FIGURE A

SyncTalk defaults to the Contacts view. Click picture for a larger image.

At this time, I haven't found a way to change SyncTalk's default setting to something other than Contacts, but changing the view is easy enough. Just select Appointments or Memos from the View menu shown in Figure B.

FIGURE B

Change views by selecting Contacts, Appointments, or Memos in the View menu. Click picture for a larger image.

To send a memo, select Memos from the View menu, and a Note Taker-type screen will appear, as you can see in Figure C. Here, you can write a note or draw a picture.

FIGURE C

The Memos view is very similar to Note Taker. Click picture for a larger image.

You can also retrieve text from a previously saved file by selecting Get Memo Text from the File menu. You can see this in Figure D.

FIGURE D

From the File menu, you can retrieve text from a saved file. Click picture for a larger image.

The memo is then sent the same way as the Contacts and Appointments. You simply select the SyncTalk button. You will then get confirmation that your data was sent and accepted, or you will get a response letting you know that it wasn't.

Receiving data
Receiving data is almost as easy as sending it, especially when you use AutoReceive. This lets you run SyncTalk in the background until it's needed. When someone sends you data, SyncTalk becomes active. You're told what the item is and prompted to accept or reject it. If you accept the data--and if it's contact or appointment information--it's automatically saved. When memos are sent, you can read them before deciding whether or not they should be saved. Alternatively, you could modify it and send it back without saving it.

With AutoReceive off, you have to select the SyncTalk button before someone sends you data or you will not get it. It's an extra step, but there are times when it's necessary to have AutoReceive off.

Observations, comments, and nudges for SoDeog
The program isn't without quirks. One problem is that I can't synchronize with my PC with the AutoReceive on, forcing me to switch to the program and turn it off or close the program. It would be much nicer if I could start SyncTalk--possibly as a Startup application--and leave it running without having to mess with it until I get prompted to accept an incoming item.

Another problem is that I can only send one contact, appointment, or memo at a time. This is not usually a problem, unless I am trying to send a contact list or a week's worth of appointments to a friend.

The biggest problem I ran into was with StarTap, which is an extremely popular application for Windows CE users. If I receive an incoming transfer while running StarTap at the same time, I must accept the data and close out of SyncTalk before going to another program. Otherwise my Cassiopeia will lock up. I have not found out if this problem is rooted in SyncTalk or in StarTap, but I know that the problem doesn't occur if I close StarTap before getting an incoming transfer. For some StarTap users, this problem may be unacceptable, in which case I'd recommend trying out the SyncTalk Companion version prior to committing the money.