Pocket PCs and Handheld PC 2000s are preinstalled with scaled down versions of Calendar, Task and Contact lists of its desktop counterpart, Outlook 2000. While the synchronization offered by ActiveSync and the functionality of Pocket Outlook may be adequate for some users, other users demand more, and this is where Pocket On-Schedule fits in.

Pocket On-Schedule v5 (POS) is the latest version of Odyssey Computing's contact manager software for desktop PCs and Windows CE devices. This version of Pocket On-Schedule has been expanded and now includes Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, Journal, Phone Log, Notes, and Info Center. Most importantly, it expands the functionality of your Pocket PC and H/PC 2000 by adding the ability to synchronize all of Outlook 2002 from your your desktop PC to your Windows Powered device. This includes multiple folders of your notes, appointments, contacts, task lists and journal entries. POS does this via Odyssey Inc.'s proprietary Outlook synchronization add-in. Odyssey Inc. also sells a desktop version of On-Schedule, which has the ability to synchronize with POS. This review covers the ability to use Outlook synchronization with POS and focuses on its use with my own Windows Powered device, the HP Jornada 720 Handheld PC 2000. However, a version is available for Pocket PC 2000 and 2002 devices.

CUSTOMIZABLE USER INTERFACE

The Pocket On-Schedule interface is customizable to better suit the user's viewing needs. The various items in any list can be displayed as large icons and small icons, or viewed as a simple or a detailed list. Columns can be added and removed in the list views, and you can sort on more than one column (i.e. sorting by date then by priority). Columns in the list view can be modified, allowing the user to change the titles of the columns, fonts, the width and justification of the column titles. Filter settings let you use Boolean logic to view only items that meet certain criteria. POS also stores a list of customizable filters, saving the user from having to recreate the same filter over and over again. In the beta version I tested, I noticed that the filter expressions that were applied were only reflected in that particular folder, but the column sort settings I changed were reflected in all other folders that contained similar items (i.e. all task folders).

A POWERFUL CONTACT MANAGEMENT SOLUTION

Pocket On-Schedule is different from the built-in Pocket Outlook applications in its ability to function as an integrated contact management tool. When a contact in the contacts list is highlighted, the following keys can be selected (see Screen 1):

Screen 1: You can perform various actions on any contact and have them automatically recorded in the contact's history.

Dial/New Call: This option launches the dialer, sends the appropriate dial tones through the Pocket PC or H/PC 2000 speaker and then launches a phone call log that automatically starts a timer. One tab on the form shows the current date and time stamp, another tab allows the user to schedule a task for that particular contact, a notes tab for notes and a tab to keep track of phone log modifications.

Answer Call: Launches the phone log and starts the call timer.

Write Letter: Uses Pocket Word using pre-defined templates for writing a letter to the contact.

Send e-mail: Sends e-mail and any attachments to your Outbox in Pocket Mail.

Send Fax: Attaches a document or documents to a contact and sends the fax request to bFax Pro, Express, or Lite for processing.

Visit Web site: If the contact has a Web site listed, this button will launch Pocket Internet Explorer and connect to the site.

Show on map: Launches Microsoft's Expedia site and finds the address for you.

Get driving directions: Once the starting point is defined, POS goes to Microsoft's Expedia site to give directions to the contact's address.

Check Weather: Checks the local weather forecast of the contact's location.