Action Engine - Brand-n-Go

By David Ciccone, posted Thursday, Feb. 24th, 2005
Reader Comments: 21

Changing the way people access real time, rich content while on-the-go

Over the past 5 years the PocketPC has evolved into something we rely on each and every day. One aspect of the PocketPC that has always been missing is an easy way to navigate and get driving directions, true interactive maps, movie locations and other important aspects of each and every user. The Microsoft browser on the PocketPC is extremely limited giving the PocketPC Phone user nothing but a huge headache. Well thanks to Action Engine and their revolutionary interface we might have all our questions answered.

The Action Engine Mobile Application Platform introduces a browser less, client/server approach to accessing transaction-oriented online services that takes 80% fewer keystrokes and drives 20x faster response times than browser-based alternatives. The turnkey Brand-n-Goapplications pack enables wireless operators to go to market in unprecedented timeframes with intuitive, responsive and personalized applications that create an addictive user experience. The company's software has been deployed by a list of global wireless operators that include Orange SA, mmO2 and SMART Communications, Inc.

During my initial thoughts before downloading this application I was a bit worried if I was either wasting my time or the company just didn’t truly understand the mobile users needs. Well I definitely was wrong. The majority of this review will be more of an overview of the applications capabilities and features. Also if you would like to know how you can book a flight, find a restaurant near the airport and get drving directions to the airport under 3 minutes you want to read this review!

As you can see I selected AP News. By selecting AP News it gives me a few options. AP News Briefs, AP Videos and News Deliveries. AP News Delivery will send you your selected AP news areas during your requested times during the day

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I have tried to load this on my hp2215.. install won't complete on SD card.. but completes on CF.
I have can get to the login screen, but try to use the product by clicking GREEN send button but I get unabled to login, try again later.
I have tried this while plugged into pc with activesync running, and via GPRS linked to phone, and also via wifi.. i get this same msg no matter what? I can't find any support anywhere on the actionengine website... help?
cj

Posted by cejay, Thursday, Apr. 7th, 2005

You can view results offline if you save them. There's a little disk icon at the bottom when you are viewing a result. I get driving directions and save the result so I can view the result later while I'm on the road.

Posted by Jaredk, Wednesday, Mar. 23rd, 2005

Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong, but it appears to me that the AEBAG application can ONLY display information that has just been downloaded - that is, you can't re-access that information a little later when you are offline. That seems to me to be a big defect. you can't walk away from your wireless access point, then fire up AEBAG again to read the AP news stories you just downloaded a few minutes before?

- Jeff

Posted by jschall, Tuesday, Mar. 8th, 2005

It works on my 4150 Storage Card. The installer was great - it checked to see that I only had 2.5 MB left in Main Memory, and told me it needed 4 MB, so I should send it to the Storage Card when prompted by ActiveSync. What a courteous installer!

BUT - and here comes the usual Canadian complaint - it doesn't seem to know Canada has movie theaters and weather, too! When I asked for weather for Montréal, Québec - it gave me a forecast for Rouse's Point, NY - close, but it's in Fahrenheit!

I think Avantgo does a better job on universal coverage for news (and I USED to be able to get Environment Canada forecasts as an Avantgo channel, but no more...)

Still, it's a fine application.

- Jeff

Well, at LEAST it knows about the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) - it displays TSX stocks in Canadian dollars!

Posted by jschall, Sunday, Mar. 6th, 2005

Go here:

http://www.actionengine.com/demo/index.html

Posted by jschall, Sunday, Mar. 6th, 2005

I can't find the download. Can someone post a link?

Posted by sdevine, Saturday, Feb. 26th, 2005

Mine says its valid for a year; Jack and I spoke with the CEO yesterday and it should be good for 1 yr!!!!

Posted by David Ciccone, Friday, Feb. 25th, 2005

Awesome product. Thanks to DI for bringing Action Engine to our attention.

Loaded it to Storage Card on the 6315 -- works great! [been waiting a long time for something like this to come about]

Anyone have an idea of how much it is after the free 90 days? [maybe I missed reading that somewhere?]

Posted by kiingarthur, Friday, Feb. 25th, 2005

Sounds like what I have been longing for since giving up my Palm VIIx several years ago. Want to check movies, select a theater and there were the movie listings. Want turn by turn directions (no maps or graphics back then), enter a from and to address and there they were. Just a couple taps and you were there.

Downloading now and I have my fingers crossed.

Posted by jimski, Friday, Feb. 25th, 2005

I have been running this aplication for several hours...it is wonderful.

I had some initial problems with my 4700 but as soon as I took it off the Today screen, it ran perfectly. I am sure I am running to much on the Today screen.

On my 2755, perfect operation and it is on the Today screen.

Posted by Jack Cook, Thursday, Feb. 24th, 2005

No - I'd just forgotten to stop the programs. And , ipaqnewbie, - there's nothing weird about my 4700 - it's wonderful :-))

Posted by Laura, Thursday, Feb. 24th, 2005

Ughhh lol Laura.. You really know how to work your 4700 hard ...

Posted by David Ciccone, Thursday, Feb. 24th, 2005

Well, that was the other problem - I had about 6 other applications running at the time of the crash. It gave me a warning, but then immediately crashed.

Posted by Laura, Thursday, Feb. 24th, 2005

Laura I have had no issues on my 4700 at all. It might be something wierd on your unit. Also Dave I love this software! Why wouldnt Microsoft just integrate this into the OS? This is the way it should be with such ease of use!

Posted by ipaqnewbie, Thursday, Feb. 24th, 2005

I use the Audiovox 6600 PocketPC Phone and I checked the memory left and I have 42Mb for program and 38 for storage. My unit allows for a total of 128Mb storage. I would be interested to hear how many apps you had running while running Brand-N-Go.

Posted by David Ciccone, Thursday, Feb. 24th, 2005

I tried it - but every program that I then ran, slowed down to snail's pace - I have about 12MB free in main memory - maybe this isn't enough for this application ?

Posted by Laura, Thursday, Feb. 24th, 2005

Laura weird I loaded mine on the Storage card.... Hmmmm

Posted by David Ciccone, Thursday, Feb. 24th, 2005

I downloaded this to my 4700 - I, too, was impressed by it until it crashed my 4700 and caused a hard reset. Now, I was short of memory,(this has to be installed in main memory) and it will save certain past functions which is fine if you have the space available. Not so fine when it crashes. But the functionality was truly amazing - it will give directions both in America and Northern Europe. After the crash, I then downloaded it to my PC, so that I could test drive it without fear - the only problem there was that it would only pick up contacts from OUTLOOK that had email addresses. I also never managed to get the video part to work - it kept telling me that I had a missing file - I thought , maybe, that this was because I had the trial version, but I don't know.

Posted by Laura, Thursday, Feb. 24th, 2005

Yes Jack it is! I have never been so excited about a product since this. The growth potential for Brand-n-go is huge!

Posted by David Ciccone, Thursday, Feb. 24th, 2005

WoW...this has incredible possibilities!

Posted by Jack Cook, Thursday, Feb. 24th, 2005

Dave I downloaded this last week when you first let us know and I agree this software is a hidden gem! I cant believe not alot of the other enthusiast sites did a review yet. Buy I know I can count on Daves iPAQ for reviews every other day!

Posted by stimey, Thursday, Feb. 24th, 2005

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