iWindowsMobile.com Presents FunContact and AstroNavigator II

[Paul Martin]

<i>"VITO Technology is proud to present a brand-new web site with top quality software for your Windows Mobile Pocket PC. The six refined sparkling applets are just getting ready to show you the best of Windows Mobile. You’ll discover your Windows Mobile can do like iPhone and much more!/ Right now iWindowsMobile.com holds two applications to freshen up &amp; upgrade your Pocket PC: FunContact and AstroNavigator II. AstroNavigator II has already become well known among Windows Mobile users for its finger friendly interface and fancy graphics with animated menus. Now they can have the same effects while managing contacts with FunContact."</i><br /><br /><a href="http://iwindowsmobile.com"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/martin-20071016-iwindowsmobile_logo.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Bringing the iPhone look to Windows Mobile, VITO has set up a new website at <a href="http://iwindowsmobile.com">iWindowsMobile.com</a> and has released <a href="http://software.pocketpcthoughts.com/product.asp?id=14969">FunContact</a> and <a href="http://software.pocketpcthoughts.com/product.asp?id=5703">AstroNavigator II</a>. Check out more information at their website or download from the affiliate links above.

[angler]

I used to have Sound Explorer and tried Audio Note from Vito. There were a lot of unsolved queries and Vito has suddenly shut down the forum. There is a post in Sprite that developer trends not putting much effort in public forum instead of answering private support due to efficiency. Wish it never comes true unless these software company(s) become another Microsoft.

[pocketdoc]

The contacts program looks a lot like PocketCM. (Add .com to name for site)

Not sure if they are written by the same person...

[joelevi]

Apparently the only way to install is via the .exe, no .cab is provided.

That means I can't even try the demos (no ActiveSync, no "whatever the Vista version of ActiveSync is", just Exchange Sync over the air).

Too bad... looked promising.

[Paul Martin]

That means I can't even try the demos (no ActiveSync, no "whatever the Vista version of ActiveSync is", just Exchange Sync over the air).

Joe, when going through our affiliate store (http://software.pocketpcthoughts.com/product.asp?id=14969), there's an option to install now and it says "Download to PDA/Smartphone" so, you might give that a try. (There's a demo link there as well)

Paul

[pocketdoc]

Nice-looking program, but it is a rip off of PocketCM.

I prefer PCM (free), as you can SMS from the contacts (I couldn't get it to work with this program) and you can navigate and select with the D pad.

Not worth $20 IMO.

[Paul Martin]

Nice-looking program, but it is a rip off of PocketCM.


I'm all for free programs that can do the job and PCM is probably a nice program. However, looking at the screenshots, I just don't see much similar between it and FunContact.

[pocketdoc]

They may look different, but they work the same. Vito just made it prettier.

[joelevi]

That means I can't even try the demos (no ActiveSync, no "whatever the Vista version of ActiveSync is", just Exchange Sync over the air).

Joe, when going through our affiliate store (http://software.pocketpcthoughts.com/product.asp?id=14969), there's an option to install now and it says "Download to PDA/Smartphone" so, you might give that a try. (There's a demo link there as well)

Paul

Thank goodness for the PocketPC Thoughts Affiliate store!

After about 45 minutes I got the email with the download link, another 5 minutes and I had it downloaded and installed (demo version).

It's a lot more polished and refined than PocketCM. PCM, however, includes a thumbnail of the persons's display photo (if present) in the list view (which I liked), but it (PCM) also takes quite a while to populate the list initially.

Overall, I'm more impressed with Vito's solution than PocketCM; however, the price for Vito's should be for an entire PIM replacement (or suite of programs to replace PIM components) -- calendar, tasks, contacts, and email. I'd pay $20 for all 4... but not for just one.

[Paul Martin]

It's a lot more polished and refined than PocketCM. PCM, however, includes a thumbnail of the persons's display photo (if present) in the list view (which I liked), but it (PCM) also takes quite a while to populate the list initially.

Overall, I'm more impressed with Vito's solution than PocketCM; however, the price for Vito's should be for an entire PIM replacement (or suite of programs to replace PIM components) -- calendar, tasks, contacts, and email. I'd pay $20 for all 4... but not for just one.

Glad the link was helpful. Appreciate you giving both a whirl and posting your results. I would tend to agree the price seems high for replacing only a portion of a PIM suite. Of course, I've seen a tendency for a lot of apps lately to come out at the $20 price point, even for relatively "small" ones. That's why it's great to have those freeware options.

[Paladin27]

I think PocketCM looks much prettier than this Vito knockoff. And seriously... $20!?!

[Konstantin]

Hi everybody.

1. First of all I'd like to say that VITO Technology started developing FunContact before there even was any PocketCM (which was released in August). So, obviously we have no relation with PocketCM and FunContact is far from being a "rip off" of PocketCM. See for yourself (http://vitotechnology.com/files/FunContact.exe - .zip or .cab)

2. It is true that both applications borrow Steve's idea of what contact management should be, like what they do on iPhone. I want to underline that FunContact was developed independently from PocketCM.

3. The price is adequate to the quality and the efforts. I'd also like to remind that our customers get updates for purchased software for free all year long.

[akuma7703]

I'm sorry bro but it IS a knockoff, albeit a good one. I have tried it and everything is aesthetically and functionally IDENTICAL to PocketCM Contacts (with the exception of PCM's threaded sms and FC's call log (which is kinda pointless)). A PocketCM user-created skin now exists that even mimics FunContacts. You're even developing an "sms chat" (hmm...PocketCM's threaded sms chat?) and easy type (hmm...PocketCM Keyboard?). I personally have been a PocketCM user since it's humble beginnings on XDA Devs forums back in the beginning of JULY (not August) so unless you want to say that tene (PocketCM dev) infiltrated your company during your quiet months of development, stole your exact idea and put it out first...

That being said, it is a beautiful program and seems a little more polished than PocketCM. One problem (in addition to the missing threaded sms) that made me uninstall it after a few days use:

PocketCM= contacts manager + threaded sms= 800kb program memory.
FunContacts= contacts manager only = 2.5MB program memory ??!!!!???

I like your app but here's what you'll have to do to have ANY tech-savvy user make the switch from PocketCM which IS the original of the two:

Drastically reduce the memory requirements before I make a purchase. No reason for a contacts manager to take up more than a few hundred kb of precious program memory. Just imagine, if your contacts manager alone uses that much memory to run, installing any additional apps of yours will slow my system to a crawl.

I'm also a skinner so the option to have the app user-skinnable would be welcome...or else make more skins available for different color schemes etc.

Include the option for contact photos. You may argue that it will slow the app down and increase memory usage..but PocketCM does all this at 800kb RAM.

Call log is cute, but is redundant as anyone has immediate access to call logs from within the dialer application. You should remove it.

Decrease loading time significantly. PocketCM loads almost instantaneously.

Give the user the option to disable the annoying splash screen.

Finally, reduce the price. Seriously. You're asking for way too much, especially when there's another app out there that does the exact same plus more for free.

Just my two cents worth.

[Konstantin]

akuma7703, thank you for your time and valuable comments. We'll take them into account. This is what we usu do. It is a reglar practice that after you have released a new application you get a lot of feedback that gives you inspiration to improve the program. This is exactly the case here.

The price is a tacky question and it will be given additional consideration. The minus of completely free applications is that they come and go, there's no guarantee. With us you get at least a year long guarantee of free updates that polish and drastically improve the program. And you can always decide to stay with the previous version if you wish.

Thanks for your comments again and I encourage everybody else to say what they think about FunContact. In the end we all benefit.

[akuma7703]

I'm all for free programs that can do the job and PCM is probably a nice program. However, looking at the screenshots, I just don't see much similar between it and FunContact.

Are you kidding me? You obviously haven't tried PocketCM. Try them both: they're practically identical, not just in looks but also in functionality. And saying you got inspiration from a common source? I'm all for inspiration- nothing wrong with that. PocketCM was inspired and surpassed it's inspiration with some original ideas.. FunContacts goes beyond this by the EXACT copying (not being inspired by) of PocketCM. Case in point:

The first one's FunContact, all the others are PocketCM with various skins (there's even a FunContact skin):
http://www.mobiletopsoft.com/pocket-pc/newimg/04822360439e3ec4b0926a788529c2ba.gif http://www.pocketcm.com/img/themes/touch2det.png http://www.pocketcm.com/img/contact15/list.png

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/6572/screenshothx9.png

And before the dev argues that PocketCM is "dark", there ARE light skinned themes (there's even a nifty iphone theme).

Don't get me wrong, I like FunContact a lot, for the same reasons I like PocketCM..but the memory usage and price do not justify a purchase IMHO. And if you rip-off someone's hard work as blatantly as FunContact has at least give credit where it's due. I've been on other boards and seen others users reactions: PocketCM has already built a name and reputation for itself all over the internet so not too many people will fall for the "we were in development first" spiele.

[Paul Martin]

Are you kidding me? You obviously haven't tried PocketCM. Try them both: they're practically identical, not just in looks but also in functionality.

Obviously, having been a part of the beta testing team, you feel very passionate about PocketCM. But, as a neutral observer, having never used either, the screen shots don't look very similar, other than common ideas. I mean, come on, how original can it be to put a picture at the top and list various contact info below it. For that matter, they both look kind of similar to the more full-featured Pocket-Informant. Perhaps Alex there should complain to PocketCM for taking his contact ideas. Certainly Apple might have a complaint.

My point, lighten up. There's certainly room for both apps in the marketplace. Some may want a more polished app like FunContacts and others prefer to support the freeware app of PocketCM. Personally, I love freeware, but I also buy software when I feel it's value is greater than what I can find for free. PocketCM fills that void for you...great. BTW, a google search of your username shows you frequent some forums which crack and offer pirated software including FunContacts. If you're already using it cracked, I don't see where price is an issue for you. :devilboy:

PocketDoc posted the same question over at the PocketCM forums (http://pocketcm.com/phorum/list.php?18). 120 views, but no response. I think if it were a big issue, the developer would have responded after 5 days. Frankly, this is beginning to sound like the Palm/PocketPC fanboy fights we used to have years ago.

[Konstantin]

akuma7703, we are ready to provide a documented alpha version of FunContact in court if you are ready to go that far. Seriously, why don't you simply use PocketCM if you like it and let others decide for themselves? BTW the screenshots you provided speak for themselves. I would also advice to try FunContact in action and see how smoothly and quickly it scrolls your contacts.

I agree with Paul who advises you to lighten up and feel happy since there is choice for you. Everybody can find what they like. I know a great deal of users who prefer just to install an application, press contacts and enjoy the new exciting interface of their contacts - which is the case with FunContact, instead of copying files to Pocket PC, then finding them with file explorer and the necessity to start the exe file everytime you need to use contacts - like in PocketCM.

Nobody is forcing you to buy FunContact, right? Enjoy the two weeks of full featured trial. :)

[akuma7703]

"That being said, it is a beautiful program and seems a little more polished than PocketCM."

"I like your app but here's what you'll have to do to have ANY tech-savvy user make the switch from PocketCM"

"Don't get me wrong, I like FunContact a lot, for the same reasons I like PocketCM..but the memory usage and price do not justify a purchase IMHO."

Those are all quotes from my previous posts. I actually LIKE FunContacts and the bulk of my original post was offering ideas for improvement. People accused the software of being a copy, the dev said no, I disagreed with him then went on to offer ideas for improvement. My second post Mr.Martin was directed specifically at you, NOT Konstantin or FunContacts: you said you didn't see any similarities, I didn't see how anyone couldn't so I posted screens for YOU to compare.

PS: I'm a skinner and though I won't deny downloading a few games/roms (roms mostly: and I'm not defending it), a bulk of my posts on this "questionable site" are posts of my skins for various apps. Most of my posts are made simultaneously on the product forums AND the site in question. Why? I think it's the quickest way to get my stuff out there. I love supporting software like this and have been an active contributor for everything from Pocket Plus, PocketBreeze to Slide2Unlock..and when the software is released I DO make the purchase (hence my concern with FunContact's price). Until my boycott of Handango for their treatment of OmniSoft it was my purchase point of choice.

And Konstantin, PocketCM now comes in a CAB installer so it launches via an executable and is pretty much fire and forget. The user downloads, installs and uses it with no extra configuration necessary. If you are a power user you can go a step further and tweak it to your hearts content..which is a feature I would hope would make it to FunContacts...once you get the memory reqs down.

PS: I'd be happy to make some of my stuff available to any users via PM if it's allowed.