Is it just me, or are there a heap of a lot of electronic wallet programs out there? I don’t think it’s just me, and the reason is that a program where you can securely store all of your passwords, access codes, PINs, and other vital information is one of the best additions you can make to your mobile device.

Short of adding password protection to files, there is nothing in the native OS that allows for this functionality, and certainly not with all the features and the pretty interfaces that wallet applications bring to the table.

SplashID is one of the oldest entrants in this category, and while the previous version worked perfectly well, it had been leapfrogged by its competitors in terms of features and interface. Version 4.0 seeks to bring SplashID back to the forefront of wallet programs. Does it succeed? Click the jump for the verdict!

Doug took a look at SplashID 3 earlier this year, and the core of the program has not changed much since his very detailed review. However, some security improvements and interface tweaks make this a major update.

Setup and Security: Once the program is installed via the standard .exe file, the first step is to set a password. SplashID uses 256-bit Blowfish encryption, but that is not very useful without a strong password to access the wallet.

The new update allows the option of setting a hint for the master password, and the program now auto-locks after 10 failed attempts.

Theoretically, a secure password should be completely random and should contain letters, numbers, special characters, and a secret handshake. SplashID’s password generator can help with the first three. A nice new feature is the strength gauge. (Before you get excited, I’m not actually using the password in the screenshot for anything. That would be kinda dumb.) It would be nice if this generator was more integrated into the data entry system.

Main Screen: SplashID’s default view is the list, which simply shows entries in rows with several columns to include a customizable amount of data. Thoughtfully, SplashData allows fields to be masked with asterisks so your online banking password isn’t hanging out in the open every time you start the program. The list view is the quickest and most convenient way to display a lot of information at once. Entries can be selectively displayed by category or type using the drop-down menus. (The blurring was added by me in post-production.)

Version 4 adds a second way of displaying data, the tree view. This sorts entries by category and then by type.

I found the tree view to be disappointing. It never remembered the way I left it, so I had to click the tiny boxes to expand the information the way I wanted it every time I entered tree view. It’s impossible to exit the program from tree view; tapping “ok” just takes you back to list view. The variety of options accessible from tree view is sadly compressed, and even the “find” tool did not work properly when launched from the tree view screen. In short, tree view seems to be a nifty new feature that was just laid on top of the existing program rather than integrated into it.

Accessing and Editing Records: To display a record, just tap it.

Not the most attractive data display, but it gets the job done. Searching for a specific record has been made easier by the addition of the “Find” tool.

This is a case of a good idea undone by too many options. It takes longer to set up the search than it would to simply scroll through the main list. A minor update released after the review copy I received has supposedly improved this feature to allow instant jumping to records after typing just a few characters.

Once you’ve found the record you want, editing is as lean as the display. Changing field names requires going back into “Edit Types” and customizing from there.

Customization: The previous version of SplashID required you to create all of your categories and templates from scratch. Version 4 supposedly includes some templates. These did not load on my installation, but since I used to use the previous version, maybe some of the ghost files that do not go away with standard uninstallation affected that.

In any case, customization is simple. For each entry, ten fields for information are available. These fields can be named for each type of entry. For example, a Car type could include Make, Model, Year, License No., VIN, last oil change, etc.

Since the display is so spartan, the only other item to customize is the icon associated with the entry. The update sports a new icon set which is much better-looking than the old one. Sorry, but it was ugly.

Customization is fairly bare-bones, which has the advantage of being simple and the disadvantage of being inflexible (in addition to visually unappealing). For example, if you want to maintain slightly different information for two credit cards, you would have to create two different type templates.

Web Integration: When I reviewed PhatNotes 5, it was the first program I had seen that intelligently turned things like URLs into functional hyperlinks. Now, that feature is everywhere, and SplashID is no exception. Not only will SplashID store web addresses (billed as completely defeating phishing, but until it stops you clicking on links in emails I’m skeptical), but it will automatically fill in the username and password to frustrate keystroke trackers.

Sharing: Sometimes just having your data on your PPC and desktop isn’t enough. SplashID 4 allows synchronization of multiple SplashID 4 databases, adding additional standalone desktop owners, and emailing encrypted SplashID files to other owners. In addition, VID files can be imported, but moving data from another wallet application is still not easy.

Desktop application: SplashID also includes a desktop application which syncs with the mobile wallet. There isn’t that much to say about the desktop app — it’s the same functionality and a very similar interface to its PPC sibling, only with a bit more room to spread out. However, it’s very handy both for data entry and for use on your desktop. The new update has given the interface a more attractive look and has added panel and tree views to the standard list display for your data.

Conclusion: I really wanted to like SplashID 4. If I think about it in a vacuum, it does its job. It is an effective way to protect and manage all the sensitive data that piles up around us more every day. If SplashID were the only wallet program available, I would recommend it without hesitation.

However, it isn’t. In fact, wallet programs are one of the most competitive areas of Windows Mobile software thanks to the number of companies developing them right now. SplashID is a good program, but for the same money there are others that are better, and the latest update does not do nearly enough to catch up.

Where to Buy:

SplashID 4 is available directly from SplashData for $29.95. Upgrades from previous versions are $9.95. Versions are also available for Palm, WM Standard (smartphone), Symbian, and Blackberry.

Of course, you could buy from the JAMM store. Don’t forget our 20% holiday discount “JAMM_HOLIDAY“, and help us support the American Cancer Society!

Related posts:

1. All New SplashID 4 for Palm Handhelds and Treo Smartphones
2. Review: SplashID — Protect Your Private Information With Ease
3. SplashID Goes 4.0!
4. Review of Spb Wallet 2.0 on ClintonFitch.com
5. Review: Spb Wallet 2.0