Sunday, February 2, 2003
Money Matters: Spb Quick v1.0.7 Reviewed
Posted by Jordan Rosenwald in "SOFTWARE" @ 04:00 PM
Tracking your finances from your computer isn't a new idea. Neither is tracking them from your PDA. But finding software that seamlessly syncs your handheld with your computer is a rare and worthy find. Spb Quick is one of those rare finds.
Spb Quick v1.07 is a relatively new entry to the PDA finance software arena (not that that arena is all that venerable to begin with). What it does, it does well. So, let's begin...
Installation
Installation is quick, painless and nicely laid out. What makes it "nicely laid out"? Simple. Its a typical Pocket PC software install with a small wizard "tacked" on the end that searches for your Quicken executable (then gives you a chance to change it, in case it was wrong), lets you browse to select the appropriate data file, and put in any password that might be needed to access the data file.
Synchronization
Once installed, I was a little surprised to find that the software did not integrate with ActiveSync. That is to say, there wasn't a new entry in the list of things that sync when I dock my iPAQ. Instead, to synchronize, you have to go under your Start Menu, to Spb Quick and select "Synchronize with handheld."
Even so, it only takes a few seconds to synchronize a pretty sizeable test file I generated (1.8MB). I'd still rather see integration with ActiveSync. I can see myself forgetting to run a separate sync command rather frequently.
Interestingly, and not in any bad way, when you synchronize any transactions back to your desktop, Quicken reads the new transactions exactly like a *.qif file, which it might very well be. The point being that you get to accept (reconcile) as you import. Very convenient.
Interface and Functions
The interface for Spb Quick is the picture of efficiency. Possibly too much so, for some, but I liked it quite a bit. The initial screen gives you a list of all your accounts and their balances, as well as a net worth at the bottom. You can filter the accounts on the screen through a drop list that allows you to view all account, cash accounts, bank accounts, credit cards, assets and liabilities. In turn, each one of those views can be sorted by name, type, or balance (ascending or descending). I found this to be particularly useful because I prefer to keep only my bank accounts viewable for quick access.
Figure 1: Interface is lean and mean... monetary figures are purely figments of my imagination
Through menus on the main screen, you can view memorized transactions and categories (which synchronize perfectly from Quicken), You can also view an account balance graph and an income/expense report, but I'll get to them later.
The Options menu selection is relatively limited. A checkbox for autocomplete in field (who would turn this feature off??), a checkbox for using regional setting to format date and currencies, and the ability to display certain account information on your Today screen (disabled by default) are the only options given.
Also found on the menus is the Calculator, which simply launches Pocket PC's built in calculator (a nice touch) and Password. I have issue with the password feature. First, there is no time out feature in Spb Quick. So if I don't quit the application, the password does me not good. Second, and I think this is a larger issue. There is no "exit" from the application. Like so many other Pocket PC apps, the "X" in the upper right does not truly exit you from the program. A quick click of the iTask button and I see the program is still running. Click on it and I'm back into the program with no prompting for a password. I really hope in future versions they include a File - Exit, or something similar.
Navigating Registers
I really like the register interface. Don't ask me why, but I really like the simplistic yet complete view that they give when viewing the registers. When in the register view, With a click of a button on the toolbar you can see a simple "Date, Payee, Reconciled (or not) and amount" view. Or you can view the same information with the category and transaction type included. Also available, are views with the transaction type, category or memo in place of the payee.
Figure 2: No clutter, no mess. Just the facts and figures you need.
Clicking on any entry brings up the details in a tabbed interface, with all the major information on the first tab. The other two tabs are for the memo and split payment information.
Figure 3: Tabbed interface keeps the important data upfront.
You switch registers simply by clicking on the Accounts tab at the bottom, or for even faster access there is a drop list at the top that has all your accounts.
By the way, all of the register entries can be sorted by date, transaction type, payee, reconciled, amount or category (ascending or descending).
Entering Transaction
Clicking "New" gives you a screen where you can pick payment, deposit or transfer for the account you are currently in.
Figure 4: Payment, Deposit or Transfer... Makes sense.
If you mess up, and you meant the transaction to be in another account, fear not. Once you select if your depositing or making payments, the transaction screen has a dropdown where you can change the account. All your standard fields are here... With the exception of "reconciled." Apparently this can only be done once you synchronize, from Quicken itself. Not sure if that's a good thing or not.
Figure 5: Standard fields. What more could you want?
The only thing I found a bit awkward about transaction entries is the fact that payments to my car loan are considered transfers. Now, I know they really are transfers, but since my first car (that had payments) I've always just considered it another bill that needed to be paid. Basically, the difference comes in that in Quicken all liability accounts are automatically entered into the bottom of your category field. So when you make a payment and enter the liability as your category it automatically makes the entry in your liability account register. Spb Quick does not offer that feature. You need to select that its a transfer. Not a major issue, I just prefer that products that synchronize work in as similar a fashion as possible.
Graphs and Charts, Oh my!
This was one area I was pretty excited about. Call it my "type A" personality or whatever you like, but I really love knowing my net worth. I know its not much, but with a healthy addiction to technology toys, I like to know when I'm spending too much. So in addition to the Net worth value that is on the main screen of the program, they also have included a few graphic options.
The first is an account balance graph. For each account (only one at a time), for any duration you wish, you can see graphically see what your balance looks like.
Figure 6: See how your accounts are doing over time
The second graph is an income/expense report. Again, any duration, but this is a combined view of all accounts, much like Quicken's Net Worth graph.
This is precisely what I like... Well almost. I like seeing my net worth in graph format, displayed over time, so I can see progress (or lack thereof). However, unlike Quicken, there is no way to click on any point of the graphs to see how much money you have, liabilities you are incurring, or the value of your net worth on a given month.
Figure 7: Assets and liabilities, over time.
Gotchas
Spb Quick can be purchased from PocketGear for $29.95 (affiliate).
Conclusions
I'm really quite excited about the direction this product is going. Yes, there are a few issues that need to be worked out. But the simplicity of this application is likely to appeal to a lot of users out there. Spb does need to do something about the security feature of the application, and the other Gotchas I mentioned would just be icing if fixed in the next version. But I have to say, I'm anxiously awaiting the next version.
Spb Quick v1.07 is a relatively new entry to the PDA finance software arena (not that that arena is all that venerable to begin with). What it does, it does well. So, let's begin...
Installation
Installation is quick, painless and nicely laid out. What makes it "nicely laid out"? Simple. Its a typical Pocket PC software install with a small wizard "tacked" on the end that searches for your Quicken executable (then gives you a chance to change it, in case it was wrong), lets you browse to select the appropriate data file, and put in any password that might be needed to access the data file.
Synchronization
Once installed, I was a little surprised to find that the software did not integrate with ActiveSync. That is to say, there wasn't a new entry in the list of things that sync when I dock my iPAQ. Instead, to synchronize, you have to go under your Start Menu, to Spb Quick and select "Synchronize with handheld."
Even so, it only takes a few seconds to synchronize a pretty sizeable test file I generated (1.8MB). I'd still rather see integration with ActiveSync. I can see myself forgetting to run a separate sync command rather frequently.
Interestingly, and not in any bad way, when you synchronize any transactions back to your desktop, Quicken reads the new transactions exactly like a *.qif file, which it might very well be. The point being that you get to accept (reconcile) as you import. Very convenient.
Interface and Functions
The interface for Spb Quick is the picture of efficiency. Possibly too much so, for some, but I liked it quite a bit. The initial screen gives you a list of all your accounts and their balances, as well as a net worth at the bottom. You can filter the accounts on the screen through a drop list that allows you to view all account, cash accounts, bank accounts, credit cards, assets and liabilities. In turn, each one of those views can be sorted by name, type, or balance (ascending or descending). I found this to be particularly useful because I prefer to keep only my bank accounts viewable for quick access.
Figure 1: Interface is lean and mean... monetary figures are purely figments of my imagination
Through menus on the main screen, you can view memorized transactions and categories (which synchronize perfectly from Quicken), You can also view an account balance graph and an income/expense report, but I'll get to them later.
The Options menu selection is relatively limited. A checkbox for autocomplete in field (who would turn this feature off??), a checkbox for using regional setting to format date and currencies, and the ability to display certain account information on your Today screen (disabled by default) are the only options given.
Also found on the menus is the Calculator, which simply launches Pocket PC's built in calculator (a nice touch) and Password. I have issue with the password feature. First, there is no time out feature in Spb Quick. So if I don't quit the application, the password does me not good. Second, and I think this is a larger issue. There is no "exit" from the application. Like so many other Pocket PC apps, the "X" in the upper right does not truly exit you from the program. A quick click of the iTask button and I see the program is still running. Click on it and I'm back into the program with no prompting for a password. I really hope in future versions they include a File - Exit, or something similar.
Navigating Registers
I really like the register interface. Don't ask me why, but I really like the simplistic yet complete view that they give when viewing the registers. When in the register view, With a click of a button on the toolbar you can see a simple "Date, Payee, Reconciled (or not) and amount" view. Or you can view the same information with the category and transaction type included. Also available, are views with the transaction type, category or memo in place of the payee.
Figure 2: No clutter, no mess. Just the facts and figures you need.
Clicking on any entry brings up the details in a tabbed interface, with all the major information on the first tab. The other two tabs are for the memo and split payment information.
Figure 3: Tabbed interface keeps the important data upfront.
You switch registers simply by clicking on the Accounts tab at the bottom, or for even faster access there is a drop list at the top that has all your accounts.
By the way, all of the register entries can be sorted by date, transaction type, payee, reconciled, amount or category (ascending or descending).
Entering Transaction
Clicking "New" gives you a screen where you can pick payment, deposit or transfer for the account you are currently in.
Figure 4: Payment, Deposit or Transfer... Makes sense.
If you mess up, and you meant the transaction to be in another account, fear not. Once you select if your depositing or making payments, the transaction screen has a dropdown where you can change the account. All your standard fields are here... With the exception of "reconciled." Apparently this can only be done once you synchronize, from Quicken itself. Not sure if that's a good thing or not.
Figure 5: Standard fields. What more could you want?
The only thing I found a bit awkward about transaction entries is the fact that payments to my car loan are considered transfers. Now, I know they really are transfers, but since my first car (that had payments) I've always just considered it another bill that needed to be paid. Basically, the difference comes in that in Quicken all liability accounts are automatically entered into the bottom of your category field. So when you make a payment and enter the liability as your category it automatically makes the entry in your liability account register. Spb Quick does not offer that feature. You need to select that its a transfer. Not a major issue, I just prefer that products that synchronize work in as similar a fashion as possible.
Graphs and Charts, Oh my!
This was one area I was pretty excited about. Call it my "type A" personality or whatever you like, but I really love knowing my net worth. I know its not much, but with a healthy addiction to technology toys, I like to know when I'm spending too much. So in addition to the Net worth value that is on the main screen of the program, they also have included a few graphic options.
The first is an account balance graph. For each account (only one at a time), for any duration you wish, you can see graphically see what your balance looks like.
Figure 6: See how your accounts are doing over time
The second graph is an income/expense report. Again, any duration, but this is a combined view of all accounts, much like Quicken's Net Worth graph.
This is precisely what I like... Well almost. I like seeing my net worth in graph format, displayed over time, so I can see progress (or lack thereof). However, unlike Quicken, there is no way to click on any point of the graphs to see how much money you have, liabilities you are incurring, or the value of your net worth on a given month.
Figure 7: Assets and liabilities, over time.
Gotchas
- Separate synchronization you have to manage
- Weak password implementation. Should include a timeout feature and a simple way to exit the application.
- Ability to see monitary values by clicking on areas of graphs
Spb Quick can be purchased from PocketGear for $29.95 (affiliate).
Conclusions
I'm really quite excited about the direction this product is going. Yes, there are a few issues that need to be worked out. But the simplicity of this application is likely to appeal to a lot of users out there. Spb does need to do something about the security feature of the application, and the other Gotchas I mentioned would just be icing if fixed in the next version. But I have to say, I'm anxiously awaiting the next version.
