Review: Pocket Informant 8

Posted by: dgoldring on Jan 20 2008 - 7,108 views

As the Windows Mobile platform continues to develop, it has become increasingly clear that the Mobile Outlook and calendaring portions of the operating system are among its weakest features (behind Mobile Word and File Explorer). This is unfortunate, because Mobile Outlook has the potential to become an incredibly powerful addition to the Windows Mobile Operating System. One need look no further than its desktop counterpart, Outlook 2007, to see how far Microsoft has come in this area. Yet many of these features have been largely ignored by Microsoft when it comes to the Mobile Platform. Thus, Microsoft has created a considerable opportunity for third party developers, such as WebIS, to create replacements for Mobile Outlook, and attempt to offer their own interpretation of how the desktop Outlook functions should be implemented in the mobile arena. Last summer, Judie brought you a review of WebIS’ flagship program, Pocket Informant 2007. At that time, she found the features and customization options to be unwieldy. Earlier this month, WebIS announced the release of Pocket Informant 8, which promises to be more streamlined, more powerful, and all around easier to use than its predecessors. Let’s take a closer look at all of the features offered by Pocket Informant 8, as well as whether the new release answered all of Judie’s concerns.

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The 2008 JAMM Essential Applications For Windows Mobile

Posted by: dgoldring on Jan 02 2008 - 4,388 views

 

Last year, we started a fantastic tradition here at JAMM of providing our readers with a list of the programs that we at JAMM feel are absolutely essential.  Of course, a lot has changed in the last year.  We have grown from four to 12 writers, and the market has expanded significantly, with the release of Windows Mobile 6, iPhone, and a growing list of Blackberry and Palm devices.  And this does not even consider the expected release of the first Android-based devices.  So, with the new year, the time seemed right to update the list of essentials.  Of course, this list is only looking at programs for Windows Mobile devices, since that is the platform which pretty much all of the staff here shares in common (although there was an effort to sneak iPhone’s Safari onto the list).

We did things a little bit differently this year.  Rather than posting every program listed by our staff, we held an informal poll.  We divided the list into various categories and the team chimed in with nominations for their favorites in each category.  Some categories ended up with blowout margins.  Programs like WebIS Pocket Informant received 8 of 11 votes, and everything Ilium publishes was a runaway winner (with NewsBreak being our only unanimous pick).  Other categories turned into a tug-of-war, highlighting rivalries which exist even among our staff.  The only thing we could agree on for Today Screen Plug-ins, for example, was that we love both SBSH and Spb Software House.

In addition to this list, each team member at JAMM nominated their single most essential application.  This Best of the Best list is provided in its entirety. This way, you can see which programs are most essential to each team member.

So, without further adieu, let’s take a look at the 2008 JAMM Essential Applications and Best of the Best Lists.

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Review: Resco Explorer 2007

Posted by: dgoldring on Dec 06 2007 - 2,045 views

 

Every once in a while, you find a program which affects virtually every component of your device, elevating your whole device to a new level of effectiveness.  These are the absolutely essential applications, which you load first when you buy a new device, before the detritus takes over your storage.  Chief among this category of applications is the unassumingly named Resco Explorer 2007.  Resco Explorer 2007 is a millionaire living in the smallest house in the neighborhood.  Based upon the name and description, you would never guess the power which lies within.  Sure, you can explore your files with this program, but that is just one small feature among many.  Instead, Resco Explorer is really a total device manager. 

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Head-To-Head Review: Spb Pocket Plus 4 vs. SBSH iLauncher 3

Posted by: weiganla on Nov 16 2007 - 11,262 views

[Editor's Note: This is a joint review written by Doug Goldring and Lauren Weigand. Throughout the review, Doug's comments will be in black, and Lauren's will be in blue] VS.

Doug: Before we get started, I think it is appropriate to give a little background here. Several months ago, SBSH released iLauncher 3, an update to its popular today screen plug-in. Of course, at the time, we determined that a review would be appropriate for JAMM. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, that review never got written. It looked like the review was just going to fade away, but "Hey-Hey-My-My, Good Reviews Will Never Die!" And with that in mind, Lauren stepped up to the plate and agreed to take on the review. Like a good Hollywood action movie, it had gone through several different directors, and a script change or two, but the review was back on track. At the same time, Spb Software House was hard at work updating their popular today screen plug-in, Pocket Plus. When they announced the availability of Pocket Plus 4, Lauren emailed me and said that she would be interested in taking a head to head look at the two. Now, reviewing one of these excellent programs alone would be a daunting task. Looking at them together is near to impossible. In fact, suicidal comes to mind.

Lauren: Hey now! Naive, maybe. Overambitious, even. But suicidal? No, in fact I was thinking of you guys. When I bought my Axim this summer, one of the first decisions I had to make was which launcher program to purchase. Every message thread I found during my research turned into a bloody flame war between SBSHites and Spbophiles within about five posts. I could have substituted "Red Sox" and "Yankees" and learned as much about the programs, so I figured there had to be a better way. Anyway, I ended up going with iLauncher and have been using the current version since August.

Doug: Lauren is absolutely right. SBSH vs. Spb may be even uglier than Mets vs. Yankees…at least among the mobile enthusiasts that read this site. Fortunately, I had been planning to review Spb Pocket Plus 4 anyway, since I had been an early adopter through their beta testing program. So, I wrote Lauren back and suggested we work together on a joint head-to-head review. Lauren’s suggestion of a head-to-head review was extremely attractive because our readers have been demanding such a review for months. Many of you have written comments requesting that we look at offering more head-to head reviews, particularly where SBSH and Spb offer similar programs. Both companies are perched high atop the Windows Mobile software ladder, and the two frequently seem to find themselves in direct competition with each other, developing many similar programs. We have already started responding to this call for a head-to-head review. Although my look at Pocket Player and CorePlayer fell flat on its face, Brandon recently compared DinarSoft’s MemMaid to SKKV’s SKTools. And continuing with the SBSH-Spb powerhouse deathmatch, watch for Brandon’s look at Spb Phone Suite vs. SBSH Phone Weaver, coming soon. A final note about this review, in looking at the two programs, Lauren and I quickly realized that while there are many features in common between the two programs, there are also a variety of features which are unique to one or the other. As such, in order to avoid comparing apples and oranges, we have divided the review into two sections. The first section will compare apples to apples, looking at the features Pocket Plus and iLauncher share in common. The second section will look at the oranges and review those features which are unique to each program. OK, enough of this long windedness, let’s dive right in and start dissecting these programs.

Lauren: What Doug said. Hit the jump to get started.

 

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Softmaker Office 2006 - ON MAJOR SALE!

Posted by: tjchan on Nov 03 2007 - 605 views

WOWZERS! If you have been waiting to buy SoftMaker Office 2006 for Pocket PCs (a JAMM essential), wait no longer - NOW is the time to buy!

Thanks to AximSite for spotting this!

Between Friday and Sunday only, you can purchase SoftMaker Office for Pocket PCs at a huge discount:

SoftMaker Office 2006 for Pocket PCs: only US$ 34.95/€ 29.95
instead of US$ 69.95/€ 69,95

TextMaker 2006 for Pocket PCs: only US$ 24.95/€ 19.95
instead of US$ 49.95/€ 49.95

PlanMaker 2006 for Pocket PCs: only US$ 24.95/€ 19.95
instead of US$ 49.95/€ 49.95

That’s right folks - I’ve been waiting for a decent sale after reading Doug’s review, and I think it’s time I bit. Clinton Fitch also has a review on this fantastic product! Click here to buy or go for a free trial.

Technorati Tags: SoftMaker Office 2006, Pocket PC, PPC, Sale, Discount, Just Another Mobile Monday, JAMM

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Review: PhatNotes 5 - Organization Freaks, Rejoice! PhatNotes Lets You Sort, Tag, and Link All Your Notes

Posted by: weiganla on Sep 05 2007 - 4,040 views

If all you use your PDA’s notepad for is to jot down a few lines on occasion, the built-in application is fine. However, I use mine to take notes during lectures, conferences, and presentations all day. The data piles up fast, and if I ever want to be able to find a vital piece of information again, the native Notepad just isn’t going to cut it. Enter PhatNotes. It bills itself as the ultimate notes organizer for Pocket PC. Let me tell you, I have some notes in dire need of organization. Let’s see what this program can do. (To give fair warning, this might take a while.) Click here to read the rest of the review.

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