The iPod squad

Entrepreneur, Feb, 2005 by Amanda C. Kooser

IPods aren't just for music anymore. With a little ingenuity and the help of software applications, some people are adapting them for business uses. OS X users already know they can sync their OS X address book and calendar to their iPod. Users can also transfer files quickly over the FireWire connection and treat the iPod much like a USB flash drive. Downloading and installing an iPod Notes script from www. apple.com lets you then view notes on your device.

Some third-party applications have been developed for this market. For example, ProVue (www.provue.com) offers a $19.95 Panorama iPod Organizer, which can handle data from any program that exports into text files. That covers most database and organizer software.

If you're going to carry your iPod around with you anyway, loading it with your contacts and calendar can decrease the number of devices you have to haul. Drawbacks include a fairly small screen and lack of input capabilities--it's pretty much view-only. There is also no search function, but the iPod's jog wheel is fast and intuitive. Mac-using entrepreneurs who have already invested in an iPod will be able to get the most out of these bonus features and may be perfectly happy without ever touching a regular PDA.--A.C.K.