lefei
21st February 2004, 11:33 AM
Replace your Address Book!
One of the least recommended replacement software for the Palm certainly has to be Address Book. Don’t believe me? Go to www.palmgear.com (http://www.palmgear.com/) and see for yourself. There is no Address Book replacement mentioned in either the Essential or Gear Choice category. Go to www.palmcentral.com (http://www.palmcentral.com/), nothing in the Gotta Have It or Hot Products section either. Even our very own SPUG has no recommendation for an Address replacement. So why?
Frankly, I can’t understand why a good replacement program over the Standard fare provided by 3Com is not visible enough. In fact, it is plain invisible. I store easily a few hundred names worth of addresses, a result of a few hard years of typing, collating and cross referencing, and sorting and poor presentation can really be a pain. Just try finding a company name within the pile of data. Of course you can’t, there is no Find feature in the stock Address application that comes with the Palm.
The truth is that there are really good programs that do lots more. My picks include AddressPro 3.8, Super Names 1.45 and TealPhone 2.18. After using all three for an extended period of time, the clear winner has to be Super Names. While TealPhone offers great latitude in presentation it can be painfully slow once your data pile up. AddressPro needs to work on the presentation, and support can be lacking! Super Names offers an almost unlimited number of views and customization within the limits of the Palm. What’s more, it offers extra Fields—lots of them, a facility for checking names so that they can easily be sorted, moved or deleted, and the best part of it all, it allows Linking to a Name, an Appointment an a ToDo item!
Super Names by Standalone (http://www.standalone.com/), is in the company’s own words, "a series of enhancements for the Address book included in the PalmPilot, Palm III, and Palm V devices. It gives you faster access to your names and addresses, links between address cards and other items, and many other options that make it easier to access your information." Bang on, I couldn’t have said it better!
What You Get
The best thing about Super Names has to be the almost endless ways to present the lists of names. You can split screens, display folders, place a scroll bar and even specify way the fields are displayed. Here’s what I mean:
Here’s a picture with the split screen and Folder Tabs at the top.
Don’t like the the screen being split? Here’s one with just the Folder Tabs.
Or if you prefer, no Folder Tabs but with a Scroll Bar.
You can change the Index to be placed at the Bottom, Top, Right, or in this instance, Left.
The Check Boxes allow you to easily manipulate the data in groups.
The list goes on and on, and the only way to see for yourself the myriad possibilities is to try it out. While you might think that presentation is merely cosmetic, ponder this : How data is presented is related to how quickly way you can find data within the program. And Super Names does this extremely well, and this is why Super Names stands heads and shoulders over the rest. You can define for example, Last Name, First Name instead of Company or Last. There are five combinations to choose from, but don’t let that fool you. Within the display itself, you can further specify what number you displayed, be it a Mobile, Work, Home, Fax, or any number that you want, even an email.
And you need not be limited to the number of fields that plain vanilla Address gives you as the default. Super Names adds to your Address Cards new fields: five new phone fields, two new address fields, and two URL fields. Super Names also includes two new Datefields which can be used for birthdays, deadlines, anniversaries, or other important dates. The additions, however, stays only within Super Names as data in these extra fields cannot be synced to Outlook or any other desktop program, as no Conduit programs support it at this point in time.
Five combinations are allowed. But don’t be deceived, you can customize further!
If you prefer an email displayed next to a name rather than a Home number, you can define it further. Simply click and up pops your selection.
Linking!
If you like all your data to show relationships to one another, then Super Names is definitely the program for you. It is the only Address Book replacement software one that allows it. At the top of each address entry is the Link icon. When you link to an Appointment, the number of current links after the entry will be displayed. If you link 15 items, then the number 15 will appear. Very convenient. With this feature, you can actually link groups that do not necessarily fall under a category. You can even define when the links start, say only from November 22, 1999 onwards! The same goes if you decide to link to a ToDo item—the only difference is that you can also link to Undated entries.
To Replace Or Not To Replace?
I think that as your entries increase, the need to find information intelligently and quickly becomes a necessity. Trust me, it’s only a matter of time before you start looking around for an Address book replacement. While I certainly can’t sing enough high praises for Super Names, there are a few things that I wish were included. A more feature-rich Find function that includes a Find & Replace ability, plus, a Scroll bar that can be displayed on the left for Lefties of course. Even then, Super Names is the clear leader in terms of offering a lot of useful features that will satisfy even the most hardcore power user. If you need a turbo-charged Address book replacement, look no further. Super Names wins hands down, and believe me, it is worth every cent that you pay for.
Rating:
Super Names costs US$19.95 and is available from Standalone.com (http://www.standalone.com/). All pictures captured with TealPaint, courtesy of TealPoint Software (http://www.tealpoint.com/) .
Review by Stephen Lee (stephen@spug.net)
14 Dec, 1999
<HR>EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH BEN GOTTLIEB, PRESIDENT OF STANDALONE.COM
1) Why do you think that Address Book replacements have not been as successful as Datebook or even the ToDo programs?
A) The built in Address book is pretty competent, at least in comparison to the Datebook and ToDo applications.
2) Do you foresee developing a conduit that would sync the extra fields to Outlook, Act! or other popular Contact programs?
A) Yup!
3) Some users have mentioned about the program crashing when linking to the ToDo entries. Has there been any fixes?
A) We've had three separate reports of this, but have been unable to reproduce them on machines here. We believe it *may* be a conflict issue.
4) What new features can users expect in a future release?
A) Linking to Memos, superior Find/Find and Replace. The Comprehensive Find and Replace tool to complement Super Names will be a separate .PRC file, so that people who don't want to use it can conserve space.
5) What remains the challenge to continue for Super Names to lead in this area?
A) We strive to make each of our products dominant in its chosen market, and then to listen to customer requests and continually evolve the software.
6) How did you come up with this app and what is the intention all along for the program that users will find useful?
A) This was an attempt to bring some of the features that many users became used to on the Newton platform, both with the standard Newton address book and our Super Names product on that platform. In conjunction with our DateMan and Call Tracker products, we're attempting to create a complete, comprehensive contact management system on the Palm platform.
Share your experiences and read comments about this product here. (http://www.spug.net/forums/showthread.php?threadid=181)
One of the least recommended replacement software for the Palm certainly has to be Address Book. Don’t believe me? Go to www.palmgear.com (http://www.palmgear.com/) and see for yourself. There is no Address Book replacement mentioned in either the Essential or Gear Choice category. Go to www.palmcentral.com (http://www.palmcentral.com/), nothing in the Gotta Have It or Hot Products section either. Even our very own SPUG has no recommendation for an Address replacement. So why?
Frankly, I can’t understand why a good replacement program over the Standard fare provided by 3Com is not visible enough. In fact, it is plain invisible. I store easily a few hundred names worth of addresses, a result of a few hard years of typing, collating and cross referencing, and sorting and poor presentation can really be a pain. Just try finding a company name within the pile of data. Of course you can’t, there is no Find feature in the stock Address application that comes with the Palm.
The truth is that there are really good programs that do lots more. My picks include AddressPro 3.8, Super Names 1.45 and TealPhone 2.18. After using all three for an extended period of time, the clear winner has to be Super Names. While TealPhone offers great latitude in presentation it can be painfully slow once your data pile up. AddressPro needs to work on the presentation, and support can be lacking! Super Names offers an almost unlimited number of views and customization within the limits of the Palm. What’s more, it offers extra Fields—lots of them, a facility for checking names so that they can easily be sorted, moved or deleted, and the best part of it all, it allows Linking to a Name, an Appointment an a ToDo item!
Super Names by Standalone (http://www.standalone.com/), is in the company’s own words, "a series of enhancements for the Address book included in the PalmPilot, Palm III, and Palm V devices. It gives you faster access to your names and addresses, links between address cards and other items, and many other options that make it easier to access your information." Bang on, I couldn’t have said it better!
What You Get
The best thing about Super Names has to be the almost endless ways to present the lists of names. You can split screens, display folders, place a scroll bar and even specify way the fields are displayed. Here’s what I mean:
Here’s a picture with the split screen and Folder Tabs at the top.
Don’t like the the screen being split? Here’s one with just the Folder Tabs.
Or if you prefer, no Folder Tabs but with a Scroll Bar.
You can change the Index to be placed at the Bottom, Top, Right, or in this instance, Left.
The Check Boxes allow you to easily manipulate the data in groups.
The list goes on and on, and the only way to see for yourself the myriad possibilities is to try it out. While you might think that presentation is merely cosmetic, ponder this : How data is presented is related to how quickly way you can find data within the program. And Super Names does this extremely well, and this is why Super Names stands heads and shoulders over the rest. You can define for example, Last Name, First Name instead of Company or Last. There are five combinations to choose from, but don’t let that fool you. Within the display itself, you can further specify what number you displayed, be it a Mobile, Work, Home, Fax, or any number that you want, even an email.
And you need not be limited to the number of fields that plain vanilla Address gives you as the default. Super Names adds to your Address Cards new fields: five new phone fields, two new address fields, and two URL fields. Super Names also includes two new Datefields which can be used for birthdays, deadlines, anniversaries, or other important dates. The additions, however, stays only within Super Names as data in these extra fields cannot be synced to Outlook or any other desktop program, as no Conduit programs support it at this point in time.
Five combinations are allowed. But don’t be deceived, you can customize further!
If you prefer an email displayed next to a name rather than a Home number, you can define it further. Simply click and up pops your selection.
Linking!
If you like all your data to show relationships to one another, then Super Names is definitely the program for you. It is the only Address Book replacement software one that allows it. At the top of each address entry is the Link icon. When you link to an Appointment, the number of current links after the entry will be displayed. If you link 15 items, then the number 15 will appear. Very convenient. With this feature, you can actually link groups that do not necessarily fall under a category. You can even define when the links start, say only from November 22, 1999 onwards! The same goes if you decide to link to a ToDo item—the only difference is that you can also link to Undated entries.
To Replace Or Not To Replace?
I think that as your entries increase, the need to find information intelligently and quickly becomes a necessity. Trust me, it’s only a matter of time before you start looking around for an Address book replacement. While I certainly can’t sing enough high praises for Super Names, there are a few things that I wish were included. A more feature-rich Find function that includes a Find & Replace ability, plus, a Scroll bar that can be displayed on the left for Lefties of course. Even then, Super Names is the clear leader in terms of offering a lot of useful features that will satisfy even the most hardcore power user. If you need a turbo-charged Address book replacement, look no further. Super Names wins hands down, and believe me, it is worth every cent that you pay for.
Rating:
Super Names costs US$19.95 and is available from Standalone.com (http://www.standalone.com/). All pictures captured with TealPaint, courtesy of TealPoint Software (http://www.tealpoint.com/) .
Review by Stephen Lee (stephen@spug.net)
14 Dec, 1999
<HR>EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH BEN GOTTLIEB, PRESIDENT OF STANDALONE.COM
1) Why do you think that Address Book replacements have not been as successful as Datebook or even the ToDo programs?
A) The built in Address book is pretty competent, at least in comparison to the Datebook and ToDo applications.
2) Do you foresee developing a conduit that would sync the extra fields to Outlook, Act! or other popular Contact programs?
A) Yup!
3) Some users have mentioned about the program crashing when linking to the ToDo entries. Has there been any fixes?
A) We've had three separate reports of this, but have been unable to reproduce them on machines here. We believe it *may* be a conflict issue.
4) What new features can users expect in a future release?
A) Linking to Memos, superior Find/Find and Replace. The Comprehensive Find and Replace tool to complement Super Names will be a separate .PRC file, so that people who don't want to use it can conserve space.
5) What remains the challenge to continue for Super Names to lead in this area?
A) We strive to make each of our products dominant in its chosen market, and then to listen to customer requests and continually evolve the software.
6) How did you come up with this app and what is the intention all along for the program that users will find useful?
A) This was an attempt to bring some of the features that many users became used to on the Newton platform, both with the standard Newton address book and our Super Names product on that platform. In conjunction with our DateMan and Call Tracker products, we're attempting to create a complete, comprehensive contact management system on the Palm platform.
Share your experiences and read comments about this product here. (http://www.spug.net/forums/showthread.php?threadid=181)