Many times the laptop will be available, so that the databases in Outlook or Sidekick can be updated as information changes. Now the REX and Yahoo databases can be synchronized when convenient, serving not only as an added reference point for the data, but as a secondary backup for information that will now never be lost. Even if the laptop is stolen, any desktop can download the data from the Web by accessing My Yahoo or Excite, or the data can be retrieved from the REX, Palm Pilot or Windows CE device by reversing the synchronization process. Time guides can be maintained by categories or with recurring events of interest, and are shown in the calendar's usual daily, weekly or monthly views. Timeguides are currently available and customizable for sports, clubs, friends and holidays.
Entertainment is probably next.
Excite, not surprisingly, has also entered this area in a big way. Palm users must have Palm Desktop and HotSync versions 3.0 or higher installed. The Excite Planner has a very nice interface, on which the user can see to-do's, notes, a calendar and contact list laid out in a customized fashion. Jump is colorful and well designed, with a look that strongly resembles a Dayrunner. As portals and application developers continue to embellish these products, they will doubtless work better with cell phones and other thin-client Web appliances.