Iambichas recently released Agendus for Blackberry version 1.0.  Agendus has been out for other platforms:  Palm, WM Pocket PC, Smartphone WM, Symbian, and Windows Desktop.  If you are not familiar with Agendus, it is an enhanced calendar, contacts, and tasks integration software.  Blackberries are designed for business users with their e-mail integration, but next to that, calendars and contacts are the most important data to carry with you.  Before the world of cell phones, I used to be a walking phone book.  Now, I’m lucky if I can remember my home and work phone numbers without my ‘electronic brain’.  I have been using the beta version of Agendus for the Blackberry for the last month and a half.  Take a look after the jump to see the results…

Function, Options, and Ease of Use are key to any good piece of software.  That was one of things I really liked about Agendus, it has all three.  First, the calendar and contacts are integrated with the default calendar and contacts on the Blackberry.  I can’t tell you how many times, in the beginning, that I would put information in my old calendar instead of Agendus.  It was so nice that I did not have to reeneter all of that data.  That could have caused some big oops moments.  I am sure my boss would just loved this excuse, “Well, I would have been at the meeting, but I put the appointment in the wrong calendar.”  Agendus does not skimp on the options either.  There are five different ways to look at your schedule:  Today view, One day view, Week view – Grid, Week view List, and Month view.  At first, I thought, “Who needs so many views?  I will never use them all.”  Well, I was definitely wrong about that.  I am constantly switching back and forth checking my tasks and appointments.  I have to say that the Week view – List, is by far my favorite.

With one quick scroll of the track ball, I can look at all my appointments and tasks for the week.  As you can see from the screenshot above, Agendus gives you the ability to color-code your tasks and contacts.  They have a nice selection of colors, and you can even make your business tasks one color, and your business contacts another.  Color-coding is huge for me.  I used the same color scheme for my notebooks all through grade and high school:  red = Math, Blue/Aqua = Science.  I always had what I needed, so I’m sticking to what works.

Another cool feature is the linking of the contacts and the calendar.  When you set-up an appointment, you have the option to add someone from your contacts.  Now, say you are looking at your calendar, and see that you are having lunch with someone, but you are running late or need to cancel.  Instead of exiting the calendar and switching to your contact list, you can simply highlight their name on the calendar, and click the track ball.  Now you have the option to e-mail or call them.  No flipping through lots of screens, and this is especially important if you are in the car and need to call them.  Not that you should be looking at these things in the car while driving, but I know people who do it; and yes, I do yell at them. 

I should also mention that you can add contact information to your tasks, and have the same integration available that the calendar has.  Agendus has a task list view that lets you see all of your tasks with the ability to filter them by date or color category.  Similar functions are available for contacts as well, you can sort by name or category.  Now for a few fun things that Iambic threw in with Agendus. 

From the Today view, you can access a Quote of the Day, Day in History, and a 9 Day Weather Forecast.  I do love having the weather available.  I am one of those people that never remembers to catch the local news for the forecast, but I always wake-up wondering what to wear to work.  Here you have it at the touch of a button.  Plus, the Quote of the Day and Day in History are nice little bonuses.  Its like having one of those tear away calendars with you without wasting the paper.  Hmmm….that makes Agendus environmentally friendly in a way, good to see that they are doing their part to help save the pandas.  One criticism I do have about the fun features, is that they do not update on their own.  You have to click on them to refresh them.  I can understand about refreshing the weather forecast, because that can change.  However, have the Quote and history update at mid-night everyday. 

Overall, I give Agendus for Blackberry two thumbs up!!!

Pros:  Ease of use, contact integration with calendar and tasks, many view options

Cons:  No auto update for Quote of the Day and Day in History.

Agendus for Blackberry can be purchased and downloaded from Iambic for $19.95

Agendus is also available for purchase at the JAMM Store. 

Screen shots from Iambic

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