Sigh. Yes, there’s the SBSH vs. SPB competition and all, so be being on the SBSH camp makes me biased SPB anyway, and I’m not here to discuss that.

But the release of SPB Traveler raised comments that it was so like Fizz Traveler, and now couldn’t they just have taken eWallet, replace the e with SPB, and redistribute it for Ilium Software? Then the money would have gone to the people who designed it first…
Just compare this
http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/wallet/screenshots/card_view_ani.gif
to this
http://www.iliumsoft.com/site/ew/pix/ewpkss1.jpg

Yes of course, they’ll have coded it all theirselves, but I feel that they’re copying a success formula, a success look-and-feel.
People may have very good points in that the software code is different and all, but still by copying the style so much, they really don’t gain a lot in respect, in my opinion.

/rant

Oh Hi Judie!

First time I actually see your post (I don’t look at the poster’s names all the time), sorry that I have to make such a negative comment! I do really want to welcome you here, and I look forward to seeing more posts from you!

All the best,
Stefan

I am a long-time user of eWallet, myself…and I am not planning on switching any time soon.

That wasn’t a negative post – you brought up very valid points.

And thank you for the warm welcome.

Oh good to hear.
I need to work on my spelling – “so be being” should be “so me being”, “biased SPB” should be “biased against SPB”, etc. I was browsing the Ilium, Fizz and SBSH sites at the same time, checking all the similarities, so my concentration was spread between all of those.

No worries.

SPM, I can tell you this. I have been using ewallet ever since I won it here at JAMM way-way back when. I have reviewed CodeWallet, Beta tested SPB Wallet…Heck, I think FlexWallet is the only one I haven’t tried. (oh, I forgot SplashID)

All in all, I found little to distinguish one from the other in a lot of cases. For the most part it just came down to which interface or graphics you prefer.

So, I don’t think it is so much one copying the other as one developer looking at a program in the market and saying we could do that…only better. So, yes they are similar (there is only so much you can do with an electronic wallet), but the latest one apparently saw something that was missing or felt they could offer something that was not there.

I can tell you that I have had numerous discussions with developers in which they have told me they would not offer a program unless they thought they could bring something new or original. Otherwise, it would be a wasted effort.

All of that being said, I still prefer eWallet.

Doug

Quote: “All of that being said, I still prefer eWallet.”
That’s what it’s all about!
While I do agree that the wallet programs are all pretty similar, Spb does have these kind of comments chasing them. In the Netherlands we have a saying that I beliece also excists in English: Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
So I have a hard time seeing Spb as a software team that I’d purchase from. But they seem to have plenty customers so they might not even miss me.

Actually, STefan, the argument cuts both ways. I have heard that same argument made against Spb…and I have heard it made against other companies as well. I have a close working relationship with many developers, and to be honest I have never heard any of them allege that another developer has been stealing from them. Which makes me wonder how much of this is just speculation on the part of the users and how much truth there is to it.

As you know, I am an Spb fan. I use a lot of their software and really like it. That being said, I am aslo a fan of Ilium, WebIS, SBSH, and many others.
Doug

What a ridiculous, childish rant Spmwinkel!

Obviously everyone copies / learns from others to an extent. Apple from Microsoft, vice versa -etc etc. Anyone who claims otherwise is plain lying or won’t survive long.

So you want no competition? Doesn’t the fact that Diary outsells Pocketbreeze and Spb’s Backup outsells Sprite’s (just 2 examples) indicate that perhaps Spb’s products are filling a real gap in the market – and that’s a good thing isn’t it?

BTW I use products from Spb,SBSH, Developer One and they are all great.

“Filling a real gap” – I’ll agree with you 100% on that with Spb Backup. They filled a super huge gap when that product launched. They had a 3 use trial, which Sprite did not unless you used an illegal download with a hacked key, they had a $20 less price point!!!! and they managed to make WM5 backups work which Sprite was having a heck of a time doing.

I have to agree with Doug on this. I know the SBSH/Spb camps can be very one sided… and again, I wasn’t part of their original history back in the original launch of Diary/PocketBreeze so I don’t know that part of it, but I love both companies. Spb and SBSH produce great products. I think it all comes down to personal preference.

I’ll tel you why I like Spb products (in general-not comparing to SBSH) is because they create good looking products that function well. They don’t use interfaces that looks like they belong with Windows 95/98. They have cartoon(y) graphics that just feel fun and up to date. Again that’s not to say other companies don’t do that – but Spb does it really well and every time.

I agree with spmwinkel (& consul there’s no need to make personal attacks). Copycat products like Traveler & now Wallet with minimal differentiation don’t contribute added value to the Windows Mobile user community. Sure there’s no law against it but they don’t do Spb’s well-deserved reputation for innovation any good either.

Hats off for instance to the Spb product designer of Mobile Shell – brilliantly executed – this is Spb at its best. I hope that their future products leverage their proven capability for innovation rather than just slightly better eye candy. (If you are listening Spb (or Ilium) I think there is an opportunity to do a list/note manager that
does something encompassing both Listpro-like list management with Evernote-like adhoc-note management).

Mitch Olson

Mitch … Evernote like functionality would be a killer app. Agree 100%!!!!

MItch,

I agree with you on Mobile Sheell. I had not used it until recently since I just got a WM5 device and it blew me away. It is definately one of the best programs out there.

As to whether SPB Traveler and Wallet add anything new, well I guess the market will tell us that. If they add nothing new, then they simply will not sell.

Doug

The point is that competition and choice are good.

Spb boldly goes where others fear, shaking established players out of their complacency. This makes overall quality and depth that much better.

It’s not ONLY about being first with a product, but a complex mix of features/design/price/support/stability/ease of use/speed etc that determine a product’s success. And Spb gets this mix right most of the time.

Copying from competition iz done by ALL companies – (whether it’s bmw, sony, adidas etc), they all do it.

That said, I don’t see Spb Wallet being top dog in their field, but Traveler looks a winner.

And apologies to Spmwinkel if my first post was too personal.

No worries, I started out in an unprofessional way so I really don’t blame you. I like the way discussion developed in a constructive, friendly way.

The discussion about copying/competing seems to be an endless one, and many people raise good points. There seem to be 2 trends here, and both views have many supporters so I feel confident in that I’m not alone in my view. Everyone is of course free to support the developers they want, and for my personal reasons Spb won’t be one of them, for me.

I just wanted to add one point, regarding the sales of Spb Diary vs. PocketBreeze (raised by consul), and Wallet and Traveler vs. eWallet and Fizz traveler (raised by Doug).
I’m not really sure if good sales tell us about a market gap (if you define that as ‘the need for programs with certain features’). Maybe it just means that Spb has a good marketing strategy and is able to reach more people than Fizz or SBSH. Also the fact that they have a large software catalogue helps them.
I’m not a market analyst but I’m just not convinced that Spb Diary had so many mindblowing new features over PocketBreeze that not only it would match the PocketBreeze sales, but also raise above them.

Agreed that greater sales don’t always mean superior product. Marketing has a lot to do with it too.

But on Diary vs Pocketbreeze, the selling point for me (a Diary user) was simplicity. Pocketbreeze looks too busy and complex, and has too many features and options. At Spb forums you’ll find many who like me also chose it because it has FEWER features & a simpler interface. So it definitely filled a real need (though of late the feature gap has narrowed).

Similar thing with AgendaOne vs PI, a less featured product was introduced and it’s doing very well.

I do use other SBSH products though – I’m not in any camp.

If you figure that Spb released Wallet planning to compete solely on quality, it doesn’t make a lot of sense. There are what, three or four very good wallet programs already out there with functionality and interface honed close to perfection. However, if Spb’s strategy is to position itself as THE leading developer for mobile programs, the lack of a wallet program was a big gap in its catalog precisely because there are three or four great ones already out there. From where I’m sitting, this is about developing a brand and picking up sales due to brand loyalty. Call me cynical, but it’s smart business, and that trumps blind devotion to helping the consumer every time.