Handango Announces Champion Award Winners

At a dinner at Handango's Partner Summit in San Antonio, Texas, the company announced this year's winners of its Champion Awards. Winners were chosen from the applications listed on Handango's site. Judging was done by an independent panel of experts.

  • Best Business Solution
    • Winner: Documents To Go by DataViz
    • Finalist: PrintBoy Deluxe by Bachmann Software
    • Finalist: HanDBase by DDH Software
  • Best Productivity Application
    • Winner: SplashWallet Suite by SplashData
    • Finalist: Action Names Datebook by iambic
    • Finalist: SilverScreen by PocketSensei
  • Best Healthcare Solution
    • Winner: MD Coder by Mobile Design Technologies
    • Finalist: DrDrugs by Skyscape
    • Finalist: PatientKeeper Personal by PatientKeeper
  • Best Education Solution
    • Winner: ThoughtManager for Education by HandsHigh Software
    • Finalist: 4.0Student by Handmark
    • Finalist: Teacher's P.E.T. by Coffee Pot Software
  • Best Use of Wireless
    • Winner: Stock Manager by TinyStocks
    • Finalist: BugMe! Messenger by Electric Pocket
    • Finalist: Aileron Personal Access by Corsoft
  • Best Game
    • Winner: Handmark Monopoly by Handmark
    • Finalist: Dragon Bane II by Mythological Software
    • Finalist: Siberian Strike by Gameloft
  • Best Lifestyle Application
    • Winner: Diet & Exercise Assistant by Keyoe
    • Finalist: FireViewer Suite by Firepad
    • Finalist: Amy Reiley's Pocket Gourmet Dining Companion by neohand
In addition, an outstanding achievement award, recognizing exceptional accomplishments in development, marketing and business practices, was awarded to Vindigo.

The judges were Leonard Fischer, USAToday.com; Shawn Barnett, Pen Computing; Steven Bush, Brighthand Consulting, Inc.; Wes Salmon, PDABuzz.com; Ronald Rosberg, Early Adopter/ABC Radio - KSFO and KGO AM; Ronny Ko, Bityard Magazine; James Hromadka, VisorCentral and Bill Mann, industry expert.

There were also awards given for Pocket PC software.

Article Comments

 (32 comments)

The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. PalmInfocenter is not responsible for them in any way.
Please Login or register here to add your comments.

Comments Closed Comments Closed
This article is no longer accepting new comments.

Down

DocsToGo

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/19/2002 11:05:29 AM #
They should be kidding. DataViz with their support to nothing :()
RE: DocsToGo
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/19/2002 11:07:29 AM #
Handango support team sucks. They have no clue what they're doing.

SilverScreen Top of the Heap

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/19/2002 11:04:48 AM #
IMHO SilverScreen is THE essential productivity tool as it affects the organization of all the other apps. No other app has such a well designed interface. SS really set standards for the PDA format. The pop-up toolbox, which has since been copied by others, is seamless in operation as is the QuickSilver menu. I would like to see PocketSensei port this app to the PocketPC too as I use one at work.
RE: SilverScreen Top of the Heap
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/19/2002 11:10:46 AM #
Problem is, they don't really have a category for SilverScreen. Maybe next year they should add one called "General Use".
RE: SilverScreen Top of the Heap
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/20/2002 1:09:47 AM #
SilverScreen is what I use on the NR70, but it's because it's the only full-screen hi-rez launcher that I own. I wish PocketSensei would fix the problem it has with PiDirect -- it would make life much easier..

Which are freeware?

abischof @ 6/19/2002 11:16:35 AM #
So... which of these apps are freeware? (These days, I don't even bother with non-free software)

---
Alex Bischoff

RE: Which are freeware?
JimBob @ 6/19/2002 11:37:27 AM #
I've usually found with freeware that it is worth every penny you pay for it.
RE: Which are freeware?
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/19/2002 11:48:15 AM #
Well, since it's Handango's job to *sell* software, they aren't likely to be awarding the free stuff. This is a marketing stunt to get more attention to their site by promoting their listed products. Notice that they won't be giving awards to anything sold elsewhere.

Biased awards

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/19/2002 11:27:10 AM #
Gee, MDCoder beats out ePocrates? I don't think so. Since ePocrates is free, I'm amazed it even got mentioned on this award list even though ePocrates is, by far, the most ubiquitous software on a medical PDA. Nothing even comes close. There are probably 300 copies of ePocrates on a PDA for every one that contains MD Coder.

Let's just say that Handango probably gives the edge to their customers on this one. Take it with a grain of salt.

RE: Biased awards
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/19/2002 11:30:51 AM #
> Handango Announces Champion Award Winners
> Best Lifestyle Application Finalist:
> Amy Reiley's Pocket Gourmet Dining Companion
> by neohand

No offense to neohand, however I wonder if the description at Neohand's store ("This store is operated by Handango.")
has anything to do with this nomination?


This List Means Nothing
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/19/2002 11:33:19 AM #
Many of these companies have their shopping carts run by Handandgo...

Ex: Neohand: "This store is operated by Handango"

I would like to see the rules and regulations that were given to these judges.

Two judges even have their own website's stores run by Handango...

RE: Biased awards
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/19/2002 11:41:59 AM #
To be able to counter accusations like this is why they used independent judges. I know some of them and if Handango went to them and said, "We're going to tell you who wins" they would refuse to be involved.

I'm guessing you are a developer who didn't get nominated and are pissed. It's called "sour grapes".

RE: Biased awards
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/19/2002 11:46:03 AM #
Independent Judges??
>>Two judges even have their own website's stores run by Handango...<<

Since you know the judges, next time you see them, ask them what software is on their handheld. Now that would be a better list.

RE: Biased awards
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/19/2002 11:56:32 AM #
There's only two software distribution companies, Handango and PalmGear. You can't be involved in handheld software without having some ties to one or the other of them.
RE: Biased awards
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/19/2002 12:00:25 PM #
>>There's only two software distribution companies, Handango and PalmGear. You can't be involved in handheld software without having some ties to one or the other of them.<<

That's correct, you can submit and sell your software with the above mentioned, however most of these handheld companies have their OWN website's stores owned & operated by Handango.

These are the same software titles that always make Handango's Top Lists because they reference Handango in the title screen, not because it is quality software.


RE: Biased awards
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/19/2002 12:17:10 PM #
Found this in an email from Handango...

>>FEATURING YOUR PRODUCTS
Handango is proud to feature your applications, and we would like to work with you to provide more exposure for your products and increase software sales.
We are committed to only featuring applications that reference Handango throughout the trial version of the software. In order to facilitate this process, we can create a custom URL for you to place in the Registration and About screens of your trial versions. This URL can be anything you wish, such as www.handango.com/productname or www.handango.com/companyname.
To receive your customized URL, please contact your Business Development representative or email us at partners@handango.com. Please include information about your product, the URL you would like to have created, as well as the Product ID you would like the new URL to link to.
When your Business Development representative receives this information, your application will be reviewed for a potential featured product spot.<<

I love the part: "We are committed to only featuring applications that reference Handango"

So basically, you can have garbage software but mention the word Handango and BINGO you have the best application!

RE: Biased awards
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/19/2002 1:17:08 PM #
I'm not an active developer, and have no software on either site currently, but I'm am a heavy user of PalmOS and have been for years. I've spent time running most of the major stuff out there both for my IT support duties, and outside consulting. I would venture to say that anyone else who has truly spent a good deal of time using most of the major titles in each category, objectively trying to find the best and most capable tools, would have issues with these "winners" as well. There's little to debate, but words like "rigged" and "fishy" certainly spring to mind as one browses that list. The email quote above just confirms this.
I appreciate this article, and will make a not to continue to curtail my dealings with them. Seems like they're on their way to being the Microsoft of the Palm Portal area in terms of business practices and litigation style, and ethics.
RE: Biased awards
Token User @ 6/19/2002 2:33:04 PM #
I'd take the awards with a grain of salt.

Everyone likes to have an award show - just look at the MTV Movie Awards. Most of the nominations weren't exactly Oscar(tm) candidates, but then again neither were the categories.

Regardless what people think of Handango's business practices, they (along with PalmGear) do provide a valuable service to the consumer - a place to find and buy PalmOS (and PPC) software for their devices.

OK, the developer is getting screwed, but that is another topic.

RE: Biased awards
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/19/2002 5:12:12 PM #
I was one of the judges for these awards, so let me explain how I was involved. Handango approached me about being a judge, and while I generally turn down these sorts of things (like Pocket PC Magazine's awards, for example) I have a good relationship with the folks at Handango and decided to do it. I was mailed a CD that contained 3 pieces software for each of 5 categories, and a spreadsheet for ranking them first, second and third. There was also a short list of judging criteria. That was it. I reviewed the software, made my selections, and emailed my spreadsheet to Handango. I was unaware of the results or even who the other judges were until I read it here on PalmInfocenter. I currently have a Handango software store but informed Handango a few weeks back that I will be removing all affiliate sales programs (including Amazon.com, Handango and CafePress) from Brighthand in the very near future.

Steve Bush
Brighthand

RE: Biased awards
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/19/2002 6:45:39 PM #
Steve Bush writes: " I was mailed a CD that contained 3 pieces software for each of 5 categories, and a spreadsheet for ranking them first, second and third."

As the Hot chocolate song goes... "Everyone's a winner babe"

It enough to make the Academy awards look impartial!

clinton

RE: Biased awards
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/19/2002 8:15:48 PM #
And your beef has nothing to do with the fact that your competitor's product was nominated. Right. Uh, huh.
Handango Champion Awards
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/19/2002 8:17:14 PM #
Guys,

Give us a break! We didn't rig the awards, and we aren't part of the military industrial complex. =)

Steve Bush describes the process accurately. We sent each of the 8 judges 5 or 6 categories of apps to judge, so we had a minimum of three judges per category. The judges submitted their votes back to us, and we then tabulated them and gave the awards last Thursday. Just because some winners and nominees do business with us in other ways (LOTS of people do business with us in other ways) or that you don't agree with the choices in some categories doesn't mean the fix was in.

Two years ago, we gave similar awards, but we simply chose who won. That wasn't all that meaningful to us, the world at large, or the winners. This time, we submitted the decision to judges, put together a marketing package for the winners and gave some pretty decent plaques and trophies to the winners; plus, we spent a fair amount of time just recruiting and coordinating with the great judges we had on board (though apparently we stopped that communicating after their judging was done - sorry about that Steve; we were a bit behind and I think we sent you a thank you and list of winners today!).

In the next quarter, we're going to be rolling out something on the site that lets users vote for Handango People's Choice Awards. It is our hope that this - like the Champion Awards - will bring much needed attention to some of the great mobile software applications and the talented folks who make them; only this time, it's the customers who'll be voting.

We don't intend to alienate anyone. Our sole purpose in these initiatives is to shine a bright light on some of the great work being done in this industry.

Handango Awards
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/19/2002 8:51:26 PM #
Sorry, this last post was by me.

Clint Patterson
Handango
clint@handango.com

RE: Biased awards
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/20/2002 9:50:02 AM #
Clint,

How were the 3 products from each category chosen?

RE: Biased awards
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/20/2002 10:27:21 AM #
We nominated them based on three criteria: 1) sales history (were customers voting with their pocketbooks?); 2) customer reviews (were those customers happy with their purchase?); 3) internal feedback from Handango employees, esp. our customer support and QA teams (do we like the app ourselves; does it generate customer complaints; does it pass qa testing?). Those were the *only* criteria used.

Some folks have said the nominees are only folks using our shopping cart; let's dispel that myth with some facts. Only 6 of the 21 nominees use a Handango shopping cart (well more than a hundred ISVs use our shopping cart in total), and I challenge anyone's assertion that those apps and ISVs weren't more than deserving of recognition.

Yes, it would have been better to devise a process through which we could have tabulated votes from members of the academy, and yes, we would have liked to have more nominees (lots of *outstanding* apps weren't recognized in our awards, which is why we're rolling out the people's choice piece). There were two things that kept us from doing this: 1) practical limitations on our time and effort; we simply didn't have the time to devise a system to tabulate votes from a huge body of users/ISVs/OEMs without a prohibitive amount of time and cost; so as folks who are pretty knowledgeable about software and pretty in touch with customers, we took a shortcut; 2) practical limitations on what we could ask from our very generous panel of volunteer judges; they were *very* kind to volunteer their time and effort to this.

I'd just like to say again, publicly, how much we appreciated the efforts of our great judges. It's a shame that their generosity and effort - as well as the achievement of the folks who were honored - has been met with anything but thanks, acclaim and best wishes.

Regards,
Clint Patterson
VP, Product Management
Handango
clint@handango.com

RE: Biased awards
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/20/2002 11:12:01 AM #
About Handango, someone above said, "OK, the developer is getting screwed, but that is another topic."

Screwed? In what way? And as compared to what? Did you know there are a large quantity of developers that have not been paid by PalmGear for a *single* sale from 2002? And yet everyone just seems to ignore that. Handango has never been anything but honest with the developer about what they were going to do.. and they have *always* paid on time, even in my first months when that check was $6.. they sent that check every time, on time... where for almost a year now, I've watched as my payments from PalmGear get later and later and later...

RE: Biased awards
Token User @ 6/20/2002 11:35:51 AM #
I'll hide behind a handle, but not behind complete anonymity ...

Read the following :

www.palminfocenter.com/view_Story.asp?ID=3038
www.palminfocenter.com/view_Story.asp?ID=2721

I have ties at both software distribution points too. I always liked PGHQ, finding the site better laid out, and easier to find software from other developers.

Developing for PalmOS (or any other small platforms which dont have a ready distribution channel) is not easy from a monetisation point of view. We just don't ahve the distribution channels that developers of PC/Mac software have. No matter who we go with, we get screwed.

I do not make a living developing for the PalmOS platform. I need my day job to pay the bills. Handango are my marketing dept. PGHQ are my marketing dept. My website drives traffic to each of those sites.

The name of the game is getting our software out there and into the hands of the user community. Handango do that job admirably, but just like the record industry, it is the composer that loses, while the label/publisher gets the $$$.

Handango will stay around because we need them. These awards (and a peoples choice award) are important to boost recognition.

pathetic. really pathetic.

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/19/2002 6:39:06 PM #
Docs To Go for Best Business title?
who're they kidding??

Handango, get real.
I'm off to PalmGear.com

RE: pathetic. really pathetic.
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/19/2002 8:15:17 PM #
Ah, the developers of the competing products finally chime in!

Sour grapes!

RE: pathetic. really pathetic.
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/20/2002 12:27:26 AM #
I came by this article today and thought to myself, "congratulations to those winners", they must have worked so hard to get where they are today! Some of the applications that won I have used and some of the applications that didn't win, I use, and to read some of the comments that I have read are a shame. To insinuate that awards sponsored by Microsoft, Nokia, USAtoday and Handango are rigged is ridiculous. To comment that Handango favors those that list software on their site - what do you expect. Do you expect Handango to scour the net for the thousands upon thousands of applications that exist and test each one of them and rate them. If you do, I can guarantee that even if they went this far to give out awards, there would still be the same sore losers out there that would complain. This is the nature of the beast and many of you out there who have made such ignoramus comments should be ashamed of yourself. You're nothing more than a sore loser. I person that complains, and a person that wakes up in the morning mad that someone else is outshining you.

As noted above Handango has brought additional attention to the thousands of developers out there in the market place. They are providing a forum where users can find software, download software and install software. They are a small company and they are growing, and though I am a developer and do sell all my applications on many portals, I can honestly say, that Handango is the most professional. PalmGear has not paid me in six months, and the other sites have no traction. Handango has gone out of their away to present awards to developers, and even take the time to comment on this board.

These "awards" are a good thing, and I am sorry for those that complain, obviously you are the loser in all of this and your spirit, attitude and comments only can confirm your poor sportsmanship. Instead of criticizing those who won, why not make suggestions, if you think Documents to Go is not the best application, than what is. If you don't think MD Coder is the best application than what is? Back it up, why is not the best, why are the others better. Like the lazy people, it is so easy to criticize. What applications do you develop?

Y.L.J.F.
L.J.T.

RE: pathetic. really pathetic.
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/20/2002 3:26:11 AM #
DocsToGo v.s WordSmith and / or iSilo. If you used them - tell us what you think?

outstanding achievement?

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/20/2002 4:22:10 PM #
really think that the iq 3d demo is an outstanding achievement. the fact that a smooth running polygonal shooter could be made on the palm vx is amazing.

whatever

Top

Account

Register Register | Login Log in
user:
pass: