News Archive
So What's On My Palm?
September 28, 2001
I thought I’d give everybody a little update on the software that I have on my Palm, since that’s the main reason that I’ve decided to stick with the Palm OS platform for now. These are the programs that I use daily and simply can’t live without:
ActionNames Datebook is the one program that I simply can’t do without. Lots of people swear by DateBk4, but I’ll take the power and the simplicity of AN any day. What’s so great about it? It combines my datebook, to do, and contact information in one place, and allows me to use custom icons and a whole lot more.
Bonsai is an outliner/lite project manager that has no parallel I’ve found on the Pocket PC platform. This is the program that I use to keep all of my writing projects organized, as well as all of that stuff I have to do for work. The key here is its integration with the built-in To Do database— I can enter projects in Bonsai, link them to to do items, and have everything show up both in Bonsai in project form with status completion indicators, and by due date in ActionNames. That allows me to get a strong handle on all of my projects and ensure that nothing slips through the cracks.
BugMe! is a great little reminder program, and is available on Palm OS and the Pocket PC platform. All you do is write on the screen, set an alarm, and your handheld will remind you of whatever you need to do at the appropriate time. I’ll be reviewing it’s big brother program, BugMe! Messenger, sometime soon—that one lets you send BugMe! messages and annotated EyeModule pictures to your friends over a wireless connection.
DayNotez is a journaling program that really does replace that right-hand page in your day planner, the one where you wrote down all of the events that happened that day and your thoughts about them. What’s nice about DayNotez is that it has a full Windows desktop companion program, and you can also export your notes into WordSmith on the Palm for wireless printing or sharing with others.
HanDBase is a fully-featured database for both the Palm OS and Pocket PC platforms that is also extremely easy to use. I use it to keep track of all of my collections—music, DVDs, games, books, etc. Some of their new utilities include Data Exchange, which lets you use Access databases on your handheld, as well as the QuickData program that integrates with QuickSheet on Palm OS devices.
PocketQuicken is the application that literally turned my financial life around. I always thought it was too difficult to try and keep track of all my money and receipts long enough to get back to the PC at home and enter everything in. But with PocketQuicken everything gets entered right away, and I always have an accurate picture of my finances in the palm of my hand.
Showtimes is the one program that you simply must have if you ever go to the movies. Instead of having to try to find a newspaper, you can carry all of the showtime and theater information you’ll need, along with plot summaries from the Internet Movie Database if you so desire. This program was recently updated, so be sure and get the latest version and you’ll never have to search for movie info again.
WordSmith is sinply the best Palm OS word processor out there right now, and arguably the best word processor period- Pocket Word on the Pocket PC simply can’t compare. If you take a lot of meeting or class notes on your handheld, or if you’re writing the next “Great American Novel” on your Palm, then you need WordSmith.
That’s it for now; next time I’ll tell you a bit more about the utility programs on my Palm m505, and then we’ll move on to the most imporatant topic of all—what games does the PocketGoddess play when she has a little time to waste?
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