Product Roadmap

[Ohmster]

Hi,

Please excuse if this has been asked/addressed previously. I am just coming back here after almost two years (since I left the Palm). Very excited about the possibilities of Agendus on the iPhone because the siloed implementation of PIM on the iPhone is quite archaic. Bought it immediately after reading all the disclaimers!

As we all have discussed to death, Agendus for iPhone is not quite Agendus for the Palm/Treo. Done. Understood. Now, can we focus on the roadmap of maturity and feature implementation for AGiP or whatever the appropriate acronym is? I am not seeking a direct tie in to a release map (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, etc). But look at where we are today. A very basic Task Manager. Where do you guys see it going and what is the sequence or priority of efforts to mature this product? We know that calendars are going to be a challenge and take some innovation and possible changes in the OS/SDK. Fine. But what else can we expect given that restriction?

I know you have been reticent to do this in the past because of the uncertainties involved and the risk of not delivering. But hey, we are almost starting at ground zero. And you've gone this path before. So I don't think this is too outrageous a request, no?

Again, if this is covered elsewhere, please delete or close as appropriate. I haven't read everything on the iPhone forums here just yet....

[Sulley]

You might want to read the sticky note at the top of the listing of all of the messages (posted by Adriano). It gives a current state of affairs, especially concerning calendaring and syncing of tasks.

v1.01 has been submitted to the App Store a few weeks ago (translation, Apple is taking their time to review and post it). I think it's caught up in all of the developers who submitted updates for the 3.0 OS release. It should get released soon. A list of the final updates contained in v1.01 are listed at:
http://www.iambic.com/agendus/iphone/whatsnew.asp


There's also a good bit of banter (here in the forum) with Adriano since the release about what users would like to see. It's just going to take time. Details are a bit scarce right now, so be patient (don't expect any kind of formalized release schedule or anything like that yet). I know they are working on it.

I think they might have released it a little early, but that's my opinion. But, after thinking about that, releasing it has gotten people to express enough feedback to get the issue over calendaring resolved, at least for the time-being. It was a double-edged sword.

[Ohmster]

Thanks, Sully.

I have read the note and it addresses calendars specifically. And it proposes an implementation that does me no good, unfortunately. I want Agendus to be the sole GUI that I use on the iPhone to manage contacts, tasks, and calendar. Managing stuff that is already on my device....not new stuff I have to put on the device so that it can interface to it.

But back on topic, the banter seems to be dispersed/fragmented. I'd like Iambic to generate a 'what our vision is and what you can expect in the future' type initiative. Telling me what is in the queue with 1.01 doesn't really give me sufficient long range visibility of what is coming. And given where we are, we really need to understand what is coming.

And, I thought I was clear in the OP, but I am not looking for a formalized release schedule. Not at all.

[Sulley]

I don't know if you're going to see it anytime soon. The biggest problem is that Apple will not provide and APIs or access to their calendaring data, so it's not possible to pull any of that in or even use the Apple Calendar app to make changes that AGiPH can access. That was the big issue over what to do with the calendar. They had initially sort of put it on hold, but it seemed like such a big issue, they addressed it more quickly than they had thought they would.

I've tried to get details (even general thoughts) about future plans, but most things beyond implementing calendaring using an Agendus unique database, synced with Google, is essentially in the "to be thought about" pile for the time being. There's obviously a lot of things they want to implement, but with Apple running so slowly right now for releasing apps once submitted, that's not going to help things at all. And you're right, a lot of the comments are fragmented. I would just get replies when Adriano happened to be on here, so he didn't get a chance to comment on everything.

I'm obviously not speaking for iambic, but that's what I've gotten from Adriano, and he's the one in charge of deciding what is going to be implemented and when. Michael does the work.

I'll be curious to see what Adriano has to say about your comment. It's a valid point, but I just never thought that it was a question that would be answered, so I didn't ask. He hasn't been on here much lately, so let's hope they're really working on AGiPH to get a couple of releases out quickly!

[Ohmster]

Adriano and I go back a long, long ways. I was a crazy and vocal Action Names/Agendus Pro user and much of our communication was via emails on product features/bugs/direction etc. Not sure he remembers me as this was years ago (eons in SW cycles).....

Anyway, point is they need to be thinking much further than around the next corner (I am sure they are) and independent of what Apple's release limitations are. That is just the pipeline. I am more interested in what they will be putting into that pipeline. I would just like some visibility into that direction so I know I can stop looking for other solutions to my PIM needs.

I am currently using Things, which only provides GTD functionality. It does not give me what Agendus on the Palm did. Here's hoping that AGiP will!

[Sulley]

Ohmster, I hope we get the kind of roadmap you're hoping for. It's been tightly held, but maybe a tug will open up some of the thinking. I'd like to know that AGiPH is my go to product -- end of discussion. I'm still using AGP on a Palm T|X and that's its only purpose. But, I can't find something I'm willing to use on the iPhone yet that will replace it. I'm picky. What can I say?

[adriano]

short and sweet here cause I don't have enough energy to expand... and note it might change.

1.02: minor fixes (already got a quite a few in after the 1.01 submission) + refinements + serious fixes to issues came up recently OS 3 related + full landscape support. Timeframe: will be submitted to the app store as soon as 1.01 is released.

1.3 (might be "named" differently... but right now I'm leaning for 1.3 cause... sounds cool and calling it 1.2 would throw in confusion between the 1.02): Calendar and google sync. No ETA at this time. I'll update the sticky post with details once we have finalized the plan.

- Adriano

[Sulley]

Adriano, thanks for the reply and information!!!

Hope you're not killing yourself too much doing stuff. I've noticed you haven't been on here much in the last week or so. We've missed you! :rolleyes: No, seriously, it's nice to have you around. You provide a lot of good information and appreciate users, even when they're frustrated (because they want AGiPH to succeed and squash the competition), like I have been.

Hopefully things will slow down for you soon...in the mean time, hang in there! :eek:

[binhminh]

Adriano et al - the conversation from Sculley is timely. When one looks at the array of OS that Iambic is implementing Agendus on, the feeling is that the various roadmaps >>> than the coding resources so subscribers are left with rather basic versions across the board as you attack all of the systems. I am still using the Palm 13.06 version, but have the WM version on my Xperia and have now put the iPhone version on my iPhone. But, frankly, I am getting tired of playing with various devices with respect to Agendus. The dilution of the brand is at risk (IMHO). I, personally, shall stay with it for awhile longer, but ask you to consider FOCUS on getting the next version of an OS fully functional. My vote would be for the WM version. Anyway, best wishes in your endeavors. Cheers, Binhminh

[facrowe]

As posted previously I'm still using Agudus on my Palm T3 even though I have an iPhone. Had a Treo 680, but Iambic could never fully implement all of the Agenudus features because of peculiarities of it's OS.


Now my point: I think that Iambic and all other developers of PDA software should post recommended hardware, or at least post known issues on specific devices. I tried to get feedback regarding a phone recommendation from Iambic prior to switching to iPhone because I wanted to use Agendus with YourCall. No response.

Personally, If Iambic did the above, I would gladly switch carriers and get the new phone in order to have access to fully functional Agendus and Your Call. Coupled with the integration with desktop and phone, this is the most powerful PIM I have every found.

[Alphacodex]

Yey!!! Eagerly waiting for 1.3 !!!!!!


And dont you dare to change your mind and sync to something different than GoogleCalendar! I already ported ALL my calendar data over to Google, assigning different calendars for my different appointment groups. That was some hell of work!!

Greetz
Codex

[adriano]

I think that Iambic and all other developers of PDA software should post recommended hardware

That's an interesting point, but I doubt it would bring much benefit. Ultimately it's not what we recommend, if what's cool that users go for. And they are perfectly correct in doing so.

I can tell you what my favorite phone is ... the iPhone. Is it the ideal platform for Agendus? At this stage probably not. But it makes for an interesting challenge, that we are willing to take on.

Ultimately we ourselves use the phones we like the most, and work out the kinks and limitations in order to have our own favorite can't-live-without titles to run on them at their best.

- Adriano

[facrowe]

:) Minor disagreemnet: I have been using personal computers since the CPM days. I purchased the Original Palm Pilot and have owned a Palm through its various iterations ever since. I purchased an iPhone primarily because of its screen and access to wireless. I stil use the T3 for its applications.

The first thing I evaluate when purchasing new hardware is whether or not my applications will work on the new system/device. Hardware is useless unless it will run the software you use daily.

I agree that the vast majority of people buying iPhones are making the purchase because of the Toys, not because of serious business applications.

I have always viewed Agendus as a serious business application. I would venture to guess that most of the Agendus Users purchased it because it helps them in their business/occupation, not because they want to keep track of when the called Aunt Mary.

Bottom Line. Your market for a powerful Agendus is the serious business user. That's why we are willing to pay a fair price for your product.

Maybe you should consider two versions of agendus, Agendus Professional for those of us who really need it for business reasons and Agendus Lite for the casual user. Then posting known issues with different devices.

[adriano]

Bottom Line. Your market for a powerful Agendus is the serious business user. That's why we are willing to pay a fair price for your product.

point taken. :up:

Maybe you should consider two versions of agendus, Agendus Professional for those of us who really need it for business reasons and Agendus Lite for the casual user. Then posting known issues with different devices.

Agreed -- this is something we are thinking of doing... first priority at the moment remains to satisfy the userbase at large, and afterward we'll much likely move to have different editions targeted to specific segments.

- Adriano