Spb Software has released SPB Wallet Desktop Companion for Mac OS X, which offers wallet sync with its Spb Wallet iPhone app. This is very good news of course for any Spb Wallet fans who are also Mac users. Here ‘s a little more Intro text on the new desktop app, courtesy of Spb ‘s press release:
The desktop component, previously available exclusively for Windows, is created to enable Wallet users to easily manage and arrange their sensitive data in a more convenient way, on a bigger screen and with a bigger keyboard. The Mac version of this software provides users with capabilities of editing data, syncing it with an iPhone or an iPod touch over WiFi, as well as syncing every wallet with Google mailbox. It can also be syncronized with Windows Mobile and Symbian versions of SPB Wallet if the devices are connected via USB in Mass Storage mode.
And here are some of its key features:
* Strong security with 256-bit AES encryption;
* User friendly desktop interface;
* Customizable cards and templates;
* Sync with multiple mobile devices (Windows Mobile, Symbian S60, iPhone);
* Sync with file share and Google mailbox;
* Online templates gallery;
* Password generator and quick search;
* Wallet in a tray.
Spb very kindly offered me a sneak peek copy of the desktop companion app yesterday, so I ‘ve had a chance to play around with it a bit, and try out syncing with the iPhone app. I ‘ll try to get a full review done at some point, but here are some quick thoughts and impressions:
Desktop App
Easy install.
Offers strong AES encryption (as does the iPhone app of course).
The user interface is just OK. Easy enough to get around but certainly not pretty or wonderful to work with. Then again, in my experience that is par for the course with desktop wallet apps “ none are gorgeous to look at or work with.
Allows sync to folder/network share, Gmail account, or iPhone. Also has a backup capability.
Has 60+ built-in templates (for wallet cards), and access to over 6,000 more via an online gallery.
Has ‘smart card ‘ fields – for copying to clipboard, calling phone numbers, sending email/SMS/MMS, and opening web sites
Integration with browser “ toolbars for IE and Firefox
Syncing Between Desktop & iPhone
Very easy to setup.
Worked without a glitch so far “ though I should mention that I ‘ve only worked with quite a small test wallet thus far, as I have no legacy data that can be used with Spb Wallet (more on that in just a moment).
It works. On a Mac. This is significant because there have not been that many good choices available for Mac users who wanted a good, established password manager app and Mac sync.
A Few General Thoughts On Wallet Apps
I wish there were more and better import/export options for wallets / the data they hold. I really feel as if it is now very hard for me to think about switching apps, even if I find a new one quite compelling, better-featured etc. “ just because I have a good amount of very essential information stored in my current app (1Password) and the thought of having to move it manually to another app is nightmarish.
Spb Wallet does offer to import from various types by the way, 1Password is just not one of them “ and I ‘ve seen this issue a lot in the past as well. Seems like whenever I need to do this kind of thing, the import/export stars just don ‘t quite align for me.
So it feels to me like you get more and more locked into an app just because it ‘s got your data and you can ‘t move it that easily “ but I may need to devote more time and research to this topic to check my theory.
The more I use these apps, the more I ‘ve discovered I really don ‘t care at all about the templates and prettiness of cards and so forth. I just want to be able to quickly find my login details for OddballSite.com that I signed up for two years ago and have never used since, but want to use right now.
It ‘s tempting to play with the templates stuff. For instance when trying our Spb ‘s apps last night I saw there was not a built-in Twitter card template “ so I went up to the online gallery and quickly found one. I thought that was pretty cool for a bit “ but quickly realized that ‘s not something I need or want to spend any time on.
I also realized that I ‘ve been using 1Password for around 1.5 years, on iPhone and desktop “ and have never even looked around to see what it offers templates-wise, or in terms of abilities to customize the look of my wallet cards. And I ‘ve never missed any of that, not in the slightest.
I guess what I ‘m coming round to is I ‘m finding that I only really want a few things from a desktop / iPhone wallet app pair: strong security standards, browser integration, easy, quick access to all my data, easy, quick sync between desktop and iPhone.
There are plenty of other common features that look very impressive when listed in an app ‘s description, and may well be super useful to some users, but are just not ones that I ever get any mileage out of.
Anyway, back to Spb and the new desktop companion app. Here are it ‘s pricing details:
*** Pricing and Availability **The SPB Wallet Desktop Component for Mac is compatible with Mac OS X version 10.5 and higher. It may be purchased for 14.95 USD, or a 15-day free trial version may be downloaded at www.SPBSoftware.com.
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TAGS: iphone apps, iPhone password manager apps
