(Last edited March 4, 2008)

This posting has taken me a while to create because I had to create the Flash simulations for each of the programs to provide a good comparison of each of the applications. And, some of them, I had to re-do because I had to re-size them so that the free host servers can accept them. Forgive me if I didn’t spend too much discussing each application because I’m a bit rushed to try to get this posting done. I may go back to this post (like I do with many of the older postings) and add more details in later.

Agenda view is not a Today application

Although the newer devices like the Z22 and LifeDrive with the newer Palm OS already contains an “Agenda” view, which is very similar to the third party Today program, it is quite limited in features and customization that may still convince these users to get the Today program.

The Agenda view in the newer Palm OS has a few limitations. The program can’t limit appointments and tasks to display only those for “today”. If you have appointments and tasks for tomorrow, or the next day, everything will show up in the Agenda view. And if you have tasks that are due tomorrow or the next day, they will also be displayed, and will limit the number of your appointments shown in the Agenda view. There has been many complaints of this problem. There is no way to list more appointments or tasks and ignore the other. There is a limit on the customization that many users will want.

To explain, I will set up some “test” appointments and take screenshots of how the Agenda view will display them, depending on their date and time. In this first screenshot, I have set up test1, test2, test3 and test4 for today and then test5, test6, test7 and test8 for tomorrow. Test8 set at 8pm Saturday was not shown as the Agenda view has shown all it can in the screen. Until time has passed and test1 drops off the view, test8 won’t be displayed.

In this second screenshot, I have changed the default “Don’t forget to register” To Do entry to expire or due today. So, this To do entry replaces the “No Tasks due today” in the previous screenshot.

In this third screenshot, I have added additional To Do tasks that are due today. If they are due tomorrow, they won’t be shown in the Agenda view. As you can see, with the display of the To Do tasks, test7 (7pm) which was previously shown have been “bumped off” from the Agenda view to make room for the To Do tasks due today.

In this fourth screenshot, I have changed the test appointment times so that the Agenda view will show the maximum number of upcoming today appointments, which looks like it’s 8.

In this fifth screenshot, I have changed the test4, test5, test6, test7, test8 to be on Saturday. With the extra line for the “tomorrow” separator, test8 has been “bumped” off the Agenda view.

In this sixth screenshot, I have changed test1 to Saturday at the same time of 9:30pm. And I’ve changed test4 and test5 back to today. Now, it’s test1 at 9:30pm Saturday that doesn’t get shown in Agenda view.

So what can I conclude about the Agenda view? To Do tasks due today will take precedence over appointments. If there are no To Do tasks due today, the maximum number of appointments that can be shown is eight entries. If there are appointments scheduled for the next day, the maximum number of appointments shown in Agenda view will be 7, since one line has been used up by the separator.

So, if you want to display as many appointments for today, you must not have any appointments for tomorrow or the Agenda view will display them. Also, don’t set any To do tasks to be due today or they will also take up space in the Agenda view. Again, I don’t own the Z22 and this is what I’ve gained by fiddling around with the Z22 simulator. So, I may be wrong in my observations, as I can be from time to time.

So, even if you own one of the newer Palm devices that has an Agenda view which offers similar features to the Today screen application, you don’t seem to have enough control over its customization as I’ve discussed.

Today

Okay, after spending some time discussing the default Palm datebook, I will now focus on the program named Today, a freeware application originally written by Jonas Lindstedt and now bought out by PocketCraft, developers of the Facer Launcher. It is still free. Today is a program that shows all the appointments, tasks and other info for, well, today. Everything that happens for today, will show up in the Today program. Things that are coming up for tomorrow, will not be shown in the “Today” screen. You can, however, check out what shows up for tomorrow by tapping on the advance by a day triangle, located at the top right hand corner beside the day, week and month view icons.

You have many ways to customize the program, from what gets shown in the program and what applications you can set as a “quick launch” icon button. I’ve been using Today shortly after I got my Palm in Oct 2003 and I love it. It’s simple, relatively small in size and works very well. I’m not much into backgrounds and skins and my Today application is quite plain and simple.

Simulations of Today application

Today Simulation 1

Alternative Flash links: ImageShack

The simulation will play through to the end unless I’ve inserted a pop up note to explain specific points.

To continue playing the simulation, press the button.
To go back to a previous paused segment, click on the button.
To pause the simulation at any time, press the button. To continue after it’s paused, press the button again.

To scroll forward or backward in the simulation, click anywhere on the left (to go back earlier in the simulation), or right (to go forward in the simulation) on the progress bar.

THE FLASH DEMO WINDOWS ARE RESIZABLE SO RESIZING THEM MAY MAKE THEM LOOK BETTER. THE OPTIMIMUM SIZE IS 477 HIGH BY 322 WIDE.

PLEASE NOTE THAT MANY FREE HOST SERVERS MAY HAVE POP UP ADS. PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU DISABLE POP UPS BEFORE CLICKING ON THE FLASH LINKS.

Today Simulation 2

Alternative Flash links: ImageShack

As you can see, although it’s free, the program is simple to use and has a number of settings and feature to customize the application. There are lots of free Today application skin that you can download an apply to the application. Here’s a link to some Today skins at Freewarepalm. You too, can easily create your own Today application “skin” or background. Here’s a link to an article on how to create your own “Today” skin.

Although it’s always nice to have a freeware application, you may be interested in at least looking at what other alternatives are out there, although they aren’t free.

Wassup

A similar looking but more functional Today application is Wassup by PocketScience. As you can see, it looks very similar to the Today application. Upon closer examination, the extra features not found in Today can be revealed.

Simulation of Wassup

Wassup Simulation 1

Alternative Flash links: ImageShack

Wassup Simulation 2

Alternative Flash links: ImageShack

2day is another application that displays a list of tasks, appointments, etc in one screen, similar to Today, but again, expands upon that simple task and feature to include more of a launcher interface, allowing you to do quite an extensive list of tasks and customization. And the skins is quite nice. You can apply different skins, backgrounds to it. As well, you can install additional “plugins” like a weather plugin, etc that can enhance the program. This is quite a “step up” from the previous two Today applications.

Simulation of 2day

2day simulation 1

Alternative Flash links: ImageShack

2day simulation 2

Alternative Flash links: ImageShack

2day simulation 3

Alternative Flash links: ImageShack

2day simulation 4

Alternative Flash links: ImageShack

TodayPLUS is also another Today application that has a somewhat “Windows” feel to it with the pop up Windows-like menu. This program also has the ability to support plugins. The interesting aspect of this program is a special assistant named Meena. Unfortunately, I was not able to get it to work in the simulator. Also, many people have complained that the plugin was too big to justify installing in the program. So, the simulations will not show how Meena works.

Simulation of TodayPLUS

TodayPLUS simulation 1

Alternative Flash links: ImageShack

TodayPLUS simulation 2

Alternative Flash links: ImageShack

TodayPLUS simulation 3

Alternative Flash links: ImageShack

TodayPLUS simulation 4

Alternative Flash links: ImageShack

Hopefully, I’ve provided some applications you may be interested in trying out. I personally find that I like Today because I’ve always loved small apps that are simple to use and works well. And Today works very well for me for years.

Again, please back up your Palm device before installing any applications to prevent any problems.

Thanks for visiting and supporting Palm Discovery. If you are not reading this article from Palmdiscovery.com or Palmdiscovery.net, the website you are reading it from is guilty of copying and posting my content without consent. Please visit Palm Discovery for the original source of the material.

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