(Click here for larger image of Diary screenshot)

According to the Spb, Pocket PC's Today screen was designed to provide access to frequently used data in a single place, given that most users boot their PDAs only for several minutes at a time. Spb Diary replaces Pocket PC's standard PIM Today plug-ins, and allows users to access PIM data -- including calendar, contacts, tasks, and notes -- directly from the Today screen.

According to Spb, Diary's new notes support requires only one or two user clicks to access common operations, including:

• View the list of all notes grouped by folder
  
• View a note on the Today screen
  
• Open a note for editing
  
• Create a new note in some folder
  
• Move a note to another folder
  
• Rename a note
  
• Sorting and grouping
  
• Fast searching

Spb says its Pocket PC Survey revealed that the single most popular use for Pocket PCs is for organizing personal data. However, standard Pocket PC tools for handling PIM data are underwhelming at best, the company says.

Spb says usability testing also showed the value of integrating daily weather forecasts with day-oriented PIM data, so the company also integrated its Spb Weather with the new version of Diary.

Availability

A 15-day free trial version of Spb Diary version 1.5 is available for download. Purchase price is $14.95, but is free to registered users of previous versions.

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