04-28-2005, 07:30 AM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Reviews of Spb Diary Begin to Surface
Since yesterday's announcement of Spb Diary, a number of reviews have started to surface - namely, at MTekk, ClintonFitch.com and Geekzone. Although Diary is packed with features, each reviewer appears to have a different view of the product. Some have given it all praise, while some have not. At MTekk, the final assessment appeared a little ho-hum with a score of 6.5, and many community members across many websites have cried out for originality after claims that it "looks" and "feels" too much like SBSH PocketBreeze. Personally, I think the whole "X copied Y" issue is a moot point, and besides, they say competition brews innovation, so with time, I'm sure we'll see each product pan out to be unique in their own ways. So for those of you who have tried Spb Diary, what are your thoughts? It'd be great if this were kept an active discussion solely on Spb Diary, its features, and its ups and downs, and not just another Spb vs. SBSH rant.
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04-28-2005, 08:46 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 256
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Re: Reviews of Spb Diary Begin to Surface
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Originally Posted by Darius Wey
besides, they say competition brews innovation
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It's great when this happens but SPB have merely copied Pocket Breeze without really adding anything to it IMO.
However the poll I put here
http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/foru...ic.php?t=39642
shows that most feel it is not similar atall so I think the rest of us could be wrong on this one  ops:
Dom
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04-28-2005, 08:51 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 256
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Re: Reviews of Spb Diary Begin to Surface
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Originally Posted by Darius Wey
not just another Spb vs. SBSH rant
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If it had been a copy (and I accept it appears it is not) then it's not ranting, just taking a stand against an apparently 'legalised' form of piracy that will harm developers and eventually the market as a whole in the long term....
Dom
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04-28-2005, 09:13 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 256
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Here's a great review:
"I've only been using the app for several days (being one of the lucky few to get an advance copy for review purposes), and I am quite simply, blown away by what Spb Software House has created. This app is incredible! As I explored the application, I kept stumbling upon cool feature after cool feature, each time saying, "Brilliant!"
http://pocketpclouisville.com/review...ary_review.htm[/url]
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04-28-2005, 09:28 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 102
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There are definitely some strong feelings about this issue.
I think it is on-topic to point out that the developer of the software that has allegedly been copied has posted about it on his own site.
Does anyone know if Spb have released a statement?
Full disclosure: I am a registered user of SBSH Pocket Breeze, SBSH Pocket Weather and Sbp Pocket Plus. I haven't used Pocket Diary but it looks similar enough from the screenshots that I think Sbp were naive to think they could release it without a community backlash.
/\dam
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04-28-2005, 09:44 AM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2
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Ok, I have read all of the arguments about copying and there are loads on aximsite but this was supposed to be about Diary...
I have previously installed a trial version of Pocket Breeze and for some reason decided not to buy it. I can't remember why exactly but it is probably due to my own requirements:
I put a few things in my calendar for work and personal use and also maintain a list of tasks. Now being bit of a sieve head I need all of this information on my today screen to remind me of them each time I switch on my PPC. So thats my simple requirements.
I have tried calendar+ and it was great and then switched to task+ as I could have all of this on one screen. Currently I have Diary on trial and first impressions are good.
Diary is very simple to get up and running. Luckily for me the limited number of choices that you have to configure Diary suit my needs almost perfectly. There is always a downside to a heavily configurable product in that it takes ages to get it to how you want it and then by that time the trial period is nearly over. So if they have copied something then they copied the right options and dropped the extreme ones.
An important question that I have not looked into yet is how these various today plugins compare performance wise. Everyone seems to be going on about copying but at the end of the day is it better or not?
I have a Dell Axim X50V so its not slow but I notice that some today plugins are dreadfully slow and heavy. So far Dairy seems to work well with a clean interface that refreshes reliably and start time is not impaired.
Has anyone looked into the memory footprint of these things?
Ok enough for now as I must get on with some work - but to help those of us who just want the right piece of software could everyone stop ranting and just compare these things as requested in the topic, please!
Chris.
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04-28-2005, 09:57 AM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Re: Reviews of Spb Diary Begin to Surface
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Originally Posted by dommasters
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Darius Wey
not just another Spb vs. SBSH rant
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If it had been a copy (and I accept it appears it is not) then it's not ranting, just taking a stand against an apparently 'legalised' form of piracy that will harm developers and eventually the market as a whole in the long term....
Dom |
Whatever may be the case, it's clear that there are strong feelings on this matter. For the past 48 hours, there has been a lot of heat raised. And for the benefit of the other readers out there, this is something I'd like to avoid. If anyone really wants to make an Spb/SBSH comment, there are plenty of threads out there for people to do so. There's no need to turn this into another one!
My point is, for once, let's keep things on topic. Talk about Spb Diary if you want. But talk about Diary being a copy of PocketBreeze (whether fact or fiction), and the tension will start to boil again (and nice, friendly discussions turn into nothing but arguments). This is something I'd like to avoid, and having the first two replies of yours do exactly what I suggested we avoid, has not helped at all. I've seen your other posts on the forums, and I believe if you wanted your message to be spread to the others, well then you've managed to do that without a hitch. In my opinion, I think it's best if it ends there. Please bear in mind that I'm not launching a personal attack here. I'm just drawing on general principles, and I believe creating another high tension thread is pointless.
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04-28-2005, 10:12 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 256
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Re: Reviews of Spb Diary Begin to Surface
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Originally Posted by Darius Wey
I've seen your other posts
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I've seen yours too Darius and see you are a very big SPB fan. It's your thread and I respect your wishes so let's not mention Pocket Breeze again in this thread.
Dom
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04-28-2005, 11:29 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 215
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Oh Dear!
You are all making me feel guilty. ops:
I like Spb's products and I like Diary.
It works very well for me, seems to use less memory resources even though it has a large footprint in main memory.
My 4700 is certainly a bit zippier now that I've stopped using PIToday.
Anyway I bought it and like it so there! :roll:
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04-28-2005, 12:16 PM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by dommasters
I've seen yours too Darius and see you are a very big SPB fan.
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FYI, I'm as much an Spb fan as I am an SBSH fan. I use many products from both companies as actively as each other, and if you read my other posts (here and on other sites), I'm sure you'll be able to pick up on that too. But anyway, thanks for agreeing to get back on topic. 
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