The other day we shared that SplashID had been released on the Windows Phone Marketplace. The password management app is a carry over from the Windows Mobile days and has experience some success on other platforms. It's a robust utility and left a nice first impression but there are a few reservations that may not have SplashID appealing to everyone.
SplashID lacks a trial version and with the price just under ten dollars, we wanted to take the app out for a spin and see how well that first impression lasted. SplashID is a nice app for your Windows Phone but are the lesser priced alternatives a better option? SplashID does have a desktop component but it comes at an additional cost. Considering the cost and some of the design features, that nice first impression tends to fade a little and one has to ask, is there an equally as capable alternative out there?
When you first launch SplashID you are called upon to establish an email address to associate with the app and set a password. From there, you are sent to the main screen that will list all your passwords, accounts, birth dates, emails, etc. For now, the screen is populated with sample data. As you build your own database of information, you can easily delete these sample entries.
At the top of the main page are filters to help thin the list down a bit and control buttons line the bottom of the screen to add an entry, search the entries, sync the data with your desktop, and lock down the app.
From the three dot menu you have options to export your data via email (sent in .vid format), edit your password, delete multiple items, edit the categories and types, and view the about screen.
Entering an account, username, password or other bits of information that you need to keep track of is simple. Just tap the "+" button and fill in the blanks. There are twenty-one types of entries ranging from bank accounts to vehicles and two types of categories, business and personal. If you need to tweak or add a category or type of data entry, all you need to do is tap the three dot menu and go to work.
One nice feature with SlashID is the ability to sync with a desktop version. This allows you to keep track of all you passwords from the two locations you are likely to need them the most. This requires the SplashID desktop that is available at SplashID's website at a cost of $19.95.
While SplashID makes a nice first impression, it tends to fade when you look at the price and design. In using SplashID I couldn't help but think the developers simply slapped the old Windows Mobile design onto a Windows Phone app. SplashID could have taken advantage of the Metro design and laid everything out in panoramic fashion. I think by using the panorama design you could have had pages for each category, eliminate the need for filters and have a smoother flowing app. Instead you drill down to all the screens. I like the features of SplashID but the delivery pales in comparison to other password management apps that have made use of the metro design.
The other issue that detracts from SplashID is the cost. I have no issue paying $10 for an app if it sets itself apart but with several alternatives on the Marketplace (Password Manager, Cryp2pass, etc) it is hard to justify the higher price. The desktop component is a nice touch but that is an additional $19.95 which drives the price up significantly.
Understandably, the information these apps protects and manages are sensitive and far more valuable than $30. But with alternatives available on the Marketplace that are just as capable, SplashID's appeal begins to fade. Add the outdated design and the choice becomes more difficult. The choice comes down to weighing the options and determining which of these type apps fits your needs and tastes the best. While SplashID isn't a bad choice, we just can't say it is the clear cut choice.
SplashID has a decent amount of flexibility in creating/editing the types of data you store and the cross-platform/desktop components are nice features. If the design would take advantage of the Windows Phone metro features and the pricing could be more competitive, SplashID would easily make it to the short list.
We won't say that SplashID is a bust but, you may want to look at the alternatives first before making the investment in SplashID. SplashID is currently running $9.99 and you can find it here at the Windows Phone Marketplace. The desktop component is running $19.95 and you can find it here at SplashID's website.
