Review: ActiveCard 51
To some, one thing missing from webOS is any kind of a “home screen” like Android, S60 and Windows Mobile all have, something that allows for a quick view of current weather conditions, upcoming calendar events, twitter updates and the like all from the launcher screen. ActiveCard ($2.99 in the App Catalog) aims to bring that functionality to webOS by putting quick access to all of the above items (and more) all in one place.
Features and Use
Since you can’t really do Android or WinMo style widgets on webOS’s “home screen”, ActiveCard aims to be a home screen replacement for webOS. The results are a mixed bag.
Getting the program set up is easy – the layout is intuitive, and there’s a comprehensive help section in each section. This is where you set program’s background, add and delete contacts from the QuickContact launcher, set which programs reside in the Launchbar, set which kinds of stories come in through the RSS reader, and where you set your zip code for the weather widget.
The main screen functions as a widget launcher, and everything you’d expect to find on a home screen is found here - Tapping the calendar icon shows upcoming events, a weather icon displays the weather, an RSS reader connected to Yahoo! News displays the latest news in both a ticker at the bottom of the screen and in a small reader widget, there’s a quick contact launcher, and there are two separate launchers.
The first launcher brings up another list of widgets, including a non-configurable Twitter reader (set to search for “Palm”), web search, Online Games, mini-Calendar, Clock and Weather. At the risk of sounding overly harsh, the majority of widgets contained in this launcher are either useless or made completely redundant by what’s already available in the main section of the program – what use is a Twitter reader that can’t be configured or logged into? What’s the point of another clock when one already resides in the status bar? And really, an online games section that links to iPhone web games that are so laggy that they’re borderline unplayable? I could go on, but I think you get the point.
The second launcher allows the user to set 7 quick launch applications, and while infinitely more useful than the previously mentioned launcher, the utility of this feature pales in comparison to that of the built-in wave dock in webOS – not only can quickly get to your 4 most used applications using that feature, you can hit the launcher and utilize universal search for quick access to whatever else might be on the phone, including contacts.
Summary
ActiveCard endeavors to be a replacement for the home screen (or lack thereof) in webOS, but it ultimately fails to make things any more efficient than what webOS already offers. It also fails to emulate what makes the widget approach so useful in Android, namely being able to have multiple, highly configurable widgets displaying information on the screen at once. With ActiveCard, only one widget can be displaying information at once (aside from the news ticker and current temperature in the weather icon), and the News and Twitter widgets really aren’t all that configurable – the Twitter widgets in Android, for example, actually let you log into your account and update your status.
I actually prefer the un-cluttered homes screen found in webOS to that of the more widget-centric mobile OSes, and I find the combination of universal search, leaving my most-used programs open, and use of the quick launch dock to actually be faster and more useful that what ActiveCard allows me to do.
To be fair, though, this application is still in the early phases of development - version 0.3.3 as of this writing - and the developer promises more widgets with greater customization options and an enhanced UI to be implemented in future versions. But the question remains: can these promised enhancements make the ActiveCard launcher fundamentally more efficient at getting to your information than webOS already does? Maybe.
51 Comments
Why cant we try before we buy? ive been wondering about this app but i would like to try it first. launcers are great but im very picky.
I know this is off topic, so sorry, but I kind of feel down about 1.4 not having flash, or flash working better on N1. Feel down about D2G and webOS 1.4 not being as fast (from Deiters comment on flas)
I know you feel down...we all do, but if you keep up with current events you would have known that it was only rumored to have been out by the 15th and include massive speed enhancements and flash and all that jazz.
Cheer up buddy, remember, you chose the device and you should have had a clear understanding of the fact that it was in its infancy. That WebOS is just a baby.
And if you think this is the last time a rumor will be posted and not met, you are in for a LOT of sad moments when it comes to your Palm.
Cheer up and grow with Palm...those of us who have been around since August and before know what it is to expect something and not have it come through immediately....but it DOES come through...and this is no exception!
Relax and play need for speed. I remember when gaming on my Pre was only a glimmer and a hope on Precentral...:)
All these were not rumors, they were said by the CEO of palm, so it is kind of sad that they were not met. No epocrates either... (I really dont care when the web OS 1.4 came in Feb)
No, you can go to the article here in Precentral and SEE and HEAR what Rubenstein actually said. He said 1.4 would be out by the end of Feb and it would include enhancements to speed as well as performance and video recording...maybe more but I dont remember offhand...
Epocrates is in Beta mode, will probably be out soon. http://twitpic.com/13oqez
Photoshopped - look closely at the title. Dark lines around the title.
It's still a glimmer and a hope all over europe.. :/
@kkhanmd,
webOS 1.4 seemed pretty fast to me.
One thing that is slow on all smartphones is when accessing the web based upon the connection speed. The browser was pretty fast on webOS 1.4. I am excited about the new video recording feature, the support for Flash 10.1 allowing you to access Flash videos on the web and over 100,000 Flash games, and the overall enhancements in webOS 1.4.
Note: If you know that something is off topic, then you should take some time to look for the topic, and post at the appropriate place. Appropriate topic: "Flash on webOS 1.4 Hands-On", this topic is right on the home page of PreCentral and so I don't know how you could have missed it.
There is a free beta of ActiveCard2 in Preware. It's a preview that lasts three days. I just downloaded it and checked it out. It's exactly as Rob describes it. It's pretty much useless.
I'm with you though, I wish we could try out everything before we buy the stuff. I've paid for a few apps that really made me want my 99 cents back. I know that's not much, but it's the principle I suppose.
Anyway, download the beta in Preware if you like, but this is just a waste of an app.
This app is great and all, but it's an app. What I am interested in seeing is a "homepage" that can be altered the way you want.
Alternatively, everyone take a look at the following Forum post...
http://forums.precentral.net/web-os-development/189712-my-home-screen-work-progress.html'
Still in Beta, but hopefully the developer can do more in the near future.
THIS is a great app...and great for the price. But im not interested in leaving cards open...I like a clean homescreen when I am not doing something, so I can look at my pretty wallpaper...:)
Therefore, as an alternative I figured I would show you all what else in in the works...
Only the best from Palm and it's supporters!
See, Robert kinda lays into the real problems behind the product, Good Idea but not efficient! Now, if we were to be able to customize our homescreen in such a way...WOW, NOW THERE IS A WEBOS DEVICE I WOULD be truly happy with...:)
Think of the Moto Q9C or such...
but on the Palm Pre....
Hellzya!!!
I hear what you are saying, but to me you are describing something like an Android or a WinMo device. I just don't think WebOS was designed for home screens and widgets, which for me is a valid distinction between WebOS and a few other devices out there. I personally don't like customizable home screens and widgets, and as such WebOS is a much better fit for me. I was looking at an Eris the other day and just felt a bit overwhelmed by all the stuff that was on the screen. But I can understand the appeal. While maybe not as efficient as a home screen, I've been able to function fairly well with notifications (e-mails, package updates,weather dashboard etc).
Agreed, I've been a fan and supporter of AHS since it came out, and prefer it to AC. Hopefully, both will continue development - or perhaps an app that'll allow customization to be the best of both.
I could be wrong, but isn't that forum post about the same application as the review? Its made to sound like it actually replaces the home screen, but its really just an app.
I agree, it would be awfully nice to be able to edit the *actual* device homescreen.
Personally though, I'd settle for the ability to make the wave bar multiple levels. ie wave, thumb over to the contacts icon. If you let go, contacts app opens. If you hold on it instead, it brings up another wave (or a wheel?) containing most-called contacts. Don't lift your thumb, just move to the contact you want to select it and make the call.
There was something similar to this called (I think) the gesture wheel extension for firefox.
kinda a let down it seems.
I don't think individuals (those who seem a bit upset w/ Palm or webOS) realize how much these devices have evolved since launch. If you compare 6 months of webOS to 6 months of iPhone OS...we're clearly ahead of the game. People just need to slow down and let Palm do their thing. We'll see customizable homescreens & all that good stuff...you just gotta have faith in Palm, but above all else - patience!
This is an app...so I say go for it. Let the developers and webOS internals, Jason, dtzwill and whoever else have at it! They are improving the device while Palm works on hard core problems like stability and speed and battery life.
We are all in this together, and I wish...I WISH I had the knowledge that half of these developers had in creating the awesome patches and apps out there.
They are all doing a great job! Nobody needs to slow down, everyone is doing what they do best, helping to create the best customizable device that is out there...:)
But it's a card!!
But its an Active one.
I'm confused....it's a card, but also active? ;)
I tried it when it first came out, and one thing I didn't like was how you personalize the background wallpaper. I think they had a few presets, but you couldn't grab one from your picture folder.
You can now use any pic as a wallpaper.
Why are so many apps for the Pre $$$ as compared to the plethora of free apps on other smartphones?
What is the incentive for a developer to write an app for free? Some apps are free because they have banner ads, which I have found suck battery power.
I have no problem paying a buck or two (or 3 in this case) for a truly useful app.
Go back and read plenty of those troll posts in the forum which answer your very own question. If you think it comes easy and free write them yourself.
It's a great start. Use the suggestions as feedback and keep at it.
After watching the video, I think that the review sells the app a bit short. I also think you spent too much time dwelling on the twitter shortcoming instead of talking about the calendar feed.
Personally, to have the upcoming appointments on my 'home' screen is worth the $2.99 by itself. Frankly, it's one of my pet peeves about the Pre that it doesn't give me the option to do this on the real home screen the way my Blackberry did.
I couldn't care less about the hamstrung Twitter feed and poor game selection. My Pre is a tool to help me stay organized, and being able to easily see my next few appointments at a glance makes it easier to plan my day or week.
My only concern is the affect of the constant weather updates and Yahoo feed on battery life. Can you turn that part off?
There is a free app called Agenda that you may want to look at. Gives you a list of everything in your calendar that is scheduled over the next week.
Would be nice if it were built into the OS background, but it works.
I was gonna comment about that app...it is another amazing app that came out. Actually, I am SO surprised it never hit the app catalog and is still considered a homebrew app. I bet that dood could charge 4.99 for it and it would be a hot seller! (though I am certainty glad its free...no need to charge for it...:) )
If anyone is interested.... definitely check out the homebrew app, I have it in my quick launch bar...its amazing and syncs with your Palm Calendar, Google calender and most event type apps as well.
Homebrew - AGENDA!
I used this app in beta and liked it but found that all day calendar events from my Google Calendar did not display. I asked in the thread for the app, but never got a response. Can anyone confirm that this was fixed in the catalog release version? The idea is cool but I use all day events to manage homework and tasks so this is a deal breaker for me.
It pulls everything in your Palm calendar, including all day events and lists them in an agenda-like view.
Although, I like Active Home Screen much better, development has been at a standstill for many weeks,
They had a free trial up in preware. I downloaded them both and was not that impressed, partially cause it's a card itself....not trying to be cruel but it doesn't seem to capitalize on Web os like the weather dashboard and stop watch, giving you updates when your phone is being used or idle....can't wait for video recording and more speed, but as I play Earthworm Jim on my phone, not to mention need for speed and football, I realize this is NOT the barebones phone I stood in line for, with functionality so limited I had to carry my centro with it for taking notes and reading books....Palm has come a hell of a long way with web os compared to android, considering how long it's been out there. I feel this phone is second only to the iphone, and that's only cause of the apps and plastic build. Not sweating that so much cause I didn't pay 599 for it when it first came out, so I can forgive a lot.....
Amen! + a billion! :)
+1 on a billion
I like the idea that's it a card. Best of both worlds. It dials the contacts really fast, fastest I have seen actually.
What I don't like:
1. Fonts are too small since I don't have pictures for every contact I need to be able to read the names and that's almost impossible, I revert to using all caps for contact names. Same for the little numbers at the top by the weather etc. Don't write anything if it can't be easily read.
2. One can supposedly compose a text or email but the contrast is so bad it's impossible to see what is being typed. Useless.
3. Online games. Get rid of it and replace it with something useful or use the extra space to make the icons bigger
4. There are two calender icons which seem to do the same thing and then one of them displays static date. I don't want to see anything that is not current on a home screen.
SUMMARY. Make it easier to read at a glance and everything else should make sense and be more customizable.
I am pretty sure it is not a constant weather feed. I seems to be behind rising and dropping temperatures. Maybe it's 10 or 20 minutes.
I tried this app a few weeks ago. I'm a little concerned that the reviewer here seems to have been reading my mind. I had the exact reaction to the app as what's posted.
I love the approach and would definitely use something along these lines. An app like this is only as good as its widgets though, and these widgets suck.
I am pretty sure it is not a constant weather feed. I seems to be behind rising and dropping temperatures. Maybe it's 10 or 20 minutes.
I am pretty sure it is not a constant weather feed. I seems to be behind rising and dropping temperatures. Maybe it's 10 or 20 minutes.
So, just to be clear, you don't think that it's a constant weather feed? :)
I know this is kind of late, but they never said that the beta for Flash wouldn't be ready soon, just the finished version.
The problem that I have with this is that it is still not a true home screen its an app. and app's have to be launched and can get minimized and other things. Palm needs to come out with a true home screen that gives the ability to add widgets, quick dial icons, upcoming events, and so on. This is just a band-aid fix.
I'd like to see TAT Home UI come to the WebOS, That is wild!
You know what I would find really awesome for WebOS? If you could drag down (while in card view) with two fingers to the gesture area, and the interface would drop down off the screen and a widget capable homescreen would slide down. Swipe up from gesture area or press the button to bring you back to card view. I think that could be cool.
I think that the widgets would maybe have to be inactive when the homescreen was not open and cards would not be active when you are on your homescreen so as to not use unnecessary resources on the phone. You couldnt use widgets if they are not visible and vice versa with cards. They would just update when you went back to that view.
What would make it so awesome IMO is that it would not change the core working of WebOS as it is, you would not even have to use the homescreen if you didn't want to, but would give a whole other level of customization to the device if wanted.
I think this could all be solved if webOS would allow an active wallpaper...kind of like the animated wallpaper on the N1.
Soemthing that would cycle through weather, agenda, clock..or any configurable app.
Maybe it's just me, but coming from someone who tweaked touchflo and spent alot of time working on it, this app seems influenced by the sense ui theme... Not the gui but the general idea of htc's new software. Example: the buttons on the bottom have an interestingly similar look to those used throughout sense ui, as well as the calendar.... :P
I'm slightly annoyed at this review. Robert Werlinger does ActiveCard a disservice by not even mentioning the update to ActiveCard which is ActiveCard2-beta. ActiveCard as available from the official app catalog is just a 2.5 star program. As evidenced by Rob's screen captures and video review of ActiveCard he's only using the app catalog version. However, if you're reading his review... YOU'RE A HOMEBREW USER! for crying out loud! And ActiveCard2-beta is available as a Homebrew app!
ActiveCard2-beta (which I assume will be the official version at some point in the near future) is a far, far, far, far (get my point?) app as it has multiple improvements. It syncs with all calenders including gmail calendar and palm calendar. It is not limited to the built-in apps but any app on your phone can be accessed by the ActiveCard2 launcher. It also has speed dialing w/photo icons for up to 9 contacts. These were all complaints as "not working" in the app catalog version, but all work in the new beta version.
Lastly, you have to pay the $2.99 for the app catalog version to unlock the beta version. This is hands down my favorite program on my Pre.
Robert should do a followup on the app including the beta version available here as a 3 day trial and unlocked if you pay the $2.99.
One more thing... ActiveCard2-beta lets you use any... ANY wallpaper. Not just the built-in wallpapers from from the app itself.
Do yourself a favor, download the ActiveCard2-beta and try it for 3 days. It's a great app... my guess is you'll pay the $2.99 to unlock the beta version for unlimited use.
Yeah but what in 1.4 is going to mess up else where on my phone like all the other updates? Like I can't get 4x4 icons any more no matter what version or 5x5. So what will happen in that department?
Seems interesting and good!It would be nice if we can try this app before i go to buy it because i also will come to know if there is some problem in accessing this app or not ?Otherwise the price of the app is not too mush that i can't afford.
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