Database Develop

Why do calendars suck so bad?

So I've been lurking on these forums for quite awhile now getting my Tilt tricked just right. . Everything is perfect.
Except the calendar.
I've read the calendar threads and tried every calendar app under the sun. They all suck. Why is this?
Datebk5 on Palm was a perfect calendar app.
Nothing is even close for WM.
I can send a friend a text with a map of my exact location, listen to XM radio, give a powerpoint presentation, and watch YouTube on my Tilt, but it takes me about half an hour to enter a single appointment.
Well I'm currently using Pocket Informant 8, and I think it's the best of an awful crop of products.
Anybody with some ingenuity and a penchant for trying to emulate the simplicity of Palm's calendar apps will make a lot of money - just don't know why it hasn't happened yet.
Comments?

I couldn't agree more, Date Book 5 for my palm was a great app. I have been looking for anything that comes close....so far, no luck

I like Pocket Informant the most, so if you haven't tried it before may be worth a look.
What is it that you don't like about the ones you have tried and which ones?

I totally agree. I've been searching for a good calendar that I can pull up on my today screen but haven't found anything worth installing.
Looks like rlToday (http://rotlaus-software.de/projects/rltoday) might be able to create a visually appealling calendar. Unfortunately I don't have the free time to work on one.

I also use Pocket Informant 8 and it definately is a pale imitation of DB5! PI8 doesn't fully support icons, linking or templates like DateBk5. I really didn't know how well I had it with Palm apps such as DB5. Also, the other thing that sucks about Pocket Informant is that when you post on their forums due to bugs, poor implementation of features, etc. they aggressively argue with you (at least the founder does) so there really isn't the culture to improve the product.

Would pocket informant also let you use it for your calendar but still use today agenda on your home screen?

mattarse said:
I like Pocket Informant the most, so if you haven't tried it before may be worth a look.
What is it that you don't like about the ones you have tried and which ones?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have Pocket Informant and also like it the most.
Here's what I miss:
On Datebk 5:
1. Scroll to a day.
2. Start typing a number (the time).
3. Click done.
4. Type subject.
5. Done.
On PI:
1. Scroll to day.
2. Click menu button.
3. Click new.
4. Type subject.
5. Click on start time.
6. Click in start time (with stylus).
7. Click ok.
8. Click ok.
9. Done.
All day appts for datebk 5:
1. Scroll to day.
2. Type subject.
3. Done.
Simplicity, that is the key!
Programs I've tried:
Extreme Agenda - not simple.
Agenda Fusion 8 - same.
Agenda One - same.
OtO - developer has suspended the project - but it has potential.
Speereo Sapie - voice activated app that has the potential to be a killer app - but way too buggy and not very customizeable.
What I like about Datebk5: Simple, customizeable, and powerful enough to handle whatever you throw at it.
If anybody's watching, there is a LOT of money at stake for the first person to make a killer app. I will personally pay more than any of the apps out there to find something that works.

Juzzman said:
I also use Pocket Informant 8 and it definately is a pale imitation of DB5! PI8 doesn't fully support icons, linking or templates like DateBk5. I really didn't know how well I had it with Palm apps such as DB5. Also, the other thing that sucks about Pocket Informant is that when you post on their forums due to bugs, poor implementation of features, etc. they aggressively argue with you (at least the founder does) so there really isn't the culture to improve the product.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I noticed that too! They don't seem to be the friendliest over there. Glad I'm not the only one.

Maybe SuperCalendar would work for you, easy to use
http://www.scarybearsoftware.com/product_detail.php?productname=supercalendar

Pocket Breeze!!
PocketBreeze 5.4 by sbsh is the BEST Today Claendar app I've seen. It's really versatile and you can add many applications as tabs to use directly in the today screen (not launch buttons, check the site for more info).
If it means anything, I've used it on all my WM PPCs.
For creating new entries in the calendar, I don't find that that much of a pain... But I might be used to it

It has been 6+ years since I have used a plam (i.e. any palm calendar). But I have been using an older version of SBSH Pocket Breeze for a little over a year and I find that it provides many workarounds for the problems I commonly had with the WM5/6 calendar.
It actually is just an alternative GUI for the stock calendar really but it resides on your homepage and really streamlines the process. You can basically set it up however you would like (TONS of settings you can tinker w/).
I just upgraded to BP 5.4 (I think? whatever the newest one is), after unlocking my Wizard and upgrading to a custom WM6 ROM. I am really liking the new version so far, just as powerful as the older version but more streamlined and userfriendly. It's just too bad that the new Pocket Weather app from SBSH blows goats, I liked the old version better...
12day free trial when you download from their site the last poster linked, so you can try it out...

decimusmaximus7 said:
Would pocket informant also let you use it for your calendar but still use today agenda on your home screen?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, that's how I have it set up. The today plugin builtin to PI is part thati don't like.
Maybe Im lucky though - kaiser is my first pda so I have less to compare it to considering all the other complaints

mattarse said:
Yes, that's how I have it set up. The today plugin builtin to PI is part thati don't like.
Maybe Im lucky though - kaiser is my first pda so I have less to compare it to considering all the other complaints
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok I'm trying out pocket informant now, while it does seem to have alot of options, I don't really see what it can do that is better than the stock calendar. What customizations or features are you using? I don't really like how the text is so small.

spb
i use spb PP4 and have spb diary in one of its tabs all by itself..nice font sizes and does all that I need...having a calander app on my main today screen takes up too much real estate. I find this method works well... free trial of both or just diary on thier website.
http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/downloads.html?en

I totally agree: DateBK was (and probably will be) the best calendar ever. Nothing comes even close:
- week view in DateBK was perfect, PI fonts are too small, AgendaOne looks OK
- day view in DateBK was perfect, PI is the scale way too big, AgendaOne just sucks. Looks like Agenda Fusion is ok, but I don't like the rest of that program
- Other calendars not mentioned above just don't have the native look and feel of WM6.
Now trying Extreme Agenda, but I don't like the dayview. Can someone just clone DateBK???

I just got my Sprint touch and I'm missing Datebk5 as well.
Right now I'm trying Pocket Breeze as I like it's today plugin best. I'm thinking about PI as the calendar, Pocket Breeze will interface with it but there's one problem, when I set PI as the default PIM, it also is used for contacts and darn it, I want to use PocketCM. Anyone got an idea on how to tweak the registry for that?

I like PI and only use it's "Week View". You can configure the fonts and color schemes. I set it to NOT be the default PIM manager, that way you can just map a key to the view you like (PI Week un my case) and jump right to it.
This way it doesn't mess with any contact/task manager you might like and it still syncs with Outlook. I had used PocketCM but after HTC Random access came out, I just use it as my contact manager for it's speed and simplicity.

I usually try a different calendar app every couple of months, usually shorty lafter trying a different ROM and I ALWAYS go back to TodayAgenda.
http://www.tiews.info/index.php?show=&lang=en

I have been trying the PocketBreeze calendar app for the last couple of days. It's not that the calendar app is so great but the Today screen plugin really couldn't do much more!
I've realy been impressed so far. The main compliment is the ability to navigate to basically anything with just one handed D-pad use! The small pop up calendar is well designed.
i would suggest trying it

Try OtO
A new one is One Touch Organizer. It's still in mid development and I think has a lot of potential. I used it on my wizard when it was v2 and now on the Blue Angel with v5, which just came out about a month ago. It is available on the site here and IMHO worth a look.

[WIP] Advanced Contacts, replacement for standard Contacts

Hi !
I'm a developer from Switzerland (just to say excuse my English) and a long time fan of XDA. Like all of you out there I'm playing a lot with my new toy, the Magic.
I've tested some HTC Hero UI's and I really liked the contacts UI and some of the concepts HTC have developed there, but I think this is a shame we won't see this as an application for everyone.
So I decided to begin my first Android application ever, a standalone replacement for Google's contact UI. I will try to add as many functions as possible, my goal is also to let user choose what they want to be shown, and how (think themes and a lot of preferences and customizations).
Here are some ideas I've all ready retained for the first releases (don't expect any release date for now), don't hesitate to share some of yours.
CURRENT PLANNED FUNCTIONS
--------------------------------
- contact with phone / without phone / starred contacts / contact groups / call log / events and call are the main categories
- for each contacts, something like the original contact app along with new categories like events (facebook, twitter, whatever), photos (Flickr...), email
That sounds easy at first step, but I don't want to just take the original code and build new functions on them, this is why I started from scratch.
I've made some graphics but I'm not as good on design as I'm on coding.. so.. if you are a good UI designer, or if you just have great ideas, PLEASE SHARE
Here are the 3 very first screenshots of AdvancedContacts. It's a early concept but what you see is actually working on my phone. Currently implemented functions: contacts with phone / without phone / favourites / groups. The link on contact's details are just redirected at the standard app.

The screens look cool man, looking forward to it.

Great idea. Sonething that really interests me in the hero rom.. Good luck!!!

That looks really good my friend

Looks good. Would it be able to take peoples Facebook display pictures and use them as the contact photo like the Hero contacts does? - that's the only reason I'm putting up with the Hero contacts at the moment (it likes to force close), but I imagine the facebook integration is quite difficult.

Lazzzara said:
Looks good. Would it be able to take peoples Facebook display pictures and use them as the contact photo like the Hero contacts does? - that's the only reason I'm putting up with the Hero contacts at the moment (it likes to force close), but I imagine the facebook integration is quite difficult.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, this is one of the function I really want for my phone, so.. I think you'll see this *shortly*
EDIT: I started a blog about the project, to centralize news. You can check it out now (http://acontacts.wordpress.com/).

I Need Ideas - Raphael Programming

Hello all,
I recently started a course here at Purdue University on Mobile Software development (Windows Mobile).
I need some ideas for programs I should write. Please reply to this thread or PM me if you'd like.
I have experience with C#, VB, C++, and C, among other languages.
Thanks
Jason Flittner

how about a dedicated xda forum app?

How about a sports ticker. I'm still surprised there isn't one yet.
BTW, I think I saw a xda app when I was poking around the other night.

I'm trying to think of ideas but my minds drawing a blank...
Here's the XDApp

Gonna expose my nerdiness here, but you asked...
How about an app that accesses the D&D Insider online compendium of rules and data? Not sure what would be involved, but I'm betting that there's no API available, so it'll probably never happen.
OTOH, it would be nice to see a really high quality dice-rolling app that takes full advantage of the g-sensor and the hardware accelerated graphics...something that looks like dice inside a tumbler, you know? Maybe start with a really slick Yahtzee-style game, and build up to polyhedral dice for us game-geeks?
I'd be happy to provide you with some guidelines for building. I'm sure we could find you a suitably good graphics guy, too, if you're not up to that part (I could do that, in a pinch).

I want my phone to do this:
But until then, I would like to see an ap like Skype, but for mobile that will easily switch you from cellular network to VOIP.

I have two ideas:
#1 - I don't know if this is even possible, but an application that turns on WIFI and/or Bluetooth in a receive only mode briefly every few seconds and listens for user selected devices in range and then performs user selected actions.
The idea is that the it would use less power than leaving WIFI and/or Bluetooth on all the time, but when I get in range of my wifi router at home, it turn WIFI fully on and sync my phone. Or when I'm in range of the WiFi at work, it could turn my ringer to vibrate. Or when I get into the car, it detect my Bluetooth stero, connects to it, and opens the music player.
#2 - Probably simpler than #1, a program that turns WiFi and/or Bluetooth on automatically when the phone is plugged into a charger and then performs specific user defined actions, similar to idea #1.
I don't know if programs like this already exist, but I haven't found them.
Dylan

I like these ideas, please keep them coming. I am not sure what the requirements will be as far as our programming projects are concerned but from what I understand I have alot of freedom in project choices!
I am in another robotics programming class working with the iRobot Creates and I was thinking it would be really sweet to program something that could allow the 2 to interact in some way/shape/form!
I am also very excited about GPS technology I wouldn't mind programming something that would utilize the GPS or triangulation!
Thanks for the contributions all, please keep them coming!
~JFlitt

With all that programing skill you could create some pretty neat apps.
Ive always liked the windows desktop interface.
How about a windows xp-like launcher?
Complete with movable desktop icons, windows, etc.
I am aware that wisbar advance desktop allows you to do this, but alot of those skins are a hassle, and they are not very complete. Plus they dont exactly take advantage of any 3d graphic drivers..
But anyways back to the point, with a windows xp desktop like interface it would be easier to use the phone.
I would not have to stretch my thumb all the way to the top left of the phone.
Oh and you could possibly utilize the touch pros capacitive touch panel for controlling the mouse.
You could also get google android working with more functionality. I am aware that there is work being done on it, but someone with so much programing knowledge could really speed up the project.(Im android crazy)
Or, if all that is too much to complete in limited time, then how about an application that will allow multi touch using the touch panel?
And also, resistive touch screens are supposedly multi touch capable.
I hope i gave you enough ideas.
Good luck.

madfatter said:
how about a dedicated xda forum app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ye s a facebook like app
But would love to see a app recreate the zoombar
on my tp

VOIP
Hi,
I have an idea and it is possible.
how about having an app on your phone to configure your SIP provider settings in it ( 5 different proxy ) and then when you want to dial a number, you can right click on it and chose " voip dial ".
Skype already gives you a the menu for skype calls when u right click on your contact .
if you can add a menu to TF3D settings->communication->VOIP and we can add 5 different proxy in it and we can activate more than one proxy at the same time in order to RECEIVE AND DIAL voip calls from our phone it would be awesome since microsoft is not allowing this kind of apps on marketplace .
Tnx
Thunder

a good "made for raphael" nes or snes emulator would be great since all the other ones out there are out dated and seem to work grat on old phones but are horribly laggy on the touch pro...wierd... the only good one ive found is a jap build of nester (nesterj4u) built for an hp phone or pda im not sure but the keyboard slides out to the right so landscape mode is upside down when i want to use the keyboard >_<
a good streaming media app thats a bit easyer to use than the one that comes with the phone would be great with some tv links on it like surfthechannel or tvdome would be great.
a youporn app to copliment the youtube app would be awsome
hmmm a good compass that simply points north (true or magnetic) with degrees would be awsome for when i drop mine on the roof trying to point my sat.
a simple freeware level would also be awsome since ive only found trialware levels so far
an hourglass would be a fun pointless app for when i get bored of pouring digital beer.
a goofy clip art picture editor could be fun just to mess with. maybe with some fish eye lens and carnival mirror opptions would be fun.
a free streaming radio app would be cool too....
sorry for the long list cant sleep ... figured the more ideas the better
ps. im not sure if any of these already exist havent checked lately so if anyone know if they do feal free to point me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated

ok, I'm gonna try to have this make sense, but no guarantees. how about a simple titanium plugin framework? something that **doesn't** use mortscript? as mscript is good for certain things, it's not for others. this way there is an easier way for developers to make new plugins for it without having to use a slow scripting language. does that make any sense?

How about a talking GPS
I was out on my mountain bike today. I have a Garmin unit on the handle bars for navigation and listening to music from my Touch Pro in my pocket.
I was riding a fast downhill section through the some trees when I realized I was taking my eyes off the trail to make sure I was still on course.
I've used this http://www.basicgps.co.uk/ for Geocaching but it can only take you to one waypoint at a time. You can't use it to follow a route.
How about making an application which can steer you along a route using voice commands.
(Tomtom and others can only do this on roads, not off-road)

mixture of gps and accelerometer
well can u create an app the tells u ur speed while u are travelling like there is one app which does it in i phone it uses motion sensing and gps there are apis for both you can code it in c# with .net fw 3.5 and if u require help i am available i too know c# .

sound control
What about an app. that would control all of the sound feature such as the ear speaker,speaker phone speaker,and possibily microphone independitly,like bass,trebl,vol. That way a person could tailor the phone to sound the way they want it to sound when they are talking on it or whatever.
Just a thought.

Programing Ideas
A project that I have been toying with is a "Now" button for the calendar. Those of us in consulting need a simple and quick way to insert the current time in the Start Time and End Time field, which ever is selected. I've not been successful so far.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HARDWARE: AT&T HTC FUZE (Raphael)
Hard-SPL: AT&T
ROM: AT&T
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How about that app the iPhone has where you can transfer contacts by putting the phones next to each other and shaking it to transfer or sliding it across to the other phone.
All for now will think of more
*edit* Forget this its kind of pointless when we can send contacts via sms/IR beam

How about the ability to use our Fuze's as remote controls like you could with PDA's, open your garage door, turn on your 360 or TV, forgot to turn your laptop off, send it a signal to shut down from anywhere

There're some cool applications on Android. One application changes the ringtone based on GPS location. It sets ringtone to loud at home, lower the volume in office and automatically sets the phone to vibration when you are in a theater.
Another application is about setting alarm based on location. You can set an alarm about buying some stuff in a store, next time when you pass by the store, alarm goes off.

Android specific apps

Will only specific apps run on android? Its just my mate wants to get Freecaddie on his Hero, and I have it on my Touch HD. I have checked on the website but not sure whether to try and put the winmo cab on and run that or will it mess the phone up... any help greatly appreciated..

I'm not a programmer so I could be completely wrong, but I don't think that will work. That's like trying to run a Windows program on a Linux machine - unless the developers specifically made a Linux version it just won't work. Probably the best thing for your friend to do is look around on the market for that application or a similar one.
(And before a Linux defender comes to correct me - yes, I know you can get windows emulators that run in Linux, but I'm not aware of those existing for phones.)

Ia m may get flamed here, but i am sure , a windows moblie app will not run on a linux based os, unless some one has made W.I.N.E (linux geeks like myself will understand) for andriod then No sorry !!

Steven__ said:
That's like trying to run a Windows program on a Linux machine
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not just like, that's exactly the case here

@Milesjasjar
It won't work. As another poster mentioned though, search the market. I've found apps to do most things (apart from a really good calendar app!!!)
P.S. Good luck for Saturday, hope the Saints do it. It's about time.

martint235 said:
I've found apps to do most things (apart from a really good calendar app!!!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If what you don't like with the HTC calendar is that it displays all events on the monthly view in exactly the same way, you can try the Pure Calendar widgets (dev's website here). The 'Grid' one displays a coloured bar at the top of each day in a monthly view, its length representing how long the appointment is and the colour which calendar it's part of. It loads data from Outlook and Google calendars without trouble. The dev also makes an agenda style widget, but I haven't used it. Unfortunately you have to pay about £1 for either.

Hi,
Thanks I'm already using Pure Calendar and have the Grid too. I agree it's the best available at the mo but having just moved over from WinMo I'm waiting for someone to release a major app like Pocket Informant. Unfortunately developers seem wary as they are not sure people will be willing to pay £20 for an Android app (although I would be if it's good enough!)
M

Cheers for the responses guys.. at least I know what to expect when i get my own hero... I keep looking but still not ready to make the jump, guess I am far to comfortable with the Winmo UI. But the gap is closing on the usability.. as long as i can import everything from outlook, and find a free golf program then i might make the jump sooner..

Pocket Informant TAB (sense)

Hi,
as there are all kind of tabs for sense, I am quite curious if anyone can create also a tab for Pocket Informant (yes I have a purchased a license - so nothing illegal). What I really miss in SENSE that you can only see one line of date in calendar, but i need to see a lot more.
is it difficult to "develop" or create it? simply a window (tab) that is purely dedicated to Informant, where I can see PI, supporting the colors for categories, etc .. to by able to access all parts, but mainly and most imporatntly the AGENDA and to use it
I understand that probably no one will do it for free, but I am sure we can agree on little something ..
if I missed anything pls let me know - thx

Mashe said:
Hi,
as there are all kind of tabs for sense, I am quite curious if anyone can create also a tab for Pocket Informant (yes I have a purchased a license - so nothing illegal). What I really miss in SENSE that you can only see one line of date in calendar, but i need to see a lot more.
is it difficult to "develop" or create it? simply a window (tab) that is purely dedicated to Informant, where I can see PI, supporting the colors for categories, etc .. to by able to access all parts, but mainly and most imporatntly the AGENDA and to use it
I understand that probably no one will do it for free, but I am sure we can agree on little something ..
if I missed anything pls let me know - thx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I saw somewhere that there was a sense today screen tab mod. You might want to try looking that up and use Pocket Informant's today screen view.
At least for now.

Here you go:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=508102
Cheers!

thx, i will have a look and test it .. looks good