DataViz's Beyond Contacts is out!

[jbarr]

Looks like DataViz (http://www.dataviz.com) has released "Beyond Contacts" (http://www.dataviz.com/products/beyondcontacts/index.html), their "closest thing to Outlook for your handheld." I just downloaded the demo, and will put it through its paces.

It's $49.95 or $29.95 if you own a DataViz product or are using a competing product.

This just might be the answer to those who rely on Outlook and would like to have similar functionality on the handheld. They clain that it brings over ALL fields and data. We'll see.

It looks like it maintains its own databases (BCCalendar, BCContacts, BCNotes, and BCTasks), separate from the Palm's native PIM databases. So changes made don't reflect in apps like DateBk5 or the native PIM apps. Not sure if this is good or bad yet, but does explain how they can maintain ALL outlook data on the handheld.

Looking briefly at the Calendar screen, it's layed out like the typical DateBook app, but has a fes "extra" icons. Tapping "New" brings up a selection list (similar to DateBK5) that allows you to schedule a Meeting Request, Appointment, Contact, Task or Note. "Details of an item brings up "General", "Scheduling", and "Notes" attributes. The "Scheduling" screen lets you specify meeting attendees. Pretty nice.

Contacts looks pretty souped up. It has the standard names and phone numbers list but also has an "alpha selector" on the right to quickly move to different sections. There are several "sort by" options. One nice feature is when you tap on the phone number, a pop-up displays ALL phone numbers and email addresses assigned to that contact. Tapping on the name displays the full record. Pretty nice.

The "Tasks" section looks pretty complete. I won't detail it here.

The Notes section looks pretty typical. I won't detail it here.

All "modules" have categories.

I didn't install the DataViz Mail app because I didn't want to mess with it at this point.

One caveat for NR/NX/NZ users: No HiRes+ screen, and it only supports the 3 "standard" fonts. Bummer. Not necessarily a big deal, but it would be nice... Oh, and the current version is NOT CodeDiver-friendly.

I'll let you know my impressions once I've used it for a day or two.

[PDAinHand]

I have tryed to use the demo but it is taking more then 4mb of pace. I have try to install it three times but still not eough ram to for the information.

[jconaway99]

Let us know how it works out.:cool:

[Alistar]

Looks pretty nice, but I wonder if it will go the route of Contacts 4.

[mikra]

I will give it a try....when it is HiRes+ and in german language. So at the moment i will wait and watch this thread with interest.
Recently switched from Tealphone to Supernames i am content with it.
Michael

[andrewcoffin]

I beta tested this program, and it seemed like a nice start, but was lacking in many features. I assumed that they would add many of these before the release of the program, but apparently not...

To me, the lack of a small font option is a huge drawback, as are other features that Agendus and DateBk5 have made standard (category color and icon support, ToDos and calendar on one split screen view, etc.). I do like the contacts layout, however.

I'm actually disappointed that DataViz will not be sticking with DesktopToGo as well (which they have retired), as I still think that it is one of the most reliable conduits available, and it does things that BeyondContacts does not:
________________________________

(from the BeyondContacts FAQ page)

Can I synchronize with more than one PC?
No. Beyond Contacts does not include the ability to synchronize with more than PC computer. To submit feature requests, click here.

Can I synchronize public folders with Beyond Contacts?
No. Beyond Contacts does not include the ability to synchronize public folders. To submit feature requests, click here.

________________________________

DataViz seems like a solid company, however, so I look forward to seeing how they improve this program--and it may already meet the needs of some people who have not been attracted to Iambic or Pimlico's offerings thus far...

[mikra]

Oh oh, does this mean that DesktopToGo will be discontinued? That what would be very bad news...
No updates anymore? Sigh....

[andrewcoffin]

Here's the link:

http://www.dataviz.com/products/desktoptogo/index.html

So, no it doesn't look like there will be any updates, although they say that the program will still be supported until Oct. 22.

On the upside, though, DesktopToGo hasn't been updated for a long time (over a year I think), but I've never had any problems with it...

[mikra]

Thanks for the link, and now it is clear to me.
DesktopToGo *will* be discontinued. At the moment there is no problem, but with upcoming Office releases there might be a problem. I like the idea of a universal conduit and the PDA programm of your choice to combine. Now they offer a "all in one solution". I think in the future i will ahve to look for some alternative to desktop to go (pocketmirror?) to synchronize with upcoming outlook releases.
Thanks andrewcoffin for submitting the info....
Michael

[Tixx]

I'll wait before even trying it.

[mpovolo]

Can someone tell me if Beyond Contacts lets you change the contact link associated with a task. I know that if you link a contact to a task from Outlook it will show in Beyond Contacts but I do not think you can change it.

thanks

[mochant]

Originally posted by jbarr
Looks like DataViz (http://www.dataviz.com) has released "Beyond Contacts" (http://www.dataviz.com/products/beyondcontacts/index.html), their "closest thing to Outlook for your handheld." I just downloaded the demo, and will put it through its paces.

(snip...)

One caveat for NR/NX/NZ users: No HiRes+ screen, and it only supports the 3 "standard" fonts. Bummer. Not necessarily a big deal, but it would be nice... Oh, and the current version is NOT CodeDiver-friendly.
I beta tested this app and the lack of Hi-Res+ is a killer for me (NR70). After I installed each beta and worked it for a few days, I ended up going back to Agendus for small fonts and color coding. I've asked DataViz repeatedly for this feature and gotten nothing more than the standard "Thanks for you feedback..." auto-responder.

I live in Outlook all day long (scary, I know), so on paper this looks like the potential killer app. Maybe if enough ClieSource N-series users post feedback, they'll make it a priority. I hope so because I've always relied on DTG for syncing and, with their announcement that they're sunsetting this product, the next time I upgrade to a new handheld, I fear something will be broken.

DataViz is a solid company though so I don't think the fears that this product will go the way of Contacts4 is worth losing any sleep over. Their MacLink+ Translators product (their first) has been around since the late 80's!

[jbarr]

Well, after a full day of using Beyond Contacts, I have mixed feelings. This program has HUGE potential, but I think it still has a few rough edges.

The Pros:
1. This really is Outlook on your Palm. Obviously, it has its limitations, but for keeping and managing Outlook data, this is excellent. The interface is clean and simple--kind of a cross between outlook and Palm: The functionality of outlook is all there, but with a "Palm feel". Very nicely thought out and executed.

2. Accurate and complete sync the first time. The data in my PC Outlook exactly matched the data in BC on my Clie. All (that I could see) the fields were there, meeting attendees and their statuses were there, etc. My email synced properly. It just plain worked.

3. (Almost) complete Outlook data. It's very cool to be able to see Meeting Attendees, categories, etc. that you wouldn't otherwise see in the standard Palm PIMs. Very nice.

The Cons:
1. HotSyncing takes forever. The added conduits for Beyond Contacts and the DataViz Mail app almost quadrupled the sync time. Not a big deal, but unexpected.

2. No HiRes+ support. This is a killer. I use DateBK5, and its use of small fonts and full-screen are excellent. I tried using CodeDiver, and got consistent crashes. Hopefully, in the future, this will be added.

3. Uses proprietary databases. Yes, I know that's how they are able to accommodate all the extra fields and such, and technically speaking, that's fine, but in doing so, that means that I have to keep redundant data stored on my Clie. My main complaint is that if I use other apps that access the standard PIM databases, the data remains out of sync until I HotSync again. For example, if I modify a memo in MemoSafe, the changes aren't reflected in BC until I next HotSync. Until BC adds MemoSafe's encryption functionality, this will remain a problem for me. This also raises the memory footprint significantly.

4. Poor cleanup. After deleting the app, there were at least 8 files left on my Clie that I had to manually remove. Specifically, BC's PIM databases and their associated indexes. A HUGE pet peeve of mine is apps that don't clean up after themselves. DataVis is a fine company, and I am a proponent of their Doc2Go product, but for an app to leave databases and files hanging around (and they were sizable files) is just plain bad. Uninstalling the Desktop side was simple, but there were no instructions anywhere on how to remove it from my Clie. Again, not the most user-friendly.

5. It takes over. Like the Microsoft mindset, BC takes over as your PIM. The very first screen you encounter is one that remaps all of your buttons to point to BC's modules. While this is not a negative in itself, it is one of many "features" that indicates that when BC moves in, all others must move out.

6. Mail app One other minor nit is that initially, I didn't install the Mail app. That's fine, but on the main BC screen, the mail app is one of the options. Tapping on the option tells me that I must install the mail app. But I don't want to use the mail app. There is no preferences option to remove the Mail app from the main screen. Again, this is typical Microsoft-like mentality: Leave unavailable options always visible to guilt the user into installing them. Sorry, but I prefer a clean, user-customizable interface.

7. Minor navigational nits. The Clie's "Back" button isn't supported as thoroughly as I would like. For example, if I launch the BC app, it takes me into "Beyond Contacts Today" which is a summary/launcher kind of like the Outlook Today screen. Launching any of the apps takes me to the proper module. if I then press Back, exits me back to ZLauncher. It would be nice to have it back up to the BC Today screen. Yes, you can tap on the navigation tree on the upper left of each module, but that requires tapping. One of the nice things about fully Clie-aware apps is that they can be used one-handed with litle to no tapping. The lack of "proper" Back button support is evident throughout the modules.

8. No way to launch modules directly from Launcher. There seems to be no way to launch the modules directly other than mapping them to the hard buttons. Using my NX70 in Tablet mode mkes that difficult. I don't have the Virtual Graffiti area always visible, so my WonderSilk skins don't help. I suppose I could install OKey, but this seems kludgy. The specific modules don't show up in ZLauncher or McPhling. Again, another example of requiring too many taps to initiate a funciton.

Conclusion:
Though the Cons may seem to outweigh the Pros, this really is a great program suite. For the upgrade price of $29.95, you really do get bang for your buck. If you rely on Outlook, this just may be your answer.

Unfortunatly, being an NX user, I am very spoiled by HiRes+ compliant apps, so the lack of HiRes+ support seems like a step backwards. I'll give BC a few more days, but I feel that I'll probably revert back to DateBk5 until Beyond Contacts goes HiRes+.