Original review published on Steve Litchfield's 3-Lib. One of the most commonly-asked for program types, here at the
3-Lib shareware library, is something to aid serious
divers. Rather surprising, given the specialist nature of the activity, but it
seems that Psions are both hot personal favourites and in serious demand to
help out with all the mobile data logging and calculations that go on in the
diving world. T
Goeddenhenrich has not only cornered the market with his very first try,
he's also produced one of the most technically perfect EPOC applications I've
ever seen. From the easy installation and impressive graphics to the
well-thought out interface and dialogs, S5Dive aims to be everything a diver
ever needs (short of a waterproof Series 5) and utterly succeeds. I've been
bowled over by v1.2, grabbed from the author's
web site
A comprehensive logbook of past and present dives is gradually compiled,
with every option a diver could ever wish for allowed somewhere within the
dialog structure. The main screen is divided into zones, each of which launches
the appropriate entry dialogs when tapped on, including a text editor dialog
for the 'Observations' and SKETCH objects for the dive map and 'dive buddy'
signatures. Once dive data has been entered, it's summarised on the main screen
in graphical form.
A 'Dive simulator' mode allows the user to set up specific profiles and
objectives, with a built-in analysis mode on hand to give advice. Good use of
such standard EPOC features as the toolbar and zoom icons, to enhance the
interface and make S5Dive a real pleasure to work with.
Good program design extends even through the graphical printing system,
including printout of your buddy's signature and your own sketched map. A
couple of very nice touches are the 'breaking waves' sound effects on the
opening and 'About' screens and the populated animated aquarium that appears
over the 'Acknowledgements'.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give this 11. If every EPOC program was this
good, Windows CE would have shrunk back in its hole before ever being born!
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