Even though it hasn’t been updated for iOS 4.0 and doesn’t have Retina support, visual thinkers should be enamored with the design of new calendar app Diacarta ($1.99). Unfortunately, design trumped functionality during the development of this iPhone app, so a few additions are needed before you make the $2 investment.
To compile your day, use the plus sign to select from 59 icons to represent your daily activities, such as a gas pump, an exclamation point, a coffee cup, a dog or a blank bubble. Drag the icon to the correct time of day; swiping the screen will toggle AM and PM hours. By double tapping the symbol, you can enter in event details such as name, location, a more specific start and end time, as well as details. From the main screen, tapping and holding the icon will pop up all of your entered information. Tapping the star symbol and followed by an activity symbol will allow you to mark the activity as completed.
Diacarta gets high marks for its striking looks, but there is no ability to sync it with iCal or Google Calendar, which means if you already use a calendar you’ll have to enter your daily activities twice. That’s a lot of extra work for already busy people. Diacarta also doesn’t have an alert system to notify you of upcoming plans, something I view as a must-have when it comes to calendar apps. Other features Diacarta might want to consider are support for recurring events and a system to roll over non-completed activities to the next day.
Once sync and alerts are added Diacarta will be worth a look, but until then save your dollars.
