b> Pocket PC: Windows Mobile for Pocket PC 2003 or above, 1.5 Megabytes of storage space, and the program may be installed to main or expansion memory. Desktop PC Requirements: Windows 98 or higher, 4 Megabytes of hard drive space available, constant Internet connectivity, and ActiveSync 3.7 or above. Also available for Windows Smartphones.<br /> <br /><b>Pros:</b><li>User friendly interface;<br /><li>Allows sharing and syncing a Pocket PC with a desktop PC or with other registered Pocket PC users;<br /><li>Supports syncing “on the fly” via the Internet;<br /><li>Can be synchronized with as many desktops as desired without additional licensing;<br /><li>Includes useful templates, and it is also very customizable.<br /><b>Cons:</b><li>Configuring the desktop to work with the Pocket PC can be confusing;<br /><li>Each Pocket PC that the user wishes to sync with requires its own registration number;<br /><li>Removing a desktop from the sync list can be cumbersome.<b>Summary:</b><br />Unwired Software's InfoShare v1.3 eases the creation of everything from a grocery list to tracking expenses while on a business trip. In addition to list creation and tracking, it also enables the user to share his or her lists with other users and synchronize the list with a desktop or multiple desktops that have a constant Internet connection. Whether you’re a parent on the go who needs to keep up with a “to do” list, or a frequent traveler who needs to share information or track expenses, InfoShare 1.3 may be a valuable addition to your Pocket PC. <br /><br />Read on for the full review!<!><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/sharp-20060704-infoshare-2" /> <br /><i>Figure 1: InfoShare list manager provides an interface or easily creating personlized lists.</i><br /><br /><span><b>Making a List . . .</b></span><br />Several years ago, when I got my first Pocket PC, I considered the idea that it would be very useful to be able to easily make a grocery list on my Pocket PC which I would be taking to the store with me, anyway. Well, the folks at Unwired Software had the same idea, only bigger, better, and more powerful than anything my simple mind could have conjured up. Unwired Software’s InfoShare has a market for feeble-minded guys, such as me, who forget several things en route to the store. InfoShare, however, also finds a market with harried, smart professionals who are organized and simply need a convenient method of inputting expenses or monitoring a “to do” list while conducting their business. <br /> <li>Provides convenient functionality to a diverse user base;<br /><li>It is easy to use and adaptable to many situations.<span><b>What’s Your Pleasure?</b></span><br />Like most Pocket PC applications these days, InfoShare 1.3 is easy to download and install. I tested InfoShare 1.3 on an HP 6315 and an HP 6515, and it worked perfectly. The graphics are appealing, and the interface is very easy to use. Setting it up for the Pocket PC is typical of what one would expect to encounter with installing any Pocket PC application. If employing a pre-existing template, of which there are several, it’s pretty much ready to go as soon as it’s installed, from the Pocket PC end. The Pocket PC templates that come with the application include (in part): grocery list, packing list, expense tracking, to do list, and tracking miles driven. <br /><br />These templates include practical and basic entries but can be modified to suit the user’s personal needs. For example, on the grocery list, basic staples such as milk, bread, and margarine will pop up in a predictive text type of interface. However, since I’m a soda junkie, I have the option of adding my favorite soft drink to the permanent list, so there’s no need to type it out each time since it, too, will pop up as predictive text. Or, on some business trips, maybe certain expenses need to be tracked and others don’t. InfoShare makes it very easy to adapt each template to the user’s needs or preferences.<br /><PAGEBREAK><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/sharp-20060704-infoshare-3" /><br /><i>Figure 2: List Manager is highly configurable and customizable.</i><br /> <br /><span><b>Is Everyone on the Same Page?</b></span><br />Setting up the computer to communicate with the Pocket PC was a little trickier than I had hoped. The desktop software must be installed and set up before the Pocket PC application is set up. Now, I’m not pretending that this set up is rocket science, and I’m not purporting to be an Einstein, but setting up the desktop PC wasn’t as intuitive as I had hoped. The software must be installed on the desktop, the desktop has to be registered with Unwired’s database (this is not to say that you must purchase an additional license for the desktop, but the computer must be identified by Unwired’s server) a list of users must be set up, and access to the desktop is password protected. Users may then be added or removed, as needed, but only users whose mobile number is identified as a valid user may synchronize with the desktop.<br /><br />After the desktop is set up, it can be set to automatically synchronize or “push” updates to a defined user list, or updates can be pushed manually. In a business environment, a manager or supervisor could modify a list of tasks concerning a particular project and push the updates to an individual user, a subset of users, or the entire group. In the world of synchronizing Pocket PCs with desktops, we’ve grown to understand that this almost always means putting the Pocket PC on a cradle, firing up Active Sync, and syncing the stuff that we choose. Unwired, however, true to its name, enables syncing to occur with nothing more than a GPRS connection. <br /><br />As the status changes for a project, for example, these changes can be synced with everyone or only specific and pertinent users. Likewise, a Pocket PC user can push updates or modifications to the desktop or to any other user or users. InfoShare v1.3 can sync devices via GPRS connections or via cellular data connection, or WiFi or desktop proxy, providing a wide range of options that utilize common methods to connect to the Internet or a common network.<br /><PAGEBREAK> <br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/sharp-20060704-infoshare-4" /> <br /><i>Figure 3: InfoShare List Manager provides an interface for many types of specialized lists.</i><br /><br /><span><b>Conclusion</b></span><br />Unwired Software’s InfoShare 1.3 is a powerful, user-friendly application that has many uses and caters to a market that is almost limitless. The program works beautifully, and it does everything that it’s advertised to do, but with some extra bang for the buck. From a corporate standpoint, the technology makes very effective use of the Internet to keep users updated and on track with each other as they receive up to date changes on tasks and projects. For an individual, the software enables a person to set up and monitor personal or household expenses, remember what to buy at the store, or create any number of other useful lists. InfoShare has become a regularly used application on my Pocket PC and it’s truly and application that provides a function that I was lacking.<br /><br /><b>Update:</b> It has been brought to my attention that I misstated the facts when, under "cons" I said that InfoShare requires transmission of SMS messages to sync devices; it seems that this is not true.<br /><br />InfoShare v1.3 can sync devices via GPRS connections or via cellular data connection, or WiFi or desktop proxy. Syncing will be accomplished by whatever means the devices can connect to the Internet or to a common network (i. e. desktop proxy, CDMA, etc.)<br /><br />The review has been updated to reflect this corrected information. I apologize to the folks at Unwired Software for my mistake in this matter, and I'm happy to set the record straight.<br /><br /><i>Steven Sharp is a senior systems analyst by day and a freelance writer by night. He is a 39-year-old native and lifelong resident of Huntsville, Alabama. He has been freelancing for 16 years and his first book,</i> The Art of Managing Everyday Conflict<i> was released by Greenwood Publishing Group in May of 2004.</i>