I finally got around to doing an iStudiez Pro review (iPhone/iPod Touch Version). I need to do this review now before I sync my iPod Touch to the mac with the new hard drive and everything gets wiped. I wanted to make sure I got all I could out of the app before I gave my take on it.

To start, here is what I love about this app:

  • The app has a very nice user interface. Simple enough for a kid to use but customizable enough where a college student could manage his or her schedule with just this application.
  • While not officially promoted, this app is easily tweaked to accommodate work, clubs or anything else done outside of class.
  • It lists everything you have scheduled for the day that has not completed yet on the first screen so you know what is going on without having to go through many menues.
  • iCal integration is really nice. No need to go into iCal on your iPhone/iPod Touch to see the calendar events, everything in iCal is viewable in this app with details that were already added to the event. You can also add events in the app to the calendar and it will show in iCal. Events created in either iStudiez Pro or iCal and saved on one of the From My Mac calendars can be edited or deleted in the other app. This feature can be toggled on or off in the settings menu.
  • Tilting the iPhone/iPod Touch into landscape while on the calendar tab brings iStudiez Pro into week mode.
  • The ability to send up a back up file via email to yourself. It makes either transferring to a new iPod Touch/iPhone or retrieving information after a restore/syncing to new computer very easy.
  • Adding assignments is simple but has room for details such as description and partner contact information.
  • GPA option is customizable for what system your school uses. There is a running GPA feature that will do a combined GPA for all the semesters listed on the app. You can toggle using grades for all the classes or for each individual class (which is part of modifying the app to include work and activity schedules. There is also an option for weighted grades which is good for honors courses or AP/IB/College courses in high school. A feature called Smart Keypad allows you to enter grades for an assignment once you mark it complete.
  • Adding a class has room for lots of information pertaining to the class including instructor information, where/when the class is, does the class repeat, in between which dates does the class run, etc. Nothing is required to create the class entry so you can add as little or as much information as you want.
  • The option to add single class days (class events) and exams with a grade option enabled for exams.
  • All the information relevant to the class including schedule, assignments, and grades are all found within the class listing
  • Push notifications are local on the device, no need to be connected to the internet to get a notification.

What I don’t like about this app:

  • There currently is no desktop app. Word from the Facebook group says they are working on one but no details if it will be for Mac, Windows or both.
  • The Smart Keypad can get really annoying if turned on. I have had issues with classes I marked as completed showing back up as active assignments because I didn’t put in a grade for it.
  • Even though there is a backup you can send via email, I would like to see (particularly when the desktop app is released) a sync feature. Also the ability to send class/assignment information from one iPod Touch/iPhone/iPad to another would be helpful. I would prefer the ability to send files to be over Bluetooth so there is no need to be connected to the internet but perhaps a Wifi option as well for the original iPhone and iPod Touch who lack Bluetooth.

Overall a really nicely designed application I can easily recommend to any student, professor, teacher or parent to keep track of classes/work/activities. It is certainly worth the $2.99 price and you get a lot of features. Customization is great with this application and for those who have had issues getting other applications to adjust to their lives should have no problem with this one. iCal integration gives the final touch to an already near perfect app. No need to switch apps to see your schedule.