HanDBase is one of those mobile app titles that anyone who has been around mobile devices for a while will surely recognize. HanDBase, by DDH Software, was introduced for Palm OS initially, eventually migrating to Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, iOS, and now Android. While I don’t use database programs extensively, I have used one program or another for a long while to track media collections or other forms of inventories.
If you’re new to HanDBase, it is a relational database program with cross-platform availability, including Mac and PC desktop versions with a sync conduit. The desktop software has the ability to import either comma separated or tab delimited files, which are then stored as pdb files (yes, the old Palm database format). Because a lot of folks who may be collecting information for databases may want to enter that information in a sequence of format that is easier to use than staring at a straight database sheet, HanDBase also includes a forms designer that allows the user to create customized data entry forms.
If time in the market is an indication of how good an app is,HanDBasemust be one of the best, with an impressive 12 years of sales. It was an “app” years before the term came into existence, is on virtually every mobile platform, and has now been deployed for the Android army. HanDBase is a relational database app that makes it simple to create special data entry/ viewing apps that are tailored to any specific task at hand. Data collected in HanDBase is compatible with that entered in all versions of the app, making the databases cross-platform.
HanDBasebyDDH Softwareis one of the best pocket database applications on the market today. It’s been on Palms for some time and now it’s even on your BlackBerry Smartphone! It’s such an awesome power to be able and create my own custom database records for inventory, sorting, and keeping tabs on my favorite collectibles, hobbies and more!
YesHanDBaseis even able to sync from one device to another. Such as your Bold 9700 to Windows Vista and back to your 9700 again. This application is one that I’ve used since the days of Palm. And really this type of app is what lead & submerged me into the mobile phone industry today.
Most people who require this type of product tracking will welcomeDDH Softwarewith inviting arms.
Multiple members of the Talon client family were featured in this article...
Haupert’s company is releasing an Android app, but will continue to develop for Apple. “While I disagree with some of the core philosophies, it's still an incredible platform and a good market opportunity,” he says. “Often, when people complain about the limitations, other people will respond with a 'then don't develop for it,' or 'buy an Android phone if you don't like it.' What I think is being missed is that this incredible platform--and devices--are a leap in technology and possibilities for us; that even with the limitations, [it's] still a platform of choice for many. But that doesn't mean that we don't see the lost potential to go from a great phone platform to a near-perfect one.”
“If you plan to sell your app to millions, you must be super cautious about what you do. Apple's SDK Agreement is reasonable. I don't see anything in there that really limits us doing what we want do,” Selukoff remarked in an email.
Selukoff added that he “can't imagine Apple pulling a normal legitimate app that doesn't do anything wrong” from the App Store and said that Apple behaved beautifully when dealing with his own company’s violation of the TOS.
Justin Cepelak, VP ofSplashData, echoed Selukoff’s comments, saying that while Apple “definitely has some UI recommendations that are not always ideal, [they have] softened on some of those points over time. For the most part, the restrictions are trying to keep out annoying things like software that breaks when you upgrade your OS.”
DDH Software has been in the handheld database business since the first Palm handhelds and it shows. HanDBase for iPhone and iPad is a powerful database manager with flexibility for most data-tracking needs. The companion desktop application makes accessing your data easy no matter where you happen to be working, or simply launch a browser and download your databases directly. An extensive template library, coupled with an easy-to-use setup wizard, and exhaustive list of field types makes creating custom databases a breeze. Whether you choose just the iPhone app, or instead purchase HandBase for your Mac and iPad as well, you won't go wrong with HandBase to manage your personal data.
This week we look at Radium, HanDBase, Padsync, Targus, iCasual, Freeware plus much more. I want to thank you for downloading and listening to the podcast. We have the best in Mac hardware, software and websites reviews. We have a lot of great folks on today’s episode with their reviews and comments on software, hardware and websites that make using the Mac special. Plus I’ll have the top freeware Mac apps of the week and much more.
HanDBase for iPad is highly recommended for anyone looking for a database manager. It is literally your one-stop shop application for databases. Whether you’re a homemaker looking to organize your home or a business person managing the office, HanDBase has a database built for you.
For what it is worth, the folks who develop HanDBase have an excellent product. You will not find a better data managing app for the iPhone. I’d highly recommend
HanDBase 4.5 includes a revamped interface with a "carbon fiber theme," a new file-cabinet screen featuring collapsing folders, pop-up bubbles for selecting views, and new sorting options.
The Apple iPad is still over a month away from release, but many companies that make iPhone apps are already looking into creating software for this tablet computer.
Although it will run the iPhone OS, the difference in screen size and resolution between this upcoming device and Apple's smartphone and handheld will bring challenges but also new opportunities for developers.
...some people are seeing real potential in the iPad. They're eager to turn the device into an entirely new platform for presenting content and creating new ways of doing business. Others are more cautious. The bottom-line seems to be that the future of the iPad is in content creators’ hands.
HanDBase, from DDH Software, is an easy-to-use relational database system ported from Palm OS to the iPhone. (HanDBase sells for $9.99 from iTunes.) The application ships with a starter gallery of databases that include a checkbook, customer list, shopping list, movie list, password keeper, and billing log. If none of the included databases meet your needs, you can create your own or access more than 2,000 database templates to find one that satisfies you--all databases are free to download.
Overall once you get over the starting hurdles and set your databases up and get used to the interface this is an extremly powerful programme and well worth the asking price for anyone who used databases but it does have its flaws. For marks out of 10 I would give 7.5 and really look forward to following the updates of this great programme.
The iPhone is a wonderful and game changing mobile platform. Unfortunately the sad reality is many of the programs available for .99 are worth exactly what you pay for them. Perfect case in point. I’m in the market for some time collection software for my consulting work. I’ve scoured the Internet looking at many different “web 2.0″ services. Quite a few of them have free iPhone clients. All of them are slickly designed. Sadly almost every one is missing some major feature that made it unusable for me. Here’s where HanDBase comes in. This relational database software is available for Palm, Windows Mobile, Symbian, BlackBerry and now iPhone/Touch.
HanDBase bills itself as the worlds largest collection of Palm and Pocket PC databases (over 2,000 all freely available to you for download and use). Happily these databases work with all the different versions of the software including: iPhone, BlackBerry, Symbian S60. The Palm and Pocket PC versons of HanDBase offer a forms design add-on ($14.99 additional) so you can create snappy looking data entry screens for your handheld.
Back in November, we treated TUAW readers to a full review of HanDBase from DDH Software. HanDBase is a full relational database for the iPhone and iPod touch platforms, and it's easy to set it up to keep track of just about everything in your life. DDH Software and TUAW have joined forces to let a lucky TUAW reader win a copy of HanDBase for iPhone plus their choice of either the PC Desktop and Desktop Conduit, or the Mac Desktop and the upcoming Desktop Conduit for Mac. You can read about the different versions of HanDBase here. What do you need to do to enter? Just leave a comment with your idea for a database that you'd create with HanDBase on your iPhone or iPod touch. Good luck, and we look forward to seeing your creative answers!
I am the type of phone user that likes to have it easy. There's nothing really complex about it; no insane formula that governs it. I simply like to have as much as I can on the least number of devices. Convergence is key.
It's the reason that I, the most loyal of Palm guys, migrated to BlackBerry. I am a ministry guy, and everything on my device needs to assist me in that pursuit.The biggest drawback for me as a new BB user was the relative dearth of the third party applications that made life with Palm a breeze. In recent years, the gap is closing; one application that helps shrink this gap significantly is HanDBase Professional for BlackBerry by DDH Software.
I originally had this on my Palm OS device, and it was my most used non-scriptual application. Simply put, it is an all-round database solution with an amazing penchant for flexibility.
HanDBase and SplashID Featured in ZDNet's 2008 Holiday Gift Guide
Another curious omission on the iPhone is a database manager. The demise of Filemaker Mobile has left a vacuum of database solutions for the iPhone. HanDBase (pronounced Handy Base) (iTunes, US$10) deftly fills the void with a light and fast relational database manager for the iPhone. It offers data entry, searching, sorting, filtering, printing and synchronization across a wide variety of handheld computing devices, PDAs, smartphones and desktop computers.
No matter how hard I try I can’t remember my bank account numbers. I used to have to have to look them up every time I went to the bank and it was a huge waster of time Whether it’s account numbers, logins or credit card numbers they can all be stored in one secure and convenient iPhone application called SplashID. I’ve been using it on Mac OS X for ages and was elated when they ported it to the iPhone. Now it’s easy to sync all my passwords, logins and account numbers to my iPhone.
HanDBase: A database for the masses, an interview with DDH Software CEO, Dave Haupert
HanDBase is a relational database originally designed to run on Palm PDAs. Today versions run on most major handheld platforms and on Windows. While it is not as “full featured” as the big-system databases such as Oracle, Sybase, and DB2, it has several advantages that are becoming increasingly important as computing moves onto handheld platforms. First, it is purposely simple enough that power users can learn to build applications on top of it, and many have. DDH Software offers quite a few of these apps as free downloads on its Web site, which gives an idea of what can be done with it. Many more, however, have been built by company employees both in and outside of IT organizations to improve internal processes, and many of them are now being used across organizations of every size. Second, because HanDBase runs on all the major handheld platforms, an application built on it will also run across all those platforms. This can be a major advantage to corporate IT, which today is often struggling to support multiple handheld platforms. Third, it delivers a high degree of security, to the extent that several large medical centers use it. And fourth, because it is at heart a database, applications built on it can run independently when network connectivity is unavailable but can also exchange data with large systems such as CRM, ERP, and longitudinal patient record software, when it is. This minimizes the intermittent connectivity problem inherent in mobile computing.
HanDBase for iPhone is a very powerful and customizable database. There's really no competition to HanDBase, and given their long history and track record in the handheld world, HanDBase will be adopted quickly in businesses where custom databases are needed. At $9.99, this app is a bargain.
