[bnystrom]

I thought that since I posted some "sneak peek" shots of the upcoming DayNotez 3 over in the DayNotez section I at least owe it to those who have been waiting patiently around here for some Bonsai Windows Mobile shots. I did just take these today, and as you can see there still is some work to be done before we go think about going "beta". (I'll refer to this as BonsaiPPC). BonsaiPPC does exist, and it is actively being worked on. Bonsai for Palm was no easy task to get to where it is today. We are leveraging as much existing "technology" from the Palm side as we can, but yet we don't want to make this a "Palm Port". We want this to be Bonsai, but Bonsai written for Windows Mobile devices.

As usual, question are welcome (as long as they don't involve release dates...betas or otherwise...no bones...no guesses). We'll answer what we can. Some things are still being decided (like minimum requirements, etc.)

Anyway, here are the pics I took today:

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Wanted to provide a "real" photo showing that Bonsai is actually running on a real device.
My Dell Axim x50v running Windows Mobile 5 along side of my Treo 650 running Bonsai also.

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This a Bonsai running on a Windows Mobile 5 device.

The screen capture was done off the PC using a utility (Pocket Controller from Soti) that mirrors what is running on your connected device.
It also provides a nice skin...so it looks nice. Just wanted you to know that this isn't an emulator or simulator shot or a "mock-up" done in Photoshop.

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And here is a shot of the Bonsai conduit in Vista's Sync Center along with the DayNotez conduit. A lot of the recent work in BonsaiPPC has been about syncing...

I'll post more shots as the UI on the handheld side progresses.

[rimmella]

Hi Bryan,

This looks really great and I'm glad to see that progress has been made with Bonsai on a Windows based OS. I have been waiting for this for about 2 years (since I switched from my Palm OS device) and was wondering if it's possible to become a Beta user when a Beta becomes available.

I'm not sure if I'm on a Natara Bonsai mailing list since I haven't received an email from Natara in a while. Is there a list I should be on.

Any help you can provide would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Rob

[mantruck]

Congratulation, looks already great! Finally we will have a good Outliner for the PPC, too. Thank you!

[Erwine]

Great news!

I too switched from Palm to PPC. Bonsai I owned on the Palm, is the application I miss most on my PPC. I too am very interested in a PPC version and also in acting as a Beta tester.

[swaxx]

If you need Beta Testers, i really would like to help. Bonsai is my most wanted and missed app on the PPC - there's nothing comparable around (at least for me). I'm waiting for this since 3+ years, can't wait i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif

Best regards

Mike

[cleve]

There is a Santa Claus!

[beergeek]

I too have recently had to transition to a PPC phone. I'm finding it hard to live without Bonsai. I've moved to something else -- but it just doesn't cut it.

Looking forward to the beta! (or even alpha!!!)

Cheers,
Jeff

[hodgesd]

I want to encourage the developers to keep up the good work on Bonsai PPC. I've also waited 2 years for this program since leaving palm.

More encouragement for Natara... there is a HUGE market opportunity in the Windows Mobile space. The Palm ex-pats know about Bonsai, but the rest of WM users dont know what they're missing. ListPro is the best list program available and it doesnt come close to Bonsai.

I CANT WAIT!

-dh

[beergeek]

Yeah, ListPro is HORRIBLE. No real 5-way navigation. No real sync. I still haven't found a real replacement for Bonsai. I'm hoping that I can limp along until the Beta comes out.

[sappling]

Please make sure that is will work on a Windows Mobile smartphone (like Moto Q or Samsung Blackjack) - don't require a full PPC w/ touch screen.

I have moved to a blackjack, but can't live without my Bonsai. Can't find anything else to replace it.

[mjonesclergy7]

Please hurry. Very excited about this coming to PPC. Listpro 5 just released and I'm very disappointed. I guess I had hoped for more "Bonsai" type enhancements. Just wanted to send and encouraging word and tell you how much I'm looking forward to this.
Mark

[Boulos]

Ditto, moved from Palm to WM and have not found a replacement for Bonsai, would be happy to be a Beta tester.

[frantisek]

hi,
I have to move from palmos to a windows mobile based pda and would like to take bonsai with me!
so please keep up the good work.
best regards
frantiseki/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif

[rjay]

I'm starting to think Bonsai PPC is never going to happen ... the first message in this thread is from March when they said there is "some work to be done" before going to beta. Looks like it's harder than they thought it was going to be ...

[drmrbrewer]

I don't think there's any doubt it will happen. Would be nice to have another update, though.

What I'd like to know is whether it is planned to have the functionality, as there is on Palm Bonsai, to link between Tasks in Bonsai and Tasks in the PIM app on Win Mob, and something like Back2Bonsai to do the jumping?

Also, is there any likelihood of a "cross-grade" option, or will it be a full-price purchase? I note that the licence for many desktop applications is a cross-platform licence, allowing you to use it on Win or Mac.

Mike

[rimmella]

I agree with rjay (Sept. 15th, 07). It seems we've all been waiting patiently (or maybe impatiently) for a version of Bonsai that will work on Windows Mobile. It would really be nice to get an update from Natara Staff (maybe bnystrom, who made the original post on this topic). I've checked the entire Natara forum, other links on the site, and google but can't find any updated information on this topic.

"Okay, people, you have to tell me these things, alright? I've been frozen for 30 years, okay? Throw me a freakin bone here. I'm the boss. Need the info."

Sorry, couldn't resist throwing in an Austin Powers quote i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif

[Richard Murphy]

I know everyone has been waiting a long time and I wish the the PPC version was further along but it is not. We are a small company with limited resources. We do not announce release dates and this is one of the reasons for doing so. Schedules slip, resources get unexpectedly pulled away from projects, etc. It is really hard to predict all of these factors. I would rather have people wondering when a product will be shipped than having them complain that we missed a ship date. I hope everyone can understand and appreciate our policy.
As far as the current status of Bonsai PPC, the installation and synchronization of Bonsai is pretty far along but the PPC app itself still has a considerable amount of development work ahead.
Last, we are committed to finishing the Bonsai PPC product.

[rimmella]

Hi Richard,

Thanks for the update. I think everyone here understands the situation and can appreciate Natara not wanting to announce a release date for said reasons.

Please do not take our enthusiasm the wrong way... we all found Bonsai extremely useful as Palm users and we're finding it difficult using lesser products that are currently available for Windows Mobile. I frequently think about how much easier managing projects both at work and home would be if I were using Bonsai and am extremely anxious to use it again after swithing to WM about three years ago.

Thanks for you time and I look foward to seeing future progress.

Regards,
Rob

[reesd]

Any updates on a Windows Mobile version of Bonsai?
Thanks,
d

[Richard Murphy]

The Windows Mobile version of Bonsai is still under development. We are getting closer to having a very early beta test (as in not feature complete). Watch the Bonsai Beta forum and the Natara blog for the announcement. I still expect this to happen sometime this month (June), but no guarantees on that.
As of right now, I foresee the beta will only include the Windows Mobile app. Sync with the desktop will not be included in this early beta, nor will support for linking and several other key features. Since the Windows Mobile version uses the same outline file format, you will be able to take outlines from the desktop and open them on the WM device.
The purpose for the beta will be more for giving our users access to the software with the features currently implemented rather than a feature complete beta version. I just want to set expectations accordingly rather than disappoint anyone about what exactly will be released as beta.