Review: Developer One, Agenda One v2
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Impressions and things I would like to see
Overall I am very happy with the program as a substitute for the included PIM applications and would recommend it easily, but I did find a few things I would like to see Developer One tackle in a future version or a possible update.
When using the program for the first time the color coding used for the schedule bar is by, I believe, priority. This had me a bit confused at first as I found myself checking the category setup repeatedly thinking I had failed to save it. I have a feeling this is because category color information is not there by default, but it would seem that would be a feature that should be enabled by default; or at least if colors are applied to your categories.
The amount of configuration options available do a great job of allowing you to customize the application to your specific wants, but present quite a challenge when initially using the program. I skimmed through them after installation but was unclear on what each setting was doing; or I just wasn’t sure whether I wanted a specific time-frame or feature to be shown. There were quite a few times while using the program that I thought there should be a way to make it do this or that, but didn’t want to go through the seemingly endless series of menus to get to it. I finally decided I would use the program for a few days keeping a mental list of what I wanted to change and then tackle the configuration after I had more experience with it. What could have helped was a small group of settings for some of the more common changes or for some global changes that would be made available either directly after the install or through a separate configuration applet. Things like a check box for “use category coloring”, or “show future tasks X days out” that would be set globally are things I think most users would like to define without going through the entire configuration.
Another nice feature would be a home screen plug-in that offered similar functionality to the application itself. This would be a great benefit because once you get used to seeing the icons and color coding you begin to miss it when it is not there and the included WM today screen plug-in leaves a lot to be desired. The agenda view is highly suited to inclusion on the home screen albeit with slightly smaller type and being collapsible would be a great added benefit.
One last thing I would really like to see is a section that lists my free time for a given time period. This could be configurable to show during work hours, personal time, weekends, etc. much like the time based filter option. It could also be filtered on the amount of time I need to have. For instance say I need a one hour slot for someone; I could go to the free time screen and choose a menu item that, based on one hour, would then seek out all slots one hour or larger in say the next week and give me a list of them. This is one area that I think is just as important as showing my busy time. When someone asks me when I am available it would be nice to pull up a list of slots that I have open so that I can respond quickly without having to scroll through each day and figure out how much time I have between appointments.
Round-up:
Final Take
Agenda One does a great job of not only upgrading the existing PIM applications, but also bringing some very nice additional features like D-pad friendly input screens and loads of ways to customize the look of the application. Shortcomings aside if your schedule has you longing for more control over it, or you do a lot of on-device inputting of tasks and appointments then you will find that Agenda One provides great features and value.
Best Features:
- Huge improvement over the Pocket Outlook components
- Expertly designed views and layouts that really help to take in all the aspects of a busy schedule
- Consistent flow and feel throughout the application
- Unique input methods that allow you to input the majority of appointments and tasks without the need of a keyboard or stylus
- Excellent customization ability and themes allow you to change the look of the program with little hassle
Areas for improvement:
- Overall configuration is cumbersome requiring knowledge of the program
- No today screen plugin for viewing information
The Rundown:
- Agenda One by Developer One, Version 2.1
- Price: $24.95
- Windows Mobile 5/6 Standard and Professional Supported
- All screen sizes and orientations supported
- Trial available (fully featured, time limited)
- Tested on ATT Tilt
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