TODO MATRIX FROM REXWIRELESS

Date reviewed: April 4th, 2006
Version number: 2006.03.28
Website: http://www.rexwireless.com


Hey all-

Upon reading a couple of recent threads I thought I would try and review the application that was suggested, Todo matrix.

Upon visiting the site (which is layed out very well) they give you a brief summary of the application you are interested in purchasing (they also have an idea matrix which I will be trying next). They install OTA, which in my opinion is very nice, especially with an 8700c as it takes only a min or two at most. Once the application was loaded, it asks for a passcode and you internet connection settings. I tried WAP first and it timed out after two or three minutes ( I do have TCP settings configured). The other option for connecting the program is TCP/BES. After selecting that connection, it took only 30 seconds (if that) to connect and to be thrusted in to the main view.



The main view is not exactly what I imagined. It looks like a standard file tree on outlook or some other program. With the trial version, there are already branches and subfolders created along with "mock" todo's created. Upon pushing the track wheel, you get the following options:

View to dos
New folders
move folders
move to-dos
edit folder
delete folder
Purchase todo matrix
Activate todo matrix
edit profile
restore from web
backup to web
backup status
delete database

There are several keys specified for certain commands. They look like the following:



(h) (v) views (c) create (f)find (l) last (d) delete

The h key conveniently pulls up a help index for the user listing all keys that have functionality. When viewing a task, you see the folder that it is in, the due date, the delegate, the priority, the status, the alert, and the subject.
This is considerably more than what is shown on the standard task list for the blackberry. However, the blackberry did have a quck key that marked a task completed or in progress or waiting, the space key. On this program, you have to press q in order to pull up a option select. There you are given the options for the status of the task.



The delegate option is also very cool. You can select the task to be given to any specific colleague in your address book or one that you create. A very nice function. Now I am unsure if this could be accessed by multiple people (so that your employees can view the tasks that have been assigned to them). I have sent an email to the support team in regards to this question and will edit my review upon receipt of thier response.

They also have an alert branch that has alerts listing the following:
Alerts
Due soon
Due this week
Due today
Found
Last Viewed
Past due



Overall this program is set up very nicely. The creators took a lot of time investing thought in to this program.The navigation takes some time getting used to, that is the only drawback.

Some extra images just for you




I give it four out of five blackberry's




***all pictures were taken from Rexwireless website for reference***

Coming soon!

Idea matrix from Rexwireless.com

Downloading now

For out of 5 grammar teachers are laughing at you, the fifth is slapping his head.

Wow, quite an intense program. I will be playing with this as much as possible.

Doh! sonna of a..... thanks.

OK, so here's the heads up on what the support teams response was to my question about delegates viewing the tasks:

================================================== =====
Hi Corey,

In the current release, the delegate function is e-mail only to the delegate / track task on your todoMatrix. Within a couple of months, we will offer a web*desktop component (you will get this as a point release (no $ needed)). The web*desktop / server database paves the way for a "workgroup" capability with todoMatrix.

The feature which you are asking about (in our lingo "workgroup todo's") is in our product plan but won't be introduced until this fall. There are a lot of intricacies to this effort because we will want to include co-workers that may not have a blackberry which means adding a windows applet too.

Let me know if you need anything else / have any other questions,

Nick
REXwireless Customer Service

+++ you wrote +++


Hi there-


I have just downloaded a version of your todo matrix and noticed that there was an internet connection and delegate option in your program. If I set a contact from my company as a delegate, can that person see that they have been assigned that task if they have the program installed on their blackberry?


Thanks for the help as I am doind a review on blackberryforums.com.


Coreyg510


Sent via BlackBerry from Cingular Wireless


================================================== ====


This will be good news in the future. Hope you all enjoy

I'll download this and find out if it meets my needs.

I do need a TODO program that supports multiple concurrent independent TODO lists (one for work, one for home, one for event organization, etc), each of which can be turned on/off (filtered out easily) so that I can only concentrate on one or two TODO lists at a time. I also need the ability to easily reschedule an entire specific TODO list by one or two weeks (i.e. work responsibilities delay a hobby responsibility) without needing to edit the due date of each TODO item. I also need the ability to print out TODO lists on my desktop computer, because I still use old fashioned paper too as well so I need to make sure any TODO software I use, is also "compatible" with the old-fashioned method -- a printed TODO list from the electronic TODO list.

If anyone can tell me that this program supports the above, let me know. Then my money would already be in the mail.

Mark-

I only have the trial version right now and there is no print option that I can find. I have emailed the support team again to find out if they have the option with the full version (as I know with some trials there are certain options locked and only available with a full purchase).

I will let you know how this works out!

Maybe it’s just me but $59.95 still seems expensive to me even with all the bells and whistles. I want to see the finished product from PocketDay on there List application first before making a decision.

Still a nice review though.

-MrKyoo

So I asked about printing, this is what I found out:

Hi Corey,

We have an "e-mail all tasks" in a folder, drawer, or view feature in testing right now and development has it scheduled for availability in the 2006.04.15 point release (April 15th). All current users get point-releases without charge.

This allows the user to e-mail any folder or view to themselves (or someone else) if they want to print it or work with it (ex. archive a finished project).

Hope this helps,

Nick
REXwireless Customer Service



+++ You wrote +++

Dear support team,


I have on further question. Is there a print functionality with your program? I am using only the trial version right now and notice that this is not an option. Is this option available with the full purchased version


Thanks

Coreyg510

Sent via BlackBerry from Cingular Wireless

After evaluating it, I decided to buy it. Yeah, its a bit pricey but todos are an application that I work with 30+ times a day, every day. Its an appl that needs to be as "right" as it can be at least for me. I'm a field project manager and I can have ten projects working at any one time so the ability to keep stuff in its own folder, and move stuff from folder to folder, is critical.

No one mentioned this but have you tried the grab-drag feature? This is way cool... I don't have to mod the due dates to see a folder the way I want to prioritize it based on how the day is going and what has cropped up in the way of something else. The way REX does find is super nice too.

The grab feature is nice. I didnt mention it because it is more of an advance feature that is sort of parallel to the standard task that blackberrys come with. For instance, if you have several different categories, you can always chage the category of the task to meet your requirements. Todo matrix just takes it one step further. Nice program indeed

Wow, very nice indeed! I am a new BlackBerry user. I was hesitant to get hooked but I needed to have on the spot notifications in the field with out the annoyance of a ringing phone all the time. I have been doing some searching for programs to help perfect what the BlackBerry was lacking in and I enjoyed reading about the reviews on this forum. I went to the above mentioned web site and downloaded it. Looks great so far!

When I first saw this thread - I read Reqwireless (YIKES!) but on more careful inspection it's a different company. I downloaded and bought the product a day later. Both ToDoMatrix and IdeaMatrix are excellent. Sounds like they have lots of ideas for upgrades too!

Is ToDoMatrix integrated with BB Tasks? I would like the tasks to synch to Outlook as well.

No.. It is not integrated with the standard BB task list.

Thanks for your reply! Would be nice if it was, then synching with Outlook becomes possible. One feature that would be great is if you can send a task to the BB Calendar as a scheduled appointment.

No committed plans is OK. The important thing is that you guys are listening! That alone is a good start.

For the REXguys. There was a good suggestion in this thread:

http://www.blackberryforums.com/aftermarket-software/31376-pocketday-todomatrix.html

Obviously, for future releases. Just some good feedback and info for you

todoMatrix 2006.04.15 has been posted at rexwireless.com/download.

As was discussed in the post above, this point release offers the ability to e-mail all tasks from any todoMatrix folder or view in five different formats, including an import format for use in Microsoft Excel and other programs. This same e-mail folder feature can be used to print to-do's out if the user wants.

The other substantial improvements within this release include enhanced completed task handling (hide toggle, purge completed, report on completed, each by folder) and some fixes to the delegate folders.

Thanks,

The REXguys

I wish there's a way to change the fonts. I don't like the fonts they used for this program.
Also, I hope the future version will allow users to add new "drawers" (not just folders).

Thanks! For the updates! I took the plunge a few weeks ago and I am so stoked with my purchase. I recently took a look at the Next Action GTD appl(Getting Things Done by David Allen for the non-GTD people) the program does not compare at all to the todoMatrix or the ideaMatrix. For the sake of repeating myself you can read my mini review here

Real GTD for your BlackBerry...blackberryforums.com/showthread.php?p=241023#post241023

I was thinking the same thing about using this for GTD. I am presently evaluating a solution for Palm and am interested in how this works.

So I've been demoing this software as I desperately need to find a new method of organization. While I agree with a couple others that $60 is a bit steep for the software, it does contain at least the promise of web/non-BB connectivity. This is a key feature for me as it would be an effective way for both my wife and me to share/coordinate our home to-do lists. (I'm the BB user, she's not, but she's quite frequently online.)

I sent the following email to the rexguys at their pre-sales support address.

I received the following response a mere 30 minutes later (which was 30 minutes after their stated support time!)

I have also downloaded the trial and I'm extremely impressed with the application. One of the best PDA based Todo applications I've seen to date. A few questions/observations:
* My over 40 eyes don't do well with the minimal screen real estate. Will the web based client be released this month?

* It would be nice if Rexwireless could work with Mark over at Pocketday to expose an interface he could interogate to use their database to display todos in Pocketday instead of the default database.

Thanks for the quick response Rexguys. I will probably go ahead and register and just get stronger reading glasses until your QA is completed ;).

Once the font issue and PD integration is complete, I may become a todoMatrix user. Until then, I will most likely continue using PD Lists (as comparatively limited as it may be versus todoMatrix). Variable fonts and PD integration is essential to PD users in order to provide clear, concise and legible information at a glance. Release variable font and PD integration support and I gather you may find yourself with new legions of users.

REXwireless: Let us know of any upcoming discount promotions for your products...

I have to say, as a todoMatrix user, I am very pleased with this product, yes its a bit pricey, but very nice.

I'm trying out ToDoMatrix after all the positive reviews, but after several tries I still can't install the program. When it tried connecting to the Rexwireless site to complete the installation, I will get a error code:
"Response Code = 400".

Is this a firewall problem faced by BES users?

In this specific case, the request message appears to be stuck at the BES (perhaps a company policy) or carrier site (MobileOne/Singapore) and it never gets to the public internet and never hits our server. We are investigating if there is something unique about MobileOne but it is listed as a RIM BIS-B supported carrier.

--- the REXguys

Hi Rexguys;
Any idea if you are going to make your GA target? August is almost over

Thanks for the update. Let me know if you need another Beta tester for the final regression runs

One thing for future consideration is to integrate this with the email function on the BB. Give the email centric nature of the device, many of my todo's come from emails, so it would be great to have the ability to hit a button and have a todo created from the email, with the body of the email copied to the details of the todo for easy reference. Having todo's linked with email in some way is tremendous time saver so you can quickly see the details you need without searching through your mails.

Also, I see you are looking at coming out with a more GTD oriented version, which is good to see!

Lastly I can't wait to see the web app! In fact, to take the email part a little further, once you have your web interface done, this could also enable adding tasks via email, where you could send an email to a special address and have it show up in some type of inbox in todoMatrix.

As I use the app a little more I'll pass along any other suggestions.

Cheers!

I am on the bubble of purchasing this product. If the web part was out, it would be a no brainer. I will let everyone know which way i go for a task application.