TreoMemo: Turbocharge Your Memo Productivity

Over the last couple of weeks, a new Treo software called TreoMemo has risen phenomenally to become one of the Top 5 bestselling PalmOS applications and naturally I became rather curious to find out exactly what all the fuss was about.

I quickly found out that TreoMemo is a terrific solution that was designed to specifically enhance the usability of the standard Memo application by focusing on providing a replacement tool with easier navigation, thumbscreening and maximising the use of the QWERTY keyboard as well as adding terrific functionality enhancements such as ‘Smart Links’ which now allow TreoMemo to call numbers, email and follow web links from your notes as well as enabling MP3 alarms among others.

Importantly, TreoMemo reads from your existing standard Memo database so even if you uninstall the application all your memos will remain safely stored, hotsynced and saved.

Below are details of my favourite TreoMemo functionalities:

Home Screen
The TreoMemo home sreen (below right) provides a much richer graphic experience than the standard Memo application with four key added features:

1. Large scrolling bar to facilitate faster and easier thumb access
2. Number of Memos
3. Direct ‘Find’ button
4. Enhanced ‘Sort’ functionality with A-Z, Z-A, Date and Alarm

I am not too happy that TreoMemo reduces the number of visible horizontal characters from 30 to 25 and the number of vertical lines from 11 to 9 but after speaking with its developer I am confident that an enhanced skin will fix this soon.

New Memo Creation
TreoMemo offers a great many enhancements and added functionality for each new record created compared to the standard Memo application.  For starters you will now be able to set an alarm (below left) for any individual record and even to customize it with a unique MP3 Alarm.  Additionally, an option in preferences allows each new record to be automatically filled with the current date and time for those people who prefer to have their notes neatly listed this way.

Additionally, the ‘Memo Details’ button at the bottom right also allows you to easily send your memo in an SMS, Email or via Bluetooth.  A ‘Search’ functionality for each individual record also allows you to find strings in particularly long memos that you might have.

Enhanced Functionality Preference: Smart Links
One of the single most useful enhanced functionalities that I found within TreoMemo is its “Smart Links” option.  Once enabled this preference allows you highlight a number, URL (starting with www or http://) or email and automatically trigger the launch of the relevant application (Blazer, Phone/SMS or Email) to browse, dial, message or email your selected string by simply pressing the Center 5Way navigation button.

I am absolutely delighted by the Smart Links functionality since this is something that has been sorely missing from the standard Memo application as I have pointed out and requested in a previous review.  The only thing is that TreoMemo does not (yet) allow you to use the keyboard to highlight the string that you want and so you must use your thumb or stylus for now.  However, the developer assures me that they will add ‘keyboard hightlighting’ functionality in an updated version.

Enhanced Functionality Preference: Thumbscrolling
At first I didn’t really understand what Thumbscrolling was all about but after playing around with it for a little while I finally got it.  When Thumbscrolling is enabled it essentially transforms any part of your screen into a ‘virtual scroller’ (much like that demonstrated by Apple’s iPhone) so that you can place your thumb anywhere on the screen then move it up or down to scroll.  It’s very neat once you get used to it.

To enable the Thumbscrolling functionality you just need to select it in Preferences and then press the left side button to activate/de-activate it at any time (you will see a small thumb appear at the bottom left of the screen).

Conclusion
TreoMemo offers today much of the functionality that I expect future versions of the standard PalmOS Memo application will/should incorporate.  Any Treonaut used to adding or accessing memos on a daily basis will undoubtedly like me praise the terrific enhancements that TreoMemo offers.  Personally, the Smart Links functionality alone has completely won me over – it was about time that someone had the wits to add this to our Treo.

Treonauts always turbocharge their productivity…