Spend just a few moments with Launch 'Em, and you'll never go back to the Palm OS's default application launcher. Although Launch 'Em doesn't inherit any previously defined categories, setup is simple, and the benefits are worth the extra work. 

  A tabbed interface provides effortless access to applications and databases, and moving, deleting, or copying items becomes as easy as drag and drop. The toolbar adds user-selected Gadget plug-ins to the usual battery and time indicators, ranging from the simple (power off, backlight, beam document) to the nifty (hide/show private files, small icon editor). Convenient new stylus shortcuts present you with a quick list of recent and commonly used software, or immediately return you to the last opened program.

  If you want to view all of your commitments and due items at a glance, Today's the perfect aid. Conveniently combining Datebook and To Do List data on a single screen, Today can sort by due date, priority, or category, and automatically launch first thing in the morning to ensure that you don't miss anything. For long hierarchical lists, look to ListMaker, which is ideal for checklists that you might keep for shopping or traveling. Lists of "needed" things can be derived quickly from stored items, so that you won't have to enter common tasks repeatedly.

  The fully algebraic calculator, SynCalc, far outstrips even the scientific calculator that's included with Handspring Visors. Featuring unlimited nested parentheses and functions, as well as programmable shortcuts, it can be extended further through math libraries and macros that are available from SynSolutions' Web site. 

  On the more playful side, SimpleSketch provides a handful of tools (paintbrushes, basic shape and text tools) that are perfect for jotting down a quick note or doodling freehand. Taken separately, each of these applications is useful enough; by bundling them together at a reasonable price, PDActivate 2.0 becomes indispensable. --Jack Gardiner

Description:

PDActivate 2.0 contains five applications for your Palm handheld. 

• ListMaker helps you manage any type of list. Pack for traveling, outline a project, shop for groceries, or plan a meeting. ListMaker features an intuitive, easy-to-use interface, hierarchical outline structure to match your ideas, list templates, sorting and viewing options, and multiple databases with 15 categories each. You can import and export links with To Do List and Memo Pad, and even beam lists to other users. 

• Launch 'Em organizes your applications into folders; instantly navigates to favorite applications; displays date, time, and battery level; and adds essential one-touch features. It provides the simplicity of a drag-and-drop interface, and improves security by turning off and locking your organizer with a single tap of the pen. 

• With Today, you can enhance the management capabilities of your handheld, and see all Datebook and To Do items on one flexible screen. Customize the display to fit your work habits, sort by due date or priority, use category filters, and control the arrangement of Datebook and To Do items. View today, tomorrow, and up to five weeks into the future. SynCalc is a powerful financial and scientific calculator that features advanced mathematical functions, a user-friendly interface, and the ability to store up to 100 customized calculations. 

• SynCalc's features include full drag-and-drop functionality, an easily recalled running log of calculations, the ability to store 100 customized formulas and calculations, algebraic parsing of expressions, and unlimited nested parentheses and functions. An ever-growing library of financial, scientific, and medical formulas is available free of charge on the manufacturer's Web site.