You know, I never really know whose birthday it is, when Mother’s Day is around the corner, or that I missed my best friends anniversary (doh!) two weeks ago. The problem I have, and terribly in my own family, is that I can’t remember jack squat. I can only remember three birthdays - that of my mother, my father, and myself. I really shouldn’t be expected to know more, but you always have a card to send or you have to make some acknowledgement that yes, my cousin did in fact turn 25 recently. But other than Facebook and my lack of mental indicators, there’s really no good system other than the calendar and perhaps a sheet of worn out notebook paper. Yet I have found, there is an app for that.
Occasions for the iPhone and iPod touch should be self explanatory. The app does just that - allow you to sync your contacts (and Facebook friends), and set occasions. If you ever nab the girl of your dreams who might just ask you what day you started dating, keep note of your date-aniversary in a simple in this themeable application. Wait, did I say themeable?
For those of you who like to mod their Mac or tinker with looks and icons, Occasions doesn’t let you do much other than change its wallpaper, but it’s a big enough feature that makes the application just that little bit more intimate. Now your iPhone theme and Occasions app can stand on similar colored grounds.
But theming isn’t why we’re interested in this application. Occasions has a lot of deep features that makes it as usable as you want it to be. The settings almost seem a bit intimidating with it’s myriad of customization options (which we’ll talk about later), and while you have the ability to add your own contacts, syncing up with Facebook is incredibly easy, and will fill out Occasions pretty quick.
For Facebook occasions, you can tap on a person to make notes and change individual settings (such as whether or not to provide notifications). If the person’s event is “today,” you can write a message to their wall.
You can also add friends and family from your Contacts, or add them individually. For special events asides from birthdays or anniversaries, you can create your own custom occasions for things like your yearly reunions. If events are tied to people in your address book, Occasions is smart enough to pull in relevant data. Similar Facebook contacts, you’ll also have the ability to call that person or send them an email.
The trapezoid next to the universal search bar allows you to cycle through birthdays, anniversaries, Facebook, and more. Instantly you have this general filter that makes finding things simple.
Back into the settings, you can access help and tutorial information if you’re feeling a little wobbly at the start gate. You can also backup your occasions to your email address for easy recovery if you need to wipe your iPhone or it gets lost - your data is always with you. Lastly, switches and panels allow users to change what’s displayed for their contacts, including age, photos, name, and even how to display relevant information.
Occasions is a really gorgeous application that makes finding occasions and special events as easy as a tap of the finger. I found it to be fast, convenient, and incredibly helpful in keeping up to date with all the stuff going on. For those who need that mental reminder, we’re giving away ten copies to our MacStories readers. As always, check the rules below for contents information. Occasions is only $0.99 in the App Store, perhaps underpriced considering the functionality it offers. Thanks to Hand Carved Code for the giveaway license and review license!
Giveaway
How the heck are you going to remember all your friend’s birthdays? With Occasions of course! Leave a comment below detailing how you normally keep track of such things for your chance to win. The content ends this Friday, April 23rd.
