Pimlical update

[Bert Latamore]

Just thought I would pass on the latest Pimlical update news since I know several members either use or miss Datebk6 and might be interested.

First, the Windows beta is now stable, and CESD is down to fairly small bug fixes with one exciting exception that I will get to. He is projecting releasing it as a full product on Windows within a few weeks. Then he will start porting it to other platforms. It is built on the Java engine purposely to facilitate those ports. He has not said anything about the order this will happen, but initial targets will certainly include the Macintosh and Blackberry. At this time the iPhone is not on the list because Apple does not allow third-party apps to access the PIM databases and because APple's iron control of what apps can and cannot be sold through the App Store makes CESD somewhat nervous. Sad, particularly given that Datebk of course started on the Newton. Android and Pre are possible at some time in the future, but concerning the Pre, CEDS has received no reply whatsoever from several attemts to contact Palm to get the technical dat he would need for a port. And again he is unsure of whether Palm will allow access to the PIM databases.

The last big thing on his list is compatibility with iCal (the PIM data standard, not the Macinjtosh app of the same name). And just yesterday he dropped a big hint that when he releases that, Pimlical will be able to sync with Google calendar and possibly other Internet-based calendars. This will be very useful for those of us who need to publish our calendars so clients can plan meetings around our schedules. I expressed a concern that I need to control exactly which categories of appointments are sent to the Net and to control the display of those categories so as to maintain client confidentiality and meet NDA requirements, and while he didn't say anything specific about that he indicated that I would be happy with what is coming.

So that is the last big addition before the general release of Pimlical. Believe me, if you liked Datebk6 and thought that was advanced, you aint seen nothing yet!

All the best,

--
Bert Latamore
IT Journalist, Report Writer and Book Doctor
From tweets and blogs to white papers and books --
You provide the information; I craft the words.

[Ryan Waldon]

Is it, or will it be compatible with either Ubuntu or eeebuntu?

--ryan

[Bert Latamore]

Good question, and one no one has asked CESD. I will post it. I presume there is a version of Java for Linux. that is basically what is required for a port.

Bert

[Bert Latamore]

Ryan,

I got the following answer from CESD:

>>Well there's supposedly a decent JVM that runs on Linux - and since it's 
done by SUN it should be relatively compatible with the Windows Version. 
That's really the major issue. There are only a few tweaks that would need 
to be done to Pimlical to get it running under Linux - it will certainly be 
one of the first platforms I look at just because it should not involve a 
huge amount of work...

Cheers!
CESD, Pimlico Software, Inc.<<

So that sounds pretty optimistic. Would you and some of the other Linux users here be interested in beta testing a Linux version when he does do it? I am pretty sure taht the Mac is also high on the port list, and he will be looking for beta testers for that. And WinMobile is somewhere on that list, maybe a little further down, but when he gets to it are there people here who would be interested in being in that beta? These should not be nearly as extensive or challenging as the Windows beta since we should have most of the bugs out of Pimlical before the ports. 

All the best,

Bert

[Ryan Waldon]

Yes, I would be interested. I just got a new Eee PC 900 for $149. Until yesterday, I was thinking of it as a "toy";  then I hacked it and replaced the fairly lame Xandros OS with eeebuntu. That made a huge difference! I'm now looking at the practical possibilities of the Eee PC. A tool like Pimlical would be awesome on a netbook!

--ryan

[Bert Latamore]

Ryan,

Yes it would, particularly given that by the time it is released it will have a built-in capability to sync with online calendars. 

The BETAs are open, so I will post as soon as he releases a beta for Linux.

Bert

[Ryan Waldon]

Many thanks Bert!

--ryan

[Bert Latamore]

Ryan,

You are very welcome.

Bert

[pdr]

Bert, this is important news to owners of the new Pre, because its
calendar, and in fact its PIM functions altogether, are primitive. It
looks as if the Pre developers spent all their time focused on
"synergy" and forgot that, at the very least, you need a good and if
possibly powerful calendar, especially if you hope to sway the
business market. Now I am at a loss to understand what Palm thought it
was doing. I put PocketInformant on my iphone, but I'd rather have a
CESD creation such as Datebk, so I hope CESD will not give up on the
iphone. I wasn't in the market for a Pre anyhow, as I don't like pull-
out keyboards (and some reviewers are already complaining about the
Pre keyboard itself). You and I were in agreement that Palm had a
tough road ahead, these Pre deficiencies are going to make it much
tougher, but OTOH make it much more inviting for PIM software
developers.

On Jun 7, 8:48 am, Bert Latamore <bert.latam...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Ryan,
> You are very welcome.
>
> Bert
>

> On Sat, Jun 6, 2009 at 3:22 PM, Ryan Waldon <ryanwaldon2...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
>
>
> > Many thanks Bert!
>
> > --ryan
>

> > On Sat, Jun 6, 2009 at 2:59 PM, Bert Latamore <bert.latam...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
> >> Ryan,
> >> Yes it would, particularly given that by the time it is released it will
> >> have a built-in capability to sync with online calendars.
>
> >> The BETAs are open, so I will post as soon as he releases a beta for
> >> Linux.
>
> >> Bert
>

> >> On Sat, Jun 6, 2009 at 2:27 PM, Ryan Waldon <ryanwaldon2...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
> >>> Yes, I would be interested. I just got a new Eee PC 900 for $149. Until
> >>> yesterday, I was thinking of it as a "toy";  then I hacked it and replaced
> >>> the fairly lame Xandros OS with eeebuntu. That made a huge difference! I'm
> >>> now looking at the practical possibilities of the Eee PC. A tool like
> >>> Pimlical would be awesome on a netbook!
>
> >>> --ryan
>

> >>>> On Fri, Jun 5, 2009 at 7:27 PM, Bert Latamore <bert.latam...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
> >>>>> Good question, and one no one has asked CESD. I will post it. I presume
> >>>>> there is a version of Java for Linux. that is basically what is required for
> >>>>> a port.
> >>>>> Bert
>