A. Yes, the software runs fine in OS X using Classic. When the Panorama database application becomes available native for OS X the iPod Organizer will also become native. Remember, though, that most of the time you spend with this program will not be on OS X, OS 9 or Classic ... it will be with your iPod.

Q. Can I import data from my existing applications?

A. Yes. The software can import data from any application that can export data into a text file (which includes all databases, spreadsheets and organizer software that we know of). Unlike other applications that require you to format the data before it is imported, the Panorama iPod Organizer import configuration dialog gives you complete control over the arrangement of data as it is imported. Here is an example of this dialog set up to import a tab delimited text file with ten fields.

This configuration automatically converts this data into three fields for the iPod.

Once you've set up the configuration for a text file the Panorama iPod Organizer automatically remembers the configuration for the next time you import data from that file. This makes it very easy to update when the data in the original application has changed.

A. The iPod Organizer stores data on the iPod by creating tiny mp3 files. It is very likely that the number of mp3 files on your iPod will double, triple or even quadruple depending on how much data you store on your iPod. For the most part these tiny mp3 files are invisible except when using the Song list. In that case the data mp3 files are mixed in with your regular songs. Usually phone numbers appear at the top of the list, like this.

When you use the Artist list the data mp3 files are organized by category within the list. (If you would like all of the data categories to appear at the top of the list simply prefix each category name with a period or dash ( for example .Travel or -Reference).) The iPod Organizer adds one playlist (called Organizer), otherwise your existing playlists are left alone. The Songs list will show all of the data items interspersed with your songs, making this list more difficult to use (this is, after all, a hack).

If you set up your iPod to randomly play songs then a data file will occasionlly play. Since the data files do not contain any sound you won't actually hear them play, so it really doesn't matter. However, if a data item is longer than the screen plays there will be a 5 second silence (you can disable this if you want). You can avoid this issue completely by creating a playlist of the actual songs on the iPod, then playing randomly from the playlist instead of from all the songs on the iPod.

A. Several other barebones utilities have appeared for transferring data to the iPod. The Panorama iPod Organizer is extremely flexible compared to these utilities. Instead of requiring the data to be stored in a fixed location on the iPod the Panorama iPod Organizer lets you organize the data into multiple categories on the iPod. Its extremely flexible and powerful system for importing data allows you to not only to import the data but to reformat it automatically for the iPod's unusual configuration. (If necessary, the Panorama iPod Organizer also allows the data to be hand "tweaked" after import, an option not available on other software.) Because of this adaptable system the Panorama iPod Organizer is not limited to contact information but is flexible enough to allow almost any kind of data to be stored and displayed on the iPod.

To make sure you are getting what you want the Panorama iPod Organizer allows you to preview the data on your Macintosh. You can see exactly what the data will look like on the iPod—before you actually transfer the data. If a data item is wider than the iPod screen the mp3 file is automatically adjusted to allow you to see all of the data by pressing the Play button.

Do you have more songs in iTunes than will fit on your iPod? Since the data files are so small you will still be able to put them on your iPod, but you will need to put them in a playlist first. The Panorama iPod Organizer does this for you automatically.

Of course another benefit of the Panorama iPod Organizer is that it is backed by ProVUE Development, one of the oldest names in the Macintosh software business. In fact, Microsoft is the only company that has been selling Macintosh software longer than us (they beat us by 5 months).