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Review: FlexWallet 2006 from WebIS.net
This Review Was Originally Posted on iGlobility.com from 20060925 to 20061017.
Before I start this review, I need to give recognition to
WebIS.net for the
help they have provided me in making this review possible. Thanks guys!
Now, on to the review!
Until I had the opportunity to do a review of
FlexWallet 2006,
I had been using CodeWallet from Developer One. I have been using
CodeWallet since Microsoft came out with Windows CE 2002 on a Toshiba
e750. I liked the product because it allowed me to manage my
"confidential" data from one easy to use interface. Since working with
FlexWallet 2006,
I have uninstalled CodeWallet and the corresponding databases from my
device...
My criteria for a quality wallet application...
1. Must be easy to use.
2. Must have a desktop sync application.
3. Must be able to create and modify templates.
4. Would like it to have ability to contain images within cards.
5. Would like it to have multiple ways to display data.
1. MUST BE EASY TO USE
FlexWallet
is definitely easy to use. I was able to install the application, and
start using it without referring to the help file once. I got the
desktop sync app installed, and was able to sync between device and
desktop in no time flat. For the advanced features such as working with
my own templates, I did use the help file, but this makes sense as I had
no idea what I was doing with the templates. Now that I have worked with
them, I find them pretty easy to manage!
FlexWallet
meets criteria one with flying colors!
2. MUST HAVE A DESKTOP SYNC APPLICATION
Criteria met! the desktop sync application that is available works very
nicely, and makes data manipulation a breeze. The only bummer to me is
that you have to pay for this application. While it is only an
additional $10.00 when bundled with the handheld app, I would always
prefer free software! Regardless of whether you must pay for the desktop
app or not, you want this part of the puzzle. It makes working with your
wallets so much easier, and also provides an interface that you can use
on your desktop too! I suspect that if it did not provide a desktop
interface but merely a conduit to sync/backup the wallet to your
desktop, it would be free, but since it provides an easy to use desktop
interface, it is definitely worth paying for.
Some of the things about the desktop app I really like are...
1. The sync status window. If there is a new or changed card, it lets
you know what is taking place. This is nice because it lets me know that
it was successful.
2. The warning it provides when it cannot find the wallet. I keep my
wallet on a network drive, and sometimes the drive is not immediately
available. Rather than stopping the entire operation, it gives me a
warning, and I can take care of it, and try again.
3. the ability to store the wallet anywhere on the desktop computer, or
network. This is very convenient, especially if you like to keep
everything on a backed up network drive.
3. MUST BE ABLE TO CREATE AND MODIFY TEMPLATES.
Absolutely! While I had to consult the help file to figure this part
out, once I got it, I found it to very easy and intuitive to work with
templates. I was able to add a template, give it some data fields, and
select an icon that would be associated with it. Very easy! Once I had
the template created, if I wanted to modify it, that was equally as
easy. I just open the template manager interface, select the template,
and tap, or click "edit." I could add, delete, and modify fields at
will. Also, I could change the icon if I wanted.
Criteria Three Met!
4. WOULD LIKE IT TO HAVE ABILITY TO CONTAIN IMAGES WITHIN CARDS
FlexWallet 2006
does not have this ability, which at first bummed me out. I had gotten
used to having this feature in my old CodeWallet application. Then I got
to thinking, maybe there is a reason for this. Sure, images suck up
storage space! So, even though I liked having this feature, I think
WebIS made the right
decision to not include it...
Criteria Four Not Met, with understanding
5. WOULD LIKE IT TO HAVE MULTIPLE WAYS TO DISPLAY DATA
There are a few ways to view data on both the mobile device, and
desktop. There are settings to allow one to view recently used cards,
favorite cards, and then categories and cards. Recently Used Cards is
very nice if you seem to have a few cards you use all the time. Favorite
Cards could be setup the same way, but you might also use this if there
are cards that you do not use all the time, but you want them to be
visible each time you open the favorites. On my device, I have a great
deal of web site logins. The list goes beyond one screen and requires
scrolling to get to the end of the list. If there are some I want to see
without scrolling, I could add them to my favorites list. Lastly, the
Category and Cards view shows all the categories and cards you have in
the current wallet. I use this one the most, but I do use the Recently
used cards view more and more as I have gotten used to the feature.
Criteria Five Met!
CONCLUSION
Overall,
FlexWallet 2006 definitely meets my criteria for a wallet
application. I like the ease of use, and the feature rich environment,
but not to the point of making it bloated. With the Windows Mobile 5
memory management having changed from the previous incarnations, the
less footprint the better.
FlexWallet
takes up just enough space on the device to make it work. There does not
appear to be any extraneous file use, and this is certainly appreciated!
RECOMMENDATION
If you are looking for an easy to use, feature rich wallet application,
then I would highly recommend you take a serious look at
FlexWallet 2006
from WebIS.net. On a
1 to 5 globe scale, I give FlexWallet 2006 4.5 globes. I deducted half a
globe because I still would like to see it have the ability to contain
images in the wallet cards...
Way to go WebIS.net!!!
© 2007 Craig L Sheppard & the KORBEK institute
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