Key Dates

Another great app from the folks at IconApps, Inc. Key Dates is designed to keep track of important dates and events in your life. If this is the only app from IconApps on your iPhone then you’ll first need to set up an account. If you already have one of their apps (Giftster, Family Vault) then you’ll use your existing password and PIN to login.  From then on you’ll need to enter your PIN to open up Key Dates.

Entering in the dates and information is extremely easy. Tap the event category you want to add too – they’re shown at the bottom of your screen – Anniversary, Birthday or Holiday. Now add in the information asked for on the screen. If you have already set-up a “Family & Friends” list within Giftster or Family Vault then all you have to do is tap the “Family & Friends” button and choose from the list that is shown. If the person isn’t already on your list go ahead and enter in their information. Key Dates has smooth data entry and the typing goes quickly. You can choose to set a gift reminder and a call reminder. This will display a red exclamation point next to the date as it approaches. You choose how far in advance you want your reminder. There’s also a section to enter in notes about gift ideas, etc.

You can view each event category separately or tap “All” to see a master list. You’ll see a “By Date” and a “By Type” button at the bottom of the “All” screen.  Tap these to change how the events are sorted. I like the letter icons that show up to the left of the event name. A for anniversary, H for holiday and B for birthday. Gives you a quick visual reminder about why that date is important. Also, Key Dates comes with many holidays already pre-entered into the app so that will save you some set-up time.

One thing that I think could save even more time with the data entry is to have the ability to add to the “Family & Friends” list directly from the screen where you’re entering someone into the app instead of having to go to the settings to create this list. Extremely minor detail though.

I like the straightforward nature of Key Dates and the ease of the data entry.  If I’m going to take the time to enter in multiple events into an app I want that app to be easy to use and then easy to understand. No messy symbols or extra screens to navigate my way through. Key Dates gives me that and I like being able to look at only these types of events without having to sort out the birthdays from the T-ball games on my main calendar.

Price when Reviewed: $2.99

Available at iTunes

Seller: IconApps, Inc.