ceremorphosis

IGG Software has released a beta for iBank v3. Beyond direct OFX download, some insane eye candy options (Coverflow for transactions?), tax program support, much better reporting, and just general stomping all over Quicken, the app includes “sync with your iPhone”. Mobile entry of information? That’s a definite plus, albeit one with lots of questions. What does it require? How is security? How easy is it to use on a mobile device?

First off, you’ll need .Mac support. iBank uses your iDisk to handle the sync process. Since the SDK is not out yet for the iPhone there is no native app. Everything is done over the Web. This is both a pro and con – pro in that you can use it with any mobile device with a real browser, con in that it is done over the Web and performance can be slower.

How does it work? There is a small bundle within the iBank 3 DMG that is pushed to your iDisk. Open iBank on your local computer, go to File, Sync with .Mac, and you’re set. Once you are on the road and need to enter a transaction, you surf to https://idisk.mac.com/[username]/iBank/ You’re then presented with the login screen:

“Wait one moment!” you’re thinking on seeing that message about your password being sent in the clear. I had the same concern. After rigorous packet dumping I can say that there is no cleartext authentication being done. Of course this may change throughout the beta – but I would hope that a company writing financial software would exercise some judgement.

Once you’ve authenticated, you have a list of your accounts. Just tap on one of those, and you are now in the account screen. All of your transactions are visible – in this case, it was a test account with 3 transactions, but you get the picture.

Tap the + sign to enter a transaction and you are presented with new entry screen. It is very usable, with drop-down menus displaying your categories from the desktop app.

Hit save, and you’re back to the account screen with the new transaction displayed.

Once you get home, you sync with .Mac and everything is aligned.

Overall I have found iBank to be quite good. There are a few workflow annoyances but it is easy to adapt. I have not tested the OFX download, but will do so this week.

You have to wonder why small independent developers like IGG can create such great software while a giant like Intuit flounders for two years? Sure, Intuit may have a promising app forthcoming, but we’ve seen nothing in the hands of reviewers yet.